Kev mod thoughts
 

Hello everyone,

I've had the Tenere for 2 1/2 years now and I've been contemplating fitting Kev's mod. I've done a fair amount of touring, both on and off road and have always been happy with the engine. I'm just frugal I guess.

I recently found this via Google. A very interesting piece of information I find. Never heard anyone say that before. What do you guys think?

It is but just one man's opinion. This has cropped up before, on Facebook, and he’s quite possibly deliberately stirring up contention, controversy, drama and provoking an argument (re: the Kev Mod comments) and succeeding to do so.

There are several clues that suggest he doesn't know what he's on about :

There is a huge amount of evidence (here and elsewhere) from dyno tests that clearly show the XT runs lean in stock trim. They definitely don't run rich from the factory - fact.

Nothing to do with the ECU "learning", in fact the XT ECU has very limited capacity for learning, it's a bit thick! It is just the AIS doing what it does, and what it always will do to infinity and beyond - it won't change, unless you physically intervene and disconnect it. What a load of nonsense.

I wouldn't give to much credence to what one person says. He probably still thinks the Earth is flat and the moon's made of cheese! ;)

I agree with Pleiades, if the turn you key off then run again, then how come my Akras still 'popped' the next day after fitting them? Even the Dealer where I bought the bike recommend I block the AIS with the pipes fitted. I am more than happy with the Kev mods I've fitted, as are a lot of others I'm sure. I reckon all the Kev mods out there have racked up more than 90k's between them. & I can't recall hearing any problem's with them.

That just my opinion.:icon_wink:

The possible troll you speak of has actually riden more XT660s than anyone on this forum will and probably more Offroad miles too.
Meet Greg.. http://youtu.be/dnUzw-U27eA
While you might not agree with his opinion a quick bit or research would save the old "foot in mouth" syndrome when deciding on who's opinion is more valid.
Worth having a little look at his exploits and the ride group he "owns" as this alone sees him and the other owners pre-ride all the tracks and more before leading the group rides.
His current stable of XT660s and he also has two well setup WRs for short runs can be seen on the ADVrider forum...
http://www.rideadv.com.au/wp-content/uploads/054.jpg
Check out THIS and THIS just set aside a few days and keep an eye out for TB650 and then you can make an informed decision on his troll status.
Personally I have both air and fuel mod and as a seat of the pants I'm more than happy with the KevMods.

I'm sure a bog standard Tenere will do everything and cope with most things, as Jenny Morgan found when she did 20,000 miles around America. ...BUT, there is no doubt they can be improved with some well thought out mods. The Kev mod, which has been extensively tested combined with the 02controller and DNA set up has made a really seat of the pants difference to my bike. So much so that I consider my performance mods done now, the rest of my Tenere journey will be about suspension, luggage, wheels etc!. None of which are truly necessary but will turn the Ten into 'Steve 's ' bike! Steve

You'll notice that I was very careful to highlight "just my opinion of course" in orange in his original quote. At no point did I say his opinion about the Kev mod was wrong, even though I personally don't agree with it and there's a LOT or evidence to suggest otherwise. I merely pointed out a couple of things that ARE factually incorrect about his statements on the general working of the XT660's fuelling control.

As I've all ready said; it is his opinion (to which he's entitled). I just want the members here to see the big picture, the broadest view of things, which is why I suggested not giving credence to ONE person's opinion over thousands of others.

Just because someone has ridden 90 "thousand" (Kms I'd guess) on four teneres doesn't make their opinion any more valid, or right. I drink 90K+ cups of tea a year and it most certainly doesn't make me a tea expert, although I do have an opinion on which I prefer. ;)

I still hold with the opinion that these comments were originally made to stir up trouble, a bee's nest, hence the reference to trolling (and the use of "quite possibly" - I didn't say he was.) As far as I can see he's been doing a successful job stirring things up elsewhere on the Kev mod issue, and he now appears to be doing the same here and through the back door so to speak.

If XT660.com members start falling out with each other over Greg's comments I shall delete this thread. It has been done to death elsewhere on the web. XT660.com is not a portal for inflamatory comments, trolling and scare-mongering, especially when the source doesn't even appear to be a member.

Might I then suggest you curb your inflammatory language. Labelling someone who gave their opinion on another forum that another member here cut and pasted the comments certainly does not deserve the label of a TROLL in anyone's opinion. Then a page justifying a baseless accusation?? If you don't agree with his statement, as I dont, then just address that... No need for the escalation by name calling.

OK, fair enough, saying �he�s quite possibly a troll� is a probably a bit harsh. Let me re-phrase it to: he�s quite possibly deliberately stirring up contention, controversy, drama and provoking an argument (re: the Kev Mod comments) and succeeding to do so.

Chill time.

I think the 'Troll' discussion has reached a suitable stop point. Thank you.

Back to the OP.

If you are happy with the bike, then why the thoughts for a change? I only ask because the reason will really dictate the answer.

I've never fitted the Kev-Mod fuel adjuster, I went directly to the PC-V (with the DNA Stage 1& 2), I also have an early MTC (one of the less noisy ones). I found a very real and noticeable difference from the off.

Since then I have fitted the O2 tuner (Kev-mod again) and this has improved low end power, pick up and economy - though I don't know why.

Yes, these things are subjective and come down to the rider, bike, where in the world/environment etc.

Some guys have made the mods, then reverted and say they see no difference - again it's subjective.

XT660 is a great resource, it's full of real world opinions, facts and evidence. What you need to look for is congruence through those opinions. Then you will find the answers that fit your own circumstances.

I just realised I can't spell. It was obviously meant to read "thoughts".

Anyway, I'm sorry if I caused a bit of an argument in the forum. It definitely wasn't my intention to do so.

I've decided to get the fuel and O2 mod. Mainly because I want to do some touring with my girlfriend, so a bit more oomph would be quite nice. And before you ask, no, she's not fat ;)

Thanks for all the thoughts and information.

Peace

Just one more thing from this thread that has worried me...Pleiades mentioned drinking large quantities of Tea, does this mean that I am not the biggest drinker of Tea on the forum. ? I'm on approximately 12-15 mugs a day..more at weekends. Say 100 mugs of tea weekly. I lay down the Tea challenge!! Steve

Do you have shares in Tetley Greatescape?

Twinings Breakfast tea or when in Ireland Barrys Tea !! 20 degrees in Southern England today Desert Racer. ...how's the temp in Australia. ? Steve

High 20's in the day, feel's like its cooling a bit now for 'winter'
Just back from my early morning pleasure cruise to the LNG plant. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...db32860516.jpg

Well best leave there, going off topic a bit & don't want to start WW3 over tea bags.[emoji2]

I just want to say we have never seen a XT burn any valves ever no mater what mods have been bolted to them, even running stage 1 & 2 filters + free flow pipes, with this set up I have personally Dyno tested the A/F ratio's & so did Freeze a Dyno expert from South Africa & the A/F ratios run around ratio 14.5 to 15:1.

But one thing I will argue about & I can prove 100% with Dyno results, at 15:1 the bike will not have the torque or HP compared to a bike running the exact same mods at a richer A/F ratio between 13.2:1 & 13.6:1. Yes the bike will run at 15:1 all day long but at a loss of HP & Torque.

My adjustable fuel mod corrects a lean A/F ratio from hard ware that has been fitted like free flow filters & pipes, the O2 controller corrects the lean closed loop A/F ratio. My fuel mod is a very simple fuel adjuster that does & have proven this so many times, it can correct the A/F ratio by up to 0.8:1 richer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glkdBO8aZm0 if you want the best tuning tools out there buy a PCV & get a custom Dyno PCV map at 6 times the price.

One other thing these XT's do not run rich with all the intake & exhaust mods, I challenge anyone to show me Dyno proof that they do as I have personally Dyno tested every version of XT660 ECU, every single mod ever bolted to a XT including all the big bore kit in varying sizes + stroker cranks + quite a few different cams?

Here is some data logging I have been doing on the latest KTM 1290's, I would love to see how the guys that bag my mods have actually measured & Dyno tested the mods A/F ratio's. http://www.ktmsmt.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6888&p=42781#p42781

MT09's http://mt09.motorcycle-talk.com/forum/mt-09-modifications/1565-kevs-anti-throttle-surge-mod-25.html

I don't tune bikes with the seat of my pants I used the latest Data logging tools & reconfirm all my work on a Dyno, I spend around Oz$2500.00 a year on test mods & custom Dyno PCV maps for different bikes & can prove 100% what I say.

Also say that the XT660 ECU can learn is the biggest load of rubbish I have every heard, if you under stand the X'660's mapping & how all the functions of a XT's ECU works you would know 100% the man does no what he is talking about. The variable difference would be from the F/L switch trim inputs between the TPS/RPM & the intake pressure sensor/RPM mapping with the valuables inputs going to the ECU's, the ECU learns nothing it is has pre-written mapping & the variables are changed with in the mapping from the sensor inputs.

Well, to each their own, I guess. I ran my Tenere for four years without any engine/electronics mods, believing that suspension etc was the way to go. Mind you, I hadn't done many km in that time, but I'm in no hurry.

However, the low-end snatchiness on/off throttle finally wore thin, so an O2 mod went on. Most of that went away immediately. This is a fact for my bike.

Don't know about any other Kev mods, but based on my experience, I can't see why the others wouldn't work too.

Detractors are certainly entitled to their opinion, but then so am I, and all the members who are satisfied with what they've bought.

:applause: Wunderbar!

Be sure to report back your results when you've fitted them and ridden a few miles. I'm sure you will be more than satisfied...

Kev mods
 

Ok, I finally got round to installing the fuel and O2 mod today and I couldn't believe the difference it made.
It was like riding a proper thumper again, a bit like my old XT500.
Well worth the investment. Thank you Kev.

One questions remains. According to the fitting instructions the fuel mod settings were figured out at 20ish degrees. If I ride in colder weather do I have to increase the setting slightly and vice versa or doesn't it matter?
Also, did you guys wrap the wires of the O2 optimiser in some kind of sheathing or didn't you bother?

Cheers
Nick

My two penn'orth....
 

I would like to add my thoughts to the two questions posed on this thread.
First, I have the Kev fuel and O2 mods, they make my bike feel more responsive and smoother. I think they were worth the money.
Second, tea drinking... I'm a mental health nurse, a professional group renowned for having infinite capacity for tea, and as a student I took on and beat the previously undisputed champ at the very large hospital I trained at. So beware anyone throwing down the gauntlet here.... Just a shame I can't manage the same with beer. Total two pot screamer, me.

Due to the nature of the way the AIT sensors resistance changes with temperature, and the way Kev mod works, you may need to slightly increase the setting if temperatures drop below 10C and slightly decrease it in the unlikely even temperatures go above 30C to maintain the same A/F ratio.

I'm only talking about one increment though. Say you've found that 5 o'clock works best for your set up for temperatures in the region of 15-25C, you'll need to go to 6 o'clock if the temperature falls to 10C or below. I found that I needed to go +2 if ambient temperatures were below 0C.

It's not strictly necessary, but I covered mine with heat proof sheathing which I happened to have lying around.

Thanks for the info Pleiades. Off to Monaco next week. Should be a lot smoother on the motorway now. Oh wait, I'm still on knobby tyres :D