MH Airbox Question

Apologies if this has already been covered, but my search didn't give me any definitive answers. I received my new airbox today and am itching to install it this weekend; however, the parts for the tuneecu cable won't show up until next week so I won't be able to do a remap for a week or two. Should I hold off on installing the airbox until I can redo the mapping (yes I read Aaron's disclaimer about remapping but I understand his need to cover his ass)? I commute on the bike everyday (~400 miles a week) and don't want to do any damage to the engine by running it too lean. . .

Cheers,
Keo

Not a good idea to run the MH box without a remap.
You get away with a set of cans on the standard map but not the airbox.

Another solution is if you have a friendly dealer who can load the akra map for you till you get the cable, this is rich enough for the MH airbox.

Hi Keo: I have an aftermarket exhaust, and the MH airbox installed. And I have been riding my bike with the stock mapping. I was worried about my bike running lean after reading the threads here. So i started to ask questions regarding this matter. I was assured that I should not worry because my oxygen sensor will detect fuel changes and adjust accordingly, and if the sensor does not adjust and it still is too lean then my check engine light will turn on. Well my check engine light has not turned on and my exhaust soot is the color it should be, and there is no lack off performance. This is how i understood the engineer I chatted with him face to face.

I think remapping is unnecessary.

Malcom: Why do you think it's a bad idea? I'm curious.

The name is Guy BTW.

The oxygen sensor only works on closed loop, this means it does help but only on low throttle openings low rpm. As soon as you give it the beans the ecu goes in open loop and the standard map takes over.

I found my bike standard out of the box running very rich so other air filter and cans still made it run rich in a lot of rpm-throttle openings.
However not all SD's are like that, also some poins on the map needed a bit more fuel so it is always better to be carefull till the bike has been tested on a dyno.

The stock SD map will be fine until you can get a custom map loaded. The stock map is overly rich throughout most of the RPM range, richer at some rpms than others.

If you are still concerned get the Akra map loaded by your dealer as KTMguy has suggested. It's substantially richer than the stock map so you certainly wont be running lean.

One thing people need to realise, these are not 2 strokes. Running a little lean will not have any adverse affects on engine reliability or longevity.

KTM's own off-road dirtbikes come so lean from the factory that they hesitate, overheat, and generally run like crap (just to appease the EPA). Some people run them like this (for the vehicles life) not knowing any better and the bikes don't have reliablity issues do to same.

Just sayin....

I'm learning more everyday
Thank you (guy)s

however too lean will put out valve clearances faster... to me a little lean is 14:1 a little too rich is 12:1... anywhere inbetween those parameters is pretty much ok. However is you were doing highway kms i would richen it up slightly at that constant rpm. maybe not required but nicer for the engine.

Thanks all, I'm used to carbed bikes so this is a learning experience for me. The bike is currently bone stock including the boat anchor exhaust. From my understanding the bike runs rich from the factory, so leaning it out a little wouldn't hurt. Some stuff came up so I probably won't be able to get to it this weekend

I hate to hijack this thread, but I have searched without out resolve on a related issue.

I just bought my first SD and it has a full Akro system with stock airbox.

I was told from the private seller that the stock ecu was remapped when the akro was installed by the first owner. I am wondering if I should be concerned about doing another remap once the intake has been upgraded.

I have seen a few intake brands mentioned, but I'm not sure yet which intake is best for the SD (an issue for another thread).

I imagine the stock airbox is limiting the performance of the bike, but I want to make sure the current map can handle the extra air flow. I'm used to rejetting carbs with each upgrade, or simply upgrading a FI bike's intake/ecu/exhaust at the same time, so this is new for me.

I've searched and am soaking up the tons of knowledge on here, but so far I have not seen anything on my particular situation. My apologies if I have missed any written account of this.

I would greatly appreciate anyone's help and opinion. Thanks in advance!!!

Your dealer will be able to tell you (by looking up ) if you have stock map or Akra map

Akra map will still run way rich....with Motorhooligan or even DNA mk3 (I have had both fitted and custom mapped and can confirm this from experience)

unless you intended to just potter it about until you have it mapped.......I would not run anyone of the after market Airbox's with a standard map....they do not run rich standard.....if anything they run very lean ......our green friends see to that

You nailed KTM666...I'm concerned about the map (if it's stock) as I don't want to be running super lean. A confirmation will help me feel comfortable about how the bike is running.

Thanks for the very helpful info, I had no idea the dealer could do that!!!

And I should clarify, if the Akro map is installed, the bike would be plenty rich to match up with an aftermarket airbox such as a MH?

It just seems weird that the system would not need to be further dialed in. Like I said most of my experience has been with carbed bikes which could get pretty finicky.