Is it necessary to have aftermarket power regulator to have aftermarket exhaust on a fuel injected motorcycle?

Question

I have been pricing different aftermarket exhausts for my 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom, but the salesman said I needed a power regulator or something since my engine is fuel injected. He said it is to make sure the right fuel mixture is injected since the new pipes will allow for greater airflow.

Answer 1

What you need is a fuel processor, like a Power Commander III or Cobra FI2000R. The new pipes may allow for greater airflow, but you won't get extra airflow unless you open up the intake as well. What goes in has to come out. If you change pipes only, you don't really need a fuel processor. If you change pipes and open the intake you'll definitely need one.

Answer 2

Listen to the man. It's a balanced system. When you change one end the other needs to be changed to match.

Answer 3

it's a power programmer, it will remap your injectors

Answer 4

No matter if OEM or aftermarket they have to match up or you will have problems

Answer 5

Yep, on older bikes you would have needed to re jet the carbs to match the exhaust. Most didn't bother unless they were changing the full system. (headers and race can) Hence why dynojet did so well.

When you have fuel injection you need to remap the cdi (ecu) to tell the injectors the air flow/fuel flow has changed due to the new pipes. Some cdis can be remapped but a pain if you swop and change systems. Therefore the easiest thing is to plug in a power processor or power commander as most call them. Power commander 3 with usb connection is very popular here in UK as very simple to install and update with what ever fuel graph wanted from their site.

You can run the bike without this though, and depending on the exhaust probably not be that bad, you may have a few flat spots but you could also run very lean which is a no no, so not worth the risk

Get on ebay and grab a PCIII for your model. Only about £100 in UK

Although probably not worth it on a Vulcan, you should if you hae the money have a dyno company install the cans and PCIII and get them to set up the jetting to make the most of it.

(Im a little biased as i run a dyno centre, its not neccessary unless you have one off cans made - most spec setting for the can can be downloaded)