Monster SP(937) UpMap Impressions, with Sprint Air Filter
I recently remapped my SP with the UpMap T-800 Mivv cat delete with baffle tune and replaced the stock air filter with a Sprint one. I have the Mivv link pipe and stock Termi(baffled) muffler installed. I also removed the O2 sensors, front and rear and blocked off the holes with some stainless plugs I found on Amazon. Overall, without the air filter change, it'd be a 3/10 difficulty. With the air filter change, 6/10, because the tank and ECU needs to come off so that you can have access to the air filter cover. Not a hard job, just time consuming, and several parts need to come off. I use 93 octane pump gas, 10% ethanol. Bike has 7500 miles, over a half dozen track days, so I’m very familiar with it.
First impressions:
- No more cold start higher RPM idle. It idles quietly now, which is a good thing if you get up early. Idle is smoother and not as 'lumpy' as it used to be.
-You can now rev the engine to redline while stationary in neutral with the kickstand down without pulling the clutch in. In stock form, revving was limited to 6k. I wouldn't suggest rev bombing but it allows you to hilariously blow up your engine when trying to show off.
-Exhaust smells like fuel.
Riding impressions:
Low speed:
-Below 3k, it feels mostly the same. Throttle application and torque delivery at low revs feels a little more smoothed out, but due to the nature and design of the engine, it's best to keep it above 4k RPM.
-Pops and burbles are not nearly as loud or as pronounced as before when downshifting and slowing down and coming to a stop.
-Throttle can still be snatchy at take-up, but it delivers power smoothly when you apply constant throttle.
-Fuel cut getting off throttle is immediate, just like stock so that characteristic hasn't changed.
-Unfortunately, the radiator doesn't kick in at a lower temperature, so it kicks on at 212F like stock.
Higher speed:
-At 4-5k to 6k RPM, the good ole torque dip is pretty much gone. Pre-tune, there was a slight torque getting on throttle at around 4-5k right when the ECU would transition from closed loop to open loop. That is where the torque dip comes from. The UpMap makes it so the bike is ALWAYS running in open loop so that the transition is no longer there. But the O2 sensors need to be unplugged or removed. If you leave them on, the ECU will still run closed loop tuning below 6k RPM but will transition to the UpMap closed loop tuning.
-Power delivery is ridiculously linear now with the absence of the torque dip. I'm sure M937 owners have felt the VTEC-like power delivery when doing full throttle pulls from below 7k to redline. So yea, the UpMap fills in that torque gap so you just have linear and strong power delivery all the way to redline. It pulls hard to the limiter.
-QS is slightly improved, but not by the tune directly. I'd say that it feels smoother since the engine is running better.
-Sound has changed a little bit. But that could be due to the new air filter and removal of the sound deadening material under the tank. It sounds... smoother and more consistent. A little less 'angry'.
-Bike runs cooler. Due to have a richer mixture, the extra fuel not only gives it a bit more power, but cools the combustion chambers for a cooler running bike.
Highway:
-So before, I would rarely use 6th gear because I'd be under 5k at like 70-80 mph in the dead zone for the power delivery. Yea, so that is gone now. I can be at 6th gear cruising at 70-75, apply half throttle to speed up and torque is delivered linearly. I would still suggest downshifting to 5th or 4th if you're going to do a full throttle pull because there will be a bit of surging, since doing 6th gear pulls from mid-low RPMs would technically be lugging the engine. But if you're just trying to get past a car without speeding too much, 6th gear at 4.5-5k RPM and half throttle will provide the thrust that wasn't present before.
-Closer to redline, there is no power drop off. It hits the hard rev limiter before you know it. I haven't dynoed it yet, but butt dyno feels like it gained maybr 5 or so WHP at the top of the revs, whilst also making power and torque in all revs.
-Overall, the tune makes the bike better to ride in every imaginable instance for general street and highway riding. There is no downside, aside from the cost and installation effort.
Twisties:
-So here is where it gets interesting. Since the torque gaps are filled with the tune, I can take corners at a higher gear than I used to be able to while still being able to drive out hard. 2nd gear turns can be 3rd gear turns and 3rd gear turns can be 4th gear turns. I can actually do a chill ride now without feeling like the bike is coasting or freewheeling mid corner and then waiting for the power to build up at corner exit when I'm at a higher gear. I no longer feel in between gears in some corners because I can just take it at a higher gear.
-Taking corners at the proper gear feels great as well. Acceleration out of the corner is very, very rapid and more consistent compared to before.
-Downshifting and engine braking feel pretty much the same. Nothing has changed with my corner entry and trailbraking.
Track:
-I plan to take it to the track later this month. The consistency of torque and power delivery should make it a better and faster experience.
Conclusion:
I didn't think this off the shelf generic tune could make such a difference in how the engine and bike behaves overall. I highly suggest getting the UpMap tune AND air filter installed on your Monster 937. I kept the stock mapped bike above 5k RPMs when I was able to specifically to avoid the torque dip. Now, I can ride my SP like a civilized motorcyclist, whilst still having the torque and power on tap delivered linearly.
10/10 mod.