Power Commander for the FJR... in a nutshell, what are the gains?

[JerryS]

Many bikes show a gain in HP with the PC along with an aftermarket pipe. My 07 has pretty smooth power delivery, so can you actually make it more smooth?

What are you guys seeing?

 

[twowheelnut]

I'm seeing Dyno-Jet making boatloads of cash.

IMO, if you screw around with the full exhaust, yeah, ya may wanna get one. Otherwise, food on the table is prolly a better idea. Of course, that's just me. I'm just giddy with the smooth power/fuel economy right outta the box.

Smarmy quips ensue...

 

[JerryS]

I'm seeing Dyno-Jet making boatloads of cash.
IMO, if you screw around with the full exhaust, yeah, ya may wanna get one. Otherwise, food on the table is prolly a better idea. Of course, that's just me. I'm just giddy with the smooth power/fuel economy right outta the box.

Smarmy quips ensue...

It probably comes down to where you have been. I've been riding a Concours for several years. Then I was riding a Suzuki Bandit for a few years. With the Bandit, it came stock with 105hp. I then tuned it to get 119hp. So for a long time, I drooled over an FJR with its rated 147hp. And thought, with all that HP, I wouldn't need to change anything...

right?

 

[twowheelnut]

Right. I don't recall ever seeing a substantial gain in power posted and proven by FJR PC III users. I have seen postings of significant losses in MPG, however. Claims of gains in smoothness are purely subjective to the individual - I'm not saying they aren't real, just subjective.

 

[BrunDog]

It ain't about power, though with exhaust and filter many have claimed +6-9 hp.

It's about glass-assed smoothness, and a richer mix throughout leads to a little cooler running. My 05 was really fine (I thought) without it, but with it, I find myself using all of the rev range because there are no vibrations or weird steps in the throttle.

This in combination with a TBS and heavy bar ends really make this this smooth. Of course, YMMV, but for me, it was worth the $300.

-BD

 

[panayoti]

I have an 06. At constant throttle the engine almost felt like it was missing. It wasn't quite a lean surge but almost. Anyway with the PCIII that is gone. The engine feels much smoother. I haven't really checked into how much the fuel consumption has changed. The throttle response is much better, not as jumpy in the lower gears.

 

[dean]

okay, new to fuel injection here.

with my two previous bikes, both fj's, they had no need for extra power. however, i did like the idea of swapping out oem cans for aftermarket slip-ons, to help reduce weight. since they're carbureted, i did put in jet kits to help adjust (also put in aftermarket unipod air filters).

the only reason i'd screw with the fjr's power is the exhaust, to potentially reduce the weight. if it were simply putting on lighter slip-ons, would that necessitate a power commander? or does the FI do a good enough job of adjusting to that change? again, i'm not looking at the power commander to add more hp.

thx!

 

[panayoti]

in general they say that with AM cans on FI bikes no changes are required. However the 06 FJR with the catalytic converters has the fuel map set up to run very lean. Now i know a simple can change won't have a major effect but it is going to make the lean condition slightly worse. there was another article on this board that was cut and pasted from another forum discussing Yamaha FZ1 fuel injection issues. It had a good explanation about how the fuel systems are set up to meet emisions. I will see if i can dig it up.

 

[JerryS]

in general they say that with AM cans on FI bikes no changes are required. However the 06 FJR with the catalytic converters has the fuel map set up to run very lean. Now i know a simple can change won't have a major effect but it is going to make the lean condition slightly worse. there was another article on this board that was cut and pasted from another forum discussing Yamaha FZ1 fuel injection issues. It had a good explanation about how the fuel systems are set up to meet emisions. I will see if i can dig it up.

I'd like to see that.

 

[FJRottie]

if it were simply putting on lighter slip-ons, would that necessitate a power commander?

In general, No, not required.

Gains with the PC - in simple terms, can run cooler and smoother. PC changes the managed fuel mixture. Same idea as re-jetting carbs, but adjustable.

Some just like to tinker. You can adjust performance. It may lower MPG.

Don't feel the need for my FJR and my riding style.

 

[Shadow]

in general they say that with AM cans on FI bikes no changes are required. However the 06 FJR with the catalytic converters has the fuel map set up to run very lean.

Now i know a simple can change won't have a major effect but it is going to make the lean condition slightly worse

Slipons will not make a difference, nothing to do with a cat converter.

If you leave the oxygen sensor connected then it adjusts for different cans.

If you fit a Power Commander and disconnect the oxygen sensor then of course you should run it on a dyno to set it up correctly, a can change or full system change with the os disconnected will require that to get the benefit of the PC.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

So all the responses and how many have made the change or is most of the info just opinion? I have and 03 since July of 02. The low speed surge was horrible. So the PC corrected this issue with about a 10 per cent loss in mileage. I still get 38-42 depending on whether it is commutin or road riding and just how hard you twist the throttle. Out of Ca. as the gas changes I can get 42-46 constant.theNow the newer year models may not have the surge. Some can live with it , i just didn't want to have the minor irritable surging. After I added cans then a header w/o the cats, yes even the early bikes had cats and all run too lean because of the state standards in Ca., a custom map gave me 6hp gain and a power band so smooth through all ranges of rpm's that in my case it was well worth the time $ and to do so. Is is necessary? Many may think not but some can justify the results. If I had no issues I wouldn't mess with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[twodogs]

So all the responses and how many have made the change or is most of the info just opinion? I have and 03 since July of 02. The low speed surge was horrible. So the PC corrected this issue with about a 10 per cent loss in mileage. I still get 38-42 depending on whether it is commutin or road riding and just how hard you twist the throttle. Out of Ca. as the gas changes I can get 42-46 constant.theNow the newer year models may not have the surge. Some can live with it , i just didn't want to have the minor irritable surging. After I added cans then a header w/o the cats, yes even the early bikes had cats and all run too lean because of the state standards in Ca., a custom map gave me 6hp gain and a power band so smooth through all ranges of rpm's that in my case it was well worth the time $ and to do so. Is is necessary? Many may think not but some can justify the results. If I had no issues I wouldn't mess with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I have yet to see a post from the owner of an '06-'07 A model who does not appreciate the change in performance that the PCIII provides - most are delighted. As far as I know, no one has taken one off after installing it because he's dissatisfied with its performance.

The posts doubting the PCIII benefits that I've seen are, charitably speaking, not based on experience.

 

[turbodave_98]

Right. I don't recall ever seeing a substantial gain in power posted and proven by FJR PC III users. I have seen postings of significant losses in MPG, however. Claims of gains in smoothness are purely subjective to the individual - I'm not saying they aren't real, just subjective.

TWN, I am one of those that only got LESS MPG with my PCIII on my 05.

 

[TheAxeman]

The addition of a PC-III to my '06 was the difference between night and day. Nothing "imagined" here. It simply and plainly vastly improved the smoothness and performance of the bike. It now performs the way I would have expected it to directly out of the Yamaha box and I consider it to be the best money I have spent on the bike to date.

 

[JerryS]

So all the responses and how many have made the change or is most of the info just opinion? I have and 03 since July of 02. The low speed surge was horrible. So the PC corrected this issue with about a 10 per cent loss in mileage. I still get 38-42 depending on whether it is commutin or road riding and just how hard you twist the throttle. Out of Ca. as the gas changes I can get 42-46 constant.theNow the newer year models may not have the surge. Some can live with it , i just didn't want to have the minor irritable surging. After I added cans then a header w/o the cats, yes even the early bikes had cats and all run too lean because of the state standards in Ca., a custom map gave me 6hp gain and a power band so smooth through all ranges of rpm's that in my case it was well worth the time $ and to do so. Is is necessary? Many may think not but some can justify the results. If I had no issues I wouldn't mess with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I have yet to see a post from the owner of an '06-'07 A model who does not appreciate the change in performance that the PCIII provides - most are delighted. As far as I know, no one has taken one off after installing it because he's dissatisfied with its performance.

The posts doubting the PCIII benefits that I've seen are, charitably speaking, not based on experience.

sometimes though, I'm not really sure how much ACTUAL gain you get from a PC. Sometimes it seems that it's just another gadget that we like to play with.

 

[HaulinAshe]

If you are riding a 2007 AE and don't have any complaints about the smoothness of throttle response, especially off-idle, then save your money and NEVER buy a PC-III.

But please don't doubt what the PC-III does for anyone moving from a Gen-I (2003-2005) to a Gen-II (2006-2007) ride. I never felt the need for the PC-III on my 05 with Barbarian Mod performed. I have yet to feel any need to lift the seat and EVER consider removing my PC-III from the 07!

 

[sprint_st]

If you are riding a 2007 AE and don't have any complaints about the smoothness of throttle response, especially off-idle, then save your money and NEVER buy a PC-III.
But please don't doubt what the PC-III does for anyone moving from a Gen-I (2003-2005) to a Gen-II (2006-2007) ride. I never felt the need for the PC-III on my 05 with Barbarian Mod performed. I have yet to feel any need to lift the seat and EVER consider removing my PC-III from the 07!

Jeff, I think you have added more facts to what seems to be an almost limitless supply of observations that the PCIII helps to solve the typical lean electronic FI snatch, surge or whatever you want to call it at lower RPM's. The Barbarian mod addresses the same problem by adjusting the ECU CO readings. The problems seemed to have worsened on 06/07 models but IMO the cause was the same. PC-III is just a more sophisticated and scientific method doing what the Barbarian mod does, not to mention there is a lot of room for error in the Barbarian method.

This is not just an FJR problem and is common to most if not all FI bikes because of the manufacturers attempts to circumvent environmental regulations. I didn't think I needed a PCIII until I got one. So if you are happy without one don't get one, but you won't see me complaining that I wasted my money.

 

[radman]

The improvement in rideability alone was worth the dough for me-the extra tuneability once I added the header was just a bonus. Best farkle money I've spent.