Triumphrat

Thatch · 09-25-2009, 04:54 PM

Just got a call from the dealer. The BB kit is delayed and not due to be released until end of October, beginning of November.

However, they also stated that the BC pipes that have been ordered for me are on their way. So, it looks like I'll have a bit of a staged install on all this. I was hopeful I'd have it all done at one time but it looks like it will be a bit of a drawn out process.

Just thought I'd let you all know the current timeline on things is.

steveg56 · 09-25-2009, 05:06 PM

Did you know that the pipes are coming for sure? I was told by BC the pipes would be available about a 3 weeks from now. Just curious...

Thatch · 09-25-2009, 05:57 PM

At this point I only have what the dealer parts desk has told me. I did however leave him with a further question to ask about the tune issue, so, tomorrow i'll follow up with him and see what is going on. My dealership is in a bit of a mess right now. They sold out and another group is taking over so it's a bit of a madhouse in there right now with all the new things happening. We'll see what they have to say tomorrow.

hypervista · 09-26-2009, 01:51 PM

I got a little more info on the BC pipes this morning when I picked my Bird up (Had some accessories installed - I'll post pictures later this week - kind of crappy weather here in mid-Atlantic today).

Anyway, I ordered the BC exhaust and my dealer told me he talked to Sean at BC yesterday after I told him I wanted the pipes. Sean told him they ordered an initial production run of 50 and have already sold 40 of them, well now 41. He'll give me an ETA on Monday, but he thought it would be a couple of weeks. Cost was an even $600USD (plus installation).

dazco · 09-26-2009, 02:26 PM

Did anyone tell you what tune would be used? Are they just going to use the tors tune?

hypervista · 09-26-2009, 02:38 PM

I asked about the tune. My dealer wasn't sure, but suspected the custom tune created by BC for these pipes would be sent along with the pipes (actually he said BC would likely forward the tune part number that would be accessed via the Triumph tune package website that dealers access via an authentication key of some sort) - that didn't sound quite right to me.

My dealer just this week completed the paperwork with BC to become one of their re-sellers, and I got the impression they weren't 100% sure how things would proceed. I asked my dealer to get the tune specifics for me from Sean when he talks to him on Monday. I'll pass along what I learn.

dazco · 09-26-2009, 03:21 PM

Theres no power commander or any sort of device available yet. So all they can do is use a triumph tune as far as i can see. And that would be the TORs tune. Once the PC is available they can tune it, but you'll need to buy a PC to use that tune. the tuneboy is the only one i think that can actually be loaded into the triumph ECU by a dealer that has a tuneboy, but other than that you're religated to using the triumph tors tune i think. So it really depends on how BC wants to do this. I think they realized theres no easy way because aren't going to be able to sell as many pipes if they don't find a way to get the customer's bike to use them effectivly as far as performance goes. Many mainly want the sound of the pipes, but most i think also want the performance gains, and unlike the carb models where all they have to do is send you the propor jets, EFI is much more complicated. So i'm really interested in how they will go about this.

in short, the way i see it, and i may be wrong, but the options are...

1)-they use the TORs tune

2)-BC writes a tune with the tuneboy and you have to find someone with a tuneboy to load it for you or get one yourself

3)-they create a power commander tune and you have to buy a power commander to use it.

4)-you buy a power commander with the optional ($250 more) "auto tune" and it tunes your bike automatically

On #4, i'm not sure if it can tune for an exhaust automatically, so that may now even be an option. I don't know jack about EFI but i don't see how the unit could detect muffler restriction. But like i said, i know jack so i'm probably wrong. The things about tuneboy vs PC is that the PC does not load a map into the bike's ECU then is no longer needed like the tuneboy does. It needs to be connected always because it doesn't load a map, it suppliments the current map. So your bike is using the current map which would likely be the stock map. But the PC looks at the fueling and says "bike needs X more fuel here" and adds it to what the stock map already supplies. So you'd have to own one to use a PC tune. The tuneboy actually creates a full map, so it can be loaded into the bike then the tuneboy is removed just the way triumph tunes work. So you don't need to own one, just get someone with a TB to load the map. I think the problem with this method is that you need to find someone to load it, and from what i hear very few dealers if any have tuneboys.

So theres no good answer if what i have learned is all correct. It may not be, but i think for the most part it is and thats why i think BC is having trouble coming up with a solution.

hypervista · 09-26-2009, 04:03 PM

Right. That appears to be the situation. However, this update was posted on the BC site:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC

Update: The Power Commander V is being developed as we speak and, hopefully, in the next 30-60 days the Power Commander V will be released. Until then we will be unable to develop a custom tune for the Triumph Thunderbird 1600 exhaust. As soon as the Power Commander V is available we will be working with Mickey Cohen at Mickey Cohen Motorsports to develop a custom map for the Triumph Thunderbird 1600. Mickey Cohen is one of the best tuners in Southern California and helped us develop the tune for our EFI Triumph Bonneville / Thruxton Performance Package. When we are developing our custom tune we will run a dyno run with both TOR maps along with our pipes. Only then will we know if the TOR map will work with our exhaust. We will be posting updates regarding the Triumph Thunderbird 1600 Power Commander V as it becomes available.

I read that to mean you are correct in that they will initially use a TOR tune. They reference your friend/contact Mickey Cohen so maybe you can get an update from him on where they are with the PC-V.

I don't mind using a TOR tune, as long as it's not going to harm the bike (too rich / too lean). I'll definitely bore down on them early next week on this issue.

Long-term, I don't mind having to buy a PC-V with Auto-tune, I just need to figure out where to put the damn thing. I hope they get the PC-V sorted out soon.

Thatch · 09-26-2009, 05:12 PM

I just got back from the dealership with a bit more info myself. The shipment that they thought the pipes were on is coming in next week. However they were wrong about these pipes being included. The dealer will call again on Tuesday to find out what the actual wait time is.

I also asked about the tune and was told that, similar to Hypers dealer said, that they may get a tune released through Triumph for the pipes. Baring that the mechanic said that they do have some ability to customize the tune from Triumph directly and that while the TOR tune would be a bit lean it would not be dangerously lean and that they did have the ability to adjust that tune to be a bit richer to make up for the lesser restriction from the BC pipes.

So, it seems there is an option 5, dealer modified Triumph tune.

hypervista · 09-26-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thatch

So, it seems there is an option 5, dealer modified Triumph tune.

Well, that clarifies the comment from my dealer when he said the BC tune would be accessible from the Triumph dealer website. That didn't make sense to me when he said it, but given Thach's info it makes more sense.

The main info I wanted to impart in my original post is there are only 9 more kits available from the first production run and if anyone is thinking about going for them, that may be an important factor in your decision if you want to get them early.