ECU reflash

How cool would it be to include a segment of your liter-bike shootout comparing all the bikes with reflashed ECU's after running the numbers on them "stock".  
It's amazing what uncorking the ZX10R does for it......how about the others?  Maybe
re-gear them also and let a new chapter of fun begin at Sport Rider?
Also, can't resist......Suzuki, how long before you throw another hundred cc's into the mix on the Hayabusa?  

Raising the bar? I'm okay w/ that -- might need some new test pilots though.
Canyon carving sounds a little soft for the task (actually sounds soft for any task).

Have you ever ridden a reflashed 'busa w/ custom map, header, BMC race filter;
other simple mods? Litre class is the best for street shootin'. (gunslingers)

This is the Sport Rider page isn't it?  

why.not:
How cool would it be to include a segment of your liter-bike shootout comparing all the bikes with reflashed ECU's after running the numbers on them "stock".  
It's amazing what uncorking the ZX10R does for it......how about the others?  Maybe
re-gear them also and let a new chapter of fun begin at Sport Rider?
Also, can't resist......Suzuki, how long before you throw another hundred cc's into the mix on the Hayabusa?

We've tossed the ECU reflash idea around, but the problem is that Hondas in particular may pose an issue because the reflash requires cutting into the ECU casing, and American Honda is pretty sensitive on us doing modifications that can't be undone to their test bikes; we're working on an end-around solution to this, though, stay tuned (no pun intended). Also, not all the bikes respond as strongly to ECU reflashes as the Kawasaki ZX-10R, for various reasons.

Re-gearing each bike would bring another set of variables into the mix (how much gearing change? Some will respond better than others, not everyone is at the same racetrack, and selecting the best option takes time) that would just confuse the test.  

Kento,  I second the motion to test the ZX-10R with an unrestricted ECM.  I really want to read how it compares with the S1000RR and the Aprillia when it has 190 horsepower.  I was going to buy the BMW until I read that the Kaw actually makes similar hp.  BMW's TC is not as sophisticated as Kawi's, Aprillia's is better than both, but if the ZX-10 has 190 hp, I'm going to buy team green.  

Kento, You installed a flashed ECM in a 2011 ZX-10R and got approximately 175 hp (approx 10 up from stock).  Brock's Performance flashed the ECM with "Euro" tune and forced open the secondary butterflies to get 183.6 hp at the rear tire.  I am very interested in reading how a 183 hp ZX-10R compares to the BMW 1000, the Aprillia RSV4, and the R1.  Please make this happen!  

You need to remember that dynos read differently, and our Superflow dyno is an "eddy current" dyno that puts a load on the engine for a more accurate reading at various rpm, whereas the majority of other dynos out there are Dynojet dynos, which are an "inertia" dyno that produces bigger numbers. The actual power is basically the same.

The ECUnleashed reflash forces the secondary butterflies open as well.  

Now that the Japanese and European liter-bikes have been compared by your sister mag, Motorcyclist, and the BMW was chosen over the Ninja, my question was answered.  Previous issues suggested that the Ninja's TC was better than the BMW's, but this comparo reversed the impression.  BMW S1000RR will be in my garage soon, with Ohlins and Akrapovic.  Thanks, Kento!  

Umm, you'd better wait until you read our comparison in the next issue...we had some issues with the BMW's TC with the new 2012 model...  

Great to hear that the ZX10R responds well to being reflashed. However beyond adding additional HP how does it relate to everyday use and track use? Does the added power improve, diminish or keep the rideability the same?  

We listed all the attributes in our test of the ECUnleashed reflash here.

The reflash improved the Kawasaki in nearly every area of performance, with the possible exception of fuel mileage.