[Hawk77]

If your bike is going in for warranty work - it's a 10 minute job to put your original ECU flash back on the bike.
If not - I doubt dealers are looking for ECU changes - they may over-write your ECU flash with a new one if they have changes -in which case - it's just a matter of copying the new ECU code and replacing with your tuned.
That's the benefit of being able to save and upload ECU flashes at will.

Thanks!

How are they controlling engine braking level on the ECU? Are they injecting fuel off throttle on decel? Thought engine braking off throttle was just from engine winding down.

 

[Ian_H]

Thanks!

How are they controlling engine braking level on the ECU? Are they injecting fuel off throttle on decel? Thought engine braking off throttle was just from engine winding down.

Not sure ... I'd have thought this might be related to exhaust valve?
e.g. I think lorries/trucks have a brake that uses an extra exhaust valve to slow down.

 

[Mr. Lee]

Thanks!

How are they controlling engine braking level on the ECU? Are they injecting fuel off throttle on decel? Thought engine braking off throttle was just from engine winding down.

I think engine braking is fuel cut off for the regular tune. You can ask for a setting to keep the fuel injection on. I forget the terminology but it has been previously discussed in this thread. A few users have this option .

 

[63535]

If your bike is going in for warranty work - it's a 10 minute job to put your original ECU flash back on the bike.
If not - I doubt dealers are looking for ECU changes - they may over-write your ECU flash with a new one if they have changes -in which case - it's just a matter of copying the new ECU code and replacing with your tuned.
That's the benefit of being able to save and upload ECU flashes at will.

I spoke to my dealer about this and they were apathetic: they said they didn't care and it doesn't impact the warranty at their point. What would happen if BMW were involved? shrug

 

[Gemballa1980]

So my Bren Flash tuner turned up today - It's for the new 2017+ units..

Just curious if anyone else is running one yet? I ran through the instructions and where you select your bike (and I selected R NineT 2017+) I was expecting a full download and 30+ minute wait. What I got instead was a download that took all of about 2-3 seconds! It still produced a FPF file but was only 7kb. The instructions (not R Ninet Specific) said the download could take anywhere from a few seconds up to an hour, but I guess I was going off others reports here of it taking around 30mins.

It COULD be that the 2017+ models have a different ecu and thus only needs the smaller file, or it could be an error (user or other).

Anyway, I sent it off to Bren and will see what they come back with. But interested to see if others running 2017+ have had the same.

Also, curious what the consensus is as to what to ask for..
Higher RPM limit?
No fuel cut-off at closed throttle etc?

Thanks!

 

[Gemballa1980]

UPDATE for those with (or considering getting) the 2017+ BREN units: You no longer need to get a 'full download' of the map. So the process to read the ECU takes all of about 3 seconds.

Apparently the 2017+ ECU works as a 'Virtual read' and as such doesn't need an actual ECU download. It just ID's the software version and then a stock file for the bike is pulled from the server.

 

[63535]

Sweet. Can’t wait. Well, have to wait so I guess I can.

 

[speedm]

pre 2017 with new handheld still took ~20-30 min, had to hook up the battery tender to supply some power as the process probably zapped a lot of juice.

 

[Gemballa1980]

Ok, so I got my maps back for the 2017+ build. Took about 2 business days to arrive - so pretty good!

The upload of the map took about 3-4 minutes, and had it on the trickle charger just in case.

Bike: I'm running Akrapovic Ti catless headers with stock muffler. Flapper removed. Until now fuelling has been sorted via a Rapid Bike Easy unit. Now for $200-$250 odd AUD, the RBE unit was amazing! A huge difference over stock. Ironed out the jerky take-offs and gave a nice bump to power across the rev range. I was going to stick with it, however I do like to try new things, so couldn't help but jump on the Bren, as it was bound to be more refined than the RBE unit that simply gave a fixed AFR bump across the rev range.

First impressions: Love it! You can tell straight away it's a fair amount smoother than the RBE was, and power is up yet again. I've only had one short ride so can't comment too much, but as with most mods, you can usually tell first ride whether you're happy with the coin you dropped to get it.

The only downside, which I think others have mentioned, is that it does smooth out the engine significantly and thus takes a lot of the character away from the bike. The RBE unit removed most of the torque twitch when revving at a standstill, but the Bren has completely removed it. It's a shame as I loved the way the bike would twitch and am surprised that fuelling has all but eliminated it.

Anyway, for those not looking at spending the full amount on Bren, I still highly recommend the RBE - Especially if you have exhaust mods. If you intend on keeping the bike for many years, are considering or have done exhaust mods and a want the most out of your bike - I believe the Bren unit is worth the investment. Especially if you plan on sticking with the BMW family, as I recall reading that the unit can be transferred to other bikes (by Bren for a small fee).

 

[Greg Navarro]

So today I flashed my ECU on my 2016 R9T. On my bike I am running Akro headers and muffler. In my opinion it ran way too lean and had flat spots everywhere. After riding around with the new tune this feels how the bike should have ridden in the first place. To make things better the experience Bren was nothing but pleasant. This is easily my second best upgrade to the bike. Below is my order of upgrades I am the most happy with. I am not including cosmetic upgrades, and sticking to performance.

1. Full Ohlins suspension tuned by Dave Moss
2. Bren Tuning Stage 2
3. Michelin Road 5 Tires
4. Full Akropovic exhaust

 

[TomTom]

Just Did the OEM program read with my new BrenTuning handheld. The only hitch was I had to select from two different ECU choices. I have a 2018, so I guessed and used the second one, I think it was identified as "ME17.2." Did I pick the right one?

Thanks, Tom

 

[Fred Gassit]

Looks like 2016 and earlier models were fitted with "ME9.2.0 BMS-KP" ECU, and 2017+ Euro4 compliant models have "ME17.2.4 BMS-MP".

 

[TomTom]

Just for the record, I am returning my BrenTuning handheld device for a refund. The end result may be fantastic, but in my opinion BT has a long way to go in product delivery and customer support. I've used handheld tuning devices before and my experience was nothing like this. If you want to be in business providing mystery software for expensive machines on a "just trust me" basis, you need to act trustworthy.

 

[speedm]

Just for the record, I am returning my BrenTuning handheld device for a refund. The end result may be fantastic, but in my opinion BT has a long way to go in product delivery and customer support. I've used handheld tuning devices before and my experience was nothing like this. If you want to be in business providing mystery software for expensive machines on a "just trust me" basis, you need to act trustworthy.

That's a bummer. Did you have any issues with the tune that couldn't be addressed or was the return a matter of principle? Are you going with another tune?

 

[TomTom]

I lost faith in the process. Tuning is an exercise in trust, and you have to believe that the people you are dealing with are fully competent, since you have no other way to assess the program you are buying. I had trouble getting the client software to run properly, and then I got my maps and the client software did not recognize them as tuning files. BT said it was no problem, all I had to do was install remote-control software in my home computer, and they would find a way to fix it.

Ummm, nope. I’ve been modifying vehicles for increased performance since 1977. I’ve had great successes, but also made my share of mistakes, and this was starting to feel like the next one. I paid $16000 for this bike, and it still has two years left on the warranty. In the end, I was afraid I was about to brick my ECU with a half-assed program.

My last experience with a handheld tuning device was with Cobb Tuning on my Subaru STi. Smooth execution, no clunky interface that updates in Italian, no “mystery maps” since I chose the ones I wanted from Cobb ‘s web site and got a full description of each. That’s how it should work, not surly customer service reps that are too busy to answer questions about their wobbly product.

I will get a tune in person from a shop in upstate NY next spring. It will cost more, but shaking hands with the tuner and talking to him is worth it to me.

 

[speedm]

I lost faith in the process. Tuning is an exercise in trust, and you have to believe that the people you are dealing with are fully competent, since you have no other way to assess the program you are buying. I had trouble getting the client software to run properly, and then I got my maps and the client software did not recognize them as tuning files. BT said it was no problem, all I had to do was install remote-control software in my home computer, and they would find a way to fix it.

Ummm, nope. I’ve been modifying vehicles for increased performance since 1977. I’ve had great successes, but also made my share of mistakes, and this was starting to feel like the next one. I paid $16000 for this bike, and it still has two years left on the warranty. In the end, I was afraid I was about to brick my ECU with a half-assed program.

My last experience with a handheld tuning device was with Cobb Tuning on my Subaru STi. Smooth execution, no clunky interface that updates in Italian, no “mystery maps” since I chose the ones I wanted from Cobb ‘s web site and got a full description of each. That’s how it should work, not surly customer service reps that are too busy to answer questions about their wobbly product.

I will get a tune in person from a shop in upstate NY next spring. It will cost more, but shaking hands with the tuner and talking to him is worth it to me.

I understand your pain. The process didn't inspire confidence for me either, but I was able to get the software installed on the computer and map files sent off and back onto the handheld. I've yet to put the tune on the bike, as I was waiting to complete my 6k service before doing the tune, for fear of the dealer updating the ECU. Good luck with your tune next year.

 

[hman2853]

any update on Bren tuning for the 2017+ bikes? looking for success stories here!

 

[||||@||||]

I had ‘qualified’ success. As “TomTom” mentioned, reading your +2017 bike’s tune required one to make an undocumented choice. Like TomTom, I went with the one that looked like ME17... something. I guess it was correct. I did that on a Saturday before a holiday (Monday); I received my BrenTune tunes over night on Wednesday.

The initial tunes had a flaw, or at least a flawed effect. Everything was fun until I hit 4th; then, it seemed like the exhaust flappers closed up and the power curve went flat in a bad way. I considered mine one of first runs for the V2 handheld, and it’s new tunes, so I contacted BT about it and they collected my data again and re-sent a newly formulated tune two days later. They asked me to test this new flash their tech just created. It worked properly.

So, do I feel BrenTune should have checked out the flashes on a real bike rather than just send them hot off the tech’s bench? Yes. And should we expect BT have it right “out of the box” for our for $700? Sure. But, in the real world BT is not GM or Penske (or some other large enterprise) and they did get it right in the end.

I do not regret purchasing the handheld tuner.

All the best

 

[nervous]

I will get a tune in person from a shop in upstate NY next spring. It will cost more, but shaking hands with the tuner and talking to him is worth it to me.

Who in upstate NY are you considering? I am technically on Central NY so I have a similar interest.

 

[TomTom]

I know that Max BMW in Troy offers tunes, don’t know who they use, if it’s done onsite or they take the bike to a dyno, etc. Motorcycling is on Hold for me while I ski...