power commander question

[chris01]

Hi,
I have an 08 factory model standard apart from 02 optimiser and power commanderIII with standard map.
The bike still has snatchy throttle at around 3.5 - 4k and before I spen money on a custom map I wondered if the XT660 or MT03 map would be OK to try, maybe better ?
anyone got any knowledge on this
Thanks

Chris

[ytc1]

Hi,
I have an 08 factory model standard apart from 02 optimiser and power commanderIII with standard map.
The bike still has snatchy throttle at around 3.5 - 4k and before I spen money on a custom map I wondered if the XT660 or MT03 map would be OK to try, maybe better ?
anyone got any knowledge on this
Thanks

Chris

I've said it before, and I will keep saying it.

*You do not need a Power Commander*

Either

a) Don't ride at 3.5->4k
or
b) Stick a K&N filter in.

[Frodo]

I've said it before, and I will keep saying it.

*You do not need a Power Commander*

Either

a) Don't ride at 3.5->4k
or
b) Stick a K&N filter in.

I have a similar bike to YTC (without the lambda sensor that your's has), but I found that the Power Commander made a world of difference and I would highly recommend it. The snatchiness at 3,500 t0 4,500 has gone, with the exception of going down a particular hill in my morning commute where light on-throttle in 4th will cause some snatchiness, so I simply change into 5th. Otherwise it made a huge difference.
As YTC suggested, I installed a K&N filter, plus I cut the snorkel off just inside the airbox. I tried an iridium spark plug but didn't notice any difference before I fitted the Power Commander. I have standard pipes.

I got a custom map done and found that made a few percent improvement, but not as much as the initial installation of the Power Commander. I found that I had to manually change the map to reduce the mixture at 2800rpm on a closed throttle to remove a weird irregularity when throttling down. I rode a Transalp 650 for 9000km and a Funduro for 20,000km and those bikes (carburetted) had better fuelling. But I'm happy (I wouldn't go back to either bike) and I can email you my custom map if you PM me your details.

I can remember that someone on this forum tried the XT map and liked it.

[dobbi]

I don't know if the Power commander thing is a matter of bike to bike differences or rider to rider differences. Personally, when I bought my trail with 18000 miles on it i did notice a difficult spot at 4000rpm. It got better with a good service and spark plug change. The airbox mod appeared to work well and iridium plug too. These days I hardly notice it. It is a weak area in the rev range and you don't want to use it constantly, but you can get by on it, It won't spoil your day. I would agree with Ytc1 and say that for my bike, a power comdader is not needed when I consider cost benefit ratio.

There are a lot of ifs and buts involved here so I would just take this as my opinion on my bike. Damn, I am good at get out clauses....

[chris01]

Hi Frodo,
sorry for delay in replying.
I simply cannot understand why YTC says there is not a problem, a simple search on the web show all bikes with this engine set-up have the same problem, XT660, MZ baghera, MT03
derbi thing whos name ive forgotten.

I would like to try your map so if thats ok i'll pm you my email

thanks
Chris

[ytc1]

I have a similar bike to YTC (without the lambda sensor that your's has), .

We have 1 with the sensor and 1 without.

Both run fine with just the K&N (and Iridium plugs)

[ytc1]

Hi Frodo,
sorry for delay in replying.
I simply cannot understand why YTC says there is not a problem, a simple search on the web show all bikes with this engine set-up have the same problem, XT660, MZ baghera, MT03
derbi thing whos name ive forgotten.

I would like to try your map so if thats ok i'll pm you my email

thanks
Chris

I did not say there is not a problem, I said there is no need to waste money on a PC.

Yes, there is a "dead spot"/snatch at 3.5->4k. But by adding a K&N filter you drop that to below 3.5k.

You don't ride the bike at the rev, that is plain madness.

It is not needed, don't waste the money.

We have 2 bikes that have done over 40k without such fripperies.

[Factory660]

I fitted a genuine Dynojet O2 optimiser and Power commander III with a custom map.

To be perfectly honest, I fitted the O2 optimiser first and it improved the 3k 4k issue about 75%.

I fitted the power commander with the standard map, but there was no marked improvement.

I paid about £140 for a custom map, but although there was a marked power improvement at the top end, it did nothing in my opinion to help the 3k 4k issue.

I sold the power commander, but left the optimiser on the bike, then swapped it for a CBR600.

All history now ....

[ytc1]

I fitted a genuine Dynojet O2 optimiser and Power commander III with a custom map.

To be perfectly honest, I fitted the O2 optimiser first and it improved the 3k 4k issue about 75%.

I fitted the power commander with the standard map, but there was no marked improvement.

I paid about £140 for a custom map, but although there was a marked power improvement at the top end, it did nothing in my opinion to help the 3k 4k issue.

I sold the power commander, but left the optimiser on the bike, then swapped it for a CBR600.

All history now ....

This goes to show/prove a number of things.

Notably that a PC is nor needed, and that you bought the wrong bike in the 1st place :-)