The 12 Minute Tune

[CarlS]

I picked this up from a Triumph mechanic who posted in the Tiger 800 forum at Rat.net. This technique addresses idling problems and bogging down when accelerating. I do not know if this technique is specific to the Tiger 800's. It sounds like it might be applicable to all EFI Triples.

Triumph uses the O2 sensor to adjust the fuel map at idle at lower throttle openings. This is suppose to happen as you ride; but depending on how far you ride and how you are riding it doesn't always happen. It requires the throttle opening to be within a specific range and the bike to be under a specific load condition for a specific amount of time. If all the variables are not met it doesn't readapt. So it's possible over a day of riding for the weather conditions to change enough to cause minor typically unnoticeable running conditions to develop. When the bike is new and breaking in the amount of change necessary to the map can be greater and therefore it's possible to get to a point where the changes necessary in the map become noticeable.

All you need to do to allow the bike to readapt without riding is to start with the motor cold start the bike without touching the throttle and let the bike idle until the fan comes on without touching the throttle.

This is the most fool proof method for someone at home to do this. It actually doesn't require the bike to be cold and you don't actually need to avoid touching the throttle until the coolant has risen to around 170 degrees fahrenheit. But without a Triumph diagnostic system to show you what's going on you can't really tell if it's working thus the simplistic method allowing the bike to readapt. TuneECU has a method that should work as well but it describes it as resetting the TPS. This is part of readapting but not the whole thing. When you readapt you are readapting the TPS idle position the idle fueling and the off idle fueling. Off idle isn't really adapted until you are riding.

To adapt off idle properly find a flat piece of highway cruise in 5th gear for 10 minutes minimum.

The bike updates every 9.5 minutes once hot. The instructions I provided for idle readaptation is exactly per Triumph's instructions except that after the fan comes on they say to let it idle an additional 12 minutes. I've never seen need for that additional 12 minutes (based on watching the bike via Triumph diagnostic computer) on the newer Triumphs made since 2008. The older ones it's probably necessary as the ECU is quite slow on those.

http://www.other forum/tiger-800-800xc-technical-talk/180235-tiger-bogging-down-2.html#post1959928

 

[avion]

I've done this before on Angie. The bike did seem smoother afterwards, but it might be the placebo effect.

 

[CarlS]

Apparently it does work. The technique cured two people problems on that forum.

 

[The Seeker]

I have a bad back.....will it cure that too? Or maybe I should go to the drug store and buy some placebo?

 

[CarlS]

For a bad back you have to sit on it while it is idling.

 

[dazco]

I've done this several times with no change. It's really only necessary iof the bike's adaption is off, but even then it should adapt over several miles anyways. The way i understand it, all it is is a way to make it adapt right away instead of waiting to go several miles. Maybe so that mechanics who work on it will give it to the customer already at peak performance instead of chancing whatever they did may have left it running less than optimal.

Things that may throw adaption off are loading a new map or s changing something such as tors or adding a free flow filter, anything that the EFI needs to compensate for. I wouldn't bother with it unless you have some issue, and even then it may work itself out anyways unless it's a issue adaption will not help with. Oh, and it takes more like 20-25 minutes because you don't start counting down to 12 minutes tioll the fan goe on which usually takes 10 minutes or more. The bike may get very hot even with water cooling. Some say put a fan in front of it. Mine once began spewing smoke from the front of the engine after about 20 minutes !

 

[CarlS]

I agree that this technique is only needed if the bikes adaptation is off. The vast majority of the time normal riding will bring about re-adaptation when necessary. It was something I learned about EFI - and I'm a noob to EFI.

 

[The Seeker]

All this is way too confusing and time consuming!!

It's so much easier to pull off the points cover, set two sets of points, pull off the stator cover, hook up your timing light and shine it inside while someone else holds the throttle at 3,000 RPM because you can't reach it and see the timing mark at the same time, pull off your valve covers, adjust valve clearance on just the right stroke, pull out your spark plugs and check the gap, hook up your expensive vacuum equipment, and adjust each carb just to find out that your throttle slide bores are worn-out.

 

[CarlS]

I hear you and I agree. Good post.

 

[dazco]

On a serious note, one really can't say whether EFI will be his cup of tea till one has owned a bike with it. This one now has and he loves it ! i know a lot of people like carbs but EFI has for me at least turned out to be all i hoped if not more. And with tuneecu you have some control yourself. I used to spend 35-45 minutes changing jets and if the result wasn't good do another 35-35 to put it back. then later try again. Crazy. Now you can just try different maps in 2 minutes or even add fuel yourself in various ranges on a PC easily ! And oh my god....the difference in ride/idle/etc....it's perfection. Not to mention mileage. yes, i did get bad mileage a while ago but i found the problem and while i still don't get as good as i did when it was a 1600, it's still not bad. Consider as a 1600 i was getting the same mileage as my 865 speedmaster that was 200 Lbs lighter ! I couldn't go back to carbs.

 

[otherwise]

On a serious note, one really can't say whether EFI will be his cup of tea till one has owned a bike with it. This one now has and he loves it ! i know a lot of people like carbs but EFI has for me at least turned out to be all i hoped if not more.

I agree, three bikes back I purchased my first EFI and rode home with a smile a mile wide.
I must say that I haven't had the inclination to modify one of the three, possibly I'd change my mind if I did.

Go the EFI.

 

[CarlS]

I like EFI and I like fiddling with carbs. EFI is great for adapting to minor adjustments and altitude changes. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing is going to EFI and eliminating carbs.

 

[Silli]

Freebird, by Lynyrd Skynyrd, is about 12 minutes long ???

 

[avion]

I think EFI has come a long way. It's a lot better than it used to be.

It's still not as smooth as carbs, but it's d@mn close now.

Off to on throttle is still a bit hit and miss with todays bikes, but slowly it's becoming more 'hit'.

 

[dazco]

Off to on throttle is still a bit hit and miss with todays bikes, but slowly it's becoming more 'hit'.

You should try my Tbird ! it runs like a clock w/o the slightest hint of snatchiness or anything. my carb'd speedmaster wasn't as good in any way concerning this. Off to on throttle....you wouldn't believe it if what you described is your experience. It's as smooth and void os snatch as it can be. Literally....it couldn't get better ! Not sure if other EFI triumphs are like that, but ask any Tbird owner and they'll tell you the same unless theirs has an issue. Some of the reviews have mentioned how good the EFI is on this model too.

 

[CarlS]

I think EFI has come a long way. It's a lot better than it used to be.

It's still not as smooth as carbs, but it's d@mn close now.

Off to on throttle is still a bit hit and miss with todays bikes, but slowly it's becoming more 'hit'.

You should try my Tbird ! it runs like a clock w/o the slightest hint of snatchiness or anything. my carb'd speedmaster wasn't as good in any way concerning this. Off to on throttle....you wouldn't believe it if what you described is your experience. It's as smooth and void os snatch as it can be. Literally....it couldn't get better ! Not sure if other EFI triumphs are like that, but ask any Tbird owner and they'll tell you the same unless theirs has an issue. Some of the reviews have mentioned how good the EFI is on this model too.

I agree, G. My Bonnie is a little smoother than the Tiger. The off to on leaves a little to be desired. If one is not used to well tuned carbs, one would probably not notice it.

Dale, I would love to try your T-Bird. The off to on is the only dislike I have about the EFI. Other than that, it appears to be flawless. I'll be up around 6,000 feet next month. I am eager to compare that ride vs my T100.

 

[DaveM]

I :y72: my carbs

 

[CarlS]

Ditto!

 

[otherwise]

I :y72: my carbs

Carbohydrates are essential but take it easy, you don't want to pork up.

 

[shanered6]

I :y72: my carbs

me to carbs all the way somthing you can do at home and you dont need a laptop to do it !