XV Tuner ECU Tool

[KWest]

If you would like to purchase a XV Tuner Interface Cable please visit my site for more information

www.WesternRacingDevelopments.com

Over the last year and a half I have been working very hard on understanding the Walbro ECU-C used in the SXV/RXV. In that time I have written software to communicate with the ECU. Until now this has been a closed project that has been limited to a handful of members. With the problems people have been having with TuneBoy, and the limited map database TuneBoy offers. I have decided to wrap my software into a user friendly package and offer it to the general public.

The software is linked to a USB cable that connects to the bike via the factory diagnostic port. I have custom designed/built these cables using the same connectors the factory uses. The cables are fully sealed, as well as short protected. The software/cable package will allow you to use the features below on any SXV/RXV with the Walbro ECU-C. It is not locked to a single ECU like TuneBoy.

Please PM me for more info.

XV Tuner Functions
-ECU Info
- Chassis Serial
- ECU Serial
- Engine Hours
- Current Map

- Realtime Data logging to .csv file @ 25+ Hz
- Engine RPM
- Throttle Position
- Gear Position
- Active Map
- Baro
- Air Temp
- Engine Temp
- Battery Voltage
- Front Injected Fuel
- Rear Injected Fuel
- Front Ignition Timing
- Rear Ignition Timing
- Front Injection Phase
- Rear Injection Phase

- Map Uploader
- Upload All Aprilia Factory Maps
- Optional Alice Racing Tuned Maps (these maps will be available from Stuart in the near future and will be linked to only one ECU)

- Tune Constants
- TPS Low
- TPS High
- Wheel Size
- Wheel Pulses
- Idle CO
- Injection Quantity Correction

- Fault Codes
- View Current ECU Faults
- Reset Check Engine Light

- Future Features
- Custom Maps
- Realtime Tuning
- Wireless Cable Option



EDIT:
To globally answer some questions I have had via PM.

WHAT WILL IT COST?
The software will be provided at NO COST via download. All future versions of the software will also be freely downloadable via a future website. The price for the lead/cable is still being worked out the final cost will be somewhere in the 250 - 275 range. When it is ready for sale there will be a proper method of payment setup outside the AF1 forums.

WHAT SUPPORT WILL YOU OFFER?
The support will be via email, and skype. I will be doing video on how to use the software shortly.

WHAT IS THE WARRANTY?
The lead is warranted for 1 year from the date of purchase. The software cares NO warranty.

WILL YOU REFUND ME IF IT DOESN'T WORK?
Absolutely, if after troubleshooting the issues if the software/cable doesn't work on your computer I will offer a full refund without question.
I will not offer refunds to people that have used the cable/software to map their bikes and try return the cable.

WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE READY?
The first batch of cable will be ready no later then June 15th.

WILL I BE ABLE TO MAKE MY OWN CABLE?
Currently no. The cables are pre-programmed to work with only the XV Tuner software. In the long-term road-map I plan to offer a SDK so people can write their own software.

WILL I BE ABLE TO MAP CUSTOM MAPS?
Currently no. The software will only upload the factory Aprilia maps. In the near future there will be an option to use third party software to modify the maps yourself. This feature will be released as a separate software package. The cost/timeline for this as not been fully established.

CAN YOU DO A CUSTOM MAP FOR ME?
Stuart @ Alice Racing has been kind enough to share his years of experience tuning some of the fastest SXV in the world. Included in the software package will be a custom map with his tuning tips. This will be the only non-factory map I will be providing.

[kennygene]

What is the price?

[amauri]

Awesome KWest

[bufluca]

Send PM

[sxmax]

I want it!!!!

[altaic]

Very cool. And temp readings!

[Alice Racing]

In essence this combines the best features of the Axone / Navigator , Tuneboy and Aprilia MXV software without all the niggling faults, and the Tuner/Dealer version allows you to MAP, not just load someone elses map !

Having spent 15 years in the mobile phone industry in its early years and also spending thousands of pounds on phone chipping software that more often than not didnt actually work, i have come accross many software gurus who "can unlock anything" and very few who can....Kurt is one of those elite few.

[Alice Racing]

I decided to write this article and list the findings 5 years of playing with SXV maps freely for a number of reasons, but mainly to make the point about a number of myths.........

Short story 1

A young rider and his father approached me to help them setup their SXV 450 based road race bike.
Race weekend arrives, and they run in the open class, as do many identical bikes.
I make a number of changes, airfilter, flywheel and the 450 race map we use for supermoto, re written from scratch pretty much.

Rider qualifies on pole, by around 1.5 seconds .
Has a good days racing, wins one , crashes one, 3rd in final or something like that, but good results.
After one bad start he has to come through the field, passing bikes similar to his, the difference in performance is very very noticeable down the straight.

Surprise surprise, the bike is pulled and put on the trackside mobile dyno.
The father, up to this point is over the moon with the weekends racing and results.
He then approaches me with his dyno sheet, which i refuse to look at.
" The dyno guy says its too rich and if we lean it off it will make more power"
( i am SICK of hearing this line !!......what he means is, THE CYLINDER FILLING AT THAT POINT IS PARTICULARLY GOOD !!!! )

I ask him if he saw his son pass the other bikes like they were stood still ?, if he qualified on pole ?and has had the best results so far this season ?, which he confirms............but still does not understand why i have lost interest and decline his offer to work with them for the rest of the season.

The SXV "RACE" maps available free from Aprilia are very tame , for obvious reasons, they are freely available to use in any country, so hugely varying altitudes, temperatures, fuel grades etc etc.
If they were close to the edge motors would be blowing up every race !

In the same way there are many chip tuning companies and specialist mappers for all motor vehicles, there isnt a car or bike in the world that cannot be improved mapping wise.

The changes i list below, step by step, work !.............ive proven it enough times, had enough riders of all levels come back with a huge grin and plenty of sincere "thank you" emails.

My background ?, i am self taught and have messed around mapping cars and bikes for years, learning from various people along the way.........learning how NOT to do it mostly !

Ok, the maps

These are obviously generic instructions and can be applied to any map, nothing you do here will harm your motor, but if its tired, it may well push it into a early grave !

*** AFTER EACH STEP.....RIDE THE BIKE !!!!!***

Firstly, we can wake it up a little ( ignition advance = Horsepower, FACT)
A
Add 1 % fuel across the board, the whole map
B
Add 2 degrees ignition from 3000rpm to 13000prm ( to limiter in other words)

RIDE BIKE !

Then we can cut the engine braking
C
Take out (-) 10, yes 10 degrees of ignition on closed throttle positions, for example, 0,2,4,and 6 percent throttle opening from 3000 to 13000 rpm and add 25% , yes 25 ! of fuel in the same positions 3000 TO 13000 RPM

You can regulate this to suit yourself, going up to -20 degrees ignition and 40% more fuel
Remember its 40% of very little in the first instance, so dont let the numbers put you off.

RIDE THE BIKE............WHATS DIFFERENT ?, HMMMM !!!...........RUNS INTO CORNERS ?, NEED TO BRAKE HARDER DO WE ?? CRISPER WHEN YOU GET BACK ON THE THROTTLE TOO ?

Now the real secret, huge midrange hit...but before that...........

Short Story 2

Dynos.............are for people who cant do it by ear and feel, well, to a point anyway !
Very few operators know how to use them, they go on a 2 day course at best, and are told that 13 to 1 air fuel ratio is the holy grail........THIS IS COMPLETE BOLLOCKS !!!!!

Dynos are very clever, but the only factual information you can get from them is TIME, every other snippet of information is someones interpretation , someones software, its not real.
so, it stands to reason, a dyno printout without a time axis along the bottom IS A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND PAPER !!!
A bike on a dyno is on level ground, with no wind resistance, no weight to pull, its not real world.
And as for those big fans , lol, do you really think you would be able to stand up in the booth if they were a true replication of 100mph air , let alone a superbike at 200mph
73 mph wind is officially a Tornado !

Example
Bike A has 100 hp peak, and takes 10 seconds to get from idle to limiter
Bike B has 95 hp peak, but takes 9 seconds to get there

Which bike would you rather race ?

Every race engine i have seen or had anything to do with in the last 30 years i have run at 12.5 at the redline, but in the low 10's / high 11's in the midrange..thats BSB Yamahas to BMW Motorsport M3's, 1000 hp Skylines to 250 Karts and back again, so im in good company here !!
I see dyno graphs with 13.5:1 at peak torque !, well no engine i am paying for would run that lean, no way !!

Anyway, the biggest change is.......

Change point of injection from 360 to 380 from 5000RPM to 13000 rpm

NOW RIDE THE BIKE !!

Want more..........add 1% fuel everywhere, and 1 more degree of ignition everywhere, its perfectly fine and safe.

As for cleaning up the idle to give a strong solid consistent tickover, make all the ignition values the same from 1600 rpm to 2200rpm, they are a mess and thats why they hunt and cough etc.
Once its warm and idling happily, load up the idle CO, slowly until it just starts to drag the idle speed down, and is crisp when you blip it.
This also has a bearing on the off, back on, throttle transition, so play around with small changes until you hit the sweet spot.

You can make the top 3 lines of the map or throttle positions the same , or from 75% throttle onwards all the same as 100% throttle

At 13000 rpm, thats 216 revs per second, the ECU is fast, but it all aids smoother better running.

These are basic changes, i have run much much more ignition advance than above, using very lightweight internals with DLC coating.....why ?, the lighter it is, the less friction, the quicker it revs, so its in one part of the map for less time, so you can add another degree of ignition here and there, and it will take it !

One last point, i have always had my SXV throttles open TOGETHER.
Now you can map, you alter the map to suit the individual cylinder, not open one throttle more than the other, thats just stupid !
All the engine has to do at idle........... is idle, nice and strong, you dont do much racing at idle !

If you spend the time, and clean the map up line by line ( takes quite a while !) you will have a much easier starting, harder hitting, smother running and easier to ride bike.

I have never charged to load maps using Axone, but dont mind a coffee for my time and trouble, and enough people have suggested i sell maps on Ebay or similar, but this way its free info for everyone, and i am finished with SXV mapping, and well into the MXV maps now,but if you try the above and like what you discover, my Paypal address is info@aliceracing.com, lets see if there is still any integrity left in the world ?

And please, DO NOT email me asking "what power will my bike make now ?".........you really wont like the reply !

[Alice Racing]

Not at all, obviously there is more and lots of other tricks , and can add to it if requested.

[altaic]

Oops, I somehow deleted my post:

WOW great write up! Thanks! At some point soon I will do a major update to XV Asylum. Would you mind if I included your tuning method?

Anyway, many thanks. The wiki update will also clean out a lot of spam/ads. I had to lock it up for editing because of spammers, but I'm more than happy to grant access to people interested in contributing.

[amauri]

And please, DO NOT email me asking "what power will my bike make now ?".........you really wont like the reply !

good one

[Dark]

Stuart, great tips and we definitely appreciate the information!

I'm itching for these to be ready and one to end up at my door step!

[J_B]

Thank you both (KWest and Stuart) - some great developments/knowledge being shared.
Will be very keen to be involved when this comes available.

[sxv_mitch]

i too am very interested in this new development, will there be type of user manual to show the in's and out's of the new program. once a again thank you to stuart for shairing you wealth of knowledge.

[eazaudio]

Want one too!!