I'm sure this is old news to many of you but after going through the learning curve on what equipment does what, and the best way to buy what I want to fill my tuning needs, I found that there is a lot of confusion on this subject, especially regarding the different devices available to tune our bikes using air fuel ratios instead of going to a dyno-tune facility to get similar results.
If I miss anything here it is my hope that somebody else can fill in the blanks and/or correct what I have posted.
I'm assuming the readers know what a Power Commander is, and what it does.
My post is to address the optional components that make a PC a 'system' tool for tuning (using air fuel ratios) and clear up some confusion regarding that aspect of their use.
The optimum AFR for a normally aspirated engine is about 13.2:1, but our EPA mandated bikes run lean at ~14.7:1.
Having an AFR measuring tool that makes it easy to get to the fatter 13.2:1 can provide increased performance and lower operating temps., as well as provide a means to obtain very near dyno results without ever seeing a dyno, for all the different modifications we make to our bikes in order to increase performance, longevity and maintainability.
Some folks feel that you should just dyno-tune your bike, and once set ... never change the map unless you change the bikes components.
But ...... there is a strong argument for having the ability to change your map as your riding conditions change, and to be abe to do that while you are riding the bike.
For example ... you want "best performance", or you are touring and want a "cruise mode" to conserve fuel, or you are stuck in traffic and would like to run fatter to stay cool in "parade mode".
So ....the ability to have different maps that you can switch between while riding, that optimize your bike' AFRs for these conditions, is also a pretty good tool to have .... as well as just being way cool (no pun intended).
Dynojet has two systems available that can do this.
One for the older fuel injected bikes, and another one for the newer fuel injected bikes.
Fuel Moto site lists the change between the two systems takes place in 2009, and I think that is correct .... but the Dynojet site is not as clear about the change, so if considering buying a PC system, make sure what system is for your year bike.
It 'appers' the 2008 and older bikes use the Dynojet PCIII USB system, and 2009 and newer use the PCV system.
Taking the above into consideration ......there are accordingly two distinctly different systems that allow either manual (PCIII/LCD-100/WBC1 system) or automatic (PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 system) tuning of your bike using Air Fuel Ratio.
Both systems use different versions of hardware that incorporates the use of a Bosh 'wide band' O2 sensor to read air fuel ratios in real time, and provide a means for you to "auto-log the data" to be used to tune your bike by tweaking the maps for your particular bikes aftermarket components (air filter, exhaust, cams, head/cylinder work and etc.) based on your target AFRs at different throttle positions.
The one for the older (1999 to 2008) bikes is the PCIII USB with the touch screen LCD-100 and the Wide Band Commander version 1 (and optonally the Multi-Hub).
This system allows you to automatically data log the actual AFRs and throttle positions in the LCD-100, and store that on an SD card, while riding the bike.
The least expensive way to buy this system is to buy the PCIII, The LCD-100 and the "base WBC1 kit" (which is only available through Dynojet) and comes with a special cable that connects the PCIII-LCD-100 and WBC1 together (see more on this below).
If you also want to be able to display speed, gear position and other info on the LCD-100, and have the ability to use the "Drag Race Emulator" you will need to add the LCD Multi-Function Hub Accessory.
The system for the newer bikes consists of the PCV, the touch screen display LCD-200, and the Wide Band Commander 2.
This system's components are not interchangable with the older system's components ..... with one exception ...... the LCD-200 'can' be firmware "downgraded" by Dynojet to be a LCD-100.
Once you have maps set up for different riding conditions you can switch amongst these maps, either with the LCD-100 or by using the handle bar mounted map switch that is part of the hub accessory.
The newer PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 (for 2009 bikes and newer) has the auto tune function that uses the same data to also make the adjustments to maintain an AFR automatically.
I am not sure if the PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 will also auto-detect the need to switch to parade mode if the bike gets hot, but I suspect it does .... from different threads I've read about it.
But since my needs are for the older PCIII/LCD-100/WBC1 I have not dug too deeply into all the advancements the PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 has to offer.
Once again, other than the downgrade to the LCD-200 these two system components are not interchangeable.
And the only reason I can think of that somebody would want to downgrade the LCD-200 to an LCD-100, is if you got a great deal on a WBC2 (that includes the LCD-200) and wanted to use the LCD-200 with the PCIII system.
Also .... although they both have many of the same functions, I believe the utilities that run those functions are located in different pieces of hardware.
This is based on the reply I received from Dynojet stating the WBC1 is a more advanced "stand-alone" system than is the WBC2, but the WBC2 is easier to install (two wires) and less expensive.
That, and the fact that things (like the drag race emulator) are not available to the PCIII/LCD-100 unless you buy the hub, when they are included in the PCV/LCD-200 system leads me to belive this is indicative of the differences that make the two system's components incompatible with each other.
Finally ........ I want to make the point that for us older system users, you don't need to spend the money to get a WBC1 (which will include a redundant AFR gauge) and then also buy the special cable for the WBC1 to connect with the PCIII and LCD-100.
You can simply buy the PCIII from a shop with the best delivered price you can find, and the same for the LCD-100, 'then' buy the "base WBC1" kit from Dynojet directly, which will include the $49 cable and all the other WBC1 stuff, but since you will be using the LCD-100 to display AFRs/TP etc, it does not have the (duplicated) AFR gauge in that kit.
I have probably left some things out, and if so, or I have made mistakes 'please' do feel free to provide the needed corrections.
If I miss anything here it is my hope that somebody else can fill in the blanks and/or correct what I have posted.
I'm assuming the readers know what a Power Commander is, and what it does.
My post is to address the optional components that make a PC a 'system' tool for tuning (using air fuel ratios) and clear up some confusion regarding that aspect of their use.
The optimum AFR for a normally aspirated engine is about 13.2:1, but our EPA mandated bikes run lean at ~14.7:1.
Having an AFR measuring tool that makes it easy to get to the fatter 13.2:1 can provide increased performance and lower operating temps., as well as provide a means to obtain very near dyno results without ever seeing a dyno, for all the different modifications we make to our bikes in order to increase performance, longevity and maintainability.
Some folks feel that you should just dyno-tune your bike, and once set ... never change the map unless you change the bikes components.
But ...... there is a strong argument for having the ability to change your map as your riding conditions change, and to be abe to do that while you are riding the bike.
For example ... you want "best performance", or you are touring and want a "cruise mode" to conserve fuel, or you are stuck in traffic and would like to run fatter to stay cool in "parade mode".
So ....the ability to have different maps that you can switch between while riding, that optimize your bike' AFRs for these conditions, is also a pretty good tool to have .... as well as just being way cool (no pun intended).
Dynojet has two systems available that can do this.
One for the older fuel injected bikes, and another one for the newer fuel injected bikes.
Fuel Moto site lists the change between the two systems takes place in 2009, and I think that is correct .... but the Dynojet site is not as clear about the change, so if considering buying a PC system, make sure what system is for your year bike.
It 'appers' the 2008 and older bikes use the Dynojet PCIII USB system, and 2009 and newer use the PCV system.
Taking the above into consideration ......there are accordingly two distinctly different systems that allow either manual (PCIII/LCD-100/WBC1 system) or automatic (PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 system) tuning of your bike using Air Fuel Ratio.
Both systems use different versions of hardware that incorporates the use of a Bosh 'wide band' O2 sensor to read air fuel ratios in real time, and provide a means for you to "auto-log the data" to be used to tune your bike by tweaking the maps for your particular bikes aftermarket components (air filter, exhaust, cams, head/cylinder work and etc.) based on your target AFRs at different throttle positions.
The one for the older (1999 to 2008) bikes is the PCIII USB with the touch screen LCD-100 and the Wide Band Commander version 1 (and optonally the Multi-Hub).
This system allows you to automatically data log the actual AFRs and throttle positions in the LCD-100, and store that on an SD card, while riding the bike.
The least expensive way to buy this system is to buy the PCIII, The LCD-100 and the "base WBC1 kit" (which is only available through Dynojet) and comes with a special cable that connects the PCIII-LCD-100 and WBC1 together (see more on this below).
If you also want to be able to display speed, gear position and other info on the LCD-100, and have the ability to use the "Drag Race Emulator" you will need to add the LCD Multi-Function Hub Accessory.
The system for the newer bikes consists of the PCV, the touch screen display LCD-200, and the Wide Band Commander 2.
This system's components are not interchangable with the older system's components ..... with one exception ...... the LCD-200 'can' be firmware "downgraded" by Dynojet to be a LCD-100.
Once you have maps set up for different riding conditions you can switch amongst these maps, either with the LCD-100 or by using the handle bar mounted map switch that is part of the hub accessory.
The newer PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 (for 2009 bikes and newer) has the auto tune function that uses the same data to also make the adjustments to maintain an AFR automatically.
I am not sure if the PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 will also auto-detect the need to switch to parade mode if the bike gets hot, but I suspect it does .... from different threads I've read about it.
But since my needs are for the older PCIII/LCD-100/WBC1 I have not dug too deeply into all the advancements the PCV/LCD-200/WBC2 has to offer.
Once again, other than the downgrade to the LCD-200 these two system components are not interchangeable.
And the only reason I can think of that somebody would want to downgrade the LCD-200 to an LCD-100, is if you got a great deal on a WBC2 (that includes the LCD-200) and wanted to use the LCD-200 with the PCIII system.
Also .... although they both have many of the same functions, I believe the utilities that run those functions are located in different pieces of hardware.
This is based on the reply I received from Dynojet stating the WBC1 is a more advanced "stand-alone" system than is the WBC2, but the WBC2 is easier to install (two wires) and less expensive.
That, and the fact that things (like the drag race emulator) are not available to the PCIII/LCD-100 unless you buy the hub, when they are included in the PCV/LCD-200 system leads me to belive this is indicative of the differences that make the two system's components incompatible with each other.
Finally ........ I want to make the point that for us older system users, you don't need to spend the money to get a WBC1 (which will include a redundant AFR gauge) and then also buy the special cable for the WBC1 to connect with the PCIII and LCD-100.
You can simply buy the PCIII from a shop with the best delivered price you can find, and the same for the LCD-100, 'then' buy the "base WBC1" kit from Dynojet directly, which will include the $49 cable and all the other WBC1 stuff, but since you will be using the LCD-100 to display AFRs/TP etc, it does not have the (duplicated) AFR gauge in that kit.
I have probably left some things out, and if so, or I have made mistakes 'please' do feel free to provide the needed corrections.