(reposted/copied from another TRE thread)
1. Yes, the resistor hack is cheaper, but I'll pay the extra $$$ for a *clean* plug-in device so that when/if I go to resell it later, I don't have a homemade hack in my wiring harness to piss off a potential buyer. If you're dead-set on making your own, more power to ya, but at least put the extra effort into finding/buying the necessary plugs rather than chop up your wiring harness....eesh...
2. The Ivan TRE's are a bit cheaper at indysuperbikes.com than they are at hayabusazone.com (and this site claims it works for the 03 as well)
Your mileage may vary. And to those who asked, the TRE (a.k.a. resistor pack) simply fools the ECM into thinking that you're still in 5th gear, and Ivan's claim is that the speed limiter only kicks in while in 6th gear. Since your ECM thinks you never go into 6th, it doesn't kick in (according to them).
***NOW*** If I'm at Suzuki and I see this simple "hack" come out, you can bet that I'll more-than-likely look at an ECM logic rewrite next time I change/re-order the ECM for my next production run. From what some folks are posting, that may have happened with the '03 production year. It wouldn't take a HUGE logic re-write to tell the ECM to watch not just 6th but rather ALL gears (because if you leave any gear open, they'll just make new TRE hacks to exploit the remaining ones!)
I'm still waiting for someone to come here and post a true testimony saying "Yes, I have an 03, I installed a TRE, and yes, I exceeded the 186 cutoff." Until that happens or a Suzuki engineer or ECM supplier comes online, nobody knows for 100% sure... Just because the TRE cleans up 1st and 2nd in terms of throttle response does NOT automatically mean that the ECM is still being "tricked" to get past the limiter...