Staintune midrange performance
 

I just recently upgraded my formerly stock 99 R11S with Staintune exhaust, InDuct and FIM UM823 chip. I picked up the Tunes used, in great condition, minus the baffles. There are a couple things I can say for sure that are great about this setup. For one thing, Lennie's InDuct is a real fine piece of craftsmanship. It fit like a glove and is very nicely finished. Also, the abrupt throttle response when shutting down for turns and coming out of turns is way better than before. I can finally relax more when approaching a set of twisties, knowing that the bike will react the way I would have expected it to when coming off and on the gas. The power down low and on top seems to have improved as well. I am definitely running it faster than before, but I probably didn't run as high an rpm before either. It may be just me, or not enough time yet to evauluate it properly, but it seems as though the mid range is not quite as strong as it should be. The stock powerband was very linear, whereas the new powerband seems as though there is a dip in the mid range. Perhaps it is just the stronger top end that I am feeling, relative to the unchanged mid range. However, the acceleration seems a bit soft from about 5800 rpm - 6800 rpm. Unfortunately, this is the part of the powerband I used to really appreciate most about the stock bike setup. I might add that I am still running the stock paper filter too. My question is whether the Staintune baffles might possibly improve the midrange, even at the cost of some top end hp. Or, do I just need to finish it off with a K&N filter to improve the air flow. If so, what are you thoughts on the standard K&N vs the SJ PowerFilter.

Scott

Scott,

I upgraded to the Staintune only back in July and then totaled the bike in September. I still have the baffles in the garage. I took them out when I installed the pipe. If you want them let me know. I have since purchased a 2000-S with stock pipes, and the performance/sound is about to drive me nuts. The powerband is definitely more linear, but I miss the soul of the old bike. I received my new set of Staintunes on Friday. Like I mentioned I have an extra set of baffles........................

Ian

Moto
I am about the same point as you, evaluating. I put a Vanderline system on Saturday, have not done the chip yet, did a brief ride Sunday. I think it is stronger up high, found I hit the rev limiter more abruptly which tells me it was accelerating harder at that point. I think the additional sound gets our blood pumping and that does more than the additional power. Fun either way, chip will go in this week.

Hi Dave,

similar observations on my end (though with a different chip pipe combo) I'm sure much of the benefit was auditory. The only semi-hard evidence I have is the bouncing off the rev limiter so much faster. In fact, being a conservative guy motor-stress-wise, I'd always been careful not to hit redline, ever, even if the stock lower redline. My first hard charge following a friend on a hotrod guzzi saw me immediately bounce of the revlimiter, even though it was a higher limit. Haven't spent much time quanitifying things, but I observed the same as you.

later
roger

Ian, sure I'd be interested in having a set of baffles. If anything, it will give me another option to try out. Shoot me an email and a price to fshartley@adelphia.net . I too am usually conservative on the motor, mostly because I could get the bike haulin pretty easily with the fat midrange power and great handling. I guess I'm trying hang on to that predictable linear powerband that I had gotten used to. I'll certainly take more power if I had a choice. I suppose a few more miles down the road will erase any memory of how I used to ride the bike, once I get used to the new characteristics. I sure do appreciate the smoother on-off throttle response though. That alone makes it a worthwhile change for me.

Roger
I have wondered if I/we did not hit the limiter more with the stock pipe and not know it! They are so quite maybe we just don't know when we hit it? At someones advice I once rode without the air inlet. It made huge inlet noise that made me want to go home and put it on, anyway I hit the limiter once and was very consious of it. Suspect the guys with the "induct" have some in between compramise on inlet sound?
One time last summer my buddy was on my butt (and about to pass) and I hit the limiter in 5th which was at 127 indicated (which must be over 90 real? :-)). Anyway he got a puff of exhaust soot in the face, thought mine had blown up or something and due to wind noise I did not know I had hit it!

I bounce the Rev limiter pretty regularly. :D I'm running the Vanderlinde's w/the chip. Don't think the chip messed with the stock rev limiter settings - same RPM, and I bounce it just about every time I get out. Doesn't seem to have done me any harm. I didn't buy the bike to baby it but to THRASH it.

T

I think someone said the Vanderline chip raised the limiter 500? Or 8300 to 8700? Anybody got the straight skinny on that

given the rpm range motoman is talking about is pretty much the torque peak range, and therefore high fuel usage range, maybe it's worth looking at some general tune stuff.

like, how old is the fuel filter. even filters that give good pressure can cause power loss. do the injectors need cleaning? just general stuff like that.

i know it's far more popular to blame someting else - usually the chip, etc, than to think about stuff like this, but if it feels flat in the middle i'm guessing something is not how it should be. could be wrong, but i think it's worth looking at.

i think bails had issues with his that turned out to be a bad filter.

also, the baffles absolutely killed the midrange on mine.

brad

As far as the rev limiter is concerned, it is there to protect the engine from self destruct and overstress.

I regularly leave the bike in fourth for hard charging and run 5000 to 8000 plus rpms, sometimes hitting the rev limiter at which time I pop fifth if need be. Fourth is good for roll on roll off control at most of the riding I do giving upto about 180kph at or near the rev limiter.

Hey Lennie,
When are you gunna change your location thingy on the left to "The land that time forgot" or "Land of the two headed people"or something?? :D

M Motor SmileWavy

Brad, that is a good point about this rpm range being a high fuel demand area. I bought my bike with 27K miles on it and the engine was still very strong and smooth running. The one thing that I did notice was the fuel pump whine was really loud at all times, full gas tank or empty. I figured this might be due to a dirty fuel filter, so I replaced that along with a valve adjustment, new spark plugs and throttle body synch. The valve adjust and synch were done by the dealer just to be sure I wasn't going to add another problem to the mix. The bike seems to run fine, but the fuel pump is still annoyingly loud. I cans easily hear it running above even the uncorked Staintunes. This seems wrong to me, but the dealer says it's normal. I asked them to check the fuel pressure and they said it was ok too. Have any of you experienced fuel pump problems on these bikes? Also, even with a chip modification would a K12 fuel regulator be of any benefit in fattening up the powerband in this rpm range?

Scott

Moto
Does not sound right to me! The K fuel presure regulator will richen it but that is like using a crutch for a broken leg! I am on my 3rd BMW (96,99 & 01) and the fuel pump is a hum I hear before I start the engine. Even with/when I had, stock exhaust I am not aware of its sound.
I have never been into the tank but the first thoughts that come to my mind are;
1:Inadaquite fuel supply due to tank venting problem, (vent not provided for when someone removed the carbon canister? Vent plugged or damaged?)
2: Fuel pickup partially pllugged inside the tank?

Dave: It was painful to rev my bike up to the limiter in stock condition. I think the bike couldn't suck in enough air. Just adding the InDuct improved that immensely.

With regards to the original midrange question, I have the same combination, but with a K&N filter. The midrange prior to the chip was definitely better, but I think the leaness made the response crisper in the 3000 to 5000 range. Adding the chip added power across the band, but some of the crispness seems to be gone. I still need to dial in the TPS setting. My bike definitely rips from 4000 on up.

Qualifier: This is all seat of the pants feedback, not dyno, but it sure is fun.

Moose
Each of mine has been crisp & strong right up to the limiter dead stock. Adding a K&N did not make a noticable difference. I have not run an "Induct", I will bet like the pipe the biggest gain is in noise induce blood flow, for my money they run damn good stock and the majority of the gain of induct & pipe is in the riders head. I have the pipe now and while it runs great I don't see where it added much. Next time I am insome open country where I can run wide open I will know because I have good notes on that performance before the pipe. I just wonder, based on your coments if yours is up to par?

Moto,
I have the exact same set up as you 99 with staintune, induct, and fim. I also still have the stock filter and feel mine is a little less strong, would't actually say weak, between 4000-6000. Thats with baffles out, with them in seems to have a little more crisp response and better midrange, the trade off is it feels strangled up top. Maybe as Brad metioned there is something going on with my fuel delivery I haven't spent much time running it down. Just been enjoying it for the most part.

I just got done taking the body panels off and checking my vent lines. I got all excited when Dave mentioned improper venting as a possible problem area. I had remembered seeing a plug in the line leading to the solenoid so I wanted to make sure it wasn't actually a tank vent line. To my surprise it was not connected to anything and was plugged at both ends. What was the last owner thinking...? Unfortunately, pulling this line completely off the bike did not solve anything since both vent lines looked ok and the plugs on the throttle bodies were in place too. From the rest of the comments about how subtle the power difference actually is, I'm begining to think that everything is probably just fine. I suppose I was expecting more of a boost than I felt on the first test run. I'll take it out again in the next few days and give it another go. It's still fun as h#*ll anyway, that didn't change. I'd throw in a new fuel pump to see if it worked any better, but at about $300, maybe I'll just stuff my earplugs a little deeper. Thanks, Scott

Motoyoyo
Another way to test the venting is leave your gas cap open and do a run thru the gears. If it runs better you got problems.
Or leave a spare key in the cap and unlatch it at speed?

Hi Dave:

I do know that stock, my bike would hit an indicated 145. With the InDuct alone, I would just make 130. I attributed that to reduced horsepower due to excessive leaness. The InDuct, however, made the bike much more responsive, and made runs up to the limiter, and at higher revs in general, much more pleasureable.

I have not had the appropriate place to do a high speed run with all the mods in place. That is probably the best measure for horsepower, before and after.

I do think I have a venting problem. It's interesting that that has come up in this thread. I had the tank off yesterday, and everything seemed OK, but ... It manifests itself in a nasty gasoline odor, like I just binged and Taco Bell. Any ideas?

My '99 has the In-Duct, power filter, tune and FIM chip. I don't notice any midrange loss. But I did change out the pump a while ago. (cost $180.00) Traded the old one with the dealer but felt no improvement, just got tired of the pump humming.
.
Get the power-filter. Its a good thang....