New Product For our Bikes

[ShinySideUp]

I'm on the waiting list for the BoosterPlug (February delivery) and got the following quote (spell-corrected) today from Jens, the creator:

"While you are patiently waiting for your BoosterPlug, I thought I'd send you a short update on the progress.

Don't worry – its noting but positive news :-)

I have had a hard time sourcing enough parts, but I think I'll manage to keep the estimated delivery date.

Interest in the BoosterPlug exceeds all expectations, and I'm struggling to make production meet the quantity demands. One thing is certain though: I'll rather deliver one week later than promised than cut corners on quality.

But as I said: your module should be ready as promised.

Another thing I've been working on is an even smaller NTC sensor. The sensor I used originally was very good, and did never cause any problems, but it's obvious that a smaller sensor will be even easier to install on the bike.

The sensor I found is encapsuled in a stainless steel sleeve only 1mm thicker than the cable. Sorry for getting carried away here, but the little thing is really good: Only 6mm diameter, fast acting due to the heat transfer rate of stainless steel, water- and vibration-proof.

I finished prototype building and testing this week, and all BoosterPlugs delivered in the future (including the one you're waiting for) will be the improved MK2 type.

I'll update my website with new pictures later, but I thought that I would forward the news to you ASAP (See attached picture of the new sensor.)

There's a lot of discussions in the forums about resistor tuning and different devices. Unfortunately these discussions all seems to end in aggressive religious arguments, instead of the interesting technical debate it could and should have been.

I'm reading the forums, but I'm not participating much, as I don't want to cause the discussions to escalate to the silly levels we sometime see out there. My approach is to offer my knowledge on the subject on my website. Of course I'm biased because I think my device is the best available :-) but I'm trying to be honest about it and to explain things properly. The latest add-on was to upload a few graphs the show the effect of the different approaches to resistance tuning. Check http://www.boosterplug.com/FAQ.html – its actually quite interesting.

There's no doubt that the BoosterPlug will be even more popular in the future, as all the Feed Back I get is 100 % positive. I'm aware that I may scare some people away with all my tech talk, but so be it. The time you spend finding the facts and make the right decision is mostly well rewarded :-)"

[Mollygrubber]

I'd be interested to see some dyno charts using this. Any useful ones out there yet?

[mogu83]

I'm on the waiting list for the BoosterPlug (February delivery) and got the following quote (spell-corrected) today from Jens, the creator:

Glad you posted that. I didn't recognize the name and dumped that e-mail into the junk file without reading in.

[ShinySideUp]

I'd be interested to see some dyno charts using this. Any useful ones out there yet?

I'm not sure dyno charts would be that helpful for this product. As I understand its purpose: Smooth out the first few moments of acceleration by enriching the fuel mixture until the feedback loop cancels out the effect. Since this isn't really about maximizing horsepower, I'm not sure any blip on a graph would mean much. As he says, for an all-out racer, other solutions would probably make more sense (and show up dramatically on a chart).

FWIW, I'm interested in trying this device because of my daily constant stop-and-start driving on the job, a driving style compounded by San Francisco's famous hills. A little more juice off the line might be helpful. And maybe not. But it seemed to me this fellow has put in enough thought into his design and execution to be worth the experiment. And it's certainly less expensive than changing the final drive ratio.

"I may look 65, but I have a 401K of a much younger man."

[daveyator]

Ok I admit it. I ordered the Booster Plug and have just installed it. Easy other than undoing all those fasteners just to lift the tank for a few min. Should get out on Sunday to see how much snake oil I bought.

[celticus]

We await your findings with bated (and in some cases baited ) breath.

Mark

[daveyator]

Ok since it's Superbowl Sunday only got out for an hour or so for my 1st impression of the Booster Plug. That means around 45mi on various types of road! First startup was totally normal. Right away the engine felt smoother especially when accelerating/decelerating at low speeds. The jerky (I always felt torquey) feel is mostly smoothed out. 1st and 2nd gears are way more useable and improved low speed handling/shifting is probably the biggest thing I noticed. Now about accelerating onto the freeway. Again smoother and more uniform feeling. I hesitate to say quicker but I was passing 90 by time I really looked at speed. Again it just felt smoother. That familiar rumble through the handlebars is damped out. Now this thing ins't supposed to enrich during cruise but the engine now feels totally loafing in 6th gear until passing 70 or so. It may only be that the change in feel is causing me to think that but who knows. I can sum it up by saying it almost felt like I was on a 4 cylinder bike again especially during acceleration/deceleration. So far I would say pretty true to what Jens (the booster plug guy) represented on his website. I topped off the tank and will now see how mileage is affected. Sorry for the seat of the pants kind of review but hey I got this for seat of the pants reasons. I wasn't expecting vast performance improvements or anything like that. I bit on the part about engines being forced to run lean by epa and other govt type BS and how this device might make the Beemer run smoother than it already does.

[celticus]

Thanks Daveyator, So would you advise others to perchase this product so far? is it instant love or do you need to ride more and think on it? What was the cost anyway?

Mark

[Mollygrubber]

Thanks for the review daveyator, and for being brave for the rest of us. Maybe it really does what he says... if so, that's cool.

OTOH, you know how your bike feels smoother and crisper after you wash it...

ps. I'm glad I'm not a football fan, because I'm working my 7th Sunday out of the last 8...

Peter

[daveyator]

Only a superficial football fan here at best.....like the hanging out and drinking too much part almost more than the game. I paid $150. Seems to be a good quality product but he gives limited guidance on install. Simply look in manuel is all he says. Our plug is under the tank on top left of the airbox. As far as recommending I say hesitant yes. Bike is smoother (it seems), does what it says, and wasn't too expensive (subjective opinion). I guess it really depends on what your expecting.

[mogu83]

Maybe it really does what he says
OTOH, you know how your bike feels smoother and crisper after you wash it...

I was waiting for that. Mine came in a few days ago but the chance of me getting out on the bike in the next few weeks is slim. I want to go for a ride, come home put the magic snake oil gimzo in and then go out and be amazied by the vast improvement.
This snow is screwing me up, I had the heads off my old bike, put new tires on and want to go for a shake down before I drag it to Daytona. The bike is show prepped and I'm not taking it out on these roads after they sprayed that salt brine all over the place.

[Mollygrubber]

...he gives limited guidance on install. Simply look in manuel is all he says.

...which part of Manuel?

[jenslh]

Ok since it's Superbowl Sunday only got out for an hour or so for my 1st impression of the Booster Plug. That means around 45mi on various types of road! First startup was totally normal. Right away the engine felt smoother especially when accelerating/decelerating at low speeds. The jerky (I always felt torquey) feel is mostly smoothed out. 1st and 2nd gears are way more useable and improved low speed handling/shifting is probably the biggest thing I noticed. Now about accelerating onto the freeway. Again smoother and more uniform feeling. I hesitate to say quicker but I was passing 90 by time I really looked at speed. Again it just felt smoother. That familiar rumble through the handlebars is damped out. Now this thing ins't supposed to enrich during cruise but the engine now feels totally loafing in 6th gear until passing 70 or so. It may only be that the change in feel is causing me to think that but who knows. I can sum it up by saying it almost felt like I was on a 4 cylinder bike again especially during acceleration/deceleration. So far I would say pretty true to what Jens (the booster plug guy) represented on his website. I topped off the tank and will now see how mileage is affected. Sorry for the seat of the pants kind of review but hey I got this for seat of the pants reasons. I wasn't expecting vast performance improvements or anything like that. I bit on the part about engines being forced to run lean by epa and other govt type BS and how this device might make the Beemer run smoother than it already does.

Thanks for the review Daveyator

For those of you anxious to read more user reviews, take a look here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... oosterplug

Cheers

/Jens

[celticus]

Ok since it's Superbowl Sunday only got out for an hour or so for my 1st impression of the Booster Plug. That means around 45mi on various types of road! First startup was totally normal. Right away the engine felt smoother especially when accelerating/decelerating at low speeds. The jerky (I always felt torquey) feel is mostly smoothed out. 1st and 2nd gears are way more useable and improved low speed handling/shifting is probably the biggest thing I noticed. Now about accelerating onto the freeway. Again smoother and more uniform feeling. I hesitate to say quicker but I was passing 90 by time I really looked at speed. Again it just felt smoother. That familiar rumble through the handlebars is damped out. Now this thing ins't supposed to enrich during cruise but the engine now feels totally loafing in 6th gear until passing 70 or so. It may only be that the change in feel is causing me to think that but who knows. I can sum it up by saying it almost felt like I was on a 4 cylinder bike again especially during acceleration/deceleration. So far I would say pretty true to what Jens (the booster plug guy) represented on his website. I topped off the tank and will now see how mileage is affected. Sorry for the seat of the pants kind of review but hey I got this for seat of the pants reasons. I wasn't expecting vast performance improvements or anything like that. I bit on the part about engines being forced to run lean by epa and other govt type BS and how this device might make the Beemer run smoother than it already does.

It sounds good to me. I wish it were my birthday. When I get the dough together I'll get one. If anyone is dissapointed in theirs let me know. I have one extra slider left over , maybe we could work it into a trade with cash. I've GOT to find a job!

Mark

[daveyator]

Hey now I spell almost as well as I type!

[Mort]

I've now received my 'Accelerator' from Belgium (I'm in the UK) - looking forward to fitting when the weather picks up (it's snowing here again this week)

Based on recent reviews posted on UKGser it seems everyone who's fitted this to their 1200GS has noticed a real improvement, particularly in smoothing out the 'lumpyness' in 1st & 2nd.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread ... 87&page=26

I will post with my findings in a few weeks........

[daveyator]

Update on the Booster Plug. I got through my first tank with it. My higher math skills say I got 49 mpg give or take. I wound up riding from inland so cal to Ojai to get my Mayer saddle tweaked. So the riding was mostly freeway but I did get a fair amount of city plus stop and go lane splitting type riding. Actually got more of that than I bargained for! Anyhow would call it average to fast riding and I wasn't exactly trying to see the best mileage so thats the mpg I got. I will also say that nasty stop and go traffic is a lot easier to handle with this thing due to the increased smoothness and shiftability.

[daveyator]

Sorry just read the other review and realized it'd be nice to know my original mpg. I usually get around 50 to 52mpg. So not seeing a big change.

[ShinySideUp]

I've put about a week's worth of riding on mine and my usual San Francisco mileage of 37 to 41 mpg has averaged 38 this week. No change.

Impressions: not a huge improvement, but I do notice something that's of value to my riding style and is exactly why I bought it: The engine is a bit smoother at lower RPM's. It just feels happier as I do my "California stop" through stop signs in 2nd gear. On my job, I do a LOT of this kind of driving in neighborhoods that have a stop sign every 1 to 2 blocks, so I just leave it in 2nd gear during those times, whereas before I found myself downshifting into 1st much of the time.

Also, the engine feels "easier" going slow up very steep hills in 1st gear with lots of traffic ahead of me.

On the freeway, I can't say I notice any difference on fast acceleration in 3rd or higher gears. The bike just goes, like it always did. And it goes just about as quickly as my reflexes are able to handle in heavy traffic.

If I lived outside SF, or if I just used the bike for touring or fast sport riding, I don't know that this gadget would be worth the money to me. But for my kind of city riding, I like it.

[lewellen]

At 800+ pounds {the Valkyrie} not a canyon carver, but it's a great road bike. Coming up on 50,000 miles, never back to the dealer and absolutely no problems. And don't tell me it doesn't have character.

Of course it does. In fact, it's a great return to the roots of the Gold Wing line. If you put the Valkyrie beside an original '75 - '77 'Wing, they look a lot more alike than either do the later 'Wings.

They also look really interesting with knobby dirt tires, wire-mesh headlight protectors, crash guards, and about 1500 miles of dirt road mud on them ... but that's another thread entirely!

Anyway...

- Lewellen