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[Coolbreeze]

I have a PCIII, B/S AC, V&H TruDuals, S&S SPO'S, VERY mild gear cam...   still a bit lean, still a bit hot, still lousy mileage...

My indy is really talking up the ThunderMax with it's "no need to ever dyno again" capability.  $1100 installed. 

Is this thing worth it?      Seems like every time I fart or see a new exhaust, or...etc etc..  I spend another 250 or 3 on a dyno tune, and ...  well....  then the weather changes and I go uphill a few thousand feet, and.....     

I'm stumped.

[rednectum]

the thundermax is a great tuner, but it wont help with that exhaust.

[Coolbreeze]

Why is that?

[Twolanerider]

Thundermax can't guarantee the lack of a need to visit a dyno for tuning.  Several here alone have had unsatisfactory base maps.  The autotuning feature is also not absolute.  Certainly no panacea.  It can and has made mistakes.

Shannon, some have loved it.  Some have had significant difficulties (even without "messing with it").  Unless you're local tuner recommending it can actually tune the device if need be it's a crap shoot though.  This is made even more so by the fact that if you actually need assistance from the mftr you are generally screwed.  Effective support is not their best thing.

[SBB]

Thundermax can't guarantee the lack of a need to visit a dyno for tuning.  Several here alone have had unsatisfactory base maps.  The autotuning feature is also not absolute.  Certainly no panacea.  It can and has made mistakes.

Shannon, some have loved it.  Some have had significant difficulties (even without "messing with it").  Unless you're local tuner recommending it can actually tune the device if need be it's a crap shoot though.  This is made even more so by the fact that if you actually need assistance from the mftr you are generally screwed.  Effective support is not their best thing.

Don, don't be bitter!

After the thousands of dollars you spent at Zippers did you really expect,

Good customer service?
Parts that worked as advertised?
Followup on your issues?
Someone to return your call?
Someone to return your call with answers?
Someone to return your call with answers that work.

"WELL?"

 

[Twolanerider]

Don, don't be bitter!

After the thousands of dollars you spent at Zippers did you really expect,

Good customer service?
Parts that worked as advertised?
Followup on your issues?
Someone to return your call?
Someone to return your call with answers?
Someone to return your call with answers that work.

"WELL?"

 

Woulda liked a hat ?   


A good deal of the Thundermax experience I've come to understand isn't my own of course.  Mine was only a single case.  And though the device certainly has its limitations I don't dismiss it at all.  Especially in installations without the autotune and with a good tuner to dial it in.

An acquaintance of mine we both know who tunes more in a rally weekend than any of us will ever own in a lifetime too often speaks of similar experiences though.  Autotune choices that are just wrong.  That can't be tracked to have been wrong looking from the base map to where they were at the moment of inspection.  They may work very well sometimes.  But that is not nearly universally the case.

The base maps are not an end all and be all.  In fact some have proved to be very poor indeed.  And the autotune isn't absolute; or even close.  When it works well that's wonderful for those that have it.  When it does not, however, you have the absolute foundation device for getting you down the road being a concrete foundation without rebar.

[Bubba]

Hey Don have you heard if John Golden is doing the SERT yet.  Has he had his school?  I sure would like for him to do mine.

~bubba~

[Twolanerider]

Hey Don have you heard if John Golden is doing the SERT yet.  Has he had his school?  I sure would like for him to do mine.

~bubba~

Last I heard him mention it not yet.  Much training or changing is never going to happen during the rally season for John.  If I hear of "The Great Change" I'll be sure and let you know.

[Bubba]

Last I heard him mention it not yet.  Much training or changing is never going to happen during the rally season for John.  If I hear of "The Great Change" I'll be sure and let you know.

Thanks Don, He sure did a good job on Mark's bike.... I just wish I knew then what I know now,,,,,  I would have kept the PC I bought but just didn't know of the "GREAT ONE" at that time... 

[MUFFMAN]

I've had my Thunder-Max with Auto tune on the bike for about 5k. It came downloaded to coincide with head & cam work & so far no probs. Installing was a breeze & save yourself $300.oo. THE MUFFMAN

[FR8TRN]

I'll join 2Lane.....sold mine a long time back now and don't miss it one bit.  SERT works great......

[BayouBiker]

I've had my TMAT for over 15K mi in 13 months. I love it.
I play with the settings all the time, we got heat indexes over 110 and in the winter I ride when its 35.

I've had good experiences with Zipper's customer service, although others have not had the good fortune.
Personally, I would recommend the Thundermax...

[DCFIREMANN]

I can say YES it is worth it. I was one of the first to own one and I have loved it ever since. I keep a couple around the shop for some of the builds I do. I also have the newer version of the A/T. I have not as of yet installed it on Punkin.

The products for the most part are very good. It is their CUSTOMER SERVICE or shall I say lack of that is killing them. I hear a rumor they are on one of the other HD sites and are helping out with their problems. I don't know why they left here. Maybe because the PLUKING they gave a few of the members here. One thing about them when they are on top they like to stay there. When they go to the bottom they run and hide!

Be Safe

the dawg

[rednectum]

Why is that?

the ability to auto-tune is a good thing within reason. but its this same ability that can be a pitfall. imagine the reversion from the true duals reaching the wideband sensors. the sensors see the diluted gases and think the bike is lean, then they try to richen the mix------continuously!!!

now picture the same reversion being sensed as another exhaust pulse. the sensors may see the "double" exhaust as too  rich a mix and lean out-------continuously!!

add the fact the true duals have unequal pulse timings and you could have example 1 happening on front cyl and example 2 on rear clyinder.

i have alot of these units out there on different motor builds (2 on radical 124 builds) and the only problem i see EVER is when someone installs the tmax with true duals and the centerfold pipes like BSS, LS, radius, short fat, etc:. it is always a reversion issue. to sraighten em out, i usually turn off autotune, clear all learning offsets, and tune the unit just like any other tuning device.

hoping this helps

[SBB]

and the centerfold pipes like BSS, LS, radius, short fat, etc:..

hoping this helps

Dennis


I don't understand what you mean by centerfold pipes?
Splain it please!