Installing A Power Commander

Posted 07 March 2009 - 06:10 pm

• Back to top

Posted 07 March 2009 - 10:58 pm

QUOTE(marley3 @ Sat 7th Mar 2009, 07:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Having recently purchased a Power Commander for my 2002 TDM900 I set about installing it according to the supplied instructions.

The instructions provide a picture showing a four pin connector which it says to disconnect. This appears to be in a bundle of four connectors located under the fuel tank. The problem is that the connectors fitted to the power commander do not fit the four pin connector that appears to be indicated on the instructions.

There is a four pin and a three pin together a little further towards the front of the bike. The connectors fitted to the power commander do fit these.

Has anyone fitted a power commander to their 900, had a similar issue and can you explain what you did?

Many thanks

It all fits ok, but not in the fashion shown in the fitting manual.
I discovered soon if enough that something didn't add up the way I expected according to the manual. Figured it out on my 2006 model after some fiddling with wires and connectors and I took a few shoots that might be helpful...





Good luck!

TDM 900 2006 mod.:
MRA modded PUIG screen, air-box mod., Laser Duo-Tech cans, Powercommander, Symtec Motorcycle Grip Heater, Stebel Magnum (black), Centech AP-1 Auxiliary Fuse Panel, Hawkeoiler...

• Back to top

Posted 08 March 2009 - 11:36 am

• Back to top

Posted 08 March 2009 - 01:53 pm

QUOTE(marley3 @ Sun 8th Mar 2009, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That looks great, very helpful. Thanks for the info I will dive under the tank next week and have another look. Thanks again

On the principle that you can never have enough useful instruction check out the pic below, which I used when I recently did mine. As AJ says the Dynojet instructions are misleading so use these instead and it'll be fine.




Good luck.

Edited by poldark, 08 March 2009 - 01:55 pm.

'03 silver TDM 900 with V-Strom handguards, GS1150 bar risers, givi box, baglux tank cover, PC III USB with K&N air filter, S/S rad guard, crash bungs, Tigerscreen, iridium plugs, braided front hoses, OEM centre stand, 15W fork oil & 10mm yoke drop, tutoro oiler & sheepskin seat cover! Gone but not forgotten!

• Back to top

Posted 08 March 2009 - 08:00 pm

QUOTE(poldark @ Sun 8th Mar 2009, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On the principle that you can never have enough useful instruction check out the pic below, which I used when I recently did mine. As AJ says the Dynojet instructions are misleading so use these instead and it'll be fine.


Good luck.

TDM 900 2006 mod.:
MRA modded PUIG screen, air-box mod., Laser Duo-Tech cans, Powercommander, Symtec Motorcycle Grip Heater, Stebel Magnum (black), Centech AP-1 Auxiliary Fuse Panel, Hawkeoiler...

• Back to top

Posted 08 March 2009 - 08:43 pm

• Back to top

Posted 08 March 2009 - 11:15 pm

QUOTE(marley3 @ Sun 8th Mar 2009, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All these pics are great. Far clearer than the black and whites supplied with the PC III. I shall take another look next week. Many thanks for all the help provided.

You're welcome

TDM 900 2006 mod.:
MRA modded PUIG screen, air-box mod., Laser Duo-Tech cans, Powercommander, Symtec Motorcycle Grip Heater, Stebel Magnum (black), Centech AP-1 Auxiliary Fuse Panel, Hawkeoiler...

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 10:16 am

Could I ask what your reason is for installing a PC? I considered one for my 2008 900 to help reduce the snatchy throttle at low speeds/revs but my dealer said I would lose a chunk of the top end.

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 10:57 am

QUOTE(Nanook @ Mon 9th Mar 2009, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Could I ask what your reason is for installing a PC? I considered one for my 2008 900 to help reduce the snatchy throttle at low speeds/revs but my dealer said I would lose a chunk of the top end.

Sorry but your dealer is a bit of a plonker.

I'm no great expert but Power Commanders are a bit of electrical wizzardry that interfaces with the bikes FI system to allow a finer tuning than the standard "one size fits all" set-up that the bike manufacturer has built.

Often used by power rangers on sportsbikes who've fitted after-market cans to help set these up and eck out a few bhp more. They're quite an expensive bit of kit (£250) and often need a "custom map" (tuning for your specific bike by an expert - 3/4 hours) at about £150 more, though you can download free maps and people share them around.

For the TDM they should iron out the fuelling glitches that can create uneven power delivery, if you have added a different exhaust also helps get the most out of that too.

But as they effectively ensure the bike is running as good as is possible it would not (IMO) have any negative impact on top speed whatsoever. If you keep an eye on EBay you can pick one up for around £100, well that's what I did anyway.

The bit I'm less sure about is mpg impact, I reckon that as it generates the ideal fueling the consumption should improve (don't know yet on mine), but often people comment it gets worse, I'm pretty sure this is because it's delivered better performance and if you use that then the mpg drops.

Edited by poldark, 09 March 2009 - 11:06 am.

'03 silver TDM 900 with V-Strom handguards, GS1150 bar risers, givi box, baglux tank cover, PC III USB with K&N air filter, S/S rad guard, crash bungs, Tigerscreen, iridium plugs, braided front hoses, OEM centre stand, 15W fork oil & 10mm yoke drop, tutoro oiler & sheepskin seat cover! Gone but not forgotten!

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 04:05 pm

As poldark says - anyway what do you need top speed for ya auld duffer

I changed the silencers on mine after the CCC cans got damaged (I'll get the photo to ya soon wicky ) The Akrapovics (ex Pict) required a different fuelling map. 15 runs and £60 later I'd the same max power as before (give or take a horse) but upped the 5000 rpm power from 58 to 68 bhp (same dyno) - thats around 17% at a very usable rev band ......and it'll still pick up cleanly from under 2500 rpm. The PC has leaned off the mixture at midrange from before and added a little fuel at max revs. bike feels livlier now

Edited by dandywarhol, 09 March 2009 - 05:22 pm.

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 04:19 pm

QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Mon 9th Mar 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As poldark says - anyway what do you need top speed for ya auld duffer

I changed the silencers on mine after the CCC cans got damaged (I'll get the photo to ya soon wicky ) The Akrapovics (ex Pict) required a different fuelling map. 15 runs and £60 later I'd the same max power as before (give or take a horse) but upped the 5000 rpm power from 58 to 68 bhp - thats around 17% at a very usable rev band ......and it'll still pick up cleanly from under 2500 rpm. The PC has leaned off the mixture at midrange from before and added a little fuel at max revs. bike feels livlier now

Oh how I wish I could get a custom map for £60, I've called 4 places and they've varied between £150 -£180, that's starting in London (Southern Cross, Kilburn) and then looking further afield Taplow (PDQ), Bexhill (PDM) and Wisbech (X-Bikes).

'03 silver TDM 900 with V-Strom handguards, GS1150 bar risers, givi box, baglux tank cover, PC III USB with K&N air filter, S/S rad guard, crash bungs, Tigerscreen, iridium plugs, braided front hoses, OEM centre stand, 15W fork oil & 10mm yoke drop, tutoro oiler & sheepskin seat cover! Gone but not forgotten!

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 07:23 pm

• Back to top

Posted 09 March 2009 - 11:07 pm

A badly setup PC could upset the top speed - all it's doing is altering the fuelling. Thats why its best to have it setup on a dyno - a one off experience (unless you change the pipes of course )

• Back to top

Posted 16 March 2009 - 12:11 pm

Sorry about not getting back to you peeps sooner on this but my feckin shoulder so-called bloody recovery is giving me that much pain that I can't seem to focus on anything at the mo. But thanks for the feedback lads - it's much appreciated.

• Back to top

Posted 16 March 2009 - 06:48 pm

QUOTE(Nanook @ Mon 16th Mar 2009, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry about not getting back to you peeps sooner on this but my feckin shoulder so-called bloody recovery is giving me that much pain that I can't seem to focus on anything at the mo. But thanks for the feedback lads - it's much appreciated.

Were you having the chip removed?

• Back to top

Posted 18 March 2009 - 08:42 am

QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Mon 9th Mar 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Akrapovics (ex Pict) required a different fuelling map. 15 runs and £60 later I'd the same max power as before (give or take a horse) but upped the 5000 rpm power from 58 to 68 bhp (same dyno) - thats around 17% at a very usable rev band ......and it'll still pick up cleanly from under 2500 rpm.

That's a hell of a gain!

Was that with or without baffles?

• Back to top

Posted 18 March 2009 - 06:25 pm

QUOTE(v8guy @ Wed 18th Mar 2009, 08:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's a hell of a gain!

Was that with or without baffles?

Yep, surprised me too - thats with DB killers in.

X is 5000 rpm, blue is akras with db killers - red is Carbon Can Company race cans. I've lost a couple of max. horse over 20,000 miles, better check the valve clearances (maybe I'd better change my signature )

Edited by dandywarhol, 18 March 2009 - 06:26 pm.

• Back to top

Posted 18 March 2009 - 10:39 pm

QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Wed 18th Mar 2009, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, surprised me too - thats with DB killers in.

That's astonishing, to be honest. I just dug out my plot... with Fuel cans fitted, baffles in, mine made 60bhp at 5000rpm on the day, peaking at 79 at about 7000rpm.

How much are those Akrapovics...?

• Back to top

Posted 18 March 2009 - 11:03 pm

These are healthy figures for a stock engine

You'll see on my graph its also giving 30 bhp @2750rpm (35 mph) - just enough to hoik up the front with ease

Edited by dandywarhol, 18 March 2009 - 11:04 pm.

• Back to top