Motorcycle Tuning For Beginners – ECU Flashing 101

Yes.  While technically our engineers hack the motorcycle’s computer to make it perform better, this is not illegal.  Our ECU flashing allows you to tune with more precision across more engine systems.  Woolich Racing’s precision tuning, especially tuning that removes limiters and adjusts air-fuel ratios, is designed for track use only.  We recommend you seek advice about emissions and other applicable local laws before removing the speed limiter and adjusting your air-fuel ratio if you intend to ride on the street. 

An ECU flash gives your motorcycle more power and torque by adjusting timing and tweaking performance mechanisms throughout your engine, including spark timings in your engine’s cylinders.  Woolich ECU Flashing software allows you to fine-tune up to X performance indicators, which is why it’s used by so many international racing champions.

• Adjust air-fuel ratio during acceleration for more torque.
• Optimizing for more power throughout the rev range.
• Remove engine knocking and other performance problems.
• Optimizing for improved throttle response.
• Increase RPM capabilities.
• Increase ignition timing curves.
• Disable factory settings including aggressive emissions controls and speed limiters.

All motorcycles are different (which is the point of doing a Woolich ECU Flash over a piggyback system).  Generally, compared to a factory-tuned ECU, remapping can increase power by 10-15% and torque by 15-20%.  This is because most motorcycle manufacturers limit power and torque to meet industry laws.

That’s a big question. First, I’m a massive bike tech geek myself, and my friends and family know exactly what it’s like to hear about bike tech.  Sorry you’re going through this! 

There are a lot of ECU flashing options out there – but none could address bike performance in the way I wanted. When I studied mechanical engineering, I became obsessed with using engineering and coding to overcome the limitations on my own bikes.  The difference was massive.  So I kept going, refining and testing and refining and testing until my bike was tuned to the absolute limit – and I could take my track times to my absolute limit. That meant going a lot deeper than most of the products on the market.  None of them came close.  

I found that existing ECU flashing products had many limitations including: 

• No precision tuning across all the rev ranges.  
• No ability to tune for my hometown’s humid climate.
• No reflash for high-altitude tracks. 
• Inability to manage both open road and stop-start traffic especially well.  
• No tailored tuning for my specific make and model.  

So, I built a better flashing system for myself and my ride, and then spent decades perfecting it.  And because all manufacturers have both limitations and unleashed potential, I tailored our flashing system to different manufacturers and models, too. That’s how Woolich came about.  And that’s why serious riders love it.     

• Better race times
• Better performance under different conditions
• Smoother throttle response
• Overcoming performance problems in the fuel system
• Retuning to accommodate a customization or new performance part
• To remove factory limitations during race track use

With ECU flashing, stock motorcycles (where the ECU and bike are still “as it left the factory floor”) can increase power by 10%-15% and torque by 15%-20%.  In some cases, your stock motorcycle has a speed limiter which prevents you from reaching full speed on a track. This can be removed via ECU flashing.

Performance bikes, adventure bikes and commuter bikes all benefit from ECU flashing with Woolich Racing.  Woolich Racing can be used on fuel injector systems and some carburetted systems.  We do not provide software for dirt bikes and “off-brand” bikes.  

Check availability for your specific model and year here below.

BMW | Harley Davidson | Ducati | Suzuki | Yamaha | Triumph | Kawasaki | Honda

• Woolich software (including the BIN file) for your bike’s make model and year (Find My Bike)
• A computer
• A harness kit (supplied with your bin file)
• Log box
• You may also opt for Woolich hardware, including autoblippers and quickshifters depending on the Woolich kit you choose.

Yes.  Once you’ve adjusted the key maps to suit the way you ride, you can ‘set and forget.’ That said, most Woolich customers find fine-tuning addictive and enjoy tuning their motorcycle to its limit.

Woolich Racing Kit starts at around US$1000 and you can complete our training course for free. However, we recommend using a Woolich Certified Dyno Tuner to install the Woolich kit and guide you through your initial mapping.  This will ensure everything is set up correctly.

Yes. While it’s recommended you find a Dyno Tuner to reflash your ECU, you can do it yourself.  Woolich provides a 100% free course for beginners. Learn more here.

If you’re “tuning your bike to its limit,” you need to know your bike’s limits.  For beginners, it may be tempting to adjust your ECU to run beyond its realistic capabilities. This can lead to engine wear and poor performance.   

Yes. You can restore manufacturer settings if you mess it up.

There is always a risk of damage to an ECU if flashing is done incorrectly or your personal map settings put too much pressure on your engine. Woolich Racing offers a 100% free flashing course for motorcycle owners, but we recommend using one of our certified Dyno Tuners if you’re unsure. 

Customizing your bike for peak performance isn’t a plug-and-play process. Piggyback systems use “default maps” which simplifies the process but at the cost of performance.  Initial optimization of your bike’s maps isn’t too difficult, and Woolich clients have access to step-by-step instructional videos to help you along the way.  Most of our clients are serious bike lovers.  They consider flashing their ECU an ongoing process of reflashing and perfecting.

The exact capabilities will depend on the make, model and year of your motorcycle and the kind of Woolich Kit you choose. This is a general guide: 

• Error Codes: Disabling diagnostic error codes that come from modification.
• Fuel Maps: Modifying the air-fuel mixture at different throttle positions and RPMs.
• Ignition Timing: Advancing or retarding ignition timing for optimal power delivery.
• Throttle Maps: Adjusting how the throttle responds, for sharper or smoother control.
• Rev Limiter: Modifying the maximum RPM the engine is allowed to reach.
• Engine Braking: Adjusting how the engine behaves on deceleration.
• Secondary Throttle Plates (STP): Controlling the function of the secondary throttle bodies for improved airflow.
• Quickshifter Settings: Adjusting the sensitivity and cut-off time of quickshifters.
• Fan Temperatures: Adjusting when the cooling fan turns on and off.
• Air Injection System (AIS): Disabling or adjusting the system for emissions-related control.
• Exhaust Valve Control: Controlling the exhaust valve for improved sound and performance.
• Pit Lane Limiter: Setting a limit to the engine speed in the pit lane.
• Launch Control: Optimizing acceleration during launch.

Woolich provides plenty of resources to help you get started and make continual improvements. If your dyno tuner helps with the install, they can guide you through the initial process. Woolich also provides comprehensive data logging, so you will have all the information you need to make adjustments right in front of you.  You can tweak and undo tweaks as often as you like. You can also take your output data to your dyno tuner for feedback and insights.

Navigate to the Ignition Timing Table.  Woolich allows you to advance and retard ignition timing for smooth, grunty acceleration without knocking. Advancing timing improves performance by increasing the ignition timing.  Always test small incremental changes to ensure your bike remains safe, and to reduce the risk of pinging.

You can adjust the throttle map to determine how much the throttle body will open when you accelerate.

Always back up your original ECU map before touching anything.

Understand that engines are finely tuned with multiple components working together in a very carefully balanced manner. So, make all changes in small increments. Be patient.

Avoid using an untrusted map.  Never use a map you found online that wasn’t built specifically for your needs or bike. That’s the quickest way to destroy your engine.

If you’ve used aftermarket parts, understand that the rest of your engine must be adjusted to accommodate them. It’s recommended that you get to know your flashing software before you install the part so that you have a baseline understanding of your bike’s peak performance.

Don’t do anything extreme. Respect your bike.  

Yes, there is a library of maps for you to get started. I developed these maps as part of my research into optimizing your specific make and model but they’re designed for my riding style, in my location, on my preferred race track. I recommend using these as a time saver only. Most riders use these to populate the initial settings – as a baseline – and then tweak for their specific ride.

Oh. No. These “send in flash” maps should be used with extreme caution as a bad map could potentially damage your bike. We do not recommend uploading anything you find online.

When you tune your bike for speed on the track, it’s going to give you a bunch of irritating error codes.  If you’re seeing them, don’t worry, use the error code function to get rid of them!

If it’s really bad, you can simply overwrite your work with the original backup that you made.  Always, always make a backup. You can also check our comprehensive help library for solutions.  

You will need to check your warranty and ask your insurer before working on your motorcycle.  Woolich Racing accepts no responsibility for work performed on motorcycles that results in warranty or insurance invalidation.

No. A piggyback system works in addition to factory settings, intercepting certain instructions from the bike’s brain and modifying the instructions according to the piggyback system’s factory settings. Learn more about ECU Flashing vs Piggyback Systems. 

Every time you add an aftermarket performance part, it impacts the whole engine.  So while your brand-new exhaust has a satisfying hum and is correctly fitted, you need to adjust the fuel mix, ignition timing, and other key engine parts to tune it to optimal performance.  Learn more about Air-Fuel Ratios and fuel mix issues. Every adjustment to your engine requires adjustment to every part of the engine if you want peak performance. Even a change in air filters can impact your air-fuel ratio.  ECU Flashing allows you to do it, test it and refine it without constant trips to the dyno.  

A remapped motorcycle engine may have “differences” in sound, fuel usage and power.  Your dynotuner can look for these differences (find a dyno tuner near me) and diagnose changes made by the previous owner.  Not all engine remapping is good. There are plenty of “send in maps” that can be downloaded from the internet that do more harm than good.  

The best ECU flash will tune the motorcycle to the rider’s specific needs. This can include optimising the motorcycle for their daily commute, tuning for altitude they regularly ride at, or even motorcycle tuning for high humidity. Your ride will be completely different to the previous owner’s. Removing their ECU flash involves resetting the ECU to factory settings or overwriting it with your preferred settings using Woolich Racing Software.

Provided your new (to you) bike came with the log box kit and the software that the previous owner used, you are now free to use it, too. The previous owner will need to contact our support team and transfer the software license to your name. To get started remapping your ECU, you can sign up for our 100% free, step-by-step, self-paced motorcycle ECU tuning course.

Leading brand motorcycles have been carefully engineered to ensure all engine components work in a specific manner.  This includes fuel controllers and exhaust systems.  Some of these settings are to help your bike perform. Some limit performance to meet industry environmental standards.  Changing one “link” in the chain will impact the performance of all other components.  Always back up your original ECU before making changes.

Aftermarket exhausts are the most common modification to motorcycles. Harley Davidson exhaust upgrades are the most popular motorcycle upgrade in the USA. Changing your exhaust can greatly improve power and give your motorcycle a very satisfying hum, but it will also change the fundamental performance of your bike.  When pricing exhaust upgrades, you must factor in the cost of remapping your engine to accommodate the new aftermarket part.

Your fuel control system, the sensors that determine how “rich” your engine runs (known as lambda sensors), and the way your engine switches between economy and power settings (known as open and closed fuel loop systems) all determine how much torque your engine has and how smoothly it moves between gears.  ny changes, from lambda sensor bypasses to fuel pumps, to air intake systems and spark plugs, will throw out the timing and air-fuel ratio in your bike’s engine. Upgrading any element of your combustion and fuelling system will greatly impact your bike’s performance.  When pricing fuel system upgrades, you should factor engine remapping into your budget.

Using manufacturer-approved parts will minimize the impact on bike performance.  However, some OEM parts are designed to meet the same limiting standards as the original part. So while you may see some improvement in performance, you could still face the limitations placed on your bike on the factory floor. It is recommended that you visit your local dyno tuner after upgrading any part, whether it be aftermarket or OEM.