Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Hi there!

I'm new here, I've had my gsx650f learner bike for about 4 months now and I'm looking to do my full test very soon, and straight afterwards I'll be wanting to make it go faster

I've been searching through the net and throughout this forum but I cannot find any definitive answers to do with ECU replacements, or other performance enhancements.

my main questions are:

1. I want a de-restricted ECU, I dont really care where I get it from, dealer or no dealer, surely someone in has done this already? I'd be completely gobsmacked if nobody has.

(ps i already know about all the re-registering stuff, dont need anyone babbling on about that )

2. Would power commander actually make a difference to the bike even with the restricted ECU?

I've got a yoshi pipe on already which makes it a little more speedier, but yeah I'm ready for the next step soon, someone please help me find the answers I need!

Hi firey and welcome.

I don't think anyone on OZ has done it yet and posted the full story with the new ECU or even if a power comander would work with the the restrictor in .I'm still waiting to see how it all works.

I read here some one emailed a UK dealer and they would send them a full power ECU, not sure what the cost is .

There are a couple of threads about this subject going already so have a search to find them.

I have had my bike about the same time you have and I ordered a Power Commander from the US before I went on holidays recently. I'm waiting to get off my L's before putting installing it.

My understanding is that it will return the bike to unrestricted specs, will void the warranty, and that I may have issues finding someone to retune it once I make the modification. The Power Commander has all sorts of warnings on it that it's not for street use, blah blah blah.

Keep in touch and I'll be happy to share my experiences once I get off my L's.

Cheers.

and they may sound stupid but please bear with me.......

When you talk of ECU restrictions can you please explain what that means. Am I correct in thinking that the Government restricts the amount of power a bike has until you pass a series of tests? How is this accomplished? Do they restrict the amount of fuel thru a means of jetting or how.

Just wondering?
Thanks

Yeah the ECU restricts the fueling ,cuts it out at 7000rpm ,like its toped out and got no more power.


We have what we call LAMS ..see here >>click here
Basicly .if your a learner you have to do learn course to teach you to ride.
Then pick a bike from that LAMS list above ,you ride on your learner licence for 3-6 months ,do another course {test} and you get another Provisional licence ,and you still have to ride a bike form the LAMS list ,for 12 months.
Then get what ever bike you like.
But if your over 30 years of age ,you do your learner course and after the second course {test }get a full licence straight away .

in WA its diffrent.

its just 250cc or less for first 12 months then sit another practical on anything over 250cc and you get your full R class licence.
i think there about to change it though. they better not before i get my full R licence lol

Do a search for posts by me. I just uploaded a graph showing what happens when you put a power commander on a restricted gsx650f. Bottom line the improvement is only 10%. Hardly worth the $600+ you'll spend on the PCIII and having the bike dyno tuned.

I was told you can purchase the full power ECU as a spare part from the US for about $US1100. So if you really want to unrestrict the bike it appears that you could buy an ECU and then dyno tune the bike which will probably set you back around $A1700. The worry with this is that it's entirely possible your insurance company will not cover you if you are not licensed to ride a full power bike.

For what's it worth, I'm planning on finishing off my P plate time and then selling the bike and buying a full power bike of any brand other than Suzuki. I love the bike and would really like to have the full power version but I won't be spending any more of my money on Suzuki bikes as a matter of principle.

Cheers.

Yeah I read that post the other day ,I bet you saved alot of people the time and hassle and not to mention the money ,someone had to do it.
Sorry it was you.

But can't see why you wouldn't buy another Suzuki ,we all new from early on ,almost day one , that suzuki were not going to let it to be deresticted .
Its not like they told you ...you could then changed there mind and your stuck with a LAMS bike.

I had a friend check the price of a new ECU back in the UK and they were quoted £600 so I gave up on that one. Any way I've got another 8 months before I get to ride any thing with a bit of power and I would rather be out on the road riding than worrying about the power issues.
I've had my FU for 6 months and its going in for its 12000 service to be honest the only limitation I find with the bike is me and the times that I think I could use more power are usually followed by a moment that prove that I don't .

Hi firey
I see your from Adelaide well have tomeet and take a run through the hills

And remember it may be restricted but LAMS Blue one is still faster than the black one

It would be a real shame to cut Suzuki out of your buying loop due to something that is beyond their control and due to the LAMS rules more than likely very expensive to work around.

IMO give it a month or so (or even till you are ready to update) and look again, you may end up looking at a Suzuki

Please forgive me for being brutally honest but try to remember that you brought the restricted bike, Suzuki didn't make you buy it

Yes, I may end up eating those words as they do make some very nice bikes. But then again there are few other out there that I'm happy to consider so who knows?



That's entirely true and a very good point. Indeed one could say that Suzuki has done a very good thing by making this particular bike available in a LAMS version as it suits a group of riders that more than likely would not be happy spending their learning period on a smaller 250cc or even the GS500, which to me felt like a little postie bike and not being EFI was not nearly as smooth of a ride.

But I don't believe for a second that this situation is not within Suzuki's control and that they can't lobby to have a system where the bike can be unrestricted. It's being done in other countries right now so why not here?

As an individual consumer I don't like my chances of doing anything about this but as a corporate entity that I suspect the Gov would like to keep on side given current financial situations, I do think Suzuki would have a much better chance of addressing this issue on behalf of their customers.

I suspect they consider it too hard and why should they bother when they know we will have to turn around and buy another bike if they don't? So it's hardly in their interest as people like me would not bother buying a second bike if I could unrestrict my original purchase. And that's the reason I'm not going to give them more of my money. Indeed, I'll do my best to make sure others know about this as well in case they want to reconsider how to approach this issue.

Remember, I'm a returning rider, not a new or young first time rider. So this whole situation is basically just adhering to regulations that don't really apply to my situation. In NSW a person such as myself will be off their L's and on to a full license in three months. Is that person really expected to spend well over $10k for a bike and then be required to turn around and buy another one? That's absurd. But because I live in the ACT I'm stuck with the P period of a year. How is that equitable? And yes, I expect the manufactures to lobby on my behalf or to at least contribute in some way to the debate.

I would like to add that I do believe in, and support the LAMS initiative. Stats show that fatalities of riders has decreased 40% since it's introduction and I have found it personally very useful. That's awesome!

I am not after an enormous amount of power so I can be a hoon. But I am concerned that passing and other situations do require more power than a restricted bike has. My skills and needs are now pushing the limits of the bike after only four months of owning it. So in summary, and with hindsight, if I had it to do again I simply would have bought the full power version and slapped an L plate on it and told the Gov to get screwed to protect my investment. Yes, that would have exposed me to legal liability etc.

In all this discussion I think you should also consider that every L rider I know with a 250cc bike can go much faster in the twisties than this bike and I have seen terrible outcomes as a result of this. So restricting a bike or imposing a power/weight ratio in no way prevents a rider from driving in a dangerous manner and paying the price for it. I'm not sure how this balances with the stats showing the reduction in injury but the point I'm making is that people who choose to drive unsafely can do so on any size bike. No amount of legislation will ever prevent that.

Cheers.

Thats true, I was about to argue that enabling de-restriction of restircted bikes would increase their sales, but as you say, it actually forces people to spend more on bikes so it is not in the interests of the bike manufacturers to help learners to de-restrict their bikes.



It is a good idea, it's a shame they dont do the same thing with cars (which are not only dangerous for the driver, but everyone inside the car, and everyone driving near them also). A learner motorcyclist has to ride a de-powered bike, but a learner car driver can buy a supercharged V8 turbo whatever and plow themselves (and all their passengers) into an oncoming car.

Come to think of it, why aren't car drivers forced to wear helmets? I am positive that would decrease the number of serious head injuries resulting from car accidents. Can you imagine the outcry if any govt. tried to introduce that law?



I have known people who do that without even a learners permit. I dont think the penalty is actually all that great even if you do get caught. I have been living in Canberra for 4 years now and have yet to be pulled over by a cop, despite speeding all the time.



This is true. I had a friend who owned an Aprilia RS125 and that thing was like lightening. I get the impression that the LAMS laws were developed wtih absolutely no consultation with motorcyclists.

They do ..now........,no V8'S no Subby turbos etc .
The ones you may of seen ,just look moded but it all show ,the cops are hot on the P platers ,they wouldn't risk it.
http://www.aussiev8.com.au/questions-bo ... aters.html

I did hear if it was registered in mum or dads name and the V8 is the family car ,they can drive it ...I THINK.

So all they would do is get dad to register it for them ,if they die its dads own fault .