Colortune

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Dammit!

I can't even say anything here because I have had to rely on my expertly tuned ear since I've never had the opportunity to try colortune.

However, I would like to see how close I am to PERFECT with one someday even though I actually know because my XS runs and idles about as perfectly as I have ever seen a bike run.

So, since I really don't have anthing to say I guess I won't say anything.

I'll just shut up now.

Thank You Very MucH!!!!!!!!

[81xsproject]

You have to remember that Colortune is set by the range of color and is as acurrate or more as the range of the set by ear method. Perhaps what you see or percieve as the correct color may be wrong. I darken my garage and set the carbs to the color that works for me. I also use my ears to help in my quest much like the thread posted about setting carbs without a colortune. My plugs are a light tan color which is a pretty good indicator of how it is running. Although it is not as correct as an exhaust gas analyzer (which I would not give you 2 cents for), I find it works great. Personally I dont care what the AFR is as long as my plugs are the right color and the bike runs right and haulz azz. I also defy you to tell what the carbs are set like by ear in the mid to high range of RPM. I can watch it change color all thru the RPM range. By the way I am also somewhat red/green color blind which makes it that much more challenging to use and also prompts my reply about the perception of color. YMMV

You keep mumbling these things to yourself while sitting in your dark garage, huffing exhaust fumes, and analyzing a motor with no load on it. I am sure fine tuning your 6000 RPM idle will do a lot for performance.

[79XS11F]

All of the tuning we do in our garages with or without color tunes is "no load" tuning? I have never had to increase the idle to 6000 RPM to use my color tunes?

Rob

[Rasputin]

I said I darken my garage as in shut the lights off, not painting the windows black. I also have the door open enough to let the exhaust out. I also said I could watch the color through all the rpm range, not that I was tuning a 6000rpm idle. Sounds to me like someone is jealous of the fact that some others can do what he cant or wont.

[trbig]

I like to set my idle at 6 grand. It gets the motor to operating temps fast, it makes for a great cruise control, keeping your right hand from getting tired, it's great on launches from a stoplight, and it's a great conversation piece and weird looks when you're stopped. It also helps drown out that Harley you may be parked next to.


Tod

[Rasputin]

If you read whats on this page you will see he talks about use of the colortune, and it is not just at an idle that it is useful.
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87

[Ivan]

I like to set my idle at 6 grand. It gets the motor to operating temps fast, it makes for a great cruise control, keeping your right hand from getting tired, it's great on launches from a stoplight, and it's a great conversation piece and weird looks when you're stopped. It also helps drown out that Harley you may be parked next to.


Tod

Well, I have a vista cruise, so my bike will idle where ever I want it to. As for the Harley's, the sound dulls after they rev it a few times and your ear drums rupture. I have never understood why people can't tune one of those things to idle. Maybe they need a colortune.

[79XS11F]

I think it's safe to say that we could all agree that color tune plugs are just another useful tool that can be used like any other tuning tool to achieve better results then having no tools at all. Vacuum sticks / gages, color tune plugs, a good ear, Lazar thermometers, good plug reading skills, etc are all good items / skills to have on hand for those who are attempting to get their bike running a good as they can.
Rob

[Ivan]

I think it's safe to say that we could all agree that color tune plugs are just another useful tool that can be used like any other tuning tool to achieve better results then having no tools at all. Vacuum sticks / gages, color tune plugs, a good ear, Lazar thermometers, good plug reading skills, etc are all good items / skills to have on hand for those who are attempting to get their bike running a good as they can.
Rob

I think the Dynojet kit has the best advice, just turn the idle screws out 4 turns from seated. Yeah, that will work. Don't worry about your plugs loading up at idle, you should be going FAST, you have a Dynojet kit, you know!

[81xsproject]

First of all I am not trying to attack anyone for their opinion, I just don't understand. Rasputin, I don't know why you care so much if I don't like the CT... Is it your own invention? I DON'T like it (an OPINION which the thread ASKED FOR). I didn't say people who use it are stupid. I just don't understand why, which is addressed by Rob...

All of the tuning we do in our garages with or without color tunes is "no load" tuning? I have never had to increase the idle to 6000 RPM to use my color tunes?

Rob

This is my point. The CT allegedly tunes your idle mixture and just barely off idle. Why bother spending all the time and money on your idle mixture? Unless you really get off listening to your bike idle, what do you get out of it? I am far more concerned about what my bike does at cruising speed, WOT, and everything in between, none of which can be tuned with the CT (unless of course you could rig up some sort of flex tube to look into while riding... sounds a little dangerous to me. LMAO just thinking about it).

So, if you love the CT, use it. I really don't care that much. Tune your idle with it, tune your mid-range with it, hell use it at WOT. I would love to hear about it. The thread asked for opinions of the CT, it wasn't the 'Who loves the CT' thread. I don't like, you all love it, koom bah yah.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

I like to set my idle at 6 grand. It gets the motor to operating temps fast, it makes for a great cruise control, keeping your right hand from getting tired, it's great on launches from a stoplight, and it's a great conversation piece and weird looks when you're stopped. It also helps drown out that Harley you may be parked next to.


Tod

You certainly want to save that right hand from any unnecessary abuse.

[Rasputin]

the CT had led me to set the mixture WAY too rich (in the 11:1 AFR range). No load idle should be upper 12's at the richest but more like low to mid 13's.

I was simply trying to reply that the color at 11:1 compared to a 13:1 would have been different. I was trying to point out that if you had tuned to a shade different color you very well may have ended up with your 13:1. Yes I like it and you dont. I am simply expressing my opinion on here as well. No CT is not my invention. It seems to me that as you are a long time member as well as a moderator, that some will take what you say as gospel. As a result they may not try what could be a valuable tool for them.