Aprilia Futura - Custom maps - Power Commander and Tuneboy
The Sagem ECU fitted to the Aprilia RST1000 Futura is not directly re-programmeable, so if you want to do any tuning, you need to add something else to override it.
Click this link for Power Commander III and Tuneboy maps
There are two ways to do this - either a Dynojet Power Commander or a Tuneboy. Both are quite different animals, even though they do the same basic job.
Each
has a control box that taps into the fuel injection system and sits somewhere
on the bike, usually under the seat.
Why would I need one?
You don't necessarily, unless you have made modifications to the air induction or the exhaust system.
Most riders find the stock map, and especially the 05 map, is fine for most conditions, though most bikes run rich with it. Soot around the exhaust is a giveaway.
But if you make mods to the air intake or the airbox, and especially if you replace the pre-silencer or the end cans, you may find flat spots in the power delivery - where the bike hesitates before taking off. These are caused by fuel starvation i.e. the engine is not getting enough fuel.
Power Commander or Tuneboy?
Each of them allows you to control the amount of fuel the ECU delivers to the bike under various engine speeds and throttle openings. But while a Power Commander does this on a very basic level, Tuneboy allows a far greater level of control, and allows you to control far more parameters.
So in short, if you lack confidence and experience in fuel injection systems, the Power Commander is probably the way to go.
If, on the other hand, you know what you are doing, then maybe Tuneboy is for you. Be warned, though, that while the Tuneboy allows you to adjust much more, it also gives you the freedom to totally mess up your bike's fuelling - and possibly cause engine damage.
Both are available in USB versions, which means you can hook them up to a laptop to upload a new map, and even create your own on your computer.
Setting it up
Whether you have a Tuneboy or a Power Commander, there's only one way to set the bike up properly and that's to have a custom map created on a dyno.
Every bike is different and behaves differently and the only way to tell what's happening is to analyse the exhaust gases and have a custom map done on a dyno with someone who knows what they are doing.
But this can be expensive, and you can get pretty good results from using someone else's map - if only as a starting point.
Note: Dynojet suggest you fit the PCIII in the tool tray under the seat, but you can also fit it inside the rear subframe rail.
Power Commander maps
Note: Use these maps at your own risk
The following maps are a starting point and I'll add more as people send them to me. To download one, right click and select 'Save Target As...' if you're using a PC. You can only view these maps if you have the Power Commander software installed on your computer.
Loungesurfer's map: Mille Airbox & Evoluzione Air Filter, De-restricted, Bef Semi-Full Exhaust with H-pipe
Custom map: This map came with my used PCIII USB and was used on a Futura with a modified end can and breadbox, Mille air boot and K&N filter, despite what it says on the map info.
You might find this link helpful also. The Power Commander site includes some base maps to work with: Power Commander;
Tuneboy maps
Note: Use these maps at your own risk
You can only view these maps if you have the Tuneboy software installed on your computer. Maps are listed according to who sent them in. There may be a difference in mapping between US and EU b - I don't know so I've made that clear just in case.
You may be best downloading all the maps and comparing them all. It's obvious what some of these maps are for, not so much with others.
Befbever's maps for EU bikes
03 tune + 6% overall | 050918 Tune increase fuel blipfix-1 | 050918 Tune increase fuel blipfix | BEF System brake tune | BEF System tune | BEF System tune.fi| Economy trim| Equal fuel based | Jay5 | Jay6| July 03 Tune| RST StainTune | RST StainTune With Baffles| Stock Futura tune
Bobdavis73's maps for US bikes
Some of these may be the same as those above.
020108 Tune | 050115 Tune | 050428 Tune | 180901 Tune | 120401 Tune | 790329 Tune| 790412 Tune| 921123 Tune | Caponord Staintune | RST StainTune| StainTune With Baffles
Carl McNamee's map: I don't know what mods had been fitted to this US spec bike.
More maps are available at theTuneboy UK site.
Page last updated: June 6, 2010
