Exactly what can a GS-911 do for a TR650?

[Mark_H]

I am hearing from many guys that a recent update to the firmware of the latest GS-911 tool allows the owners to do a lot more to the TR650 than original versions.

A guy here in Philippines claims to be able to use his new GS-911 to remap the air fuel ratios and increase the max power output of the bikes by doing some form of reflash or reset procedure. He is 'working wonders' according to the owners of bikes who visit him and they experience extra power, smooth running and no stalling/stumble.

He also claims to be able to reset and disable the O2 sensor adaptations and not allow the bike to correct the extra fuelling that his reflash gives the engine.

Strangely he also tells owners of bikes who pay for his service, that they must never disconnect the battery or the new settings will be lost.

I would like to know from the 'gurus' here, how much of this is possibly true and do I run out and buy the same for myself and many others ?

 

[Roger 04 RT]

Based on 5 year's use of both versions of GS-911, I don't see any of those functions as possible.

 

[etotore]

Agree with Poger 04 RT "I don't see any of those functions as possible.#

You do have possibility to reset, some of the items, still the bike will learn again.

What you can do

Adaptation values
Adjust the Throttle Valve Sensor (TPS)
View TPS adaptations
Reset TPS adaptations
Reset mixture adaptations

 

[WayneC]

The claims that he can remap and flash the ECU with GS911 are pure BS, the GS911 is a diagnostics tool only

At a minimum what the guy is doing is an adaptions reset and with the machines with the early firmware that is quite likely to improve the feel of the machine for a short time. What he may be doing but not with GS911 is using other dodgy tools to make changes but those who have attempted it in the past have failed

As for saying never disconnect the battery as changes will be lost, unbelievable BS, all memory in the BMSE is non volatile, I have now had one open on the test bench to look for a fault for a repairer, most of the components in it are now identified and revision 1 of what I found is now on line to assist 650GS/Terra/Strada/Nuda owners who do have a failure in any of the replaceable components. It has cost the repairer and I considerable time/money to prepare

The capabilities of the GS911 are set out on the Function Chart web page of the Hexcode web site, click on the ECU to see the individual ECU capabilities

At the moment functionality is mainly for BMSE, overnight there has been an update to the PC Application and features in the Cloud Services with dash self test added, I have discussed various aspects with the programming team and along with some of the other new BMW models with CANBUS, more of the diagnostics for ABS and dash will be added now that the basics have been put in place.

In terms of usefulness the GS911 WiFi is very useful, one inmate here who may have red ears, made a mistake, had spent 2 hours dismantling parts to find the error when I walked in with the GS911, 2 minutes later the problem was identified and corrected and it turned out none of the dismantling was needed to fix it.

BMW Dealership techs find the GS911 quicker/easier than BMW Dealer diags for servicing and the real time logging of the GS911 WiFi is beyond anything in the dealer system. Hexcode also listen, there was one test for the 650GS I felt was needed, the latest release now has it and I am about to try to break it

 

[Mark_H]

Thank you for the information guys, I appreciate your experience with the GS-911 tool.

Here is part of some posts the guys who has just had bikes 'fixed' here in the Philippines by this $50+ method.
Based upon the information from Roger04T, WayneC and others I think we can safely say this is probably only an ECU Adaptation reset and time will tell.

just want to share what i have experienced on my Terra 650. As most Terras, i experienced a bad cold, with so many glitches on the bike, like choking n engine dying with clunking noise from the engine, or when u accecelerate, bad coughing aftet decelerating. XXXX called me saying he has the new update on the BMW software for Terra. Since i paid it already the lastime we met, i said why not. I went to XXXX Last monday n he hooked up his PC to the bike n did the tune up for air/fuel mixture n other adjustments via software. After the tuneup, i headed back to manila, noticeably, there was no coughing nor stalling n acceleration was smooth all the way. XXXX said there would be a 10% increase in HP, so i squeezed the throttle n to my surprise, there seemed a mark difference in the pull of the engine, much quicker n responsive. Ive been testing the bike for 1 week now n it remains smooth in pulling, though i would have slight stalling when cold or when gear is too high. Its important to be in the right gear to accelerate quickly. So maybe XXXX was right about the 4th upgrade for the Huskies by BMW. Thanks XXXX, great job

Another..

I had just changed my oil and plugs prior to the trip and I was happy with how my bike was running so wasn't really sure if I was going through with it because I have minimal stalling issues. When ????? bike was being fixed I saw something that changed my mind, there was an adaptation program and the parameters could be adjusted. From that moment I decided to go for the update. XXXX was kind enough to ask us if we wanted to max out the power that was available while warning us that we will have an increased fuel consumption. Of course we said yes please!!! The trip back to Manila was really solid! You can instantly feel the change of engine characteristics as power delivery was smooth, the bit of hesitation on first gear is gone and the revs just go. The power increase was not so explosive but substantial and it is delivered in a linear way.

Another...

After some apprehensions at the start, I saw how his reflash software work and noticed it was very sophisticated with an option as to how high of power increase you want... After the reflash, throttle response was much sharper and the stalling disappeared... Wow... The ride home felt incredible and I hit 8,500 rpm without effort in 3rd gear... Engine is much smoother above 6000 rpm and it egged me to keep the revs up..

 

[CarstenB]

i feel so sorry for those bikes. Don't think i ever hit 6000 rpm and wouldn't know why. Sometimes i wonder if BMW dropped those bikes because they had too deal with too many hooligans.

 

[kiwiape]

I am hearing from many guys that a recent update to the firmware of the latest GS-911 tool allows the owners to do a lot more to the TR650 than original versions.

A guy here in Philippines claims to be able to use his new GS-911 to remap the air fuel ratios and increase the max power output of the bikes by doing some form of reflash or reset procedure. He is 'working wonders' according to the owners of bikes who visit him and they experience extra power, smooth running and no stalling/stumble.

He also claims to be able to reset and disable the O2 sensor adaptations and not allow the bike to correct the extra fuelling that his reflash gives the engine.

Strangely he also tells owners of bikes who pay for his service, that they must never disconnect the battery or the new settings will be lost.

I would like to know from the 'gurus' here, how much of this is possibly true and do I run out and buy the same for myself and many others ?

if it looks like BS, feels like BS, smells like BS and tastes like BS, its BS!

 

[Mark_H]

What if the guy is not only using a GS-911 but also some other software that is able to read and adjust?
Has anyone ever seen anything that offers the ability to specifically adjust ECU Air/Fuel Ratios mapping via PC and select increased power output on a % basis because I never have.

There is no hardware addition or upgrade being done to the bikes, nothing added or taken away, the work is all ECU map based, but I am not convinced as there is also no real evidence being presented. If there were some screen shots or scan reports of the before/after settings then it would be interesting.

Furthermore, the fact that he tells them not to disconnect the battery or the new power settings will be lost is difficult to believe. He also says that if they experience a power drop off or a return to previous stalling etc then he will reflash the ECU again for free.
Smells of a reset to me, nothing more.

 

[WayneC]

Furthermore, the fact that he tells them not to disconnect the battery or the new power settings will be lost is difficult to believe. He also says that if they experience a power drop off or a return to previous stalling etc then he will reflash the ECU again for free.
Smells of a reset to me, nothing more.

On the earlier model BMW Rotax singles switched and unswitched power goes to a voltage regulator in the BMSC which turns off power to the processor/memory when the ignition is turned off. The voltage regulator powers back up when ignition is turned on. On the BMSE switched and unswitched power goes to an IC which has many functions inside, one of which is a voltage regulator to supply the processor and memory, to minimise ignition off power consumption it will do the same.

Re use of other software, I exchanged a few emails with the person who wrote TuneECU to see if he would consider including BMW models, he declined emphatically as he knew what a nightmare it was likely to be, anyone attempting it is likely to leave a trail of disasters behind them and with the Terra/Strada with EWS and the length of time/cost to get replacement ECU's it would be a risky process to say the least

 

[mag00]

Maybe he hacked a Rexxer?

That still wouldn't explain the battery issue

 

[jodie]

Tried wukka king, EJK, and dyno boost.... this guy from the philippines seems to know what he was doin... bike runs great.. only time will tell... im no guru.. but looks like he can change some parameters to make the bike run better..

if only i can share his methods but i dont even understand what he did...

a lot of huskies are having him tune their bikes.. even the nuda... everyone seem happy about it.

just sharing

 

[WayneC]

Tried wukka king, EJK, and dyno boost.... this guy from the philippines seems to know what he was doin... bike runs great.. only time will tell... im no guru.. but looks like he can change some parameters to make the bike run better..

if only i can share his methods but i dont even understand what he did...

a lot of huskies are having him tune their bikes.. even the nuda... everyone seem happy about it.

just sharing

If the guy is saying he can reprogram an ECU with a GS911 it is a lie pure and simple

The only thing he can do is reset the adaptions and if he knows what he is doing rebuild adaptions by idling the machine until the fan kicks in. This is a standard first step maintenance procedure with these types of ECU. If that is all he is doing then costs should be low and you can do it for yourself if you purchase a GS911.

Whether he is using an "off line" Programming System to update the BMSE then that is another thing entirely but if he is then asking for an operations report will show the firmware version before and after programming. If he is unable to provide it then it is unlikely the firmware is truthfully being updated and it is a con job

As for the claim that removing power from the BMSE by disconnecting the battery will restore original programming, that is total BS

Understand that Wukka KIng, EJK, Dyno-Boost and any other add on device cannot resolve problems in the early firmware versions

 

[DJOV]

I had a shop in Seattle use the GS911 ( I also own my own since so few shops can talk to the ECU in my Terra) - the GS911 cannot re-program or upgrade anything in the firmware. Using it allows you to see and reset the fault codes. This helps but it's true the bike will "relearn" the problematic habits. I have experienced the relief of the reset and the threat of the stall later. The GS911 company in California is small and the owner is a capable man who helped me make the decision to buy the device then helped me navigate how to use it. When I say helped me make the decision, I mean he answered a hundered tedious questions about exactly what the GS911 can and cannot do, and he was able to explain all of it. I feel better having the tool, because I can now reset the fault codes almost anytime I want, as long as I have wifi - or if I download an app to my phone I can use satellite and at least use the tool to assess. And that will be enough until I get to update the firmware and until BMW comes up with a permanent fix.

 

[DJOV]

http://www.gs911usa.com/

http://www.hexcode.co.za/

 

[WayneC]

Using it allows you to see and reset the fault codes. This helps but it's true the bike will "relearn" the problematic habits. I have experienced the relief of the reset and the threat of the stall later.

Perhaps you could explain better what you or the shop did, resetting fault codes does nothing more than that and does not do anything re "learned values". What I suspect you are actually saying is that you reset adaptions, what should also have been done as per the instructions in the GS911 is rebuild adaptions by idling the machine until the fan kicks in, preferably done when the engine is cold so a full table is built

And yes the US distributor for GS911 is good, they are very responsive and i am aware of situations they have gone well beyond the normal to ensure customers are looked after

 

[DJOV]

Perhaps you could explain better what you or the shop did, resetting fault codes does nothing more than that and does not do anything re "learned values". What I suspect you are actually saying is that you reset adaptions, what should also have been done as per the instructions in the GS911 is rebuild adaptions by idling the machine until the fan kicks in, preferably done when the engine is cold so a full table is built

And yes the US distributor for GS911 is good, they are very responsive and i am aware of situations they have gone well beyond the normal to ensure customers are looked after

Thank you for the correction: Cleared the fault codes and reset the adaptation values. (I do not know the technical language. Still learning... ) And yes, we "rebuilt" the adaptations by idling until the fan kicked in and yes it was when the engine was cold. I was really pleased, and felt much safer, once this was done.

 

[WayneC]

Thank you for the correction: Cleared the fault codes and reset the adaptation values. (I do not know the technical language. Still learning... ) And yes, we "rebuilt" the adaptations by idling until the fan kicked in and yes it was when the engine was cold. I was really pleased, and felt much safer, once this was done.

Sorry for being pedantic about it and pleased to see you coming to grips with the GS911, my email and PMs elsewhere on the subject by people asking questions are considerable.

With that early firmware version, yes it will tend to fall back to bad habits, with the last release version it can remain very stable, that is why people should update to the last release version while waiting for any other version to be released. Continuing to use the bike while there are poor adaption/trims runs a risk of engine damage

The other reason to update to the last release version is it would be expected that there will be a small number of machines which do not respond as well to the update, as per the G650GS machines and the recall on them, updating to the last release version will assist in identifying the machines which are problematic and that provides further information to present to the safety authorities like NHTSA, DOTARS etc

 

[CarstenB]

another really nice functionality of the GS911 Wifi is the real time logging of all sorts of data. With a little effort the GS911 can be hooked up while riding the bike and then logs relevant data that allow to better understand what's going on and why certain behaviours occur.

Plotting the data vs time or against each other is quite powerful and fun.

I am using the GS911 since a few weeks and can only confirm that the adaption reset did wonders. My Terra is at 24000km and wasn't hooked up to diagnostics since the 1000km service. It has the latest firmware but had a few cold and hot stalls when i got it so i put in Pulstar plugs and the Wuka - otherwise it still is stock. I had also derestricted it without resetting the TPS. Bike ran well except for an occasional cold start stall but i always had the impression that it runs too rich which i didn't like.

First thing i did when i got the GS911 was to unplug the Wuka and reset TPS, idle actuator and adaptions with cold engine. Then i let it idle until fan kicked in. That's 400km or so agao and it runs really well now. Clearly leaner and better gas mileage but no pinging. It still has that occasional stall when the engine is cold but otherwise no issues. So my conclusion so far is that the latest firmware works pretty well if the ECU is "clean" without any crap in its memory.

 

[Roger 04 RT]

Just a note--idling until the fan kicks in only allows a tiny percentage of the adaptive to be rebuilt. There are adaptives for many RPMs and throttle angles and it takes several tanks of gas, with varied riding style, for the majority to be recalculated.

 

[CarstenB]

agree, idling until the fan kicks in is only the first step. Putting it through the rev and throttle angle ranges is the fun part - if only the roads would be longer here and the speed limits less restricitve...

rpm, throttle position and temperature logs from above ride. Interesting to see how airbox temperature creeps up during the breaks due to engine heat.