What mo8414 said, the Storm encrypted ECU is not configurable with TuneECU as the Dealer Tool must be online to Triumph now whereas it worked offline on older ECU's. And if TuneECU can't tune it, I am wondering if BT Moto can either with a standalone tool.
If you mean you have an MY25 Rocket (pre-Storm), then grab TuneECU, an OBDLink LX or MX+, Penners tune and go for it! Don't be sending money to BT Moto...
Just based on my experience in extensive tuning with my Indian Scout, I think it could be a good option if you don’t have access to any good tuners in your area. Just understand that these tunes modeled on a different bike are “canned” in the sense that it’s not for your personal bike and may only provide more generalized adjustments to fueling and removal of various stock inhibitors. It certainly should be an upgrade over a stock tune and probably a significant one, but likely will never be as dialed in as tune built specifically for you bike through numerous dyno pulls by a competent tuner nor can adjustments be made for personal throttle preferences.
If you make significant intake/exhaust/engine mods, then a custom tune is necessary. However, Penner’s tunes are for the stock bikes. They are basically the stock tunes unrestricted at wide open throttle (WOT), which is where you get maximum torque and hp. In the stock tunes, the throttle is significantly closed at WOT, down to as little as 40%. Opening them to 100% makes a big difference.
If you make significant intake/exhaust/engine mods, then a custom tune is necessary. However, Penner’s tunes are for the stock bikes. They are basically the stock tunes unrestricted at wide open throttle (WOT), which is where you get maximum torque and hp. In the stock tunes, the throttle is significantly closed at WOT, down to as little as 40%. Opening them to 100% makes a big difference.
Completely agree and you are right of course; a custom tune on a stock bike will make less difference and most of the gains do come from removing factory restrictions. To split fine hairs, there still could be some potential improvements to timing for your specific bike and other things for a custom tune, but not probably enough to make it worth paying for unless you have mods. When we generally talk about tunes it’s always regarding performance numbers but a good custom tune can also make a big difference in the smoothness of how a bike runs and responds.
Advancing the timing makes a nice difference in my experience. I noticed it when I put an ignition module on with a PCV on my 1290. The rocket got a BT moto tune that included a timing advance. But combined with whatever else they did it was harder to distinguish what did what.
next summer I'm going to make more of an effort to find a Dyno place that will take ride ins.
Several reasons. Here in California shops are forbidden to override emissions restrictions and so far haven't found one willing to do so. Also, if the ECU hasn't been unlocked (except by BT Moto apparently) doesn't that mean tuning shops will also be unable to do custom tuning? Lastly, I do like the option of being able to save my original tune in case I need to go back to it for some reason, and also reinstall the custom tune if my dealer overwrites it, which I assume I can do if I have the handheld tuner.