XR runs like butt

594 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Lager, 17 d ago

Lager

Discussion Starter · 27 d ago

I'm new here guys,, thanks for being here. I have a drivability problem with this 2009 XR that I just bought. It cold starts fine and runs smoothly at high idle at about 1500 RPM, then as it warms up, it starts misfiring at idle and turns itself into a paint shaker. As I ride the bike it spits thru the intake, back fires sometimes and generally runs like butt until you hit 3- 3.5 K rpm then it smooths out. If Im on the gas below 3 K , all is ok. Its only at a cruise or steady throttle when it acts up. Seat of the pants tell me the bike is running lean but since I dont know squat about HD EFI systems, I've been reading a lot. Thru your forum, I've learned how to check for DTC's and I do have one, P0152 which is Rear o2 sensor high. The bike is equipped with a Vance and Hines competition series exhaust system, it has no tuner installed. The guy I bought the bike from thought it was normal for the bike to run like this, so he was no help. I did just order two new o2 sensors in the hope it corrects my problem. If anyone has any other solution that might correct this problem, I'm all ears and Thank you for being here.

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CT XR rider

· #2 · 27 d ago

When I first got my bike, some 14 years ago, I felt it was running lean, as I added a free flowing air intake, and aftermarket exhaust system, it became even more apparent that I needed a tuner of some kind. Back then I started with patriot top fueler (PTF), it was a piggyback system, with some limited abilities to add or subtract fuel at different rpm ranges. For awhile it did a good job, I wound up getting a power vision from Dynojet and never looked back.
vance & Hines makes a fuel pak 3, which was designed to work with their exhaust.
I think adding a tuner would alleviate a lot of your issues, we have an entire subsection devoted to EFI tuning, take some time and read up on the subject, I can highly recommend the power vision, but it’s just a tool to get where you want to be. Money wise, it’s probably best to find a real competent person who knows Harley’s and can get the best out of your bike, downside is if you ever change exhaust, or add a intake, you’ll have to do it all again.
Good luck with whatever you choose, and keep us advised of your progress
Regards
Roy

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Lager

Discussion Starter · #3 · 23 d ago

CT XR rider said:
When I first got my bike, some 14 years ago, I felt it was running lean, as I added a free flowing air intake, and aftermarket exhaust system, it became even more apparent that I needed a tuner of some kind. Back then I started with patriot top fueler (PTF), it was a piggyback system, with some limited abilities to add or subtract fuel at different rpm ranges. For awhile it did a good job, I wound up getting a power vision from Dynojet and never looked back.
vance & Hines makes a fuel pak 3, which was designed to work with their exhaust.
I think adding a tuner would alleviate a lot of your issues, we have an entire subsection devoted to EFI tuning, take some time and read up on the subject, I can highly recommend the power vision, but it’s just a tool to get where you want to be. Money wise, it’s probably best to find a real competent person who knows Harley’s and can get the best out of your bike, downside is if you ever change exhaust, or add a intake, you’ll have to do it all again.
Good luck with whatever you choose, and keep us advised of your progress
Regards
Roy

I thank you for reply and I appreciate any knowledge I can absorb. Luckily I know quite a bit about fuel injection systems from being in the car business for a really really long time. I just didn't understand Harleys logic as far as injector rate, but Im learning. Anyways,, the new O2 sensors were installed and the difference is amazing. The bike now runs real well, not spitting back thru the intake, idles smooth and Im happy as can be. I can tell the bike is still running just a little bit lean so I ordered a set of Xied's and hopefully that will work even better. I read that programmers of anysort will help with mapping especially if you have any more work done other then a Stage one ? But, Im never going to add anything more to the engine, Im a 70 year old Sport bike riding guy. I bought the XR for the seating position, suspension and brakes because my XL just wasn't working for me. Love this bike !! Its fast enough as it is. Thanks again for your help and advise.

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Buck Diablo

· #4 · 23 d ago

I knew it was the 02 sensors! I had a bad one when I bought my XR, it acted the same way. New sensors fixed 'er right up. As for tuners, the FP3 is ok if you can find a dyno tuner that will tune with it. Many won't just because they're too lazy to use a phone as the tuner interface. TTS & Power Commanders work with PC's, so it's easier to tweak all the tables. If you have the stock map, it's probably lean in places a rich in others. Even the "canned" map that you can download with the FP3 isn't very good.
What are Xieds?

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geno

· #5 · 22 d ago

Buck Diablo said:
...........................What are Xieds?

Xied explanation needed

What is it, why would I need it, and do you use it in conjunction with a PTF tuner etc. or stand-alone? Did some reading but unclear. thx.

www.xr1200ownersgroup.com

Really not a good option for "tuning" IMHO. YMMV

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Buck Diablo

· #6 · 22 d ago

I'm with Geno (and Phaedrus) on this one, The "fake out" resistors are very hit & miss for fine tuning your engine. Overall it sounds like it's running pretty decent, the next best thing to do is to find a good dyno tuner guy (not easy, I had to go through 3 guys to find a good one). But when you find one, ask what brand of tuner they prefer before you buy one. Just FYI; most modern tuners don't need to stay on the bike anymore, they actually re-flash the ECM (Engine Control Module) so they don't need to stay on the bike after it's been re-tuned.
Also, unless you're going to keep adding mods to the engine, you don't need "auto tuners", plus they will set back about $1000.00 for the complete setup.
Enjoy your XR!

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CoreyDSFA

· #7 · 22 d ago

Do you have any pictures of this bike you own?

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ytman

· #8 · 22 d ago

Sorry I wasn’t much help with the sensors but I do like the title of this thread very much.😂😂😂😂 “runs like butt”🤣🤣🤣
I do know, coming from experience, that you are doing you and your machine a disservice by not tuning for your exhaust. It’s not about making the bike faster. It’s about having an efficient internal combustion engine between your legs. Mine came with the same pipes as yours as the only modification. No matter what type or how much riding you plan on doing a tune will give you a much more enjoyable motorcycle to do it on. Of course, you already know that.

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Lager

Discussion Starter · #9 · 21 d ago

Buck Diablo said:
I'm with Geno (and Phaedrus) on this one, The "fake out" resistors are very hit & miss for fine tuning your engine. Overall it sounds like it's running pretty decent, the next best thing to do is to find a good dyno tuner guy (not easy, I had to go through 3 guys to find a good one). But when you find one, ask what brand of tuner they prefer before you buy one. Just FYI; most modern tuners don't need to stay on the bike anymore, they actually re-flash the ECM (Engine Control Module) so they don't need to stay on the bike after it's been re-tuned.
Also, unless you're going to keep adding mods to the engine, you don't need "auto tuners", plus they will set back about $1000.00 for the complete setup.
Enjoy your XR!

Thanks for responding,, just went for another ride and this time the bike didnt run so well. Might have been caused by a change in weather ? Today it was a lot cooler, maybe 60 degrees and it still had a lot of drivability issues. The Xieds have not arrived yet , hopefully soon and all I can do is hope they make the bike rideable without having to purchase a tuner. Being on social security, this tuner cost is going to put a big hit on the bank account and finding a dyno here where I live is like impossible. I live in the middle of Farmland NC, 100 miles from nothing other then a Dollar General. Im expecting to have to purchase a tuner of some sort, Ive been reading about the Power Vision 3 but IM still a bit lost. Anyways, Thanks for your help and if you know of any boxed tuner that will fix this XR that has the Vance and Hines and the Kand N air filter, Im all ears.

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Lager

Discussion Starter · #10 · 18 d ago

Just called Powervision and talked to their customer support. They helped break down the differences between the PV 3 and 4. Due to my age and not wanting to increase power of the XR other then the exhaust and air filter, they suggested the PV 4 which can be simply tuned by an app on my phone. BUT, the adjustables are very limited. Never can tell what I'm going to do in the future . The cost of the tuners are just about the same, $388 for the PV4, $419 for the PV3. The guy from Powervision led me to believe that the program that goes to my PC for the PV3 is difficult to use and I might not smart enough to figure it out. Your thoughts?

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Chipmaker

· #11 · 17 d ago

I have a PC5 and I just added the AutoTune. Made my bike run great. Software is not that hard as long as you follow the directions. Contact Fuel Moto - they are VERY helpful.

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Lager

Discussion Starter · #12 · 17 d ago

Update time,,, just received the Xied's listed for my XR and installed. Gotta tell you , what a difference.. Its not perfect meaning the idle is still a bit choppy with a lil bit of misfire occasionally. But it responds very well now right off idle. The spitting back thru the intake is gone completely. The surging at low rpms is now gone. The bike runs cooler meaning the rear cylinder used to run real hot, it doesn't now. I'm calling this one a Win! I might eventually get a tuner someday when I run out of things to buy for this bike that it really needs right now. These Xied's from Nightrider.com work as advertised. My part # is 1020-1152..
Member Chipmaker ? Thanks for the suggestion, I really appreciate your input.

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