$200 For a New License for a Re-Flash

[HayaWakened]

Yep, that's what the guy said to me when I took it into a SoCal bike shop reputed to be a specialist in race setups (I have no intention of racing my Busa; I just thought with a rep like that, this shop would know all about flashing a bike after an exhaust mod). I explained to him that I have a set of 4-2-1 Ti's (thanks @jeffgordons24) I'd be installing and was looking for someone to flash it to accommodate the new setup and take care of the O2 sensor. I then added the bike's probably already been flashed by previous owner but I wasn't sure except that the bike only has A mode.

Him: "Well, we'll just put it on the dyno and run it up to 186. If it goes faster than that, it's been flashed. Otherwise, flashing it's gonna be expensive if it's already been flashed."
Me: (thinking, wtf did he just say???) "Why?"
Him: "Well, if it's already been flashed, then I gotta buy a new license to wipe out the old license and the old flash before I can flash it again. 200 bucks for the new license and 200 bucks [more] for the new flash. 400 bucks."

Apologies to the techs on this site, but this dialog was alien to me, and goes against everything I've read in the short time I've been lurking here. Or did I miss something? So in the meanwhile I'm running stock header with the R-77's @GAmedic parted with (my gain...definitely my gain), and am amazed what a difference they make from the stock potato launchers. I can only imagine what the Ti Force header will bring. Which is why I was visiting a bike shop this morning...

Thoughts, anyone. Thanks.

 

[Kiwi Rider]

Wow . . sounds like BS to me, but I really am not sure, have never ever heard anyone mention anything about a '$200 license fee'.
No doubt you will be inundated with replies shortly . . and if anyone knows the truth about this, you will find it here.
Good luck and good fortune my friend

 

[GAmedic]

@POWERHOUSE

 

[mabupa]

Yep, that's what the guy said to me when I took it into a SoCal bike shop reputed to be a specialist in race setups (I have no intention of racing my Busa; I just thought with a rep like that, this shop would know all about flashing a bike after an exhaust mod). I explained to him that I have a set of 4-2-1 Ti's (thanks @jeffgordons24) I'd be installing and was looking for someone to flash it to accommodate the new setup and take care of the O2 sensor. I then added the bike's probably already been flashed by previous owner but I wasn't sure except that the bike only has A mode.

Him: "Well, we'll just put it on the dyno and run it up to 186. If it goes faster than that, it's been flashed. Otherwise, flashing it's gonna be expensive if it's already been flashed."
Me: (thinking, wtf did he just say???) "Why?"
Him: "Well, if it's already been flashed, then I gotta buy a new license to wipe out the old license and the old flash before I can flash it again. 200 bucks for the new license and 200 bucks [more] for the new flash. 400 bucks."

Apologies to the techs on this site, but this dialog was alien to me, and goes against everything I've read in the short time I've been lurking here. Or did I miss something? So in the meanwhile I'm running stock header with the R-77's @GAmedic parted with (my gain...definitely my gain), and am amazed what a difference they make from the stock potato launchers. I can only imagine what the Ti Force header will bring. Which is why I was visiting a bike shop this morning...

Thoughts, anyone. Thanks.

I wonder if the tech was under the assumption that the ECU had been flashed by a certain business that locks your ECU after the flash, so that nobody else can flash it? From what I’ve learned through years of listening(reading?) to frank @POWERHOUSE, doing a flash and then getting the bike Dyno tuned through a PCV is best. Or maybe the tech is full of it and you should stay away from that shop.......

 

[Kiwi Rider]

@POWERHOUSE

Yeah baby!
Frank at Powerhouse will know for sure . . . call him up or just wait for his reply

 

[GAmedic]

Yeah I'd do what Miguel said and stay away from that shop. Get with Frank at Powerhouse and go from there.

 

[Nastee]

Yep, that's what the guy said to me when I took it into a SoCal bike shop reputed to be a specialist in race setups (I have no intention of racing my Busa; I just thought with a rep like that, this shop would know all about flashing a bike after an exhaust mod). I explained to him that I have a set of 4-2-1 Ti's (thanks @jeffgordons24) I'd be installing and was looking for someone to flash it to accommodate the new setup and take care of the O2 sensor. I then added the bike's probably already been flashed by previous owner but I wasn't sure except that the bike only has A mode.

Him: "Well, we'll just put it on the dyno and run it up to 186. If it goes faster than that, it's been flashed. Otherwise, flashing it's gonna be expensive if it's already been flashed."
Me: (thinking, wtf did he just say???) "Why?"
Him: "Well, if it's already been flashed, then I gotta buy a new license to wipe out the old license and the old flash before I can flash it again. 200 bucks for the new license and 200 bucks [more] for the new flash. 400 bucks."

Apologies to the techs on this site, but this dialog was alien to me, and goes against everything I've read in the short time I've been lurking here. Or did I miss something? So in the meanwhile I'm running stock header with the R-77's @GAmedic parted with (my gain...definitely my gain), and am amazed what a difference they make from the stock potato launchers. I can only imagine what the Ti Force header will bring. Which is why I was visiting a bike shop this morning...

Thoughts, anyone. Thanks.

Calling BS big time. don't walk away RUNNNNNN.

 

[Hayabusa Wannabe]

Wow . . sounds like BS to me, but I really am not sure, have never ever heard anyone mention anything about a '$200 license fee'.

He pays a license fee for every ECU he modifies.

Do not judge technicians/shops/owners by poor communication, scheduling, or billing. Judge them by what they do with their hands. The ones brilliant at the latter many times are terrible at the former.

 

[sixpack577]

Ecu Editor is free.
Maybe there're using Woolrich or Ecu Unleashed(I don't know what they cost).

 

[VIPER]

Run that guy is full of crap.

 

[jeffgordons24]

I would love to call this shop up....my job is in the automotive service industry and I cant stand when people like this who clearly know very little (just enough to be dangerous) try to bamboozle or scam kind hearted and generous people like @HayaWakened. A high volume shop usually gets discounted licenses as part of a "volume" package.
Work it out with Frank and I will help you any way I can.

 

[Mr Brown]

He pays a license fee for every ECU he modifies.

Do not judge technicians/shops/owners by poor communication, scheduling, or billing. Judge them by what they do with their hands. The ones brilliant at the latter many times are terrible at the former.

If they don't know how to run the customer side of a business, and aren't willing to pay someone who does, they should go back to modifying their buddies stuff in their garage. Part of running a business is being professional. Scheduling, billing and above all communication are part of what seperates a successful business from a failure. If this guy pays a fee for every ecu he modifies he should have said that, instead of implying that it's a requirement.

 

[Mr Brown]

Yep, that's what the guy said to me when I took it into a SoCal bike shop reputed to be a specialist in race setups (I have no intention of racing my Busa; I just thought with a rep like that, this shop would know all about flashing a bike after an exhaust mod). I explained to him that I have a set of 4-2-1 Ti's (thanks @jeffgordons24) I'd be installing and was looking for someone to flash it to accommodate the new setup and take care of the O2 sensor. I then added the bike's probably already been flashed by previous owner but I wasn't sure except that the bike only has A mode.

Him: "Well, we'll just put it on the dyno and run it up to 186. If it goes faster than that, it's been flashed. Otherwise, flashing it's gonna be expensive if it's already been flashed."
Me: (thinking, wtf did he just say???) "Why?"
Him: "Well, if it's already been flashed, then I gotta buy a new license to wipe out the old license and the old flash before I can flash it again. 200 bucks for the new license and 200 bucks [more] for the new flash. 400 bucks."

Apologies to the techs on this site, but this dialog was alien to me, and goes against everything I've read in the short time I've been lurking here. Or did I miss something? So in the meanwhile I'm running stock header with the R-77's @GAmedic parted with (my gain...definitely my gain), and am amazed what a difference they make from the stock potato launchers. I can only imagine what the Ti Force header will bring. Which is why I was visiting a bike shop this morning...

Thoughts, anyone. Thanks.

Pull the ecu and send it to Frank. It'll be done right, and won't cost you $200. You'll be down a couple of days, but once it's done, it's done.

 

[Slowstang305]

I know for cars tuned with EFILIVE the license I believe is $125 for each new vin. I don't know what they are using to tune.

 

[POWERHOUSE]

this - as most pointed out, is nonsense. Ecu Unleashed - which we use for bikes other than Busas - is
$350 for each "tune file". Ecu Editor - which we use for Busas - was free until Woolrich took it over and
screwed it up to high heaven. POWERHOUSE charges org members $70 and typically turns an ecu around
in one day . . .

 

[Kiwi Rider]

this - as most pointed out, is nonsense. Ecu Unleashed - which we use for bikes other than Busas - is
$350 for each "tune file". Ecu Editor - which we use for Busas - was free until Woolrich took it over and
screwed it up to high heaven. POWERHOUSE charges org members $70 and typically turns an ecu around
in one day . . .

Thanks for clearing that up re the license fee, Frank.
I've learned something today!

 

[Sandow]

this - as most pointed out, is nonsense. Ecu Unleashed - which we use for bikes other than Busas - is
$350 for each "tune file". Ecu Editor - which we use for Busas - was free until Woolrich took it over and
screwed it up to high heaven. POWERHOUSE charges org members $70 and typically turns an ecu around
in one day . . .

I can guarantee that. I had just shipped my ECU to frank from canada. I had it back after a bit more than a week and bike runs better then ever before!

 

[04LE]

I dont think just a flash will solve everything, you are also looking for a tune for the new exhaust setup. I dont think @POWERHOUSE does canned tunes, similar to the maps that brocks posts when you buy an exhaust from him for the power commanders.

 

[busakiller]

If I was you find someone that can tune Thur the ecu and have them dyno tune your bike. If you can’t do that send the ecu to frank and have him flash if he can. Then get a power commander which frank does sell and you could save on shipping with the ecu..... then have someone tune your bike With the pc5.

 

[POWERHOUSE]

When you talk about fuel tuning through an ecu, you should define the word "tune". We have done extensive tuning over the last twenty years through various platforms, including ecus. Guess what? If I do a perfect map through a PC and hand it to someone to translate into an ecu, guess what happens? It can't be done. There are technical reasons that prevent accurate tuning with only the ecu, I have been through it more than once. Bring me a bike that has been "tuned" through the ecu . . . I will hang a powercommander on it and go through the entire map . . . IF everything is right, the pc will remain at "0" and not make changes. If that ecu fuel map is not right, the pc will have values in the fuel cells showing the changes that had to be made to attain the correct stoichiometry. I try to offer info that is correct, based on my years tuning. Sure, I can "tune" your ecu . . . it won't be right, but I can do it and charge you for it. I have to sleep at night knowing that I gave my customers (and friends) the best that I have. Everyone has a right to disagree, but I would expect opinions to be based on facts attained by exposure to the issues - if you have never tuned anything on a dyno, if you don't have at least five years experience on a dyno, where exactly are you getting your "facts"? And BTW, this is not pointed at anyone in particular; I would say that the amount of misinformation on this forum is rampant, unfortunately.