A More Affordable Flash Option?

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Even though I've had my '15 re-flashed using the Flash Tune brand at a local shop, there's still room for improvement. The on-off throttle abruptness is better but not gone. I think now rather than the fuel cut off delay, what I'm feeling is a bit too steep a response in S mode for the first few degrees for smooth riding, particularly on bumpy surfaces. I've been forcing myself to ride around town and in heavy traffic more often in S mode, so absent bumps I can control it pretty smoothly, even in 2nd at changing speeds with the clutch completely released, but it takes more concentration than I like. I've been thinking about having Anthony re-re-flash it for me.
 

Bob Dobalina

New Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
5
Location
Lompoc, CA
I've had just a couple of days riding since Anthony flashed my ECU and find that I wish I'd done this earlier. I've added Arrow headers and Yoshimura exhaust to my '14 and thought I needed a PowerCommander to match that configuration. The bike was quicker for sure but mileage dropped to the low 30s. Seems best use of the PC is beyond my understanding and I couldn't find a map that worked as I'd hoped.
Removed PC, sent ECU off to Anthony. Door to door was1 wk. Waaaaay better...smoother, quicker. As some have said it woke up the bike and I didn't know it'd been sleeping. Mileage is better...upper 30s w spirited riding and mid 40s just cruising. Biggest difference for me is the feel of the bike...as I said, smoother, quicker, easier. It's taken me 45k mi to figure it out learning as I go.
 

Shipwreck

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
105
Location
Colorado
Bob Dobalina said:
I've had just a couple of days riding since Anthony flashed my ECU and find that I wish I'd done this earlier. I've added Arrow headers and Yoshimura exhaust to my '14 and thought I needed a PowerCommander to match that configuration. The bike was quicker for sure but mileage dropped to the low 30s. Seems best use of the PC is beyond my understanding and I couldn't find a map that worked as I'd hoped.
Removed PC, sent ECU off to Anthony. Door to door was1 wk. Waaaaay better...smoother, quicker. As some have said it woke up the bike and I didn't know it'd been sleeping. Mileage is better...upper 30s w spirited riding and mid 40s just cruising. Biggest difference for me is the feel of the bike...as I said, smoother, quicker, easier. It's taken me 45k mi to figure it out learning as I go.
I have the exact same mods on my bike (just a 2013) and Anthony flashed my ECU as well and I feel the same as you. I love it!!!!
 

Strommin

New Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2016
Messages
9
Location
NC
I just wanted to post a short review of my ECU reflash courtesy of Anthony. I was tired of the jerky throttle response of the stock ECU. I found myself riding in touring mode 90 percent of the time because of it. Even in the twisties I didn't use sport mode because of the abrupt on/off throttle response. I sent my ECU to Anthony and he had it back to me in NC within 4-5 days. He flashed the t mode light and sport mode enhanced gen 2 maps onto it. I put it back in the bike and took it for a 200 mile ride to the mountains of VA today. It is an incredible improvement over the stock ECU. Touring mode feels faster and smoother but the real difference is in sport mode. No more jerky throttle response or massive engine braking. It's like a brand new bike. I had a blast and found myself riding in sport mode most of the time. No noticeable difference in fuel consumption. If your on the fence about doing this DO IT! Great improvement. I rode today with 2 Tenere owners and they rode my bike to try it. They both blame me for "ruining their bikes" for them lol. Both plan to get theirs reflashed. Thanks Anthony!
 

Paul466

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
516
Location
Littleton, Colorado
I’m in total agreement with you. I never posted a review about ecu flash, Sorry Anthony... After getting my ecu back from him I was totally blown away how the power delivery changed for the better!! This might the best mod I did outside of suspension. For those on the fence ,I highly recommend it.
 

maverick2076

Active Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
129
Location
Texas
I got my ECU back from Anthony yesterday, and took advantage of a short break in the rain to take it out for a test ride. It is like a whole new bike. Smoother, faster response, more linear, predictable throttle in both modes...what was supposed to be a 10 minute test ride turned into getting a little lost for a couple hours. I cannot recommend this enough. I'll be sending my wife's ECU in soon!
 

Garth Hobden

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
5
Location
San Francisco
I've had just a couple of days riding since Anthony flashed my ECU and find that I wish I'd done this earlier. I've added Arrow headers and Yoshimura exhaust to my '14 and thought I needed a PowerCommander to match that configuration. The bike was quicker for sure but mileage dropped to the low 30s. Seems best use of the PC is beyond my understanding and I couldn't find a map that worked as I'd hoped.
Removed PC, sent ECU off to Anthony. Door to door was1 wk. Waaaaay better...smoother, quicker. As some have said it woke up the bike and I didn't know it'd been sleeping. Mileage is better...upper 30s w spirited riding and mid 40s just cruising. Biggest difference for me is the feel of the bike...as I said, smoother, quicker, easier. It's taken me 45k mi to figure it out learning as I go.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
Staff member
Global Moderator
2011 Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
11,489
Location
Damascus, MD
Anthony and the other vendors can do Gen1 or Gen2. They do take different maps.
 

Wrathchild

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
84
Location
Austin Texas
I want to get my bike reflashed but an early statement of "wot is wot" concerns me. WOT with different fuel maps is not WOT (well, I mean it is in terms of throttle angle) but the idea that the peak power wouldn't change when the fuel maps are changed shows a fundamental lack of understanding how EFI tuning works.
Unless I grossly misunderstood him in which case I apologize.
 

holligl

Find the road less traveled...
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
2,212
Location
IL/AZ
I'm still on the fence about getting this done on my '14. Is there a step by step description for removing the ECU? The service manual seems a little weak in this area. Searching the forum has not yielded much.
 

Xclimation

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Ft. Worth, Texas
Have MERCY!!! Add me to the list of satisfied Tenere Riders from AVC8130's flash!
I will be editing this several times because there are some things I can't put in words right now.
First off...the turn around time...I know it's the holidays...AVC8130's got a family and likes to ride too...but he sent it back to me either the same day he received it or the next day!!! Much appreciated...especially since I sent it FEDEX and it took the scenic route to get to him....When AVC8130 recommends sending USPS priority mail...Learn from my mistake!!

Now to the bike.....I don't know where to start....Those who said "this is the way the bike should have come from the factory" described it well!!! If in the adventure bike reviews and "shootouts" the reviewers had AVC8130's flash...they would have probably recommended the Tenere over most of the other bikes!
The bike runs smoother. Way smoother. The jerkiness is definitely gone! The jerkiness and engine braking didn't really bother me before because I would just feather the clutch (friction zone some call it.) But now on my ride I was using the clutch 75% less. And one thing I've realized is without the engine braking, power is more ready. Hard to put in words. I ride in traffic often and when traffic is less than 20 mph, stop-and-go...my clutch hand is worn out. I have a feeling this won't be a problem! Haven't tested off-road but I'm venturing to guess that off-road will be way better and with more control of our heavy dirt bike.
As I said bike is just smoother at EVERY speed/RPM/Gear. I was cruising at 75 mph. I just didn't feel like I was going that fast. I honestly felt like I was going 60 mph. I got out my phone at opened my GPS speedometer app. to check the bike's speedometer. NO problems with the bike speedometer. The engine purrs, smoothly. I never thought the bike ran rough or anything in the first place and that it ran smooth. But this is a new level of smooth. I kid you not!!! This will make the bike more comfortable on long trips for sure.
Some background on my bike I had my bike dyno-tuned with a Power Commander PCFC. I enjoyed the dyno-tune. Bike was smoother than stock, definitely more power. BUT....there is only sooo much that can be done with a fuel tuner. Such as a flat spot from 60 - 80 mph and only so much can be done with the fuel tuner for this. This flash from AVIC fixed this and the power is still there like the fuel tune. The power just feels more smooth! Before I installed the flashed ECU, I uninstalled the power Commander PCFC all together. I still may at some point try a PCV with Autotune in particular for different altitudes in the future just because I have them. But to be honest....the welding of an O2 sensor bung on my headers and all the wiring that needs to be done....just might just stay where I am.
If you are going to tune your bike for your mods....I HIGHLY recommend just getting a flash like from AVC8130 and don't bother with the power commander or fuel tuner.
I've only just rode the bike in Sport mode so far. I normally keep it there I'll have to edit if I remember to try T mode...
I am not a wild rider by any means, nor am I trying to have the fastest bike on the block. For me It's about smoothness as well as efficiency of fuel burn. I feel with the less engine braking there is more efficiency in the fuel burn. This tune achieves both of the things I like as well as give more power. Not just power but usable power. Hard to explain what I mean by usable power but lets say you're on the highway and you let off the gas and slow down and not hold the clutch and you get the stock engine braking. Or, you hold in the clutch like I did to smooth out the engine braking....then you need/want to accelerate for one of many reasons.....the RPMs are not quite there to move it because they dropped from the stock ecu engine braking ....or you held the clutch in and you let off to accelerate....with this flash the power is right there and ready. Also, you're not getting that jolt from the engine braking where sometimes you are hanging on for dear life! I imagine twisties will be more relaxed and controlled because I'm not worried about the clutch as much because the engine braking in the middle of a tight and fast curve won't be pleasant.....
But after exhaust and headers...GET THIS DONE! I say get it done if you don't mod anything else!
Another concern I had was flashing it back to stock if I sell the bike....well I am certain that who ever buys my bike many years from now will appreciate the flash!
Forgot to add when I turn the key to on and waiting for the bike to boot up and fuel pump ready...Might just be in my head; but it seemed to go quicker by a couple of seconds?
Bike also idles more smooth.
Thank You Anthony!!!
 
Last edited:

NewEnglander

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
19
Just reinstalled my ECU after a flash by AVC8130. Unfortunately I can’t take it for a ride as the roads are salty and icy but I can notice a difference in the rate of change at small throttle openings already. That was my primary complaint about the stock tuning. Anthony was very quick in completing the tune and return shipping. In fact he had it shipped back to me the same day it arrived to him. I am truly impressed. I can’t wait to ride! Thanks Anthony !
 

gjcarving

New Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Messages
4
Location
Santa Fe, NM
Just reinstalled my ECU after a flash by AVC8130. Unfortunately I can’t take it for a ride as the roads are salty and icy but I can notice a difference in the rate of change at small throttle openings already. That was my primary complaint about the stock tuning. Anthony was very quick in completing the tune and return shipping. In fact he had it shipped back to me the same day it arrived to him. I am truly impressed. I can’t wait to ride! Thanks Anthony !
Looking forward to hearing your take on the flash! Xclamation gave a great review and got me thinking of getting it done. I did read that Anthonyhas 4-5 flashes. I don't know if that is the case or not. I really dislike the jerky throttle and hard engine braking with the stock ECU. My main concern would be loosing to much engine braking and the bike coasts too much. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the change!
 
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