What would you do? Mods to a 990.

[Supahflid]

The time has come for me to do my first valve check on my 2011 990. I have seen tons of info out there about mods to the bike and I am intent upon making several of them. I would like to share the items I want to change and ask for opinions about what may or may not be necessary and find out if there are other things to do while the bike is torn down.


Here is the list of repairs or changes:
1.Air cleaner-change to CJ’s Rottweiler filter.
2.Remove SAS. Buy CJ’s blanking plates.
3.Repair oil leak. I think it’s the same oil leak as here: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=855017
4.Replace “closed” throttle cable; there is some fraying of the cable near the throttle body.
5.Install threaded posts at the crash bar connection just above the battery box. I have beat the crap out of my skid plate; the connectors don’t quite line up just right and it’s a real PITA to get all the bolts in; I may have boogered up the threads a bit at the left side of this connection.
6.Install CJ’s radiator temp sensor.
7.Install CJ’s fuel filter rehab kit.


Here are some questions:
1. If I change the air cleaner, do I need to do any remapping? If so, I’ll need a TuneECU program and a cable; anything else? I don’t know a thing about mapping, although I see there is a lot of info.
2.I am thinking about going 2 to 1. If I do, any suggestions for a muffler? My buddy has a Wings and it sounds awesome. Does changing this part add performance? Definite remap with this change, right?
3.If I do a 2 to 1, I am thinking of adding some fuel capacity; does Neduro still make his fuel cell?
4.The shop repaired the water pump leak under warranty. Should I replace the pump/seals etc.?
5.Any other repair/replace suggestions?

[tomdubz]

Originally Posted by Supahflid

2.I am thinking about going 2 to 1. If I do, any suggestions for a muffler? My buddy has a Wings and it sounds awesome. Does changing this part add performance? Definite remap with this change, right?
5.Any other repair/replace suggestions?

Lots of good questions. Here's my (2009) 1/2 cent:

I went 2:1 with the GPR system a while ago. Aside from a funky weld issue on the front header that resulted in a crack and a warranty replacement I've been pretty happy and man does it howl. The accompanying G-it bash plate has proven it's worth many times. I did not remap anything and it's been over 15k miles now. FWIW I removed Cannister and SAS too.

If I were you, I'd make my life easier with some stud mounts for your crash bars and you may consider drilling little holes in your swing arm under the chain adjuster blocks to let water out.

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by tomdubz

Lots of good questions. Here's my (2009) 1/2 cent:

I went 2:1 with the GPR system a while ago. Aside from a funky weld issue on the front header that resulted in a crack and a warranty replacement I've been pretty happy and man does it howl. The accompanying G-it bash plate has proven it's worth many times. I did not remap anything and it's been over 15k miles now. FWIW I removed Cannister and SAS too.

If I were you, I'd make my life easier with some stud mounts for your crash bars and you may consider drilling little holes in your swing arm under the chain adjuster blocks to let water out.

Thanks for the reply! I was beginning to feel like an outcast!

I have decided not to go to 2 to 1. Instead, I'm going to just change the cans to Akrapovic. I am going to the canisterectomy and the SAS removal.

I have been reading up on the SAS removal and apparently, TuneECU can turn off the SAS although I've only seen that stated once. I intend to mine through the "Got tunes" thread to educate myself about using the program, but I will almost surely use the Akra map unless I find information stating otherwise.

Good advice on the studs; I am going to do that for sure. I have read about the swingarm holes and I'll probably do that too!

[rotarygirder]

I've had my 990 for 7 months, and in that time done 12000 miles of street and a few multiday hard offroad trips. Here are the mods I have done:

BDCW sidestand relocator
I haven't broken it yet, so I guess that's good. Peace of mind mod.

BDCW second radiator fan[/B]
Stock the bike would not handle slow traffic during Texas summer heat without flashing all the bars at me. Seems to make a difference.

HID Low/HID High beams
Did the high beam after I hit a deer at night. I had no idea how many deer I was driving by before that, and after a few weeks I decided to do the low beam also.

Remus Roxx Ti and 2-1 pipe
Nice growl, louder at low speeds but unnoticeably on the highway. MPG seems about the same, All of the joints on the silencer itself leak exhaust to some degree.

Roxx Risers
Great for tall guys, I was worried about them rotating but they lasted through a lot of hard front suspension bottoming offroad without budging.

High Fender
Necessary after I did a mud plow for a few hours that locked up the front wheel a bunch.

Fastway lowboy pegs
Another tall guy mod. Stock pegs are narrowish and hurt my feet after a long day.

Hepco Becker crash bars
Went down tons of times offroad with no issues until the deerstrike at 50mph and resulting slide. They saved my tanks/possibly frame from damage.

[b]Tusk grip heaters
Okay mod, will make a cool day comfortable but definitely not enough to make a cold day warm.

And once the stock scorps wore down I changed to a Mefo Super Explorer rear and a TKC-80 front. The bike has progressively gotten less awesome on the street with these mods, but exponentially more awesome in the dirt. I have not done any SAS removal, cannister removal, ECU programming, throttle camming, or other forum wizard tricks. I doubt I will ever do those things since they cause as much headache as they solve in my experience; I'd feel bad if I ever sold my 450 exc to another person because of how wildly I had to reroute, plug, and modify unlabelled vaccum and fuel lines all over that engine to get to the commonly accepted level of de-smogged.

My only desire now is to get the stock suspension lengthened and sorted for my weight so I don't bottom as hard offroad. The still bike works great as-is.

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by rotarygirder

I've had my 990 for 7 months, and in that time done 12000 miles of street and a few multiday hard offroad trips. Here are the mods I have done:

BDCW sidestand relocator
I haven't broken it yet, so I guess that's good. Peace of mind mod.

BDCW second radiator fan[/B]
Stock the bike would not handle slow traffic during Texas summer heat without flashing all the bars at me. Seems to make a difference.

HID Low/HID High beams
Did the high beam after I hit a deer at night. I had no idea how many deer I was driving by before that, and after a few weeks I decided to do the low beam also.

Remus Roxx Ti and 2-1 pipe
Nice growl, louder at low speeds but unnoticeably on the highway. MPG seems about the same, All of the joints on the silencer itself leak exhaust to some degree.

Roxx Risers
Great for tall guys, I was worried about them rotating but they lasted through a lot of hard front suspension bottoming offroad without budging.

High Fender
Necessary after I did a mud plow for a few hours that locked up the front wheel a bunch.

Fastway lowboy pegs
Another tall guy mod. Stock pegs are narrowish and hurt my feet after a long day.

Hepco Becker crash bars
Went down tons of times offroad with no issues until the deerstrike at 50mph and resulting slide. They saved my tanks/possibly frame from damage.

[b]Tusk grip heaters
Okay mod, will make a cool day comfortable but definitely not enough to make a cold day warm.

And once the stock scorps wore down I changed to a Mefo Super Explorer rear and a TKC-80 front. The bike has progressively gotten less awesome on the street with these mods, but exponentially more awesome in the dirt. I have not done any SAS removal, cannister removal, ECU programming, throttle camming, or other forum wizard tricks. I doubt I will ever do those things since they cause as much headache as they solve in my experience; I'd feel bad if I ever sold my 450 exc to another person because of how wildly I had to reroute, plug, and modify unlabelled vaccum and fuel lines all over that engine to get to the commonly accepted level of de-smogged.

My only desire now is to get the stock suspension lengthened and sorted for e dmy weight so I don't bottom as hard offroad. The still bike works great as-is.

Good stuff! I've done most of the mods you mentioned; not the hid light and not the high fender.

I still have trouble with the bike getting terribly hot in the summer; I've had the hot meter pegged even with the second fan, thus I'm going with the lower thermostat. I have a buddy with the same year model R who doesn't have nearly the heat trouble I have and he doesn't have the second fan.

I was torn about removing the emissions stuff after doing more research but since I've already started removing it, I think I'll go forward. I hope to catalogue the bits and bobs well enough to re-assemble it if I need to.

I've still got most of the scorpions left; I've been using a mefo rear and tkc80 front for a while and I've got a brand new set of front and rear mefos waiting to be installed. I have a smaller diameter wheel set with street tires for paved stuff.

The overheating issue drives me crazy. What year model is your bike?

[rotarygirder]

2011 ABS. I also changed the plastic radiator guard out for an alumunim one that has straight-through holes drilled in it, but since I did that (and the 2nd fan) at the end of summer I don't have a good feel for how they will perform in the middle of this summer. That guard snapped one of its mounts off in the accident but it's still in held in place by the other 3 so I'm using it like a cheapskate.

Also the stock skidplate is cheap but I've beat it pretty hard and not even broken the plastic pieces. All the screws still line up for me so far, so I'm stickin' with it.

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by rotarygirder

2011 ABS. I also changed the plastic radiator guard out for an alumunim one that has straight-through holes drilled in it, but since I did that (and the 2nd fan) at the end of summer I don't have a good feel for how they will perform in the middle of this summer. That guard snapped one of its mounts off in the accident but it's still in held in place by the other 3 so I'm using it like a cheapskate.

Also the stock skidplate is cheap but I've beat it pretty hard and not even broken the plastic pieces. All the screws still line up for me so far, so I'm stickin' with it.

You helped me remember to order a radiator guard last night; maybe I'll get some better airflow.

I can't believe you haven't changed the skid plate!!! I've broken my aftermarket one trying to bend it back in place to fit the bike from beating it up so badly; no telling what kind of chopped suey I woulda made of the stock one! You are a brave man!

[Jarno123]

What I was thinking, is if you would go 2 to 1 on the exhaust, could you install a tube about the same size as the muffler, so to pack some tools in it?
Any thoughts on that? I came across this when I was reading the Sibirsky Extreme thread, and Prutser mentioned something along those lines.

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by Jarno123

What I was thinking, is if you would go 2 to 1 on the exhaust, could you install a tube about the same size as the muffler, so to pack some tools in it?
Any thoughts on that? I came across this when I was reading the Sibirsky Extreme thread, and Prutser mentioned something along those lines.

Yes, there are all manner of uses for that extra space. I would probably lean toward extra fuel capacity. Ima stick with two cans for now.

[Jarno123]

Auxiliary tanks in addition with a Safari tank (or similar)? Or would that be overkill? I can imagine that having a capacity of 1000 km's is nice but it seems like a lot to me

*edit obviously I would have a Safari tank installed, buy maybe you don't

[Qwik]

12+ gallons in my safari tanks last night. That extra space on back with the 2-1 is great for a tool tube. As for necessary mods, I love the sound and weight savings of the single exhaust. I added CJs peg extensions and Rox risers and a Renazco seat. Three of my favorite mods

[BykBoy]

Originally Posted by Qwik

That extra space on back with the 2-1 is great for a tool tube.

I made a tool tube out of my original LHS can after I switched to a Ramus 2-1:




Open can with nothing inside:


Used the original end and plugged the opening from the inside to prevent water from getting in:


I put a spare front tube, a tool roll, and a tire repair kit in it. It's very convenient.

Was considering using the original RHS can for a fuel, but ended up giving it to my friend so he can make a tool tube out of it too.

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by Jarno123

Auxiliary tanks in addition with a Safari tank (or similar)? Or would that be overkill? I can imagine that having a capacity of 1000 km's is nice but it seems like a lot to me

*edit obviously I would have a Safari tank installed, buy maybe you don't

No, I don't have Safari tanks! You're right, surely the Safari tanks would be enough by themselves!

Originally Posted by Qwik

12+ gallons in my safari tanks last night. That extra space on back with the 2-1 is great for a tool tube. As for necessary mods, I love the sound and weight savings of the single exhaust. I added CJs peg extensions and Rox risers and a Renazco seat. Three of my favorite mods

I have the peg extensions and BRP risers and Scott's stearing damper, but not the seat. I may do the seat sometime.

Originally Posted by BykBoy

I made a tool tube out of my original LHS can after I switched to a Ramus 2-1:




Open can with nothing inside:


Used the original end and plugged the opening from the inside to prevent water from getting in:


I put a spare front tube, a tool roll, and a tire repair kit in it. It's very convenient.

Was considering using the original RHS can for a fuel, but ended up giving it to my friend so he can make a tool tube out of it too.

That is fantastic! Making me consider going to 2 to 1.

Related to that, aren't the cats in the mufflers not the pipes?

[BykBoy]

Originally Posted by Supahflid

Related to that, aren't the cats in the mufflers not the pipes?

They are, near the base of the muffler (where the pipe connects to the can). Removing the cat without cutting the base or the can was the hardest part of the project....

[Supahflid]

Originally Posted by BykBoy

They are, near the base of the muffler (where the pipe connects to the can). Removing the cat without cutting the base or the can was the hardest part of the project....

Eggsellent! Splain to us how you keep the end of the pipe on.