My take on my freshly installed Gen2 Ivan flash. Copied my post from another forum:
[After installation of the flashed ECU] I rode about 100 miles thataway-> on NC 45-55 mph roads and back on 80-90 mph interstate. Before you read my evaluation of it, you should realize that I've said for many years that I am NOT a motorcycle "purist". I'm one of those people that cannot feel the difference that 2 clicks on a shock absorber makes. Nor can I feel the difference between tire brands. The list goes on & on- all the little subtleties that people post about, well let's just say I don't believe in them and let it go at that. So, keeping that in mind:
1) Folks have posted general statements about "waking up the engine" and "snappier power" and all that. I don't see it. Maybe b/c mine is a 14 y/o 138K mile machine. Still runs like a scalded dog, just nothing different
to me post flash.
2) People posted about smoother shifting. Nope, nothing new there.
3) People posted about the elimination of the notorious idle surge removal. Nope, still there. I did have to adjust my idle down significantly. Pre flash it was 1150 or so and hasn't needed adjustment for at least 10 yrs. Post flash, with no other work except a new air filter, idle was about 2100. Ridiculous!
4) People posted about the removal, or at least the change of, the 4-5K rpm vibration. Nope, feels the same to me. If anything, my right side mirror vibrates a little more than before.
5) And finally the biggie- the snatchy off-to-on throttle. I'll give Ivan this one, it's gone. But at a cost. What is lost is engine braking. Guys that ride with me know I am a serious user of engine braking. It appears to me that how the smoother throttle transition is achieved is by forcing the engine to stay at higher rpm for about 3 seconds after the throttle is closed. So when the clutch is pulled in for a shift change, the rpm stay at the level it was at. If you're whacking the throttle some and shift from 2 to 3 at 6K rpm, the rpm never drop from 6K rpm. Even when the clutch lever is pulled & held in, the rpm stay at the level it was at. And when you chop the throttle in 5th at 80 mph it's like there's no return spring attached anymore- the bike continues to go
with fuel at 80 mph just like the throttle is still open- for another 3 seconds minimum. Then it seems the fuel is gradually reduced over the next 2-3 seconds so there's even more time of no engine braking. This happens exactly the same way in 4th, 3rd and 2nd. So,
to me, with this flash, my days of brakeless twisty riding are over. I can see now why the Gen3/4 riders are generally so sedate
and ask about brake pads, calipers, fluid and rotors so much. You guys have to use braking way, WAY more than I ever imagined.
I'll give it more time and miles but right now I'm seriously considering putting my old ECU back in. For people that use brakes instead of downshifting to higher rpm to utilize engine braking, absolutely do this mod. But I have the definite feeling that this "upgrade" ain't for me, it's a step backwards.
