roger 04 rt
New member
Those who followed the Wideband O2 thread in the Oilhead forum know that I did extensive testing on lambda-shifting technology on R1150s, R1100s and R1200s through the Camhead. On my R1150RT, the Innovate Motorsports LC-1 brought performance benefits and gave me extensive AFR datalogging capability, which allowed me to measure and document many of the Motronic’s and BMSK’s features which had long been unknown. Wideband O2 Testing on the R1150RT
In short, lambda-shifting technology modifies the O2 sensor signal in such a way that the Motronic, BMSK or BMSX (in the Wethead) is persuaded to richen the mixture by 2-8% (user selectable). Because of long term trims which are in all BMW fueling computers, the fueling gains which are “learned” in Closed Loop during lambda-shifting get applied to the entire fueling map. This means there is a richer mixture from idle right up through WOT.
I’ve been riding a 2017 R1200RTW now for a few months and like everything about the bike, including its performance and fueling. I was surprised that compared to my 2004 R1150RT with 8% richer mixture, the stock RTW required higher RPMs before up-shifting but the engine is really smooth so it wasn’t an issue that needed to be “fixed”. I have also noticed that compared to my 1150, the RTW needs more fuel from a stop to get going—but that too, I adapted to.
Many of you may be aware that Nightrider.com’s AF-XIED has been removed as an upgrade product for the R1200 water-cooled bikes. The problem that caused the AF-XIED to be pulled from new water cooled bikes is that BMW added a new O2 Sensor test (BOST, BMW O2 Test) in 2016 that caused the BMSX to generate an error code, which kept the engine from entering Closed Loop operation, defeating the function of lambda-shifting. Worse yet, BMW kindly added that test to older bikes’ software updates so bikes which had been running fine with AF-XIEDs stopped working. To my knowledge, no one has added LC-2s to a water-cooled bike, but they won’t work either.
Over the last year, a couple of us have been helping Steve at Nightrider to figure out what the BOST is, and a way around it. The first software solution to the AF-XIED (Rev G Software) looked promising initially but didn’t work. Then we generated a better model for what the test was doing and came up with a hardware Relay Adapter Module (RAM) that has been through Beta testing and recently Pre-Production units on various RTWs and GSAWs. Nightrider plans to release a couple dozen units for final checking in the field.
Since I finally had an RTW, I became one of the the Beta testers. The bottom line is that the RAM functions to allow the BOST to PASS so that lambda-shifting will function and produce richer mixtures for riders with AF-XIEDs installed. The add-on RAM will work for all existing AF-XIEDs for BMW motorcycles.
I got a set of RAMs and AF-XIEDs to test on my 2017 R1200RTW about a month ago. The testing went well and the units worked. Because of the RTW's generally good manners and strong performance, I didn’t expect to notice a dramatic improvement. Boy was I wrong! Lambda-shifting (Setting 7 on the AF-XIED) produced much better performance off the line, much better torque response between 1500 and 3000 RPM, and to my great surprise much better gearshift-pro performance. Off the line the bike requires much less throttle to get going without stalling, even allowing starts easily in 2nd gear. At riding speeds, just as with my R1150RT, I’m generally riding one gear higher (e.g. 6th instead of 5th) when acceleration isn’t the objective. The bike accelerates much more eagerly at 2000 RPM and less downshifting is required. I’m not saying I always ride like a poke—far from it—but when I’m cruising or in traffic, the bike needs a lot less downshifting to feel comfortable.
The operation of Gearshift-Pro has changed noticeably, especially from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. It’s smoother, with less tendency to lurch. And the effect is true for up and downshifts. I now use Gearshift-Pro most of the time—light and heavy throttle.
I’ll be doing more riding—and less testing—over the next month and look forward to additional improvements as the Long Term Trims develop further as I ride more.
For those of you interested, keep in touch with Beemerboneyard and Nightrider. They should have some units soon that will likely first go to riders who had bought AF-XIEDs and whose bikes had updated/problem software and who have GS-911s so they can confirm the results we've seen on the test bikes.
In short, lambda-shifting technology modifies the O2 sensor signal in such a way that the Motronic, BMSK or BMSX (in the Wethead) is persuaded to richen the mixture by 2-8% (user selectable). Because of long term trims which are in all BMW fueling computers, the fueling gains which are “learned” in Closed Loop during lambda-shifting get applied to the entire fueling map. This means there is a richer mixture from idle right up through WOT.
I’ve been riding a 2017 R1200RTW now for a few months and like everything about the bike, including its performance and fueling. I was surprised that compared to my 2004 R1150RT with 8% richer mixture, the stock RTW required higher RPMs before up-shifting but the engine is really smooth so it wasn’t an issue that needed to be “fixed”. I have also noticed that compared to my 1150, the RTW needs more fuel from a stop to get going—but that too, I adapted to.
Many of you may be aware that Nightrider.com’s AF-XIED has been removed as an upgrade product for the R1200 water-cooled bikes. The problem that caused the AF-XIED to be pulled from new water cooled bikes is that BMW added a new O2 Sensor test (BOST, BMW O2 Test) in 2016 that caused the BMSX to generate an error code, which kept the engine from entering Closed Loop operation, defeating the function of lambda-shifting. Worse yet, BMW kindly added that test to older bikes’ software updates so bikes which had been running fine with AF-XIEDs stopped working. To my knowledge, no one has added LC-2s to a water-cooled bike, but they won’t work either.
Over the last year, a couple of us have been helping Steve at Nightrider to figure out what the BOST is, and a way around it. The first software solution to the AF-XIED (Rev G Software) looked promising initially but didn’t work. Then we generated a better model for what the test was doing and came up with a hardware Relay Adapter Module (RAM) that has been through Beta testing and recently Pre-Production units on various RTWs and GSAWs. Nightrider plans to release a couple dozen units for final checking in the field.
Since I finally had an RTW, I became one of the the Beta testers. The bottom line is that the RAM functions to allow the BOST to PASS so that lambda-shifting will function and produce richer mixtures for riders with AF-XIEDs installed. The add-on RAM will work for all existing AF-XIEDs for BMW motorcycles.
I got a set of RAMs and AF-XIEDs to test on my 2017 R1200RTW about a month ago. The testing went well and the units worked. Because of the RTW's generally good manners and strong performance, I didn’t expect to notice a dramatic improvement. Boy was I wrong! Lambda-shifting (Setting 7 on the AF-XIED) produced much better performance off the line, much better torque response between 1500 and 3000 RPM, and to my great surprise much better gearshift-pro performance. Off the line the bike requires much less throttle to get going without stalling, even allowing starts easily in 2nd gear. At riding speeds, just as with my R1150RT, I’m generally riding one gear higher (e.g. 6th instead of 5th) when acceleration isn’t the objective. The bike accelerates much more eagerly at 2000 RPM and less downshifting is required. I’m not saying I always ride like a poke—far from it—but when I’m cruising or in traffic, the bike needs a lot less downshifting to feel comfortable.
The operation of Gearshift-Pro has changed noticeably, especially from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. It’s smoother, with less tendency to lurch. And the effect is true for up and downshifts. I now use Gearshift-Pro most of the time—light and heavy throttle.
I’ll be doing more riding—and less testing—over the next month and look forward to additional improvements as the Long Term Trims develop further as I ride more.
For those of you interested, keep in touch with Beemerboneyard and Nightrider. They should have some units soon that will likely first go to riders who had bought AF-XIEDs and whose bikes had updated/problem software and who have GS-911s so they can confirm the results we've seen on the test bikes.
