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Posted by Troll
- August 02, 2016, 13:17:12 PM@ 5,000', you have another factor you haven't considered. The BARO sensor has a huge effect on the mixture. When I was running stock intake box, I was getting 38-40 at about sea level running 70 mph, when I got into the mountains around Casper, Wy, I got 45 mpg at 75 mph...Where I live, now, we are about 500' and i'm getting upper 40's..like 48...but when I go into the mountains, I'm getting 50+
Posted by indo
- August 02, 2016, 10:43:41 AMThere are a few different ways to achieve similar results. I happen to like to add fuel if I am giving the engine more air. And this bike is basically starved for air. I am getting better mileage and averaged through stop & go all the way up to 5,000ft mountains and twisties. The performance is much better as I am sure yours is "troll". It is just a comfortable cruiser. If I want to go fast I just fire up the Suzuki SV which is zippy to say the least.
Posted by Troll
- July 30, 2016, 20:05:16 PMThe big problem is the duct connecting the two air boxes together. You can run with the left side cover off, and there will be no improvement. I removed the left air box, and the duct, and made my own backing plate. I'm running a K&N filter for an 800 ( it's WAY BIGGER THAN THE 1500 filter) and that's basically all I have done to improve everything. I wrote an article and posted it here when I did it, back in 2012 (60,000 miles ago) and there are pictures with it.
Posted by Indian_fan
- July 29, 2016, 21:28:20 PMVery interesting, Troll. So you're saying that I may achieve close to the same results by just opening the air intake more? I know everyone has an opinion, but I'm curious on what your recommendation would be on how to do that. An aftermarket intake kit, or just drilling holes as I've read some others have done?
Posted by Troll
- July 29, 2016, 05:19:32 AMQuote from: Indian_fan on July 28, 2016, 23:48:54 PMHey Indo, welcome! I'm new myself - I just bought a 1500 Drifter in MN, turns out it came from CA, has some mods, Vance and Hines long shots, and I think I have the exact same problem you are describing before you did your mods. I gotta find out where I can get the IAT kit - where did you purchase it?
**EDIT** I think I found it! "Kawasaki VN1500 FI MAGNUM Dyno-Boost Motorcycle Performance Chip" - I found it here:
http://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/dyno-boost-motorcycle-performance-chip/kawasaki/vn1500-fi
Very interesting, BUT...it changes sensor readings, ok, I can see that, with the exception of the fact that you don't have most of those sensors on the open loop 1999-2004 efi system. The only ones you have are AIT, MAP and BARO...no o2, MAF. I opened up the intake side on my '01 several years and 50,000 miles ago and now I get an AVERAGE of 45 mpg, up from 37...I put 1200 miles on leading rides during Coulee Cruzin and averaged 48 mpg for the week....
Posted by Indian_fan
- July 28, 2016, 23:48:54 PMHey Indo, welcome! I'm new myself - I just bought a 1500 Drifter in MN, turns out it came from CA, has some mods, Vance and Hines long shots, and I think I have the exact same problem you are describing before you did your mods. I gotta find out where I can get the IAT kit - where did you purchase it?
**EDIT** I think I found it! "Kawasaki VN1500 FI MAGNUM Dyno-Boost Motorcycle Performance Chip" - I found it here:
http://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/dyno-boost-motorcycle-performance-chip/kawasaki/vn1500-fi
Posted by CDNRatMan
- July 23, 2016, 14:48:55 PMYes welcome
Posted by indo
- July 23, 2016, 09:58:19 AMThanks guys for the welcome!
Posted by tj
- July 23, 2016, 06:53:01 AMQuote from: indo on July 22, 2016, 12:03:07 PMSounds like it's worth looking into...and welcome!Yes, the Magnum Research Dyno Boost is what I put in. I had contacted "Boosterplug" in Denmark to see if they made one for the Kawasaki which they didn't. (I have one on my Suzuki SV1000). What both devices do is bypass the air temperature sensor and use a resistor in place of that sensor to provide the optimum setting for the air temperature/fueling. Most bikes especially older ones are set very lean from the factory and do not have the optimum air/fuel mixture just so that they can pass EPA. Now there is another device called a Dobeck Techlusion which I used on my BMW as the fueling on that was atrocious. Herky/jerky and backfire on decel but that device does not interrupt the air temperature sensor and requires more adjusting to achieve results. It just aids in the fueling in that you can increase fuel (or decrease). Now when I bought the Kawasaki it had the symptom of backfiring on decel plus I knew it was not getting enough air. It has those V&H long shots on it which probably decrease back pressure so the bike was excessively lean. I took one of my mirrors and looked at the header behind the cover and it was very "blue" which indicates a very lean condition. A lean bike runs very hot and eventually after a lot of miles there could be possible damage plus the fact that here in Ca we only have that 10% ethanol which further destroys an engine over time. It is essential in my estimation to put in the K&N filter with the Magnum. Total cost approximately $250. About 2 hrs to install. You take off the cover where the throttle bodies are, remove the plastic inner cover and disconnect the air temperature sensor. (It will be on the lower right hand side. Cut off the connector leaving enough wire exposed. Connect both of the purple wires to the sensor wires coming from the ECU. I soldered them as I did not want them to come loose as butt connectors are not that reliable over the long term. The unit also comes with a bypass for O2 sensor but this bike does not have one so I cut them leaving some slack. I put the unit in the right side battery cover zip tied to the frame. I put heat shrink on the to wires going to the ECU and routed it over the engine before I soldered them. I also put in the switch that they had provided but you can wire this up to the battery as it uses so little power to light up the LED. There is a fuel adjustment on the unit which requires a jeweler's flat screwdriver. It comes from the factory adjusted but I needed to add approximately 9 clockwise turns (30 turns is max). Now there is no backfire on decel, much better acceleration and much better gas mileage. Essentially what you are doing is increasing the air flow and the fuel flow which reduces the amount of throttle that is needed to achieve a certain speed. It just makes for a better performing bike.
Posted by indo
- July 22, 2016, 13:00:46 PMHere is the Gilroy Chief that I had in Hawai'i. These "Indians" really do run better with a lot of doodads! I really wish that I could afford a '48 Chief but I need to have a lot more dough...
Posted by indo
- July 22, 2016, 12:20:01 PMOh incidentally since Ca has the most stringent pollution laws I took out all the smog stuff-canister, purge etc.-and the benefit is that you can put tools in the left side battery area that was reserved for the smog junk. You guys in other states don't have to contend with that. Usually those canisters have charcoal in them that ends up in your tank and clogs the fuel filter. I am not sure if that is the case with this bike but it is a problem. Next step when I change that filter I will check to see if the PAIR is installed as that will come out also.
Posted by indo
- July 22, 2016, 12:03:07 PMYes, the Magnum Research Dyno Boost is what I put in. I had contacted "Boosterplug" in Denmark to see if they made one for the Kawasaki which they didn't. (I have one on my Suzuki SV1000). What both devices do is bypass the air temperature sensor and use a resistor in place of that sensor to provide the optimum setting for the air temperature/fueling. Most bikes especially older ones are set very lean from the factory and do not have the optimum air/fuel mixture just so that they can pass EPA. Now there is another device called a Dobeck Techlusion which I used on my BMW as the fueling on that was atrocious. Herky/jerky and backfire on decel but that device does not interrupt the air temperature sensor and requires more adjusting to achieve results. It just aids in the fueling in that you can increase fuel (or decrease). Now when I bought the Kawasaki it had the symptom of backfiring on decel plus I knew it was not getting enough air. It has those V&H long shots on it which probably decrease back pressure so the bike was excessively lean. I took one of my mirrors and looked at the header behind the cover and it was very "blue" which indicates a very lean condition. A lean bike runs very hot and eventually after a lot of miles there could be possible damage plus the fact that here in Ca we only have that 10% ethanol which further destroys an engine over time. It is essential in my estimation to put in the K&N filter with the Magnum. Total cost approximately $250. About 2 hrs to install. You take off the cover where the throttle bodies are, remove the plastic inner cover and disconnect the air temperature sensor. (It will be on the lower right hand side. Cut off the connector leaving enough wire exposed. Connect both of the purple wires to the sensor wires coming from the ECU. I soldered them as I did not want them to come loose as butt connectors are not that reliable over the long term. The unit also comes with a bypass for O2 sensor but this bike does not have one so I cut them leaving some slack. I put the unit in the right side battery cover zip tied to the frame. I put heat shrink on the to wires going to the ECU and routed it over the engine before I soldered them. I also put in the switch that they had provided but you can wire this up to the battery as it uses so little power to light up the LED. There is a fuel adjustment on the unit which requires a jeweler's flat screwdriver. It comes from the factory adjusted but I needed to add approximately 9 clockwise turns (30 turns is max). Now there is no backfire on decel, much better acceleration and much better gas mileage. Essentially what you are doing is increasing the air flow and the fuel flow which reduces the amount of throttle that is needed to achieve a certain speed. It just makes for a better performing bike.
Posted by greenbarn
- July 21, 2016, 23:22:03 PMCan you explain the IAT mod??
Posted by indo
- July 21, 2016, 10:50:32 AMI have decided that when I remove the rear fender I will beef it up with biaxial glass and polyester resin. After reading the workshop manual on this site,-which happens to be the most informative manual that I have ever seen-it is a breeze to remove the rear fender. Also, after doing the IAT re-do I am getting 43 mpg vs. 33 mpg I was getting when I purchased the bike. Of course that is not completely correct as the speedo is 5 mph over. I also put two 1/2" holes in the bottom of the left side air cleaner cover to increase air flow. Seems to do the job of increasing air flow for a motor that needs quite a bit of air. Incidentally on another note, I had put a Howard Hegwer blown glass Indian head light on my Gilroy chief and I just noticed that he is still making them. The previous owner of my bike put in an original Indian light but must be grounded and since the fenders are plastic I soldered a wire to the mounting base but won't hook it to ground until I either pull the forks for oil or need to change the tire. But I will purchase one of those blown glass fender lights. They look awesome especially at night. Check 'em out...
Posted by DC
- July 18, 2016, 13:50:01 PMWelcome to the forum. Pics are always welcomed! 