Is Remapping Required ?

[Plyrod38]

I have heard different opinions on the need for remapping when both a free flow exhaust, and air box elimination is done on the pre 2014 Spyders. I already run the Two Brothers slip on, and want to add JT's air cleaner, which would eliminate the air box.

I feel confident someone on the forum has done this and will be willing to share information regarding the need for a remap. Will the on-board computer compensate for the changes?
The same changes made a day/night difference in the performance on my Triumph, but it needed a trip to the dealer for a remap.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

 

[Chupaca]

Depends..!

I have a hindle exhaust and the JT air cleaner with the K&N filter and no fuel controler. You really have to make the changes and see. Some pipes need remapping others don't some folks can live with some popping some can't. My set up works great but I am running a manual clutch with more control on engine compression. The semi automatics are a bit tougher...:thumbup:

 

[Plyrod38]

Thanks Chupaca,

I can live with popping, my concern would be with running too lean and overheating the engine.
We have some differences in our rydes, but still are working with the same base.

Thanks Again,
Bill

 

[spyderbirds]

2010 RT with the Two Brothers pipe and the air box removed, Kewlmetal kit, (before JT's was available)
I added a tip to the exhaust to eliminate some minor deceleration popping. Over 20,000 miles on this set up with no issues here.

You should be good :thumbup:

 

[Plyrod38]

Thanks Spyderbirds,

It's great to know this can be done without the "tuner".

 

[Oldfox]

You'll have several opinions, and do you really need to remap, the answer is no with a BUT. Any changes to the air input and exhaust system will affect the mapping as you mentioned and degrade the performance. It's only a matter of how severe it will be. Anyone who has ever changed an exhaust system on a car or motorcycle or upgraded the air intake to improve performance knows this.

Opinions will very because they are subjective. It's difficult for us humans to feel the differences, we can hear differences in sound easy enough but our sense of acceleration is crude at best. True of all engines, you can run them a little lean or a little rich and it doesn't really affect the engine too much, but it does affect performance which is why a lot of people buy power commanders. Whether you will notice it depends a great deal on your riding style.

I personally don't like catalytic converter's and would like to get rid of the one on my RT.

Hope you have some good riding days, my RT is in the shop right now and the weather has been terrible out here lately. It's raining, which should improve our drought situation.

 

[Colin]

Letting your Spyder "idle only" once you have made the changes seems to help, supposedly it gives
the computer time to recognise the changes and adjust to suit, I have done this with all of my exhaust changes
on all 4 Spyders I have owned and only have decel popping when you only half throttle off and rethrottle.

 

[Plyrod38]

You'll have several opinions, and do you really need to remap, the answer is no with a BUT. Any changes to the air input and exhaust system will affect the mapping as you mentioned and degrade the performance. It's only a matter of how severe it will be. Anyone who has ever changed an exhaust system on a car or motorcycle or upgraded the air intake to improve performance knows this.

Opinions will very because they are subjective. It's difficult for us humans to feel the differences, we can hear differences in sound easy enough but our sense of acceleration is crude at best. True of all engines, you can run them a little lean or a little rich and it doesn't really affect the engine too much, but it does affect performance which is why a lot of people buy power commanders. Whether you will notice it depends a great deal on your riding style.

I personally don't like catalytic converter's and would like to get rid of the one on my RT.

Hope you have some good riding days, my RT is in the shop right now and the weather has been terrible out here lately. It's raining, which should improve our drought situation.

Hey Oldfox,
Thanks for your perspective on my inquiry. I think I'll give it a shot without the power commander for now. I'm an "old school" street rodder and two wheel rider, this computerized, fuel injection, is difficult for me to comprehend.
Today was an excellent riding day here in North Carolina, we were able to do a little under 100 miles yesterday, but today we were very busy operating a leaf blower. This is annual three day chore.
I hope you see weather improvements on the left coast, I've been watching your situation on the evening news, it's probably a good time to have your Spyder in the shop.

Take Care,
Bill

 

[daveinva]

As a past victim of the exhaust "sweater thread pull"... all I can say is, good luck. :joke:

Got a Yoshi... had popping.

Got the KewlMetal intake to address the popping... had popping. (BUT got rid of that ginormous airbox, the RS is oh-so-luxurious and spacious underneath the tupperware without it).

Got a JuiceBox Pro to address the popping... have far, far less popping, but now enjoy a wonderfully temperamental Spyder that I have to tweak on a regular basis. Without the benefit of a dyno, a fuel controller isn't a Ron Popeil product, you can't just "set it and forget it." Depending on the outside temperature and the altitude I'm riding at, my JB settings get tweaked all the time, not just for performance but also for mileage.

To top it off, the settings will make the Spyder throw codes every now and again-- ask me how many times I've had to switch off the Spyder to cycle the "Check Engine" light for exhaust errors (Actually, don't ask!). It hasn't harmed the Spyder at all, dealer's confirmed, but it's unfortunately made BUDS pretty unreliable to detect serious problems, i.e. the warning light's cried wolf so many times, I have no confidence that it'll ever warn me in the event of a SERIOUS problem.

Bottom line? Next Spyder, I'm getting an OEM Akrapovic, and leaving it at that. Chasing a different exhaust note or a few extra horsepower without the benefit of a professional dyno isn't worth the (serious) price and frustration, IMHO.

That said... after all the mods, my Spyder sure is fun. :doorag:

 

[Plyrod38]

Dave,

Your experience is worthy of note. This is the type of information I was seeking.

I'm running the Two Brothers slip on and I do get an occasional pop when shifting.

My friend brought up an interesting question...."How will removing the air box effect the extended waranty"?

Thanks for your input,
Bill