Kove 800x Pro Remapping ECU for Jerky Throttle and Quality Control Issues | EP12

[@leoveroude4492]

Always nice to see that there are relative strangers willing to give up some of their time to help another.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Yeah, it was really awesome

[@RichardS-qh8mi]

That’s a fantastic result Gary - amazing how someone with the knowledge can transform your bike. Damn Euro 5 strangles everything it touches. Glad you noticed those axle pinch bolts as that could’ve been very scary on the highway.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks Richard! It was cool just letting my bike safe in the hands of someone very talented. I am also glad pinch bolts are now sorted!

[@fredrikwessel9765]

Couldn't hear the enigne as you mentioned, but could well hear your giggles! :) Well done Gary!

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Haha!

[@Joh117John]

Glad to hear You meet some good people over there, that went out of their way to help You out. Safe journey bro🇨🇮👍

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks John, I was honestly blown away.

[@MichaelShaw206]

Learning a lot by watching your videos, so thanks so much for posting about this. Looking forward to the next video. Had to adjust my Kove 450 throttle - too much play in it. I don't know if that is something common to new bikes. Good luck to you!

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you! I think I will mess around with it and see what I like more

[@MotoDude1967]

I'm enjoying this series, and that bike is looking more like the unicorn adventure bike everyone was waiting for.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you! It is a great bike.

[@warrenr4]

Hi Gary. Glad the mapping worked out well and thank you for your honesty about the good and the bad of the bike. Looking forward to how the star link works 🙂✌🏻

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Warren, Thanks. I will share next week how starling is going but it really is amazing technology! I cant believe I am carrying a little satellite dish around with me haha

[@kejtk6527]

@GarysJourneyYT Hey, Super already looking forward to this episode

[@MrLifestream1]

Another great chapter in your journey 🤘

[@GarysJourneyYT]

It was a great experience!

[@TheIdlesurfer]

That mapping is very encouraging. I had my 2016 701 remapped, it made hell of a difference and it wasn't badly mapped out of the factory. About the only gripe people heard about your bike was the mapping. I've found all round the world, people will help a foreign traveller on a motorcycle, from Saharan Morocco to Arctic Lapland and all points in between, people have helped me. People are, pretty well all the time, good.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

I am honestly blown away by the help. Just brilliant and so many Argentinians have gone above and beyond for me.

[@TempusFugit2K]

Glad you got the friendly assistance and the ReMap seems to have solved that annoying and well known throttle jerkiness.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Much better!

[@art2587]

Awesome stuff Gary! I can definitely say I’m not surprised at the missing or loose bolts and can say it’s not just Kove. Bought a 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 650xt off the showroom floor of a popular shop in North Carolina, during the self performed first 600 mile oil change the service manual recommended checking bolts and sure enough numerous of them were not to torque spec. Not sure if that was lack of QC at the dealership or normal vibration effects. So I wouldn’t count this against Kove. It’s apart of the regular maintenance cycle to check torque on nuts and bolts for the V-Strom. Glad the trip is going well and things are looking good. Looking forward to the next video. Thanks.

[@MickH60]

Hey mate, it's 100% a dealership responsibility to make sure the bike is in road worthy shape, it's called "pre delivery", I used to do it on brand new motorcycles, from ALL manufacturers, when I worked for a large motorcycle dealership in the 1980's...

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks! On the pinch bolts, I think normally yes. However, I was there for the bike been taken out of the crate and the Koves do come with the front wheel attached and all other pinch bolts all have torque marks on them. However, I think it is definitely worth checking everything going forward!

[@ascutt]

Hi Gary - great video. As a Kove 800 owner I was keen to see the mapping and very happy to see that the EDC can be accessed and written to. I have the Ti Rally exhaust on mine with the Rally ECU and I still think it would benefit from a remap. There are 2 throttle adjusters at the throttle body (tricky to reach but on the righthand side of the bike) and there is a fine adjuster at the handlebar end of the throttle pull cable - all of this is detailed in the owners manual (including the recommended amount of slack - yours looks a little bit too loose). Looking forward to the next video!!

[@GarysJourneyYT]

I will check this out. Very much appreciated.

[@PieroZanetti]

On my 800x I installed the kove original titanium exhaust plus their competitive ECU... Now it's another bike, extremely powerful and without any on/off... Love it! Also I saved 5 kg compared to the original exhaust ❤

[@maxmustang2]

Where you could get one? on unclewang ITS still sold Out. thanks.

[@PieroZanetti]

@maxmustang2 i bought it there when it was available on Uncle Wang, right now I wouldn't know where to buy it 😭

[@GarysJourneyYT]

How is it for sound with full system now? Does it come with a baffle? Weight saving alone makes it worth considering..

[@maxmustang2]

There is an Titanium alloy exhaust + ECU Aftermarket on Uncle, Looks the same and exist Video, 5 Kilo less. 😂

[@PieroZanetti]

@GarysJourneyYT it's awesome, it comes with a removable dbkiller, I removed it and sounds BRUTAL! With the baffle on, it's just a little more noise than the standard one

[@hydrolyser]

Brilliant interesting enlightening video. I love your adventure

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you!

[@joebloggs2228]

it will be interesting to see how the bike performs over the next 20k .all the best

[@GarysJourneyYT]

True, lets see how it goes!

[@bernardkelly7967]

Hi gary...no bolt in left side of my bike either so all is good

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you for confirming! Thats a relief

[@firebladeclements]

You should be able to adjust the play in the throttle housing. You may have to take it off the bike and unhook one or both of the cables to adjust. If there's enough slack in the cables to turn the adjustable threaded bolt the cable goes through, you shouldn't have to take it off. Just thread it out until the slacks gone and retighten the locking nut in place! Pretty cool you got it recapped, 20 years ago you had to spend 500 bucks just for a power commander to change it up.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you. I am getting close to Chile so I will try adjust it there. I have honestly never adjusted this before so its new to me.

[@firebladeclements]

Well, it's been 58 years since I started riding at 6 years old, so I have some time into it. Motocrossed and roadraced here in Canada back in the 70's and 80's with good success. Only riding a can-am spyder now, since I lost a leg some years back, all good though! Kinda the reason I'm following you and your journey. I watch all the new bike models, and son you picked the absolute best weapon out there for your journey in my opinion! Congrats on that, and happy motorin!

[@adv_rider]

Front axle pinch bolt being loose is the fault of your local dealer. The bike is shipped with front wheel and handlebar detached in most countries, Otherwise they must have checked it during PDI.

[@MickH60]

100% correct, I'm surprised more people don't know this !

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Adv Rider. I did get to see the bike come out of the crate as cardboard was peeled back! The front wheel was on and interestingly enough, the other pinch bolts have factory torque marks on them. If you have time check out my first video at 5 minute mark. Handlebars were off though. It is a personal lesson for me to check everything going forward.

[@adv_rider]

@GarysJourneyYT By the way I checked on my bike, the left side hole in the engine is normal, no bolt missing or anything.

[@jeffbaker5229]

How did you get the ECU remapped? I thought Kove locks down the ecu so only they can reflash. Meaning have to replace with ecu or run a piggyback like Dynojet. Encouraging to see it can be reflashed. Can you share how this was possible? Thanks!

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Jeff, I honestly know nothing about ECU's but I sent the picture to Juan of the ECU before we met and he said that those can be worked on. That is all I know!

[@Project_789T]

Hole on the left side is a spark plug drain.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Good to know, thanks!

[@maxmustang2]

The video which most convinced me of Kove was one now exactly 2 years ago, where the Kove-founder gave an interview in german, telling he wants sell them worlwide, and now they are sold already in a couple of countries. He said he was a mechanic and wanted go on rallys, so he built it all with good quality and they did well on dakar. Very sympatic, e.g. quite the opposite of the top busienss guys on the KTM website:-) (Who knows, maybe he got an order from very top of china party to step down to build a supermoto under his own name, which he recently presented.) Interview in German: "KOVE MOTO: Neuer Hersteller aus China auf der EICMA".

[@GarysJourneyYT]

The CEO did it for me too!

[@panos75]

The thing that put me off,of buying the kove,is the camshaft problems that already showing on bikes with higher mileage.

[@johnbrantley9459]

Gary, Regarding the hole on the left side of the engine….I found a picture where the Kove does not have anything in the hole and looks just like your bike. So, all good👍🏽

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks for confirming John!

[@johanncooper7358]

Hey love what your doing with the Kove. Also think it's a gr8 bike and they have taken the leap to make a bike that ticks all the boxes for a light weight adv bike. I just wanted to say try and get a rad cover aluminum or stainless. They don't like stones and hard stuff. I have the 890 rally and that rad takes a beating from the front wheel with the off road tyres we use. Save travels and thank you for what your doing.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Nice one Johann! The 890 is a beast, got to sit on one recently. I will check out Uncle Wang for a cover!

[@troymarcus5168]

Throttle slack is a personal choice me always have none. I have just had two years solo up and down south America on my T7. I am super interested in how your bike goes :) good luck mate ..ur in BA how lucky was i it was the world cup and when a match was on the whole city had no cars .. I would charge around the streets like a motogp guy going crazy lol enjoy good luck. The Argentinians and Venezuelan people are amazing. Checking bolts etc on any new bike is a standard practice first , I stripped my T7 down and reassembled before going to south America racers do that :) Tyres are a bit of an issue to replace shout out when you are getting close to needed. dont wait untill they are due to replace good luck

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Great tip. Much appreciated. Also, lesson learned for me.

[@COM70]

5:22 maybe you could have subtitled it ? Just a suggestion, I have no idea of your edit setup. Some loctite 248 (comes is a small tube) might be a good idea. I was wondering with the high compression ratios if you talked to that technician about fuel grades.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks, i checked after your comment and I just found a section where you can add languages on KZbin. I did not talk about compression. Hmm.

[@COM70]

@ low octane shouldn’t be a big issue in South America. It’s one of the considerations for travelling remote in Africa and probably the only advantage the Tenere still has.

[@alinapietzsch1502]

I'm following you closely. I live in Romania and last your I have been visiting Paraguay. I would like so much to do what you do. I have a question for you. I'm 6 foot 6. Do you think there would be any way to adjust the Cove to my hight. Or do you think I should wait for the rally? Otherwise I'll have to buy the t7 but I'm a bit worried about the wight. I'm already 58 and can not lift high weight anymore. I feel that already with my DRZ 400 when I have to pull it out of the mud, I often think that this is not for me anymore. But I still would like to travel how I did when I was 25. I went from Montana to Mexico on a SR500. That was the journey of my life. And want to experience that again. Anyway, I am so excited about your journey and today about your remapping video. Another question. Don't you feel that the bike is a bit too loud? Do you wear earplugs? Could that be solved with a slip on muffler?

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Alina, Thanks for your comment. Regarding the bike size for you. There was a big guy who sat on my bike, he liked it felt "small" for him so he could throw it around. However, he didn't look ridiculous on it. I think changing the front wind screen would be a good call for you. The best thing would be to take one for a test ride I would say and see how it feels for you but there is a ton of mods on Uncle Wang website. It is also a "light" bike for a relatively "big" bike. Regarding the sound. Yes, it is loud. I travel with ear plugs. It is the loudest stock exhaust bike I have ever owned but I always put on after market exhausts anyway. However, I have no aftermarket on this.

[@alinapietzsch1502]

By te way, Im not a Alina. Im Hans, a German. Alina ist my Romania wife. Regarding my hight, I Hope there ist dome kind of aftermarket high seat so I can have a better seat angle for my extremely long legs. Another question, I did not understand if there is an aftermarket exhaust that would make the motor quieter.

[@channelchangedname]

Hy Hans, im 190cm. I put a bigger windshield, higher handlebars +3cm, and +5cm hard foam. Now is much better..

[@alinapietzsch1502]

Did You put the hardfoam on top or underneath the ooriginal Seat?

[@streetwiseburger]

The hole on the left side of the motor is generally a drain hole for the spark plug valley. IE if water were to enter the top of the spark plug valley it can drain out of the side.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thank you sir

[@streetwiseburger]

@GarysJourneyYT Thanks for your detailed video. Will be following your journey!

[@krabbsaltarn]

Great vid ! I noticed that when your twisting the throttle the wire connection seems to follow for a little bit? Is it a mechanical issue or some slack in the grip connection to the wire? Im interested in the Kove, seems light but powerful enough 🙂

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thats the cable for the heated grips! The bike is very good. It's more than powerful. I even think it is too powerful.

[@petersimmonds4319]

The rattle has gone at low revs . I was delighted with my triumph remapping stopped it stalling smoothed everything out .I put the spacers in the throttle I don’t know if you can get for yours.You are better off changing rear sprocket less stress on engine I believe 😊

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Peter, I had a look online and cant find any spacers yet for the bike.

[@petersimmonds4319]

@ probably not available for your particular bike.The spacers for the Triumph are actually for the Ducatti Panigalle . Maybe someone more able than me could 3D print something that could solve the problem.I know it’s not that bad.The bike is so new the fact you are talking about the problem is good the manufacturers pick up on these fairly quickly.Not much help to you though

[@rastkorastic9931]

The radiator on the lower right side doesn't have a bolt from the factory. So you have an extra bolt on the bike now. As for the bolt on the left side of the engine head they already told you it's the drain hole.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Ahh, I thought the rad bolt had come out.. Thanks for confirming

[@rastkorastic9931]

One on the left side is enough to prevent movement and on the right side it's just fitted to the bracket and rubber grommet. I've disassembled almost complete bike except for the engine because I've fitted some aftermarket stuff on it. And I'm glad you choose Kove for this trip I'm following you from episode one. Nice work, keep up and have a safe trip.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

@@rastkorastic9931 Excellent and thank you. I am glad to have you as a subscriber :)

[@mogden2803]

I had to take so much play out of the throttle on the cfmoto 450nk I bought. It was almost unrideable on slow speed roundabouts and corners. As soon as I took all the play out, the bike, and the ride, was transformed. Instant response. Did the same on the 450MT as soon as I got it. No idea why brand new bikes come with so much play in the throttle.

[@MickH60]

I worked this out 40 odd years ago, a well set up throttle, and that includes return springs, makes a huge difference to how the bike performs and or feels. This is also a dealer issue, it should be adjusted as part of the bikes pre delivery ...

[@GarysJourneyYT]

I agree. I think I will play around with it and find what works best for me

[@maxmustang2]

Thanks for Sharing so i can do the same for my 800x. It's fascinating a Tenere would be boring😂

[@maxmustang2]

B th.w. do you know' the Torque increase?❤

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hey Max. Agreed haha. Ehm, I never took a picture of that so I am not sure. I wish I did now! :/

[@MattPerry]

I don´t understand nothin of mechanics. Did you put another ECU? If so what is the name?

[@MickH60]

No, he had his original ECU remapped...

[@GarysJourneyYT]

As Mick said, adjusted the existing ECU that sits just under the seat of the bike. It is a Bosch ECU

[@Kofler_SV82]

Привет, это отверстие на целиндре дринажное идет от цвечи зажигание чтобы припопадание туда воды сливалось.

[@Zt3v3]

The front axle is usually done by whoever imports the bike (dealer) Bikes come in a crate with the front wheel and the handlebars removed.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

It normally does but not the Kove! I saw it come out of the crate and it had the wheel on but not the handlebars.

[@lebleup]

The throttle “ play “ or “slop” is a Chinese thing. I was just on a Chinese made USA marketed on/off road bike along with another rider on the same. We both experienced this same issue on slow riding maneuvers. Herkey Jerkey action. No mistaking it. I saw the same review observation on another KOVE 800. The rider said the very same thing.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

I see. To be honest I am now getting used to it but is different. Thanks for sharing.

[@lebleup]

@GarysJourneyYT Yes.... but to be clear, my comment is not trashing the KOVE by any means. Just my experience and observation. I think that KOVE 800 you're on is a beautiful bike. I'm looking at it hard. They are sold out until mid this year in the USA, I hear.

[@blackiesmisadventures3413]

Are you still riding on the OE tyres ?

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Yes, .but looking to update soon to accommodate the very off road conditions, any recommendations?

[@justinhoffman5726]

The whole throttle housing is moving. There should be a clip or a whole in the bars that it snaps into. You may have missed that when you put the heated grips on.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

HI Justin, I think that cable you are speaking about is the heated grip cable

[@Herco28]

Looks to me like the whole throttle tube assembly is moving. Once it stop moving the throttle tube starts engaging the cable.

[@MickH60]

I spotted that in the first few seconds of the video, the throttle housing was loose, or appeared to be...

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Herco. I was thinking the same as you and Mick but I dont think it actually is moving. The cable is for the heated grip and makes it look like throttle housing is moving. I'll check again.

[@johnharvey5338]

Some companies are doing throttle spacer for bikes with electronic throttles, seems to be a thing

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi John, I had a look online and didnt see one or the Kove 800x yet. It would be handy.

[@johnharvey5338]

@ seems it might be to new, mainly seen triumph and Ducati, a 3D printer could be you friend an they look very simple

[@ummita8888]

El agujero del bloque es para que salga el agua si se acumula en el hueco de la bujía.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Entiendo! Muchos Gracias!

[@arcboutant]

From pics of other bikes ,they too have what appears to be a ‘hole’. 👍🏻

[@massimobroccoli9854]

Sweep hole , spark plugs !

[@arcboutant]

@ Drain hole 👌🏻

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Thanks lads

[@Zt3v3]

That hole in the cylinder head is to drain the spark plug well, it should be empty.

[@grahambutler3392]

It's natural to have play in the throttle when off road, if you don't have the play, on the technical stuff you will find the bike jumping out off your hands,

[@GarysJourneyYT]

True. I think there is a happy medium as I may be at the other extreme now. I am not sure.

[@31nerf]

No matter the company's bike, first thing when you buy one, check the important things 😉

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Lesson learned!

[@FS-hp9oy]

Why spending so much time in the tweak ? Many are just swapping stock with Race ECU and that seems to have fixed the throttle issue ...

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Mmm, I hear it's better but not perfect. I know someone that swapped ECU and titanium exhaust and still did the remap to smooth out a little! This is all very subjective so i would like to ride what it is like for this race version stock.

[@zardportugal]

Now the bike is "au point". Cheers

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Getting happier with each day!

[@newroads9787]

Dealer should have checked all.

[@arjuna03]

MO Fos in YT AI are not letting me comment any ncomment which is not pro China.

[@MickH60]

I highly doubt it, there are silly comments all over you tube bashing anything Chinese, why would they single you out ? ... If the comment was about the loose bolts, that's the dealers responsibility anyway, {pre delivery check}, Nothing to do with Kove..

[@arjuna03]

@@MickH60 I'm trying to comment on IP right theft in details and my comments just disappears within 2 seconds.

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Just so you know it is not me blocking anything! :O

[@MickH60]

It shouldn't to hard to take the play out of the throttle housing, It even looks like something has just come loose....Good HP gain...! Those loose bolts are the fault of the dealer you bought the bike from, that's quite poor service. I used to do pre delivery on brand new crated bikes from most manufacturers, in the 1980's, when I worked in a large motorcycle dealership. It was 100% our {dealership}, responsibility to check EVERYTHING on the bike before customer delivery. as far as I know it's still the same, {for obvious reasons}, bolts, fluids, brakes, the lot....

[@GarysJourneyYT]

Hi Mick. Thanks for comment. I think normally yes but the Kove 800x comes with the front wheel attached and all the pinch bolts had factory torque marks. I was actually there for the motorbike been taken out of the crate (Check out episode 1 at the 5 minute mark). I think going forward it definitely should be checked though. A lesson for me also.