1st Ride After Guhl Reflash.

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by Hailwood, May 14, 2016.

  1. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    Wow !

    Wow !

    Wow !
     
  2. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    What to say.
    Yes, it's worth the money.
    It eliminates that 3000-3500 rpm hesitation before it pulls really hard.
    It pulls really hard from below that and feels as if it spools up faster.
    This thing is IMMEDIATE.
    Bone stock '10 with a new air filter (with the sneeze screen removed). 16k miles.
    The reflash transformed this bike from really powerful, locomotive power to a true street weapon.
    The fueling is PERFECT (asked for PCV map for stock exhaust).
    It almost feels edgy, it's so quick on revving and pulls like a Saturn V.
    If you're hesitating sending your ECM to Guhl, don't.
    Beg, borrow or steal the money, it is soo worth every penny.
    Transforms the machine into a very serious weapon.
    Rolling probable cause.
    Thank you, Don Guhl.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2016
  3. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    OK.
    Everyone must be tired of hearing how amazingly well the Guhl re-flash unleashed their VFR.
    Finally got to put a few miles on it after buttoning everything back up.
    Got to take the ZBomb off of it, so the gear indicator works right.
    NO hesitation or feeling a little soft for a 1200 anymore.
    Just creamy smooth, immediate urge and the thing just spools up quickly.
    The fans come on quicker, but I'm ok with it keeping a lower coolant temp in slower running here in south Texas.
    If you have a VFR12 and don't have a PCV (I've ridden my buddie's '10 with one installed) and want another bike, have your ECM reflashed by Guhl and you'll be aching to ride the thing just like when you get a new bike.
    It's that different/good.
    I hesitate to write about how it's so much better than OEM because stock it's no slouch.
    The reflash just makes the fueling perfect and it gives you what it has RIGHT NOW.
    Worth every penny.
     
  4. TerryLB

    TerryLB New Member

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    Hi Hailwood the Ecu reflash on your bike sounds amazing ... I have a 2016 vfr1200 and only had it for 2 weeks and loving it... i want to reflash mine as well and have found a company attached to Ecu Unleashed here in Sydney. Can you tell me what exactly you had done so I know what to talk to these guys about ... Much appreciated mate
    BTW was in San Antonio a few years ago and went to the Alamo .., I blew me away ... Really enjoyed our time in the US
    Terry
     
  5. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    G'day, mate. No worries.
    Just had to get that out.
    Glad you enjoyed the River City, although Oz is an amazing place as well.
    Yes, Don Guhl (Guhl Motors in Pennsylvania) did the reflash and has a one day turn around. Don't know what ECU unleashed offers or their results but have heard of them. I know Guhl does UK and EU bikes as well.
    He:
    1) eliminated the known restrictions in 1st and 2nd.
    2) allowed the throttle butterflies to open 100% if that's what you asked for.
    3) lowered the temp the fans kick in from 223F to 203F.
    4) raised the redline by 500 rpm.
    5) removed the top speed governor.
    6) installed a new fuel map for VFR12 with stock exhaust from either a Dynatune or PCV map tuned on a dyno.
    7) removed the alarm for removal of the exhaust servo.
    I've probably forgotten something or screwed up the info, but that's basically it.
    One day turn around in the US.
    If you search the VFR forums, you'll find several threads on both the ECU unleashed and Guhl reflashes.
    The OEM 2010 is no slouch and goes like stink, but the reflash REALLY sharpened its power characteristics and I think makes it into what it should have been right from Hamamatsu.
    Good luck with your endeavors and keep us posted.
     
  6. TerryLB

    TerryLB New Member

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    Nice "G'day mate" hailwood ... Thanks for your reply. I have just sent off an email to the guys here in Sydney so hopefully will hear something soon. You are so right the 1200 really gets up and moves and with the new mufflers it really growls ... Will keep you posted on the progress mate
    Terry
     
  7. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    Good luck, I don't know about the Aussie/EU VFR12 for 2016 as no more VFR12s for the US after 2015 model but for the US 2010 model, they dumbed down the performance in 1st and 2nd gears below l think, 4500 rpm or so. This prompted the sales of lots of Bazzaz ZBombs to fool the ECM into thinking 1st and 2nd gears were actually 3rd and allow full power but the gear indicator displayed 3 in both lower gears.
    I'm not sure what the fueling and timing maps are after the reflash compared with OEM, but it really makes the bike pull hard like a 1200 should beginning in the 3000 rpm range .
    Mine always felt like it had to gather it's skirts up to really pull hard if one was in an upper gear.
    Now, it's very nearly immediate. It reminds me of the really good mapping in an Aprilia 1000 Tuono.
    Anyhow, hope it all works out well for you.
    The VFR12 is a magnificent piece of engineering that wasn't marketed well and was aimed at a niche market.
     
  8. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    You guys are a tough crowd.
    Seriously.
    No cool stories of the prowess of the mighty VFR1200 (with or without mods) ?
    Look, I come to this forum for a bit of male literary gearhead porn about machinery that pins our brains back and tickles the senses.
    Ok , that and technical information.
    But still.
    Hello..... Is this thing on ?
    Oh I see.
    All the VFR12 owners are over on the Limey VFR site.
    I haven't been able to ride for the past week (foul weather) and have had 2 glasses of red wine, so you guys are liable to get anything.
    Did anyone notice how this bike routes all the hot air from the radiator UNDER the motor (ok, and a little on your right foot). Trust me, in Texas in August, this is a very nice feature.
    This is one reason the swing arm gets so hot after riding the bike for awhile.
    My old C10 Concours would roast your legs on a hot day. Went like stink, though. Reliable as a hammer.
    For a big girl, she loved to dance.
    Made 6 trips to the Ozarks on her. From San Antonio.
    I remember heading north east just this side of Bastrop at 0530 at about 75 mph with the sun just peaking over the horizon and the Kawasaki humming along on my way to the Ozarks for a few days of twistys.
    It doesn't get any better than that.
    Anybody else with any life enhancing/changing riding stories ?
     
  9. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

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    Hey guys, just wanted to make a little correction here. For the US market, the only years of the VFR1200 were 2010, 2012, and 2013. They skipped 2011. There were a few minor updates from 2010 to 2012, including fueling, but I would still get the reflash on a 12 or 13. Also, only in the US, if it's red it's a 2010. Blue is a 2012, and black is a 2013. Even though I don't have one, I did a lot of research before I settled on the new 800, instead.
     
  10. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    ff

    My mistake.
    I think I got all confused going back and forth between 3 different VFR sites and reading all the posts from folks living in EU, UK, NZ, SA, Canada and AU.
    I know the EU bikes received a reflash from dealers for some reason (not for performance reasons) and don't even mention the 100 bhp limited bikes in some parts of the EU.
    I don't know if the '12 and '13 bikes in the US benefit as much from a Guhl reflash as the '10, but if you have a '10, get the reflash. Seriously. It's that good.
    BTW, the new VFR800 is a sweet ride as well. I wonder if an ECM reflash improves anything on that model ?
    Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
     
  11. anbark22

    anbark22 New Member

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    Hailwood, you are absolutely correct about the reflash. I did the same a few months ago and feel similar. The bike's a rocket now and pulls like a freight train. DriverDave is correct. Only three years production for USA bikes. I also hang out on the VFRD Discussion site. Both are great and loaded with excellent information.

    By the way DriverDave, the new VFR800 seems to suffer the same sales plight as the VFR1200. I was in Ocala, Florida heading to Bikefest in Leesburg (almost as big as Daytona) a few weeks ago and stopped by the power sports dealer there. They had 2 brand new VFR800s for $6999.00. They were just about trying to give then away. From what I understand, they are great bikes!! I am just baffled why the VFR models (800 and 1200) don't sell.

    Thank you,
     
  12. dynajohn

    dynajohn New Member

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    Hi Terry, I cannot speak to any results for ECU unleashed re-flashes for the VFR 1200 as I have not seen a single post on either major VFR 1200 site reporting results . I originally tried to find a ECU Unleashed source in the USA for a VFR 1200 reflash in 2013 without any luck. Direct e-mail contact with ECU Unleashed in California resulted in them sending me to two dealers in the US. The first one in Texas said there was no ECU Unleashed reflash available for the VFR 1200 and the second dealer they referred me to said they had never heard of ECU Unleashed. Not saying this is a bad company as I know they offer reflashes for other motorcycles just that I had no luck with them back in 2013 and have not seen any direct feedback on their reflash of a VFR 1200. When I had no luck with them I turned to Don Guhl who I had direct experience with on my Kawasaki racebikes and he agreed to look at my VFR 1200 ECU. The rest is history. Many satisfied customers in the US, Europe and Australia. Would be interested in a report back on you're results. Guhl does all his reflashes through the stock electrical connectors. I would not deal with any company that has to cut open the ECU for a reflash. Before you commit a very expensive ECU to a company look carefully at what changes they are going to make and compare the costs as well as how many happy customers you can find on the major VFR 1200 forums. Good luck

    John
     
  13. Mark H

    Mark H New Member

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    Hi Terry, I'm in Canberra with a 2012 VFR1200FA. I'm currently using the ZBomb but want to get my ECU reflashed as per Dave Guhl. Have you made any progress with ECU unleashed?
     
  14. TerryLB

    TerryLB New Member

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    Hey mark the company that I tried to contact can be found at Ecunleashed.com.au
    It's in Campbeltown Sydney, also on Facebook. I sent them an email but didn't receive anything back.
    With the 2016 model I have only just noticed the slight hesitation just below 3000 rpm but really the power I feel in the 1200 so amazing now ... Not sure I need to reflash but the machanic that serviced told me about someone getting their Ecu fried by a backyarder so be careful... Ecunleashed Australia seems a capable company and maybe they just missed my email. I would like to be rid of the 1 and 2nd gear issues but I have only done 1650 k's so far. The bike pulls so hard I just love it... I would really like to know if Honda have made any changes to the 2016 model or maybe I am just used to the liter bikes and the 1200 appears so awesome... I have put on an aftermarket slip on that I made my self so it has a super sweet sound
    Please let me know how you go if you contact the ecu guys
    Blessings Terry and safe riding mate
    image.jpg
     
  15. Jptoptech

    Jptoptech New Member

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    Hi Hailwood,

    After Don Guhl reflashed you ECU, did he installed any kind of sticker to the outside to signify the EcU

    Had been reflashed? The reason I am asking is that I bought a used 2010 model from a dealership. They can not

    Provide any info.

    I am new to VFR and really don't know how it should perform. Thanks for the insight, I am glad you enjoyed

    Your bike more now and thank you for sharing,

    John
     
  16. Hailwood

    Hailwood New Member

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    Yes, it came back with a small Guhl Motors sticker on it it but I don't think it would take much to peel it off.
    I would contact Don Guhl as he almost certainly will have a log of units his firm has re-flashed.
    I remain confused as to whether post 2010 models have similar ECM settings as the 2010 so I'm worthless on that score.
    I can say the Guhl reflash allowed removal of the ZBomb I had installed and that lower speed fueling is now perfect, it spools up quicker and is much smoother in its operations.
    The thing can purr along at 2500 rpm in 2nd and is now smooth and steady and this is much different than OEM.
    I don't think it makes more top end power now but it seriously gets down the road.
    I wrote my initial post as I was not expecting the significant change in fueling and overall operational capabilities.
    Hope you continue to enjoy this iteration of Honda's engineering prowess.
     
  17. Mark H

    Mark H New Member

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    Thanks Terry. I've had my bike for 18 months now started to notice the power restrictions in 1st and 2nd. I installed the zbomb last week. Its a different bike! I'm really enjoying the pull in first and second around town. I went for a 100km ride yesterday and noticed I'm staying in 2nd longer (rather than getting out of it quickly as I previously had done) and riding in 3rd at higher rpm . Previously I'd get to 3rd as quickly as possible and end up in 4th at lower rpm. So now I'm looking to ditch the zbomb and simply get the ecu reprogrammed. I'll try ECU unleashed. Cheers. Mark.
     
  18. Rocketman3

    Rocketman3 New Member

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    Do you know if Don alters ignition timing as well as AFR's?
     
  19. Rider14

    Rider14 New Member

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    I remember reading somewhere that he can install the more aggressive UK ignition timing... Can't remember where I read it.

    I still need to do this reflash... likely this winter.
     
  20. Rocketman3

    Rocketman3 New Member

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    Hailwood,
    I just test rode a stock 2010 vfr and if I buy it I am planning to do the Guhl reflash. Here's my question. Does the re-flash smooth out the on/off throttle glitchesness? The bike I rode has had the driveshaft recall done. But on and off the throttle is still not totally smooth and is an issue for me. If the flash fixes that then I will not hestitate to get this bike.
     
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