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View Full Version : Holeshot Stage 1 on a Bandit 1250



kewwig
8th August 2010, 20:22
I have a GSF1250 Bandit that has always had issues with lean running at slow speeds around town. Nothing major but enough to annoy and cause jerky overrun etc. Full tune up and throttle body sync etc made it slightly better, but it's always been an annoyance on what is otherwise a great bike. Some do it, some don't and no one can really explain why.

It was doing this both in standard trim and with a Yoshi TRS, BMC filter and a GiPro ATRE fitted. (Of course this leans things out even more, although the EFI adjusts). I had some success by removing the oxygen sensor connector and replacing it with an eliminator plug, which essentially replaces the sensor with a resistor and richens things up a little.

I had been doing some research which indicates lean running on the bandits can be an issue, due to Euro 3 emission requirements. Manufacturers are tuning lean to reduce emissions. I bit the bullet and bought Dale Walker's (Holeshot USA) Stage 1 kit (TFI box, sensor eliminator etc). It's a piggyback system changing the signals from the ECU and well rated by owners in the USA. Coupled with the pipe, filter and ATRE, plus a minor airbox mod (snorkel removed and a hole cut in the airbox lid) all I can say is wow! Power everywhere, MUCH smoother right through the rev range with about an extra 10HP and around 9 extra foot-pounds of torque. I also blocked the PAIR line, which eliminated all of the popping and farting from the Yoshi on the overrun. I haven't dyno'd it, but you can really feel the difference in pull.

The Bandits don't make a lot of peak power, but the torque is huge and kicks in down low. This has added to it in a big way, giving instant extra roll on power in top, and it's smooth right down to walking pace now. I don't normally rave about products, but this has transformed the bike and I thought it was worth sharing with other 1250 owners out there. If you have a Bandit 1250 running lean, or have issues with the new GSX1250FA, this is worth doing. The kit is easy to fit. Dale is very helpful (and no, I don't work for him) and sure knows his way around Bandits of all flavours. If anyone was looking at his site and not sure if the hype was true (as I was), it's worth it.

mulletman
10th August 2010, 15:51
Hi, is the box tuneable ? why did you not go for a powercommander and tune to sort out the lean issue, be interesting to see what numbers you get after a dyno run.
How much was the kit if you dont mind.

Cheers

yachtie10
10th August 2010, 17:06
I have looked at these since my 1200 bandit

never really had any issues with my 1250 (but never ridden any other ones) and on a budget so wont go there until funds are better

kewwig
15th August 2010, 20:17
Hi, is the box tuneable ? why did you not go for a powercommander and tune to sort out the lean issue, be interesting to see what numbers you get after a dyno run.
How much was the kit if you dont mind.

Cheers

Hi - the box is tuneable, and made by Dobeck, who founded Dynojet. They use load technology and differ to Power Commanders in several ways. The TFI was USD$257, and a Power Commander was USD$360. Holeshot have done a lot of Bandit tuning with scores of testimonials and Bandit specific tests, and it was worth a punt. You get personalised settings from them once you get the box, which means it was quite literally plug and play. I am happy with the outcome and it runs a lot better.

TripleZee Dyno
16th August 2010, 09:39
Hi - the box is tuneable, and made by Dobeck, who founded Dynojet. They use load technology and differ to Power Commanders in several ways. The TFI was USD$257, and a Power Commander was USD$360. Holeshot have done a lot of Bandit tuning with scores of testimonials and Bandit specific tests, and it was worth a punt. You get personalised settings from them once you get the box, which means it was quite literally plug and play. I am happy with the outcome and it runs a lot better.

Glad you are happy but before anyone else spends near on US$300 plus the possibility of getting pinged with gst, Suzuki ECU are tunable. Find a dealer/tuner with a yoshibox or teka tuner and for a whole lot less money have the fueling adjusted. No add on boxes or o2 eliminators required.

In Auckland Colemans still have a Yoshi box (I think) Ray Clee, Haldanes and myself have Teka Tuners, in CHCH Red at Triple R has a Teka tuner.
There are a few yoshiboxes floating around other dealers/workshops. Yoshiboxes are fairly old now, tekatuner is the latest and greatest.
Not sure what the others are charging but we charge $75 for a non dyno setup and $325 for a setup on the dyno.
Have setup quite a few of these TFI boxes (they come under various brand names) and in my experience Teka tuning yeilds a better result.

Regarding the dyno charts on DW website the extra 10 hp would most likely be due to the exhaust and airbox mods. Tuning will generally yeild 1 to 3 at best unless the fuel curve has gone way out of whack.
cheers

kewwig
20th August 2010, 20:13
Glad you are happy but before anyone else spends near on US$300 plus the possibility of getting pinged with gst, Suzuki ECU are tunable. Find a dealer/tuner with a yoshibox or teka tuner and for a whole lot less money have the fueling adjusted. No add on boxes or o2 eliminators required.

In Auckland Colemans still have a Yoshi box (I think) Ray Clee, Haldanes and myself have Teka Tuners, in CHCH Red at Triple R has a Teka tuner.
There are a few yoshiboxes floating around other dealers/workshops. Yoshiboxes are fairly old now, tekatuner is the latest and greatest.
Not sure what the others are charging but we charge $75 for a non dyno setup and $325 for a setup on the dyno.
Have setup quite a few of these TFI boxes (they come under various brand names) and in my experience Teka tuning yeilds a better result.

Regarding the dyno charts on DW website the extra 10 hp would most likely be due to the exhaust and airbox mods. Tuning will generally yeild 1 to 3 at best unless the fuel curve has gone way out of whack.
cheers

I wasn't looking at off shore support, but I took my bike back to the place I bought it from and explained it was surging at low speeds. They charged me a couple of hundred to do the plugs, check codes and TPS etc, but it didn't make any difference. After I did some research and improved things by replacing the O2 sensor with a resistor, I spoke to the mechanic and explained how that had significantly improved running. His comment was that they all did that and it was known they were lean down low. I was annoyed to pay to try and fix what appeared to be a fault when it was more of a factory tuning issue. In the absence of any local advice re Yosh boxes etc, I thought I'd do it myself (successfully, thank God). I'd never heard of Teka tuner! I guess it shows a range of options available, and I enjoyed the challenge of doing it myself.