Hey extrapolator! Chance to check out the flash yet? Thoughts on it?

Well bumpfire, the voodoo worked on my bike..and from what you’ve said about it, yours too ;)

Hey extrapolator! Chance to check out the flash yet? Thoughts on it?

It's not back, yet! Well ... maybe it did get back today, but I had to go out of town on work. Will be back in the office tomorrow to see. If it's there ... I'M RIDIN TOMORROW NITE! Stay tuned!

That it did,best $75 bucks I have spent on it so far.

It was in my office when I walked by in

I repeat, stay tuned ... I'll report back the best review I can. Hopefully from a ride tonight, but I can't promise that. Hopefully tho.

OK finally got the ECU back in and took it for a spin last night. BUT ... My work life is so busy right now that I didn't get to do the test ride until midnight, which wasn't enough time to ride out of town and stretch its legs. And it was only 8 miles So, really the only things I can report back are, 1) the bike does indeed run correctly *, and 2) I can change Traction Control on the fly, which is cool and should be the way it comes stock (at least I think, cuz the first thing I did was start messing with that and realized I had ridden a pretty long way without looking up at the road ... oh well it was midnight and there were zero cars out).

As to smoothness, unfortunately I couldn't feel any difference, so far ... could be the short ride. Hopefully I'll notice it during more riding.

As to power, again, probably too short of a ride, as I didn't really notice anything. I tried doing some quick short blasts from 20 up to 80, and it's certainly fast ... but it was always fast. Was it faster, I dunno.

I think I'll know more the first time I ride out of town somewhere with my buds.

* Schnitz' instructions say to reinstall the ECU, turn the key on (but don't start the bike) for 10 seconds, turn it off for 10 seconds, turn it back on and listen for the fuel pump ... and if it doesn't work, try again .. Say whu?? Not very confidence inspiring, but mine did indeed prime on the first try ... Phew

Thanks for the honest first impressions, extrap. I am really fascinated with the tuning process but I am not overwhelmed by the results at all. It's good to know you have all the power you can but stock is really not a lot different IMO. The tales of "my bike is completely transformed" is not what I found. It's there if you are paying close attention but it won't reach out and hit you over the head.

...but maybe yours will. Give us an update when you get a chance to open 'er up.

It was a very noticeable difference with mine, butt dyno aside, just a lot more responsive and torqueier in the lower rpm’s. ymmv?
...gotta believe the engines a lot happier running cooler too. JMO but I’m very pleased with the results and glad I finally pulled the trigger.

* Last updated by: mad5674 on 8/8/2018 @ 11:44 PM *

Rook - It's there if you are paying close attention but it won't reach out and hit you over the head.

Yeah, I'd imagine most tuning results mainly show up when drag racing, i.e. time slips tell the story. As I said, it's not like my bike was slow, and by no means was the throttle as herky jerky as my buddy's Yamaha FZ09 or the FJ09 I test rode at Daytona, but I hoped to feel more improvement, specifically in off-throttle / on-throttle smoothness. I suppose if it was too smooth, though, it'd just be a big ol' sloppy Cadillac ... or, basically a bike with no engine braking?

Rook - Give us an update when you get a chance to open 'er up.

Certainly will!

mad5674 - It was a very noticeable difference with mine, butt dyno aside, just a lot more responsive and torqueier in the lower rpm’s. ymmv?
...gotta believe the engines a lot happier running cooler too. JMO but I’m very pleased with the results and glad I finally pulled the trigger.

That's awesome I wish mine was more obvious during my brief ride. I think (hope) I'll know more the first chance to I get to do a hooligan ride with my buds Those usually consist of starting out as rational humans riding out of town toward a seaside lunch spot, then about half way there by the time we get to some back roads we're opening them up ... more ... and more. That's when I think I'll really know if there's an improvement.

Many have stated on here that the Schnitz flash is $75. Well for my bike, since I have a full Yosh
system on it , will run almost $300. For that kind of cash I'm going to Nels.

Mad

Mad - I paid $75 for the basic flash + $125 more for "Adjust Fuel Tables to Match Exhaust" for my Muzzy slipons. I just selected each one of their Yosh options, and they are all the same price as mine, $75 + $125 = $200 total https://store.schnitzracing.com/schnitz-ecu-reflash-kawasaki-zx14r-12-15/

I'm not trying to sway you at all. Just saying that it looks like $200 not $300. Maybe I'm missing something.

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 8/9/2018 @ 12:45 PM *

Probably $213 after tax n shipping? Extrap... I have M4 slips but opted to not change fuel tables. I wonder if that’s the difference in feel. You would think it the other way around though. I believe bumpfire just got the basic, but I don’t know what exhaust he has.

($208- tax is probably just for instate IN buyers)

* Last updated by: mad5674 on 8/9/2018 @ 3:21 PM *

Before I pulled the trigger, I did read many review/testimonials of ‘waking the beast up’ from guys only getting the basic flash.

Well, when I plug in the Yosh full system in the website the price at the top for the flash says $300
So, I'm not sure what's going on.

Mad

Here's a screenshot of what I see:

I would order from a computer that says $200.

Hello,

I'm testing different fuel maps that leans out the ZX14R's already rich stock fuel tables, and I was reading another thread where Romans kind of threw out a tuner's secret when it comes to adding ignition timing. He mentioned that there are a few horses to gain by bumping up the ignition timing by 2 degrees while leaning out the fuel which will net additional horses. In this thread it indicates that the Schnitz bumps ignition timing by 4 degrees. Does anyone know if this is 4 degrees added across the entire ignition table or ignition added to the top end spectrum? Based on the feedback of those who have had their ECUs flashed by Schnitz, they had positive results.

My question to anyone who has an idea of tuning, especially as it relates to ignition timing, what's the general consensus on how much timing to add to the ZX14R? Is it factual that Kawasaki retarded the ignition from where it was with the previous Gen for emissions reasons or what not? I've tested adding 3 degrees across the entire ignition table and I didn't experience any knocking or pinging. I also noticed that my bike runs cooler than it did with stock fueling/ignition. Is adding 4 degrees pushing it to the point where I may not experience immediate issues, but issues with the engine on down the road?

Thanks

* Last updated by: siroht on 7/2/2022 @ 3:34 PM *

For those experts who may chime in, here are screenshots of IAP_TPS fueling and modified ignition table that I'm running. As far as drivability it seems more responsive but in regards to performance gains over stock parameters I'm not quite sure. If there are any gains they are minimal and the butt dyno isn't able discern the difference.

Here's the IAP_TPS tables where fueling was mostly removed on average 8-10% and the modified ignition table that I picked up from here in the forums.

One other observation after flashing this setup is that my idle dropped down to under 1K RPM, and at times it seems to want to die out. Once I give it a quick blip the idle rises back to 1,050 ROM. I assume this is fuel related?.?.
Also the bike runs cooler which I thought was odd, because I would've thought by pulling fuel and adding ignition would make the bike run warmer....adding fuel usually cools the engine, at least that's what I thought.

* Last updated by: siroht on 7/3/2022 @ 5:07 PM *

Probably the timing on that one. I played with an OEM race-ECU program just playing with entry numbers on the map. I'd enter a number and it would accept it or throw a red block; indicating it will not compute with said number. Too bad other aftermarkets programs don't install that. More or less, you're more throwing darts at it without having that handhold popup.

Those sort of numbers throwing is more a guess at it. There is something called a truthtable the processor calc's off of. Sure it will calc, but will send in the best number of the calc'ing thru the tables. And that number might not work in other words, but the table calls the calc, for 'best' number.

It's complex now, due to the layout of the chips. You more or less wire up gates that switch around hitting
'and/or/nor' gates laid out as the table is built to the wiring of the chip. Because of the 3rd wire hanging all alone, that switches to an and/or/nor gate in other words. You build the motherboard following how you wired up the 3rd leg to said hard part.

Eventually the 3rd leg is soldered to ground, and there is the complete loop for said chipset.

Thanks Hub.

I sorted out the low idle issue by flashing back the stock IAP fuel map, and it's idling smooth as glass now. I'm going to run the updated flash and see how it performs over time.

Is it just me or is the $75 flash now $200? and $325 with fuel adjustments?

@extrapolator - what is your longer term assessment of the flash? I too am concerned about spending money to be underwhelmed by the results.

Guys, does +4 degrees affect the minimum fuel requirement? ie 98 only?

:(

FYI- In regards to Schnitz adding +4 degrees ignition timing advance posted earlier on in this thread, when I had my bike dyno tuned last year afterwards I was able to view the ECU(since the tuner didn't lock it down), and he also added +4 degrees of ignition timing from the midrange up to top end. Four degrees timing must be the sweet spot for the 14R.

* Last updated by: siroht on 4/1/2024 @ 11:03 AM *

Pulling this thread out of the closet for a dust off.

I've been lurking around, reading up on the different flash options out there, but was reluctant to pull the trigger due to the cost, potential down time while waiting for the shipper man (I'm impatient, I'll admit it) or plain ole not the proper fit for my riding style.

...but then I got lucky...SUPER lucky...

I found an used Schnitz flashed ECU off a similar year bike - with the same exhaust - for less than the current flash OR used ECU costs now! Like I said...SUPER lucky!

Anyhoo, this isn't about me bragging, its about the flash - its a note to those like myself - just pull the damn trigger already.

I put roughly 500 miles through this "new" ECU over the weekend, and its been a phenomenal upgrade. It really IS how this machine should come off the showroom floor. The change in the timing is, to me, the most notable. Couple that with the quicker engagement of the flies as lower RPMs and this feels like a new beast. Personally I don't care about the removal of the "gentleman's limit" (i'm not racing this), or having to manually turn off the TC (kinda felt like Furiosa starting up the War Rig), but the increased power, snappiness, the lack of valve clatter if I goose her in a low rpm out of a corner, the softened engine braking, and cooler operating temps make me regret NOT doing this sooner.

*addendum*
An additional 500 miles ridden on this flash have uncovered three other items:
1) noticeable smoothness in shifting
2) less vibration transmitted up to the handlebars
3) DECREASE in fuel economy, (let's be realistic here, NONE of us own this bike with fuel economy in mind).

I will add this wee bit, however:
The cost that Schnitz charges now to rewrite a EEPROM is *ridiculous*. Its not like they're re-coding for each and every ECU that comes in their door. They're saved files for crying out loud. $325 to flash the same file that was $70 a few years back is, again, *ridiculous* in my opinion, and even more so considering a used ECU is *less* than the flash itself. I like Schnitz, and I will continue to utilize them, but this is a bit much.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

* Last updated by: DTTyson on 8/17/2025 @ 7:46 AM *