PFI Aprilia SR50's

[High-Gain SR50]

HGT PFI owners can post their PFI specific questions in this section.
PLEASE DO NOT upload calibration files (they will be deleted). I have hundreds of hours in some and do not share them openly.
I am also doing RS50's and 80's so I may send those forum members here also. One in particular is a land speed record holder that AF1 built the engine for.

The PFI system will not be made as a kit to be sold to the general public. It is something I have spent a lot of time on for my personal enjoyment. Those that currently have it have my full support and always have. The only PFI builds that will evolve from here forward will be those that entice me and are in my full posession to build from start to finish.

Links to Info, builds and videos of Morini's:

HGT PFI for the Morini
Looooong term personal commuter project, SR 70 HGT PFI trike
Grenadiers HGT PFI Build thread




Links to Info, builds and videos of Piaggio's:

86cc Malossi Replica Build... In progress86cc
Piaggio PFI build / Now unlocked
"Worlds First HGT 70cc PFI Piaggio"
Snugg's '09 SR70 PFI Commuter






Links to Info and videos of other PFI Builds:
Aprilia RS50 PFI Build

[Grenadiers]

Cool! we now have a dedicated thread to PFI builds!!

Let the talk and pictures begin!!

[polepeach]

cool, ill be sure to use it

[Grenadiers]

HERE is video number 1 of my PFI Test Ride and HERE is video number 2 of the ride…

Photos and more runs will follow!!

[Louder North]

HERE is video number 1 of my PFI Test Ride and HERE is video number 2 of the ride…

Photos and more runs will follow!!

Great! But have to admit, I thought this was the first test ride in Winnipeg - still waiting for your reflashed ECU to arrive?

[Grenadiers]

Yup... It's "in the mail" and on it's way as we speak (er... write...)!!!

[Rosscofat]

excited to see!

[Grenadiers]

Yeah, I think I know why I couldn't get her to start when I got back except with starting fluid...

I believe I need to bump my Fuel Reg pressure up from the current 38/39psi (her setting in CO) to perhaps 45 psi (or even a bit higher)...

I can tell you this however, once she starts, she's not stopping till I need to re-fuel her!!! And then I intend to ride her some more!! I plan/hope to go through a couple of tanks of fuel this weekend if the ECU arrives by this Friday!!

[Rosscofat]

Here's hoping! Get that beast on the road.. show your gf the real man's bike now!

[Grenadiers]

LMAO!!

I just told my GF what you wrote... She hasn't registered her bike yet this year for a couple of reasons (mainly the cost of Insurance with MPI!!), but she told me to tell you that she WILL be registering it and hitting the road tonight to track you down and "...show you a real bike..."

She now also wants to race me!! LOL!!!

[Rosscofat]

I have no engine.. so tipicle of a Harley rider.. take em on st the weakest moment.. haha jkjk the cost must be brutal there with mpi

[Grenadiers]

I've had a few people ask the question, so I'm posting this in the PFI build sticky for others that may ask...

"Can I do this?"

There is a LOT that goes into a PFI conversion... I'm trained as a Mechanic and I’ve worked on the SR50 (mine and others) for more than 5 years now and I can tell you it’s not as easy as it might appear at “first blush”. If one thinks that they can install this like a "regular BBK" install on a DiTech that can be done in an afternoon, think again. This is a "precise install". Add in the verification/commissioning process that Rich does, and you've got DAYS of 8 to 10 hour days of work doing a complete "from scratch" PFI conversion...

Just to be clear, it’s not impossible, but it is not easy, nor could just anyone install the kit. In fact the installation, on a scale of 1 to 10 is a 9.2 from start to finish!!

BUT, the setting up AFTER the installation is the real trick!! Here, you would have to now the ECU Programing software, the "feel" of the running engine and the parameters for the fuel Injectors in particular. Rich can tell, just by listening to the engine, what needs to be adjusted and what parameters to set the injectors to.

This is where Rich’s experience comes into play… Once the PFI setup was “soft installed” (that means pretty much everything was in place, like the engine and some of the wiring, but not hard wired yet), he did tests to get my bike running. Once we got it running, we (and I say that loosely as he passed wires to me and I held them while he soldered them in place) then proceeded to “hard mount’ all the wires and sensors. Then comes the "Commissioning and Tuning" phase of the install.

Then there was the fine tuning of the ECU Software. Again, Rich can hear the difference in the engine and know what needs to be adjusted.

Time frames.

Engine work: This is relatively the easy part. Tearing it all down (to install the Full Circle Crankshaft, bearings and seals), cleaning and then rebuilding and installing the top end: about 4 to 10 hours at least, depending on things like if you plan to paint the case and/or doing other details (such as Porting and Matching).

PFI part of the setup: Wiring and testing about 4 to 7 hours (both soft and hard wiring).

Initial Programing to get running: ?? That’s hard to nail down and somewhat subjective as Rich knows the software inside and out.

3 Heat cycles: at least 7 hours depending on how hot it is outside. We had a Swamp Cooler to help to cool the bike down after each run.

Fine tuning the Transmission: ?? Again this is where Rich’s experience comes to play as he was able to “cut to the chase”, but a couple of hours minimum for sure.

Dyno Testing and Tuning: Another couple of hours at least for no fewer than 3 to 5 pulls to confirm each of the proposed setups (of course he has a scooter dyno and they aren’t generally available at your corner Scooter Shop…).

All of the above times assume no issues or “surprises”. I had a couple including the new crankshaft I had in my bike for less than a year developed a bad low end bearing, rear gear bearing that was also bad, etc.

I was there for 9 days of which almost all of my awake time was spent working on the bike. I did do other things to the bike as well, and we had to replace the Piston Ring because of a Coolant Line coming off during a high speed run and the ring lost its tension (Compression went from 110PSII to 60… not good). That all took up valuable time I had down there.

This is not an installation that can be done “overnight” and just getting her running again will be a bit of head scratching.

Is it impossible for an experienced Mechanic or Tech to do the job? No. But again this is not like any BBK install. The closet analogy would be taking a DiTech and converting her to a Carb'd setup. Anyone that has done or attempted to do it knows what's involved.

But you will need lots of time and patients. If after all that you still feel confident in doing the work yourself, than by all means go for it!

The only thing I don’t know is if Rich has an “Install sheet” to guide you through the PFI Install.

The PITA factor could be a bit on the high side from my POV. But you may be WAY more comfortable doing the work yourself! There is also the assurance that the work was done by and to your own standards when you do the work yourself (mind you, the work Rich does on these scoots is beyond reproach and if I had another scooter, I wouldn’t hesitate to have him work on it!!). Depending on where you are in relation to CO, you may be better off packing up the motor at least and shipping it for Rich to work on it.

[Rosscofat]

Good write up.

Thanks for that.. I know when I go PFI.. either I buy a second scooter or the one I have now.. I will most likely be delivering it to him and let him do the magic.

[High-Gain SR50]

Tim's installation was not a typical one as there was a lot of engine work done.
The time involved is still lengthy. I don't believe there will ever be a plug and play kit due to all the variables.

[Grenadiers]

Good write up.

Thanks for that.. I know when I go PFI.. either I buy a second scooter or the one I have now.. I will most likely be delivering it to him and let him do the magic.

If you can swing it, I highly recommend taking it to him personally and helping with the work (this will save you a bit, the work gets done a bit faster in some cases AND you will learn a BOAT load!!)!!

Just to see his Workshop/Garage, the HGT "Candy Store" and his stable of bikes is worth the "price of Admission"!!