| Author | Message | ||
     Jphish |
NOT AGAIN !! I know, I know... But now that a number of us have installed the kit I believe we have sufficient beta testing completed & data compiled to make an argument / case for: To reflash or not to reflash...that is the question? Whether it is nobler in mind to suffer the fan running much of the time while in motion, or just less at shut down ? I have chosen, at least for the time being, not to reflash. My 08 runs significantly cooler with just the kit, and it's running strong & relatively frugal (about 50 mpg average) I fear the reflash may change, but not improve the current state of being. Any thoughts on this ? (Now THAT is a stupid question!!) Cheers, j | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Now that, is a great question. I am going with no reflash for now. My 08 runs perfectly fine. | ||
| Bcmike |
Likewise, I'm happy with just the kit installed. If the ECM flash is only to change fan strategy, to remove fan noise after shutdown... why bother? If it ain't broke why fix it? The kit is a major improvement as is... thanks Buell. | ||
| Someday |
Same here...no reflash. | ||
| Uly_pirate |
I went for a week after installing the kit without the reflash. The kit by itself does the job (as the title says - Rider Comfort). No more heat issues. I have been riding for three weeks now with the reflash and I can't really recommend flash or no flash. As far as rider comfort or performance there's no difference. I got 44-46 mpg before the reflash and I'm still getting 44-46 mpg after the reflash. Power band also seems the same. The only noticeable difference so far is the fan. Comes on all the time while riding and never runs at stop lights or while parked. Maybe in the long run it's better for the engine. Don't know. | ||
| Jim_williams |
ulypirate, what about before reflash? Did it run when parked? I find that annoying, and, is worth it one way or the other. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Actually, it's when the fan runs while I'm riding that it annoys me. After shut down, it can run for an hour as far as I care. When the fan runs incessantly while I'm riding that I become concerned about the heat and worry it might be getting too hot. When it runs after shut down, I just feel it's doing what it's supposed to do. That's my feeling anyway. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Just my 2 cents because I have an 06' and this doesn't affect my bike. I'd rather have the bike run at shutdown and not have the fan wearing itself out running all the time when I'm riding. In colder weather if that fan comes on just because the engine is running, would that mean that my engine would have a tougher time ever reaching operating temps? I think it definitely would. I think Buell might have missed the boat with the logic. Let's say you go for a long hard ride and then shutdown and the fan doesn't come on. Get on your bike a few minutes later and that rear cylinder heat has been heating up your low seat to the roasting nut level. Good luck with that. As it is, since putting that comfort kit on my 06' with 23000 miles, the only time my fan ever comes on anymore is at shutdown. My original fan should last the lifetime of the bike, at least I'm hoping. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
I just wonder how hot it gets with the fan shroud partially obstructing the air flow. It seems that other than the scoop the kit keeps more heat in, away from the rider. I understand Buells logic, I think they got the fan cycling right the first time. | ||
| Jlnance |
I think they got the fan cycling right the first time. I think they got it right from a cooling perspective, but a lot of people really hate the fan noise. I would guess this different cycling addresses noise while not degrading the engine cooling too much. That's just a guess of course. | ||
| Missin44 |
Since I'm not an expert, nor do i have any valid test data whatsoever I'll leave it to the experts and engineers. I had mine reflashed. While I have seen zero performance or mileage change, I much prefer the fan cycles as they are after the reflash. | ||
| Eulysses |
Consensus seems to be that the cooling package minus the ECM update will cool the bike better (and us) and the fan does not run as much with the add-ons. I also believe it is a good upgrade and good for our bikes by itself. I have done the ECM update without putting on my package (way it worked out with my 1K visit) and I think the update was designed for vanity issues...not running when off but running when under way. It is synched with MPH or RPM rather than temp. I prefer it be synched to temp. It also causes surging around both sides of 4K RPM. It is smoother...power seems ok (still scares me!). If I could undo the "update" I would. | ||
| Nvr2old |
"The new calibration uses a combined vehicle speed and engine temperature based strategy to optimize the cooling effects of the motorcycle's fan while minimizing the fan's run time." How about both? | ||
| Murraebueller |
I did the reflash- bike runs great, excellent mileage and I don't hear the fan through my ear plugs and full face helmet. I tend to trust the experts- they did, after all, listen to people and come up with an excellent solution. | ||
| Uly_pirate |
The fan operation is still related to engine temperature after the reflash. The difference is that it comes on at a lower temp than previously. This means that it is more likely to come on while riding. As stated by Eulysses it is also related to MPH and RPM. This is why even after a really hot run when I come to a stop signal the fan slows down and shuts off until I take off again. This part is definitely just a convenience feature for the rider to eliminate noise while sitting on the bike. I barely notice that the fan is on while riding down the highway. At any rate I'm happy with the reflash, but can understand why other people might prefer the old fan operation. | ||
| Nvr2old |
I'm wondering if it is related to RPM at all. Buell says "vehicle speed and engine temperature". If I stop at a traffic signal, the fan slows down, not sure if it shuts down entirely (ear plugs or skull candy). If, while stopped, I increase RPM's, the fan does not speed up. (Message edited by Nvr2Old on October 06, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I just looked to see how my fan was doing. Mine only turns when it gets hot. Now I know why.  | ||
| Wbrisett |
I don't have an option with my '07 Uly, no reflash is available for me. Wayne | ||
| Jphish |
Electraglider - Nice hamster - looks like the fast orange one. Wbrisett - Not sure it matters. I think the 08 and newer group is pretty evenly divided on the merits / benefits of a reflash. Though almost ALL of us think the 'kit' is worth it. I don't care if my fan runs at shut down - never did. So I'm enjoying the improvement of the kit without the fan running while I'm riding - except in traffic with very hot conditions... Which happens 10 days a year in western Wa. j | ||
| Bcmike |
Keeping in mind temps are cooling as fall arrives.. With the kit installed and no reflash.., the fan did not come on at all today during my morning or evening commute, engine running or not. It did briefly at shutdown after a mid day lunchhour ride. But far less time than before the kit. | ||
| Snowscum |
Im getting better mileage. | ||
| Jphish |
snowscum - Better mileage with the flash? How much ? | ||
| Snowscum |
Better mileage with the kit. I have a 06 and there is no flash. I ended up with another 30 miles out of the last tank. | ||
| Smpl5 |
The tech at Cerini's did the reflash without the kit (on my '08 X) last week. On these cool mornings, it does seem a bit strange to be walking away from a quiet bike. It stays on (albeit for less time) if I had a lot of stop and go when it is warmer in the afternoon. On my bike, the fan comes on at 15mph (indicated) after riding for a 2-3 miles. All in all, it seems cooler overall, though it is hard to judge with temps in the 40 to 65 range. In fact, this morning (in the 40s) I found myself wanting it to heat up a bit, so on a couple of occasions I kept it below 15 so the coolant would be useful to me instead of spilling all over the pavement.  Being a geek, I find myself trying to keep the fan from cycling on and off during rush hour by my riding technique, just as I sometimes ride to minimize the number of times I have to put my foot down on my ride in. I'm still on my first frame-ful after the reflash, so I have no comment on changes in fuel economy. } | ||
| Towpro |
I rode my 07 around 15 miles yesterday afternoon without the kit. When I pulled into the garage the fan ran just like always after shutting it off. Then I found my kit had been delivered, so I installed just the scoop and pipe guard. Phone rang, had to go to work. I rode the bike around 20 minutes (at a faster pace), pulled into work, shut if off and fan did not run! Same thing coming home, no fan running after shutdown. That is proof enough to me that just the scoop pulls in enough air to keep the motor cooler. I have that silver stuff under the seat so all my air has to go down past the shock anyway. I will install the part under the seat next rainy weekend we have. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I think Buell would have sold many more bikes, not the ULY if they would have engineered this comfort kit into the bike years ago. Better late than never I guess. Now anybody know what that double clutch thingy Honda has come up with is about?? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I think the heat problem was an oversight on the Uly. The other XB's don't seem to get "hot seat" nearly as badly, probably because there is MUCH more room for air to exit out of the fan below the seat. I think they probably added the Uly tail section to a prototype bike and rode it around in typical Wisconsin weather and thought "great- this bike is ready to go". It probably took a lot of feedback from Uly riders to make them reexamine the design and agree "well, we could have done better", then a couple of years to overcome corporate inertia to design and manufacture a fix. The Uly was a great bike before the kit, but I think EG's right, they would have sold a whole lot more Ulys if they'd been built this way originally. Honda double clutch thingy?  | ||
| Court |
>>>> Now anybody know what that double clutch thingy Honda has come up with is about?? I'd be willing to bet it's something along the lines of Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. Current technology is amazing and advancing at an amazing rate. | ||
| Weekendwarrior |
So there is no reflash for '07s?  I believe Court is correct. The double clutch, semi-auto is technology that we can thank F1 competitors for. BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes, etc.. have used this tech for some years. Cool to see it trickle down. | ||
| Murraebueller |
The factory actually did extensive testing of the Uly in the desert in Arizona before it was released to market. | ||
| Court |
>>>The factory actually did extensive testing of the Uly in the desert in Arizona before it was released to market. That is an accurate statement.  | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . there was a LOT of testing done out the the United States as well. |
