Athena Get SX1 vs. Stock ECU Fuel Consumption. 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F

I have compliled some real world riding results, and compare the fuel consumption of the Athena Get SX1 and the Stock ECU for the 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F. This video includes a spreadsheet comparing the results.
If you have not seen my previous video of the stock ecu fuel consumption, you may find value in watching that. It goes over the process I used and includes riding footage that can give you an idea of the terrain the tests were performed on. Use this link to watch that video: • 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F Fue...

[@michaelthompson1720]

Thanks! I have looked high and low for this type of info. Very surprising to see that map 1 beat the mpg of stock.

[@joshuagmain]

Excellent video

[@bigwavedave321]

Great information!

[@loganforbes2891]

Is the GET ECU worth the additional $500 over other tunes? After install was it a very noticeable change?

[@dustinhoover3157]

I have not tried the other brands. From the reviews I have watched it seems the felt difference of the Get, Vortex, and Aim are similar. There are some noticeable changes from stock. I will be posting up some riding impressions of the SX1 in the comming weeks.

[@dustinhoover3157]

To answer your question on the $500 price difference, it looks like the GET offers a more user friendly platform for tuning and customization. If you pair the ECU with the WiFi module you can use the GET app on your phone and make custom maps. That might be the most significant difference from the other ECU's.

[@dustinhoover3157]

If you purchase the GET ECU by itself without the map switch+Traction control knob+WiFi module, the pricing is closer.

[@TheMhr650]

@@dustinhoover3157 Just remember that the app based “maps” you create are not the same as the maps stored in the ECU. what you are creating in the app are trims to the installed maps, you notice you are not sending a new value to the ECU, you are sending a plus minus percentage change in fuel, and a plus minus degrees in timing. To change the internal maps requires purchasing the MAYA software which is over $1500, very few end users are interested in that.

[@TheMhr650]

Good information comparing the different maps available, its not really a surprise that in fuel consumption GET map 2 performed so poorly. With the SX1 you can watch many engine parameters with the monitor screen on your phone. watch the timing reading when you switch to map2, it is shocking how much the timing is retarded compared to map1. Both maps idle at 14degrees, rev the engine in map1 and timing advances just as you would expect. Activate map2 and when you rev the engine from idle the timing actually goes down, dipping down to around 8 degrees, before advancing as the revs go up. This is not surprising either, with only fuel and timing to work with it takes major changes to create any meaningful difference between the maps. Running with the timing retarded so much will have a huge effect on the efficiency of the engine, even with the fueling adjusted to match the retarded timing. As you are well aware riding in map2 on general trails or roads is awful, it feels even worse than stock. map 2 does have its place, I live in the Blue Ridge mountains, and some of the places we ride are very steep and rocky trails. in those conditions I use map2 and it is fantastic, with map2 and a good gummy tire I can get up almost anything the mountains have to offer and have a blast doing it. Regarding cost, the price has already come down based on what Athena is selling. They sell the SX1 with WIFI, and the new CAN based controller switch for $979. Now Taco has included the WIFI in the bundle with the standard toggle switch for $979, and has the CAN based controller switch for $1038. Both less than the previous price once you added in WIFI, and I for one will be willing to pay a premium for the Taco maps and service. The traction control knob is obsolete now since the controller switch allows you to adjust traction level on the fly for both maps.

[@dustinhoover3157]

Great comment. What peaked my interest the most after seeing the results was fuel economy as it relates to emissions. Of course liquid fuel and exhaust gases are different states of matter, but it is incredibly odd that the factory ECU which is approved for road use was less efficient than the Athena Get in map 1. In terms of MPG. I realize that it is a goal of the regulators and manufacturers to control the gases exiting the exhaust. From a rudimentary perspective I would think that using less fuel would produce less emissions. This is an interesting conversation to get going within the motorcycle community.

[@TheMhr650]

@@dustinhoover3157 Lots of emissions and ways of measuring emissions. If you are just measuring CO² which simply measures how much fuel is burned, more fuel consumption would equal more emissions. What any manufacturer is required to meet are specific limits on things like hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX). Those are competing requirements, as you make the mixture richer you get more HC and as you make the mixture leaner you get more NOX. What KTM or any manufacturer must do is to balance the tuning so it can meet the requirements at different points in the test cycle. Everyone complains about EXC’s being lean stock, but it is more complicated than that. the lean running is noticed more since it has such a detrimental effect on the riding experience, but there are points where the stock ECU is actually running rich. If they need to suppress HC they run it lean, and if they need to suppress NOX they run it rich. The Taco map1 is simply trying to run the engine in its optimal range at any point in the map without regards to emission limits. My 2024 500 has a GET SX1 ECU, but I also have a 2020 model I bought used which came with a PowerCommander, both bikes run fantastic. I downloaded the maps from the PowerCommander to look at them and there are cells in the map where it is actually removing fuel from the stock ECU.

[@j0hn22]

I'm trying to understand because I'm about to buy a get-- which switch do you recommend, the LED or the Toggle+Knob? The latter seems easier to adjust quickly.

[@dustinhoover3157]

@@j0hn22 I haven't tried it yet, but I would go with the new switch.

[@TheMhr650]

@@j0hn22 LED switch all the way, in fact I am pissed at Mike for dragging his feet to get a program going where early SX1 adopters like me can get the new switch and get our ECU reflashed to use it. I have emailed him several times and it is always coming soon……. It is not just the switch which has been updated, it adds new functionality to the system, you can toggle through 10 levels of traction control in either map 1 or map 2, you can engage the quick shifter which you may or may not end up liking, you can engage launch control, which I don’t see any use on a dual sport bike. the new switch also acts as an over heat alarm, flashes a red H when the bike overheats. A feature I really wanted was originally listed by Athena, but they quietly removed, the LED’s would show what gear you are in, seems like that would be super helpful and the ECU already knows what gear you are in so it is just a matter of software to make it work so maybe that feature will come back with future updates.