What does a Reinwest chip do?

[bflemingor]

AND will it work/necessary for an '06?

[Morley]

Read up on it here http://piratesk12site.net/K1200LT%20Chip.htm and here http://www.rhinewestperformance.com/front.htm

[GBaker]

Very good question.

I am interested in the answer as well. I assmume ot works like the Power Commander on the HDs i.e. gives a more efficient mix of air and fuel as it relates to power as opposed to emissions requirements.

My understanding and would appreciate confirmation, is it helps the early model 2005LTs and prior but the late model 2005 LTs on do not need it as they are at 116hp from the factory. Wonder if there is a chip for the them yet?

Gene

[hdfan]

For most cars and MS, the timing is retarded (and performance reduced) by the manufacturer to account for less than adequate maintenance and/or a bad batch of fuel, the wrong fuel etc. Thus when these bad situations occur there will be a minimal drop in performance that will likely not be noticed and detonation and engine damage will be less likely to occur. (In the more sophisticated motors each cylender is corrected individually by the 'brain' when this occurs.)

The gain from most chips, cars or MS, is with a slight advance of the timing you get this perfomance back, but you will be required that you use premium fuel at all times. Usually this is not a problem as most people do anyway. At times the chip manufacturer will modify the Wide Open Throttle, WOT, fuel mixture and lean it out a bit. Generally most vehicles get very 'fat' at WOT as opposed to lean for both engine safety issues and for cooling purposes. Leaner is quicker and more responsive. Also some chip manufacturers adjust the redline up a bit. All of these changes make performance improvements and are not a problem, they just remove a bit of the safety factor that the manufacturer builds in.

[grahamw]

I have a friend who works for a large (loss making) motor company and his opinion of aftermarket chips is less than complimentary. When you consider the investment made to develop a new engine and make sure it meets tougher emision and noise standards it is unlikely that aftermarket producers can make that investmant. Yes mapping is created to pass drive by noise tests that are allways at a set speed, fueling changes when certain criteria are met to heat up exhaust gases so the catalyst is cleaned, different map for the first 10 minutes of running so it meets annual emision testing, etc. etc.

But if you change the exhaust can your OEM fool injection cope with the changes?

Best performance upgrade for me? probably lose 50 pounds ;-)

[Woolly]

Best performance upgrade for me? probably lose 50 pounds ;-)

;) totally agree !! - also, the average rider rarely uses the power available on (most) average bikes.

[hdfan]

The new technology is extreamly powerful. Here is a quick story from my racecar days back in the mid '90's. I installed a mechanical throttle advance on my 1995 Motronic engine. The mechanical advance physically opened the throttle body to raise the idle. For reasons not worth going into now, I would raise the idle to around 2000 rpm to avoid unwanted stalling issues on the track. After driving around for about 15 minutes or so, the computer would realize that something was not right and would re-set the idle to 750 rpm. Now how it did this with a throttle body that was physically opened is beyond me. I have no problem believing that the fuel injection systems are very adaptable within a reasonable (new chip) range.

[eljeffe]

I would think the '05+ models wouldn't need it. BMW adjusted the performance characteristics quite nicely beginning with the '05 model. Prior to the dual map (cutting the brown wire to activate the second map), the Rhinewest chip was very helpful in smoothing out the throttle response and eliminating the hesitation in the pre-'05 LTs.

[grifscoots]

Although, you can get some cam gears from Rheinwest for the 05 that brightens thangs up a bit.

[RonKMiller]

AND will it work/necessary for an '06?

Empty your bank account.

[Morley]

Plain "off the shelf" chips are pretty much snake oil, not worth the silicone they are burned onto. I have been programming chips for my vehicles for some years now and without the ability to datalog (watch the ECM data as you drive in different conditions) making changes to the programming is worthless at best and dangerous at worst. Exceptions to this would be small changes (RPM/speed limiter changes, anti theft system disabling, etc). The Rhinewest chips look to be primarily for exhaust changes (free flowing systems) so the changes to the chip should be pretty small and probably not worth the price of the chip.
Now on the 2005 they are talking about cham changes also. This pretty much REQUIRES a reprogram of the chip if the cam is much different from stock. I may be mistaken but I believe the LT's induction system employs a MAF (Mass AirFlow) sensor. This system is very tolerant to changes in an engine's breathing and can compensate for them quite well. So un less you have made dramatic changes in the engine's induction (including cams) or exhaust systems, a reprogram isn't really needed and would probably only net you a few HP increase.

[Steve_R]

My understanding and would appreciate confirmation, is it helps the early model 2005LTs and prior but the late model 2005 LTs on do not need it as they are at 116hp from the factory. Wonder if there is a chip for the them yet?To answer your question, Rhine West tried chips for the 116hp bikes and OEM chips were already tuned for maximum performance. They did come up with new cam gears though, so from 2005 up you have to go into the engine to make the changes.

[K1200LTryder]

Well, I hope to find out the difference between stock, and modified real soon.
My '00 LT has both the Rhinewest chip, and the Remus titanium exhaust system. Planning on getting involved with the local BMW riders club, I dont think it will be hard to find another LT of the same vintage that is not been modified. Then simply swap bikes for a little road test (mine came modified, as I bought it used).

It should be interesting to find out how the stock setup compares in a hands on environment, since I am quite happy with the performance of the motorcycle now ( it really does haul ass ! ), but I need to experience the trade-off's......such as the lack of the booming drone of the Remus at cruising speeds....

Tune or de-tune.....hmmmm....

[Dick]

Hey, Cliff - check this thread out about 'muffling' the muffler! Hope the thread helps ya. Click here (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=939).

Ride safe.


Well, I hope to find out the difference between stock, and modified real soon.
My '00 LT has both the Rhinewest chip, and the Remus titanium exhaust system. Planning on getting involved with the local BMW riders club, I dont think it will be hard to find another LT of the same vintage that is not been modified. Then simply swap bikes for a little road test (mine came modified, as I bought it used).

It should be interesting to find out how the stock setup compares in a hands on environment, since I am quite happy with the performance of the motorcycle now ( it really does haul ass ! ), but I need to experience the trade-off's......such as the lack of the booming drone of the Remus at cruising speeds....

Tune or de-tune.....hmmmm....

[murray]

AND will it work/necessary for an '06?
The chip works well for the pre 05. My 2002 Lt is much improved, Dyno charts note peak torque with the chip is obtained at 3100 rpm verses 5000 rpm stock. There is a gain of 10 foot pounds of torque peak. HP increases by 7. I do not have the remus on my bike. The tuner at RW said the torque peak is at 1000 rpm higher with the remus, RW has a different chip for the rider if the remus is employed.
Dyno charts here..... chhttp://www.rhinewest.com/ltpwr.htmarts

As others stated cam gear swap for the 05 and up.

[K1200LTryder]

Heya Dick, thanks for the thread....shopping for some pipe tomorrow !!!

[GBaker]

To answer your question, Rhine West tried chips for the 116hp bikes and OEM chips were already tuned for maximum performance. They did come up with new cam gears though, so from 2005 up you have to go into the engine to make the changes.

Thanks Steve. I can take the chip off my wish list. Still want the Remus street exhaust but hope to hear one before I buy one.

[bflemingor]

Well, that's one less farkle to think about... Thanks for the input...

[ronk1200lt]

On the older bikes a Rhinewest Chip and Remus Exhaust combo will smooth out the engine buzz at around 4500 RPM and will give you a little extra zoot. I had my 99LT dynoed before and after and I gained about 8 hp and about 8 foot lbs of torgue. Was it worth the money? For some no. For me yes.