Motorcycle dyno tuning

Hello.

I've bought a Dynojet dyno with eddy brake for tuning motorcycles. I have been looking for information regarding how other people tune bikes.

It seems to me that no one is tuning steady state. Everywhere I look it's just ramp runs, mostly focusing on full throttle and the same AFR everywhere, and almost no one is tuning ignition timing at all. Also, everything (dyno, tuning software etc.) only displays AFR which is stupid since I learned Lambda from start. But I digress.

As I want the absolute best work possible leaving my workshop I think this feels subpar at best.

Or am I overthinking it? Is there a reason? Or is it simply saving time to earn more?

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards.

Yeah I know what you mean. Last time I got mine dyno'd I asked if they could tune mid range for motorway mileage & he just said, No, it doesn't work that way. Just tuned it for full throttle.

So I'm going to try myself to tune it. I've got a wide band & Power commander.

I've got a good base map that I'm happy with but I feel there could be more to come from it.

You go with it.

Good luck.

What software came with the machine, Robin, I expect there will be several here who are familiar with it and can help you with a lambda display.

You can get some ignition tuning by looking at the torque or power curve - if it's higher, without running into detonation*, as timing is increased it's improving.

You can also get some part throttle tuning by using a throttle stop that can be adjusted, then doing the runs.

For tuning for economy, you're probably going to find a lambda between 1.1 and 1.2 will be best - you're looking for best power per unit of fuel - BSFC, if you're dyno can measure fuel used.

*this is actually one of the things I REALLY don't care for - many of these 'tuners' will just give best power on engines that have had a cool-down between runs, and will only give potential problems if used under sustained loads, when heat soak and other issues such as higher coolant temp's will compromise the 'tune'. It may be perfectly fine for a quick 1/4 mile sprint, but otherwise...

Thank you for both your answers. Good to see that I am not alone in feeling like this.

The question then, I guess, is if steady state tuning is simply not worth the effort and just rely on tuning with throttle stopped ramp runs?

Regarding ignition timing, I have a decent understanding of how it’s done, but then again, no one (or very few) seems to do it. And knock detecting high revving motorcycle engines seems like it’s next to impossible.

The softwares are Dynojet’s Winpep / power core and Woolich Racing.

Ps. It does not work that way? That’s exactly how it works...

Grateful for all input.

Best regards,

Robin

My penny's worth (no change given).

A dyno that can hold a steady state rpm under varying loads is, IMHO, THE way to go.

It allows one to make incremental changes to the parameters, like fuelling, timing, boost, etc and also monitor the changes and affects of other things like coolant and charge temperatures have on the engine in real time.

Inertial dyno's have their place and, with a skilled tuner (Allen's doesn't seem to be), can give good results but they are limited.

I absolutely prefer steady state, altough I have never tried it, except for left foot braking.

Yet no one, or at least few, seem to do it.

It’s hard to compete with other companies that puts in 1/3 of the time and effort.

I agree, never really understood the people that would spend 10, 20, 30 grand - or even more - on their engine and vehicle, yet baulk at another one or two hundred to further optimise their investment. Heck, I've known people like that who'd spend more than that on tyres for just one event!

This may be an old thread but your impression of the current motorcycle tuning industry is the same that I have. I went to national race event and heard the mobile dyno doing ramp after ramp run. On the internet, talking to trackday riders, all I see or hear is ramp runs and WOT tuning. I have been looking into purchasing a Mainline Dyno with steady state as this seems to be a hole in the motorcycle tuning market. My own bike needs light load tuning the most as its a light switch trying to lightly apply throttle when cornering on track. Ignition tuning seems to be rarely addressed or done by trial and error. Many people just download a tune, throw it in and hope for the best. Or maybe I'm just misinformed.

Hi Brad. Thank you for your reply.

It’s nice to hear that Im not the only one feeling like this. Without a ton of experience as of yet, low load tuning does most for the rideability of the bike since Euro 4 and Euro 5 got implemented. For what you are describing (which is a huge problem on most modern bikes) I would turn off overrun fuel cut and closed loop then focusing on throttle valve maps if you have ETV.

Best regards, Robin

Thanks for adding to this thread. I have done all that you have mentioned. The bike does have ETV and I have greatly edited that map. I have started to reduce ignition timing in the low load/low throttle inputs as well to see if it makes a difference. I don't get many chances to ride the bike as its a track only bike and I'm not good at "feeling" what the bike is doing as most of my focus while on track is line selection, braking points and just generally trying to go faster. I would love to have data logging but that's currently not in my budget.