I ran the 183 for a while, until the Man told me I couldn't modify the capacity on my bike without updating the papers, and I couldn't update the papers without homologation (type approval, something like DOT-approval) papers- which obviously don't exist. So now I am back to 125cc.
While I had it, I was using the finbro ECU together with Moriwaki megaphone exhaust and stock airbox just with the usual internal airbox pipe modification.
Anyway... the problem I had was getting the damned thing to start. Here's a video of how that went:
I found that once the bike was started and warm, I could adjust the idle screw and have it idle really smooth about 1,500rpm. Some said this is too low, but for me it was absolutely fine and any higher meant it would 'lean hang' at 3,000rpm on the way back down to idle.
Once warm it would start much better, but still not really great.
From a few Facebook page threads I have the feeling I am not the only one who had that same issue. So here's what I suggest as a solution - however please note this is untested and you try it at your own risk.
Here's a wiring diagram for the Grom. You can see down in the bottom right there's the 'fast idle solenoid valve'. We know the Thailand models don't have this, and we know the Finbro ECU doesn't have an output for it. It's my belief that this is why the bike wouldn't start. It'd be nice to have a decomp on the camshaft too, but I don't think it was the main problem.
The cold start valve is just a simple solenoid as opposed to the stepper motor type on some more advanced EFi systems. It takes a live feed from the EFi fuse (Black/White) and has a switched earth (Yellow/Orange). My guess is the stock ECU switches to earth depending on what the EOT (Engine Oil Temperature) sensor is reading. But we know the Finbro ECU doesn't have this feature.
So why not manually give the solenoid an earth when you want it to operate? Before I had to revert to 125cc I was going to get a simple handlebar switch, and wire it in between the Y/O wire and earth. Switch it on to activate the solenoid, or off to deactivate. If I am right, this should give you a manual cold start option.
You can also buy thermo switches in the right kind of range. I wondered if it might be possible to put a low range (say 45 celsius) switch between the solenoid and earth, to have a kind of auto choke?
KSD 9700 Temperature Switch Thermostat Normally Closed (NC) Thermal Protector | eBay
I'm not sure if there is a way to use the existing EOT for this, or if that might interrupt something else the ECU might be using that signal for.
Be interested to see what you guys do with this information/idea. It's something that's really essential unless you live in the desert, and it's just plain missing on the Finbro ECU. This could be a super simple fix for like $5 and a little of your time. I can see this being something for Cisco and his ongoing R&D projects - but this could be a lifesaver for anyone for whom that first video has become normal life.
While I had it, I was using the finbro ECU together with Moriwaki megaphone exhaust and stock airbox just with the usual internal airbox pipe modification.
Anyway... the problem I had was getting the damned thing to start. Here's a video of how that went:
I found that once the bike was started and warm, I could adjust the idle screw and have it idle really smooth about 1,500rpm. Some said this is too low, but for me it was absolutely fine and any higher meant it would 'lean hang' at 3,000rpm on the way back down to idle.
Once warm it would start much better, but still not really great.
From a few Facebook page threads I have the feeling I am not the only one who had that same issue. So here's what I suggest as a solution - however please note this is untested and you try it at your own risk.
Here's a wiring diagram for the Grom. You can see down in the bottom right there's the 'fast idle solenoid valve'. We know the Thailand models don't have this, and we know the Finbro ECU doesn't have an output for it. It's my belief that this is why the bike wouldn't start. It'd be nice to have a decomp on the camshaft too, but I don't think it was the main problem.
The cold start valve is just a simple solenoid as opposed to the stepper motor type on some more advanced EFi systems. It takes a live feed from the EFi fuse (Black/White) and has a switched earth (Yellow/Orange). My guess is the stock ECU switches to earth depending on what the EOT (Engine Oil Temperature) sensor is reading. But we know the Finbro ECU doesn't have this feature.
So why not manually give the solenoid an earth when you want it to operate? Before I had to revert to 125cc I was going to get a simple handlebar switch, and wire it in between the Y/O wire and earth. Switch it on to activate the solenoid, or off to deactivate. If I am right, this should give you a manual cold start option.
You can also buy thermo switches in the right kind of range. I wondered if it might be possible to put a low range (say 45 celsius) switch between the solenoid and earth, to have a kind of auto choke?
KSD 9700 Temperature Switch Thermostat Normally Closed (NC) Thermal Protector | eBay
I'm not sure if there is a way to use the existing EOT for this, or if that might interrupt something else the ECU might be using that signal for.
Be interested to see what you guys do with this information/idea. It's something that's really essential unless you live in the desert, and it's just plain missing on the Finbro ECU. This could be a super simple fix for like $5 and a little of your time. I can see this being something for Cisco and his ongoing R&D projects - but this could be a lifesaver for anyone for whom that first video has become normal life.