Before I ham-fistedly fly into the box to try out a Harman chip, has anyone any experience of getting into the Motronic unit?

There's 4 screws at the connecting end and 4 smaller screws at the back end. I'm worried about cocking anything up in there

Make an attempt at minimising static from your fingertips, hand of god like, because the sensitive bits inside don't hold up well to sudden spikes. There are rubberised mats that electronics folk use. Rubbing the working surface with new dryer sheets works well, amongst other things.

You need to remove both sets of screws at each end and carefully slide the unit out.

The photograph shows the chip - under the white cover - this cover can be carefully removed with a small screwdriver in each of the slots. It just pop's off.

Ignore the switch and resistor in the photograph as this is a modification so you can have a dual mapped chip.

Then carefully remove the old chip and replace making sure none of the pins are bent. Note the notch in the chip so that the replacement goes in the same way.

Not Motronic 2.1 or 2.2, but here's the Rhinewest chip nestled inside my R1150RT's Motronic 2.4 ECU. The bike has a carbon intake snorkle which is twice the size of stock, a BMC air filter, a full Remus exhaust including 44mm headers (stock is 36mm), de-catted, etc., and a Booster Plug which 'fools' the air temperature circuit into 'thinking' it's colder air temp than actual, and nothing serious had really been done prior to enhance fuel when it was clearly moving more air through the motor. This chip makes all the difference without a corresponding or significant loss in fuel mileage. It just fires off, spins up and runs more crisply.

Thanks so much for sharing the wisdom guys.

Really glad I asked, cos I wouldn't have given static a thought.

I'm still half hearted about going for it cos I don't hate how the bike runs as it is, I've just read equally positive and negative reports about the harman chip. 

The danger of static makes playing with your Motronic an excellent drizzly day project.  A lot of dampness in the air will minimize the static. 

Unless the air is extremely dry and you a shuffling around on carpet, you can avoid any damaging static by wrapping a couple turns of bare wire around your wrists and attaching the wire to a good earth like a cold water pipe.

Blimey!
Hope I dont have to do it wearing a Spider-Man costume too, cos thats at the cleaners

Bonzo wrote:Blimey!
Hope I dont have to do it wearing a Spider-Man costume too, cos thats at the cleaners

Your Superman costume will be an ok substitute.

Thank goodness for alter-ego's

Ringfad wrote:You need to remove both sets of screws at each end and carefully slide the unit out.

The photograph shows the chip - under the white cover - this cover can be carefully removed with a small screwdriver in each of the slots. It just pop's off.

Ignore the switch and resistor in the photograph as this is a modification so you can have a dual mapped chip.

Then carefully remove the old chip and replace making sure none of the pins are bent. Note the notch in the chip so that the replacement goes in the same way.

Thanks again guys. I was a little paranoid about getting stuck in, but it was a simple enough job (particularly using Ringfad's tips).

Ive only had a ten mile ride since I put the new chip in this morning - as work beckoned - but I'm happy with the results.

There is a subtle but definite smoothing at low revs - gone is the slight hesitant flat spot when the throttle is applied. It seems a little smoother further up the rev range too, but like I say, its subtle. I noticed there seems to be slightly less engine braking too. Cant comment of fuel consumption, but Ill run it for a while & see.

Overall - I like it 

I had one in my ex K100RS 16v and it transformed it. The chip filled the midrange  and it definitely went better at the top end but engine braking unaffected.
I made the same mod to my K1100LT and did virtually nothing-go figure.

I've just picked up a yard find K100RS 16v and that is already chipped. I know this because the stock chip is in a box of parts I got with the bike. I'm looking forward to riding it soon as it under renovation/repair at the moment.

Keep us posted please.