2014 ES - Anthony Reflash Review

Major E

New Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2020
Messages
14
Location
Maryland
I own a 2015 non ES and I have been thinking of sending the ECU out for the reflash. I only ride in S mode but when I am doing slow speed or off road this is where it needs improvement. Now that the cold has set in I think I may send the ECU out. I have been out ridding every week up until now. So now how do I get the ECU out? I will search this web site for directions. It is good to hear the reflash helps the gen 2 bikes also.
Anthony will send you directions (with pictures) on removing your ECU. I am horrible at mechanical work but I got the ECU out and back in with almost no problems (and the problems I did run into were due to me). It's really quite easy.
 

Homere

New Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2020
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17
Location
Agua Dulce California
Hey, didn't see many posts for Gen 2 reviews of Anthony's reflash so I thought I would post my experience.

Background - coming off a 2008 FJR with 55K miles, wanted something more comfortable and get TC and cruise control, so found a 2014 ES with 4K miles and fully farkled (also have a 2005 SV 650).

The one shortcoming of the ST for me is the engine, but you can't compare it to a FJR, apples & oranges but wanted more out of the engine. I sent the ECU to Anthony, here is my experience.

Anthony - great to deal with, answered my questions quickly and turned around my ECU in one day = stellar!

Reflash review - not sure what I expected but it is exceeded my expectations. Much more "tractable" power, more linear and more torque in every gear. I felt 2nd and 3rd gear (in sport) were kind of short and useless, much better now. I didn't even ride in "T" it seemed weak but now very usable and "S" just has balls now!

Less engine braking, smoother, easier to ride, more power, more fun! It may be my imagination but the engine sound better, less "clanky". Now I don't miss my FJR at all!

For the price it can't be beat, highly recommended! Ride safe - Edbo.
Thank you for all the great information.
 

Lowryrides

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2021
Messages
27
Location
Gettysburg, Pa. USA
Total agreement on Anthony's impeccable service, now about rideability. I have a 2015 Super Tenere ES, which has the worst fueling (throttle response) of any motorcycle I have ever ridden, not sure what Yamaha was thinking of on this one. The problems have been listed here, so I will just add my experience with the reflash. Sport mode; previous to the flash this mode was completely unusable, this is now the default mode on my bike and with good reason, the throttle picks up smoothly and cleanly at any RPM, the bike pulls hard from idle with no throttle by lawyer present at all. Engine braking has been reduced to an agreeable amount, consistent with other free reving twins I have ridden. In this mode I am now completely comfortable opening the throttle mid corner, even while holding significant lean angle, which was pretty sketchy before. I also find myself downshifting into corners while trail braking at the edge of traction, which was totally off the table in either of the old maps, the fueling has been improved that much. I even found myself in some really slimy mud in S mode and was able to modulate throttle easily while in first gear to control wheel spin in trac 2. Really impressive.
In Touring mode, the light switch throttle is also gone, replaced by smooth fueling and the ability to use steady throttle at any RPM, which was not possible before, making this the preferred off road mode. The radicle change in response at 3,000 RPM is also gone allowing me to concentrate on throttle/traction connection and not riding around abnormalities engineered into the bike. Engine braking is increased from S mode but lessened from the original map, spot on for my taste. The motorbike's one glaring deficiency is now gone, replaced by excellent fueling and 2 distinct throttle maps that are perfectly suited to their purposes.

Traction control; Trac 1, prior to reflash the system would completely shut the power down, the bike falling on it's face and then sign back on with too much force causing wheel spin and shutting down violently again, no good at all off road, and really funky on road in the rain. Reflashed the bike accelerates to the limit of traction for it's given circumstance and stutters the throttle, completely preventing wheel spin, I tested this in mud and on gravel. Excellent. One of my favorite things about the bike is trac 2 and long slow power slides on the gravel roads in Michaux State Forrest near my house, this has not been changed, but is more tractable. Roll into a corner sideways off throttle, roll on way too much power and let the computer do it's magic while I look like some expert flat track rider doing a power slide through the corner. Incredible.

This bike was a bit of a chore to ride in it's stock form, making rapid pavement riding dangerous and off road riding frustrating. Even hitting the brake to disengage cruise control was obnoxious making me use the clutch to disengage it. I literally found myself riding around the horrible throttle response all the time and trying to come up with new ways to ride to make the bike work properly. After the reflash the bike just works, no need to be creative, just be a rider and focus on being smooth and fast. Amazing. If you have a Super Tenere, having Anthony reflash your ECU should be done immediately, it is hands down the best money one can spend on the bike. This simple fix takes a flawed bike that clearly has potential and unlocks all its beauty. Like polishing a diamond.
 

Longdog Cymru

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2018
Messages
1,665
Location
Swansea, Wales, UK
Something to consider. If this bike used carbs instead the engine braking would be similar or even less than a flashed bike. So its been unnaturally manufactured in.
Late to the party but this excessive “engine braking” effect happens because when the throttle is closed, the fuelling stops. Any fuel in the inlet tract is rapidly evaporated and so when you open the throttle, there is a lag as the incoming fuel wets the inlet tract and there is your snatch throttle response. You can thank the need to reduce pollution for this and the fact that bikes have light rotating mass so it affects bikes more than cars with their much heavier rotating mass.
Carbs allow fuel to be drawn into the combustion chamber under a closed throttle giving a nice sily response when the throttle is opened. The whole point of a re-flash should be to optimise fuelling throughout the rev-range and to provide a metered fuel supply on a closed throttle in order to emulate a well set-up engine wearing carbs and give a smooth throttle opening.
 

Jlq1969

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Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
1,749
Location
Argentina
but…..if closed throttle fuel injection stops completely….why do backfires appear with oem ecu and a modified muffler?….in my personal opinion, enginebraking is more related to throttle position than to the injection. The "completely closed" butterflies generate a very high vacuum (brake) for a piston in suction. the injection bodies do not have an air inlet below the throttle valves (like the carbureted ones)….at idle, the throttle valves provide a minimum air intake for the idle pilot injection. The throttles controlled by an electric motor are immovable by the vacuum of the piston……. those controlled by cable (in a carburettor), open during the vacuum…. in a carburettor, if you put a very rigid butterfly spring, you increase the enginebraking …..but you will end up destroying the aluminum body where the throttle shaft works. A good example of "enginebraking" is that of trucks. during manual engine braking, a pneumatically actuated butterfly valve obstructs the exhaust…which generates pressure in the piston head and that pressure…brakes the engine…and brakes the truck
In a turbo engine (truck), you could not put an engine brake on the intake, since this one has a turbo. If you obstruct the air passage of the turbine, a resonance would be generated that would end up destroying the turbine blades
 
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