Sunday 8 April 2018

Law abiding citizen - almost.

It's been almost 10 years since I've run a motorcycle exhaust with a baffle installed.

My default position is always Akrapovic, drop the catalytic converter and remove the baffle - let her breathe and encourage the braaarp.

Don't ask me why, I don't have a clever enough answer, but for some reason I felt the need to install the baffle in the Akrapovic on the MT09......ummmm - yeah, dunno?

So here goes.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of work required to get to this bolt.


You've got to take the canister off. There is no clearance to get a tool onto the bolt head, and zero chance of inserting the very tightly fitting baffle - and aligning it - whilst mounted to the bike. 

In order to get the can off, the mounting strap and retention springs have to be removed. 


As everyone who has ever fitted an exhaust canister will attest - retention springs are a bastard invention. Herein lies an industrial design opportunity. Engineer a better retention system - I've got some ideas......


All done, what was set out was achieved, baffle installed. Akrapovic muted somewhat. 




Actually, I do have a reason for trying this. 
Installing a baffle can sometimes aid in on/off throttle hesitation and backfire on the overrun. 
I was curious - OK?

A short spurt, a wheelie or two to test ride the now law abiding citizen. 
Hmmmm....nah - don' think I like that. 
.....I'll sleep on it. 

24 hours later. Restored to the state that nature intended. 
In braaarp mode. 
I'll sleep better tonight. 



\BitSar
Who counts sheep in their sleep? Count the braarps.....

Sunday 11 February 2018

MV Agusta Brutale 800RR - delicious

I am in no way affiliated with any brands or business mentioned in this post and no commercial contributions have been made. All words and opinions are my own. 

Working away in the office on a Monday like any other, a call comes through to my personal phone.

"Hey mate, it's Vic here from Mid Life Cycles -  an MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR has arrived, you want to come along to the launch day and have a ride?"

--You bet your arse I do.

Fast forward to Saturday morning as I saddle up and point the MT09 towards Kinglake, a mini moto mecca, in the sub alpine hills of Victoria's Yarra Ranges. Eyes aghast with beauty on arrival.


MV Agusta really do build some stunning motorcycles, from their styling, to the exotic materials and high end components - these machines are premium with an impeccable fit and finish. Without a skerrick of mass-production. 

After a meet and greet with Vic and the MV Agusta guys, a bit of paperwork and the rider's brief, I get the key to this lovey one. The Brutale 800 RR.


The baby-faced ride leader - current pro tier racer - took off out of Kinglake at a fun pace, allowing us to toy with the MV's a little more than would be usually accepted on a demo ride. Liberating the throttle allowed a buck eighty plus change when the road opened up with a more consistent dollar fifty five in the corners. 

Allegedly........officer. 
Thank you gentleman. 

As we got into the groove it was obvious that the Brutale 800 RR is more racer than roadster - it is very precise and prefers to be travelling at speed in the top half of the tachometer. The lumpy and hesitant bottom end gave over to a free revving, eager and visceral top end rush.

Start up delivered a familiar, laboured ignition - bringing back memories of past Italian insolence. At idle, the exhaust note was a tad agricultural, however fear not, as the 798cc triple spooled up the noise became like a can full of angry wasps, ready to fcuk you up. 

Beyond the mid range, acceleration is exceptional - speed was added to the digital dashboard in a surprising manner, like - BAM - surprise! The quick-shifter was good, not great and better up than down, although I suspect some of this was user error as it took me a while to force my right hand not to give the throttle a momentary pause when shifting. It works better pinned. 



Handling and chassis characteristics were phenomenal, riding position is quite committed and pitched over, requiring you to grip with your knees to hold your weight - or suffer wrist and shoulder pressure - your choice. 

With minimal rake and weight cantered forward over the nose the Brutale handled magnificently, the bike felt magnetised to the earth. What witchcraft is this? 

Given I was riding an unfamiliar bike I was comfortable attacking corners with more gusto than I had told myself I would. That vibrant chassis buzz when cracking on encouraged more speed towards warp territory - and it felt good, bloody good and bloody stable in doing so. The connection to the bike felt mechanical, which is odd considering all the electronics at play.....I suspected more witchcraft here. 


It was sad to hand the key back, the last thought I had in mind was -- 
'Uh oh I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about you. Scalpel sharp on the road and you made my nuts fizz.' 

I think the Brutale 800 RR deserves a place in the multi bike stable, but it would be a bitch to commute on or for touring. But that's not what it's for.

Looked like an espresso machine - delivered like a drug dealer. 
Hooked? 


\BitSar
Trying to unfizz his nuts. 

Friday 19 January 2018

ECU Flashing.....sounds legit?

I'd been thinking about having the MT-09 ECU flashed for quite a while.
Considering I run a straight through exhaust system - it was probably the right thing to do.
On paper.

Readership here is pretty cluey - just in case, ECU flashing is basically as follows. My words.

The ECU (engine control unit) is effectively a mix of computer hardware and software (firmware) which controls engine and operating characteristics of the machine.

Sensors provide data to the system which evaluates the input and provides calibrated output - done.

Least of which the ECU, maintains a fuel map - or more importantly - a mapping from throttle position on the grip to throttle-body position, ignition, injector and - in fancy implementations - valve timings. It's all pretty clever.

A common fuel map is represented as a series of compounding variables which determine a resultant.....ok, ok - terms aside.

Output = input (rider on grip) * (sensor input) * (fuel map bias) * (RPM)


The name of the game is to eliminate the oxygen sensor input at low RPM and small throttle openings, remove top end power/speed limitations and get as close to a 1 x input : 1 x output ratio as can be used smoothly and practically in the real world.  That last part is important, in case underline and bold wasn't obvious enough. 

Most internet forum hounds and riding buddies will firmly attest of the benefits of an ECU flash. They're not all wrong - but they're not perfectly right either......here we go.

Don't believe the internet hysteria about burnt valves and exhaust back-pressure if you drop the catalyser and run a full system tuned by a reputable manufacturer. Insert Akrapovic, Remus, Scorpion etc.

Modern bikes are fuel injected with a myriad of control: Advance or retard ignition, anti-knock sensors, throttle position sensors etc.....and back-pressure? No - unless you've chopped the exhaust off at the extractors - or are running an exotic 2-stroke; back-pressure and gas scavenging is not a thing.

If you're buying your exhaust hardware from eBay or "Dan the man" down the road - I suspect - you've got much bigger problems.....just sayin'

I'll preface the following with, the result of the ECU flash is pretty good.
Bottom end is smoother, top end is exceptional - engine running temperature is cooler.
It. Is. Good.

The experience with the workshop - well, that was pretty shit.

First thing that struck me about the owner/operator was indifference. Let's call him Dave.

Unfortunately, my bike is my transport so I didn't have the option of just taking my ECU in.
This was a mistake.

Dave dismissed any semblance of service on arrival - then continued to dismiss any sense of care or attention.

I watched him 'work' on my bike like a hurried, ill-tempered and distracted squirrel - like I'd taken his precious time away from internet porn or hunting for his nuts. 

Once he'd stripped the bike down to get to the ECU he fucked about with an archaic laptop to run the flashing software. To my horror, when the flash commenced - this moron kicked the patch cable out of the device.....soft brick anyone?

This was the point I spoke up.

"Hey mate, you haven't just bricked that have you? You know, considering you're performing a firmware flash"

Ol'mate Dave
"Nah, but I could have"

We got talking some more. I work in IT - let's just leave it there.

This guy's understanding of fundamentals around binary and hexadecimal data - which is essential to his profession as a tuner - was staggeringly poor. He talked about 'his mapping' and Japanese connection as if he was working directly with the ECU incarnation of Satoshi Nakamoto.

Spare me.

At this point I go and pat his dog (lovely thing) and contemplate pushing my bike home.
Frenzied squirrel fucks about putting my bike back together.
I want to cry.

On the ride home the bike actually feels pretty good, smoother throttle, stronger acceleration.
Not a bad result. But something about the workmanship isn't sitting well.

Over the next couple of weeks I notice a few things.

  • The now disabled O2 sensor has been left dangling and unplugged, open to water ingress and debris. Dude - it's disabled - leave it connected and protected. 
  • The pushpins around the tank haven't been replaced correctly (some are longer than others) - basic mechanical hygiene if you ask me.
  • The fairing mount bots have missing washers. 

But then I noticed this....sometimes being OCD and over observant pays off
(only sometimes) 


Those tank breather and vent tubes aren't where they are supposed to be - time to investigate. I'm going in. 


Unlike others - I like to keep organised. 



Ol'mate Dave nutt sack squirrel only forgot to put the fucking breather and vent hoses back on the tank. No biggie. 


No wonder throttle response was feeling choppy with more backfire on the overrun. Tank pressure was unable to vent as the fuel vaporised and the fuel delivery was suffering.....yep - thanks Dave. 

Problem solved - do it yourself. 



That's better. 


Small things can lead to big things - don't ignore them. 

\BitSar

Hunting squirrels......

Friday 12 January 2018

Drop-off

I've been shit.

In the past this was an active site, with an active community of people.
The drop-off is my fault. I own it.


This is not a problem - rather an opportunity. 

Updates my side - I've had the MT-09 ECU reflashed here
I'm still formulating a response to the experience - suffice to say, it was OK - just OK. Stand-by.

Bike-wise, the MT has had a fresh service and is, hands down, the best bike I've ever owned.
Get some.






/BitSar