Table of contents
- Electronics tuning, chip, control unit Flash, flash, flash!
- Flashing – the most versatile type of electronics tuning
- Most ECUs cannot be overwritten indefinitely
- Additional modules still have their authorization
- Flashing obstacles
- Dictionary
Bilski
accesories
Flashing electronics tuning chip control unit
Electronics tuning, chip, control unit
Flash, flash, flash!
Content of
Overwriting programs from original engine controls is the supreme discipline in electronics tuning. PS says how to do it and what you absolutely need to know about it.
Volkmar Jacob
05/20/2014
Flashing is on everyone’s lips. Behind this is the reprogramming of the standard engine control, known in specialist circles as the ECU (Electronic Control Unit). When flashing, specialists crack the codes in the small electronics boxes and get deep into the machine’s “brain”. Then the cracks read out the factory data and overwrite it in order to get the full potential out of the bikes. To do this, they remove, for example, electronic chokes that the manufacturers program for homologation or safety reasons. Power reductions at certain speeds and / or gears are widespread. The plants simply lean the gasoline / air mixture in a desired window, and the exhaust gas values are already correct. When it comes to high-performance machines, manufacturers often also cut the power in the lower gears – after all, customers shouldn’t be overwhelmed.
Buy complete article
Electronics tuning, chip, control unit
Flash, flash, flash!
6 pages) as PDF
€ 2.00
Buy now
“Sometimes the factories also throttle the output in order to proudly announce in later model revisions that they have found some horsepower and a few Newton meters”, knows Stefan “Brix” Briege (www.motorsport-brix.xobor.de). The Upper Franconian is one of four specialists worldwide who can read, process and overwrite almost all data from original ECUs. This is how Briege and his partners differ from other providers, who usually have data sets prefabricated by third parties uploaded to the ECUs without any further detailed knowledge and who take an unjustifiably large amount of money for this. But how do you tell professionals and free riders apart? The best way to do this is by asking around in the scene, keyword word of mouth. Much is also based on trust. If you want to be on the safe side, you can flash it on site: Real cracks program the ECU live in the presence of the customer if required; the electronics boxes must be sent in to other providers.
Flashing – the most versatile type of electronics tuning
In addition to eliminating throttles, flashing offers numerous other options: changing the ignition / injection map, canceling the fuel cut, reprogramming the secondary throttle valve control, removing the maximum speed limit, changing the speed limit, deactivating the lambda probe and secondary air system, more variable fine-tuning Carry out the intake funnel, correct the fan activation temperature, adjust the engine brake, deactivate the exhaust flap control, adjust the damping of the electronically controlled steering damper, set or program the quickshifter and pit limiter for the pit lane. Most of the measures are aimed at engine performance with the intention of making the throttle response softer, improving the response behavior and optimizing the power and torque curve.
According to Briege, flashed bikes do not consume more petrol than standard bikes, and usually even a little less. In addition, “the exhaust gas behavior changes only marginally, since the standard lambda control only works in a low speed range anyway”. At least for now. Because the scene rumors that the lambda will have to be regulated across the entire speed range in the future. If the lambda control is active, a flashed machine would easily pass the emissions test, according to Briege. However, after interfering with the ECU, the general operating permit (ABE) expires. Responsible tuners therefore always refer their customers to pure racetrack use.
traffic & business
Legal situation for tuning measures on the motorcycle
Motorcycle tuning and insurance law
read more
Modern Classic
Motorcycle conversion and tuning guide
Approval marks, entries, general operating permit
read more
Buy tuning parts at markt.motorradonline.de
Most ECUs cannot be overwritten indefinitely
Anyone who is toying with the idea of flashing their street bike should be warned: tampering with the ECU can hardly be proven. To do this, the plant would have to issue the access codes, which it usually does not do – not even for its dealers. When visiting the workshop, however, they occasionally play software updates that simply overwrite the flashed data on some motorcycle brands.
In addition to the modifications already mentioned, the immobilizer can also be canceled. Advantage: There is no fiddling with the ignition key, the kill switch takes over the tasks of the ignition lock. In theory, stolen bikes could also be revived in this way. But thieves watch out: reputable providers require vehicle documents for deactivating the immobilizer, which only the rightful owner has! They can also have the coding of the ignition key canceled if they want to use uncoded replacement keys.
Flashing offers other possibilities. Briege is currently testing whether the standard traction control of the new Kawasaki Z 1000 SX can be transferred to the Z 1000, which is almost identical on the engine side and which unfortunately does not offer this feature in the series. Most ECUs cannot be overwritten an unlimited number of times. Some manufacturers allow twelve, others 100 flashes. Those who often overwrite will sooner or later reach their limits. But even here professionals know how to help: simply reset the electronic counter, done.
Additional modules still have their authorization
Since flashing the original engine control also allows changes to the ignition and injection, additional modules such as Power Commander, Bazzaz, Rapid Bike and Co. are in principle superfluous. It is even possible to transfer a program (“mapping”) developed with these helpers to the standard ECU. In addition, the series part also takes on the so-called auto-tune function. The control unit automatically adjusts the required, preset value of the gasoline / air mixture to external conditions such as air pressure or temperature.
But additional modules are still justified. That is when a bike has neither traction control nor an automatic gearshift. The small additional magic boxes offer these features, and pit limiters are usually also on board. In the realm of fairy tales, Briege refers the persistent rumor that some Suzuki ECUs are already programmed with an automatic gearshift and traction control as standard.
But does overwriting the standard ECU make sense at all? Finally, most manufacturers offer programmable kit controllers for the race. “Yes, because tuners such as the Suzuki specialist Yoshimura get a lot of money for their ECUs,” says the master. “In addition, you need a different wiring harness for such a part and, depending on the tuning measure, it should ideally also be mapped, which of course also costs money.” Which brings us to the subject of prices. Briege and his business partners ask for a standard flash from 250 euros. If you also have your bike tuned on the test bench, you can add a few tickets depending on the effort. A real recommendation, especially for tuned bikes, after all, their owners want to get the most out of the box with an individual adjustment – the Royal Flash!
Flashing obstacles
Motorcycle manufacturers do not like to be looked at in the cards. This is another reason why they make it as difficult as possible for hackers to crack their ECUs. In addition, according to insider Stefan Briege, the legislature also requires the highest possible security precautions so that unauthorized persons do not get to the valuable data in order to manipulate it. The manufacturers are going different ways.
With older machines in particular, the chips with the coveted data records can only be accessed if the ECU is opened forcibly, which usually makes it unusable. Honda still does this today. With other brands, cracks now access the data by tapping the plug connections (“pins”) for the cable harness. Since their assignment is nowhere described, the hackers need special, self-developed tools to get the information they want. Once you have cracked the so-called boot loader password, you can read out the raw data – a huge number of digits, numbers and characters. This contains the commands for engine control such as gear-selective throttles.
Fies: Sometimes the manufacturers change the commands themselves within a series so that the same code can have different meanings. Ducati also uses common locks. For example, if you transfer the mapping of the stronger S version of the new Monster 1200 to the weaker normal version, the system recognizes the ruse and refuses to start work. In addition, the Panigale’s immobilizer is stored in the ECU as well as in the cockpit and in the ignition lock. If you only flash the ECU, the box will no longer work properly. These examples show that the hackers still need a lot of creativity and brainpower to be able to crack ECUs in the future. A real game of cat and mouse, open-ended.
Dictionary
AFR value: Air-fuel ratio, better known under the term lambda value. This shows the combustion air ratio. A value of 1 means that the mixture consists of one part fuel and 14.7 parts air.
Auto tune: Additional module that maintains preset values for the mixture composition even under a wide variety of external conditions (example: air pressure, temperature). This ensures that the engine is always supplied with the desired air / fuel ratio.
Boot loader password: Code that is needed to read data from the ECU.
CPU: Central Processing Unit, also called ECU (see there).
ECU: Electronic control unit, electronic engine control. The ECU controls all parameters relevant to the engine such as injection, ignition and much more.
Flashing: Refers to the overwriting of a data carrier with new software.
Interface: Data cable that establishes the connection between an ECU and the computer.
Map: Three-dimensional graphic representation. The injection map of an engine illustrates, for example, the relationship between speed, throttle valve position and injection time. There are also maps for the ignition, traction control and other electronically controlled elements.
Mapping: English for mapping. In engine control, the term refers to the programming of the electronics required for this.
Fuel cut-off: (“Fuel-Cut”) Prevents fuel from being injected when the throttle grip is closed (push mode). The overrun fuel cut-off reduces fuel consumption.
Related articles
-
2snap 13th pictures 2snap / 2D 1/13 Around 10,000 numbers control the function of a MotoGP engine. The seemingly confusing diagrams of the engine…
-
Technology: injection electronics
K counselor technology & future Technology: injection electronics Technology: injection electronics What’s humming there?? Content of When five-year-olds…
-
Schwab Sports & scene History of motorcycle tuning History of motorcycle tuning Tuners have never had it harder Content of About 50 years ago, motorcycle…
-
Yamaha FZ1 Fazer motorcycles Tuning: LKM-FZ1 Tuning: LKM-FZ1 Yamaha FZ1 – rebuilt by LKM It will appear again in a moment, this nasty place. In five…
-
Yamaha 20th pictures KTM 1/20 HP knowledge technology part 17 – Electronic injection and engine control. Yamaha 2/20 HP knowledge technology part 17 -…
-
Yamaha counselor technology & future Valve control gas exchange PS technology series part 2 Valve control and gas exchange Content of Almost exactly four…
-
jkuenstle.de 15th pictures manufacturer 1/15 There are many wearing parts in a brake system. First and foremost, these are the pads, brake fluid and the…
-
Triumph Street Triple – Series, Cup, Tuning
K motorcycles Triumph Street Triple – Series, Cup, Tuning Triumph Street Triple – Series, Cup, Tuning Family Day Content of Three sisters: they have a…
-
Suspension special: Part 8 – fork tuning
Jahn accesories landing gear & Spring elements Suspension special: Part 8 – fork tuning Suspension special: fork tuning What are the real benefits of…
-
Blue speed camera control pillars for truck tolls
Toll Collect counselor traffic & business Blue speed camera control pillars for truck tolls The new blue pillars flash? Control pillars for the truck…