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Aoocci C5 Pro – The Best CarPlay/Auto Device For Your Motorcycle

Why choose a carplay device instead of an android phone aoocci c5 pro review

Two reasons why I got the Aoocci C5 Pro Carplay for my motorcycle and here’s my honest review on it.

During my trip to Rann and Rajasthan in December 2023, my iphone 12 mini, a used phone that I bought on EMI just 3 month’s prior to the trip, got ruined. The OIS of the camera got damaged because I was using my phone for navigation throughout the trip.

I then started using my friend’s basic android phone for navigation. But that phone used to get heated up on long rides and then the map would freeze.

This is the second reason I decided to go for a CarPlay system for my motorcycle even though it’s an expensive affair.

I got the AOOCCI C5 Pro CarPlay system as it was the cheapest on the market around May 2024. I was quiet skeptical about these products since they are fairly new and hence I went for the cheapest one to try it out.

But I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Before getting into the pros and cons, I’ll get into the features first.

Features of Aoocci C5 Pro

The Aoocci C5 system comes with a 5 inch touch screen, 2 dash cams and two TPMS sensors along with the wiring, clamps and everything that’s needed for it’s installation.

It connects with bluetooth and wifi of your mobile and uses CarPlay and Android auto feature for apple and android phones respectively.

Basically it mirrors almost all the needed functions of your phone to the screen so that you can use your phone without having to use your phone. If you have already used these systems in cars, then you’ll be familiar with it.

Most of the basic apps on your phone like messages, calls, whatsapp, music, maps and other CarPlay supported apps can be used with this device. You can connect your intercom to it via bluetooth and you can make or answer calls with it, hear turn by turn voice navigation, listen to music or podcasts and so on.

There are many apps that provide weather info too. Now I’m an apple user so I’ll share the CarPlay details in this video and I’m sure android auto will have the same if not more features.

Apart from CarPlay features, it has live recording of both rear and front camera. You have to put in a micro sd card and it’ll loop record as soon as the ignition is on. You can access these recordings in the device itself or you have an app by which you can view and download the footage on your phone.

It records up to 2k resolution which is good enough to zoom in on number plates and other small details.

The other most helpful feature is the TPMS. It comes with 2 sensors which you can attach to your wheels and it gives real time reading of your tyre pressures. You can set the minimum and maximum values below or above which it gives you an alarm.

Pros of Aoocci C5 Pro

1. Responsiveness

The speed and responsiveness of the screen is just amazing. It almost feels like operating a smartphone. The touch is very responsive and smooth even with gloves on, the maps are very quick when it comes to navigating through tight city traffic.

There’s no lag until you have good gps signal on your phone. It even works with offline maps so you don’t need an internet connection on your phone and this was particularly useful in Ladakh.

2. Brightness and contrast

The screen is very bright. I use it at 50% brightness in broad daylight and at 0% at night. It’s that bright even in direct sunlight.

And the contrast is amazing. The black portions of the screen are truly black and the all the colours and whites stand out.

3. Heat

Since it doesn’t have a battery, it doesn’t get heated up much. And even during operating at daytime for long hours under the sun, the responsiveness doesn’t decrease. That’s the biggest advantage over using an android phone for navigation.

4. Waterproof

My console gets fogged up after a pressure wash but this has sustained many pressure washes and heavy rains. I would still recommend not directly pressure washing the unit but it’s safe even if you do.

5. Vibration Resistant

Both the bikes that this device has been on, the Himalayan 411 and now the KTM 390 Adventure, aren’t the smoothest bikes out there. This hasn’t suffered any damages due to these vibrations.

6. Build Quality

The build quality of the device is amazing. It’s damn durable. I suffered a major accident on my KTM which cost around 50k in repairs for the bike. The holder suffered damages and yet the device didn’t develop any issue.

I’ve done many jumps and hard trails where the holder has come lose and the device had hit the console but even then there’s no signs of any damage to the screen or the body. The durability is impressive.

7. Camera Quality of Aoocci C5 Pro

The footage quality is very good. It’s not stabilised but the quality is plenty enough to zoom into the details if you want to use the footage for any legal purposes. Only during the night, the footage from the rear camera isn’t useful because of the glare from headlights of the vehicles behind you.

8. Automatic Connection

Once your phone is paired, you don’t need to manually connect it again. Just switch on the ignition and within 20-30 seconds, it’ll connect to your phone and maps will be loaded.

Cons of Aoocci C5 Pro

Now for this price, I should not complain about anything given how useful the product is. But here are some points I wish were better.

1. Colour Infringing

The smaller font on the display often has some colour infringing especially the white ones. This isn’t a major issue. The main headings and highlights are easily readable but the smaller details on the map are often difficult to read because of this issue. Again I’m just nitpicking here and it isn’t a deal breaker.

2. TPMS Delay

When you change to the TPMS window, the pressures displayed are the readings taken prior to the last time ignition was switched off. It takes few minutes for the sensors to pick up the readings when you switch to the TPMS screen.

3, Car Navigation Only

Since it’s a CarPlay device, it supports only the car navigation option on the bike and not the two wheeler option. Here you have to be careful since the maps may take you to expressways where bikes aren’t allowed.

4. Navigation

If you start navigation on the device and if you switch off the device, it doesn’t start up the navigation automatically the next time you switch it on.

But if you start the navigation on your phone, the navigation resumes on the device even if you switch off and on. That’s one minor niggle especially when you take breaks in between your journey.

Cost of Aoocci C5 Pro

The C5 cost me around 13500 INR. I got it on a discount from the site. I think now it costs around 16k INR but I think even for that price it’s a bang for the buck product.

It’s shipped from China so it’ll take a week to get here. They’ll contact you in between via whatsapp to send your PAN or Aadhar details for KYC during customs clearance.

Should you get the Aoocci C5 Pro?

IMO, everyone who tours on their bike and who wants to save the phone from any damage should consider this. They have a model which just has the CarPlay screen but I’d highly recommend getting this particular one with the camera and TPMS.

Considering all the scams going on, I think it’s always good to have a dashcam on your bike and I don’t need to tell you the advantage of having TPMS when touring.

All in all I highly recommend this product and it has made my life a hell lot easier on my bike.

I hope I covered all the highlights of this product. If you have any doubts, shoot them in the comments section below. Get yours here – Aoocci C5 CarPlay

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Cramster K2K Gloves – The Best Budget Gloves For Touring

Best budget full gauntlet riding gloves for touring Cramster k2k gloves long term review

It’s been a year using the Cramster K2K gloves and here’s my review on it.

I’ve been a Cramster fanboy for a very long time. The very first riding jacket I got 8 years back was from Cramster and I still use it to this day. I used their street gloves for 4 years.

Sadly the Company shut down in between until recently when Rynox revived their brand again. So till last year I was using the Rynox AIR GT gloves for all purposes. It’s served me well and I have retired it for city and off road use now.

I upgraded to the Cramster K2K gloves just before my Ladakh trip in September 2024 and I’ve been very happy with it.

Pros of Cramster K2K

1. Features

For the price, it packs a lot of features. Full leather construction, TPU protectors for knuckles, scaphoid sliders, touchscreen compatibility, dual adjusters and so on.

2. Comfort

It’s very comfortable to wear and the break in time required is very less.

Cons of Cramster K2K Gloves

Not Waterproof

The only downside to these gloves I’ve noticed is that it’s not waterproof so you can’t use it in rainy conditions.

Cost

It costs around 5k INR and is available online or in Rynox stores. If you’re looking for a full gauntlet gloves for touring, these gloves will do the job perfectly.

Get yours here – Cramster K2K

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Best Budget Boots For Touring – Gadsyll Tourer Boots Review

Best budget boots for touring on your motorcycle Gadsyll Tourer boots long term review

It’s been a year and a half using or even abusing these Gadsyll Tourer boots and here’s my review on it.

Until last year I was using the RE Huntsman boots for over 4 years for touring. The only downside to it was it wasn’t waterproof. So every every rain and water crossing, I had to use a shoe cover.

When I started riding the off road track more often, I decided to get a waterproof boot. I got the Gadsyll G star 11 tourer boots and it’s been great.

Pros of Gadsyll Tourer Boots

1. Durability

These boots are highly durable. These are meant to be used for touring but I use it for my dirt track practice sessions like a motocross boot.

It has endured many hours of abuse on the track. I used it for my entire Ladakh and Kashmir trip as well. It hasn’t suffered any damage yet.

Few times during track practice, the bike has fallen on top of my foot and yet my feet has remained safe.

2. Water resistance

These boots are perfect in keeping your feet dry. Many times after track practice, there’ll be a lot of mud stuck to the boot and bike.

Those days after practice, I go straight from the track to a car wash and pressure wash the bike and the boots while I’m wearing them and no water gets inside. Once on the way back from Ooty when it rained for hours, it never allowed water to seep in.

The only time water got in was during a water crossing in Ladakh where I had to put my foot down in the middle of a water crossing and the water level was above the opening. The water seeped in from above. That’s the only time the insides of the boot have got wet.

3. Comfort

These boots fit perfectly and the sole is very soft and comfortable. You can’t walk around in these boots as with any riding boot but while riding they are very comfortable.

4. Cost

They are very affordable. A pair costs around 8k INR. That’s a bang for your buck given the supreme quality.

Cons of Gadsyll Tourer Boots

I have not so far noticed any cons to this boot. It’s not a stiff and purpose built one like a typical motocross boot but for what its worth, it does its job perfectly well.

I’m very happy with these boots after 1 year of usage so much so that I got a pair of smaller ones, the G star 9, for my city commute as well. Get your here! – Gadsyll G Star Tourer

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Axor X Cross – Best Budget Helmet For Touring

Best Budget Helmet for Touring, Commuting & Off Road Riding Axor X Cross Long Term Review

Here’s why I think Axor X cross is the best budget ECE certified helmet for touring.

I’ve been using Axor helmets for over 4 years now. Up until last year I was using the Axor Apex and once I got more into off road riding, I got the Axor X Cross helmet for better field of vision.

Here are the pros and cons.

Pros of the Axor X Cross

1. Durability

How do I know it’s durable? Well I had a bad crash on my KTM 390 Adventure. I flew over the bike and landed straight on my head. The helmet visor and the beak broke while the main shell developed a crack.

I had a foot injury which took more than 2 months to heal and the bike had 48k worth of repairs. It was that bad. The helmet is the only reason I’m alive right now. It took the impact and saved my head from the impact force.

2. Cost

Axor makes the cheapest ECE 22.06 certified helmets and that’s a good benchmark of safety rating to get. Apex costs around 5k INR and X Cross around 7k INR.

3. Double D Ring

The double D ring locks are safer than the strap locks. I’ve noticed that only expensive helmets come with double D and some helmets even with ECE certification gets only strap lock.

I always go with a double D ring because I’ve had helmets where the strap lock has worn out with use or even broken on small impact.

4. Features of Axor X Cross

At this price point I think only Axor helmets are laden with features such as dual visors, pin lock which prevents fogging and space for installing intercoms. The inner lining is removable and washable too.

Cons of Axor X Cross

1. Weight

It’s heavy compared to it’s peers in the market and obviously lighter ones comes at a higher cost.

2. Wind Noise

The X cross in particular has very high wind noise but it can be taken cared of with 3m ear plugs.

3. Chin Mount

The X cross has a sharp angle at the chin which doesn’t fit most of the universal adhesive chin mounts for action camera. So I use the helmet specific chin mount form Motovibe India.

All in all I think Axor X Cross is a great helmet for off road as well as highway use. Get yours here – Axor X Cross

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How to record your helmet intercom conversations

How to record your helmet intercom conversations for motovlogging

Seeing my vlogs, many of you had asked me how I recorded our intercom conversations while we were riding through Ladakh and Kashmir. Here’s how I did it.

So first there’s the intercom. We used the Vnetphone V6 intercom. The intercom has two speakers and a mic. Now to record the conversation, I used two different lav mics.

One of them sits alongside the intercom mic and records my voice. The other one sits on top of one of the intercom speaker and records the other person’s voice coming through the speaker.

These two mics are then connected to a headphone splitter which combines these two signals into one signal. The outout jack is connects to the mic jack of the action camera. It’s that simple.

Keep in mind, all these mics need to have a TRS jack and not the TRRS one. The TRS jack will have 2 black rings while the TRRS one will have black three rings. You’ll need to get lav mics and connectors that are of TRS type or use a TRRS to TRS converter which will make the whole setup a bit more cumbersome.

Advantages of wired helmet audio recording setup

Now there are better setups like wireless ones. I have seen some use the DJI mic paired with DJI cameras or even the intercoms like Cardo and Sena paired with DJI cameras to make this whole setup wireless but I have found few downsides to it.

Firstly that setup is expensive. A mesh intercom and a wireless mic is quite expensive. Secondly, these setups are not self healing.

I have tried connecting the insta360 X2 to the Vnetphone V6. It works but the catch is that you need to manually connect it every time you switch the camera on. It’s a hassle while you are on the move.

The beauty of this wired setup is that you can start and stop recording with a single click of a button. The intercom will be on always while you are riding. When you want to record, just start the camera. This reduces a lot of friction and makes vlogging on the go very easy.

Disadvantages of wired helmet audio setup

The only downside to this whole setup is that it’s not waterproof. I use the Cynova mic adapter for the DJI osmo and while it’s connected, the camera isn’t waterproof. So when it starts raining, I have to disconnect the adapter and put back the waterproof cover.

That’s the only downside. But in areas like Ladakh and Rajasthan, it hardly rains so you’re sorted.

Product Links – Elfog Lav Mic, Headphone Splitter

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Vnetphone V6 – A bang for your buck intercom!

don't waste your money on expensive intercoms. here's why vnetphone v6 long term review

It’s been more than year using the Vnetphone V6 intercom and here’s my review on it.

There are many popular intercom brands like Sena, Cardo and even cheaper ones like the Bluearmor. They start at a price of 10k INR. Till last year, I had never used intercoms and I was skeptical about it. So as a trial, I got the cheapest one available, the Vnetphone V6. I got a pair for just under 6k INR.

To my surprise, it held up so good that I ended up keeping it and using it for multiple trips. So before I get into the pros and cons, here are the features of this intercom.

Features of Vnetphone V6

Vnetphone V6 is a bluetooth intercom and it can connect up to 6 other Vnetphone intercoms or 6 other bluetooth devices. It comes with 2 speakers and a mic along with the main unit and an attachment for your helmet. It has 6 buttons to connect 6 different intercoms, a volume up and down button, buttons to answer and decline calls and a switch off button.

Pros of Vnetphone V6

1. Cost

The first pro is the cost. For less than 3k INR it’s a bang for the buck product. Sena and Cardo systems start at 30k INR while the Bluearmor starts at 10k. So for having almost 90% of the functionality of those systems and costing around 1/10th of the price, it’s totally worth the money.

2. Audio Quality

The audio and signal quality is really good. I use a pair of earplugs under the helmet to cut off the wind noise. Even with those, the voice clarity is really good at 90% of the volume of the intercom. The wind noise cancellation is also great up to a 100km/hr. The person on the other side of the phone call might not even notice that you’re riding a motorcycle.

3. Range

The range of the intercom is commendable. In straight highways, the range holds up good even up to 1km. It means if you can see your riding partner at the far end of the horizon on a long highway, you can probably hear them too. The only times the signal gets messy is when you are taking corners at hill stations and there’s a mountain side between you and your partner or if you have a large truck or bus blocking you.

4. Self Healing

Even though you can pair multiple devices, you can connect only one at a time. If your riding partner is out of the range it automatically connects to your phone. And once your partner is in the range, you don’t have to manually disconnect and connect to your partner. It automatically disconnects from your phone and connects to your partner. This is very handy while on the move.

5. Build Quality

I’ve used the Vnetphone V6 extensively in all weather conditions. Even in heavy monsoon, this intercom works just fine. It’s waterproof and dust proof.

6. Battery Life

The company boasts around 12-16 hours of battery life. Now the longest I’ve used it is when we were riding from Padum to Leh which was a 15 hour ride. It never ran out of charge. And it charges from 0-100 in less than an hour.

Cons of Vnetphone V6

1. No universal connectivity

Vnetphone V6 is not a mesh intercom and hence it doesn’t connect with intercoms of other companies. It connects to only Vnetphone intercoms.

2. One connection at a time

Even though it can connect up to 6 intercoms, you can use or talk to only 1 intercom in an instance. That means if you want to talk to another intercom, you have to disconnect the current one you’re connected to and connect with the other. You cannot connect your phone and your intercom simultaneously. So there’s no music sharing or call sharing.

3. Small Buttons on the Vnetphone V6

These buttons on the intercom are so small that using them with the gloves on makes it almost impossible. But most of the time you don’t need to use these buttons. Once connected, you can forget about it. And it auto answers calls after 3 seconds of ringing so again you don’t need to use these buttons that often.

4. Long Term Durability

One of the intercom developed a lose connection after a year of usage. I think one of the speaker wire developed a cut and we had to throw it off. I guess that can happen to any headset wire but I wish it didn’t happen because the intercom still worked perfect. We even tried to get just the wiring or just an extra pair of speakers but it wasn’t available anywhere.

Should you buy the Vnetphone V6?

If you’re a team of two or if you’re a couple then the Vnetphone V6 is a perfect choice. Intercoms make the ride a hell lot more fun. It makes communication a lot easier and having conversations during long hours of riding makes the whole experience memorable. It also gives a sense of safety when you’re on two separate bikes because you can be on the constant look out for each other.

Or if you ride solo, this intercom works great in enjoying music or a podcast while riding. It can also make calls with good clarity.

If you ride in larger group, you would want to look for a mesh intercom like Bluearmor where you can connect with multiple riders at once.

Buy it here – Vnetphone V6

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Easy Clutch Review – Make Your Himalayan Feel Like A Honda!

Make your Himalayan feel like a Honda! Easy Clutch from Pro Spec Long Term Review

Two years ago I purchased the Easy clutch from Pro Spec after seeing an ad. Even though it reduced the clutch action as they had advertised, it came with a lot of issues. The gear shifts were hard and the clutch was not engaging/disengaging fully. So after using for few weeks, I went back to the stock clutch.

When I posted on the accessories that I’ve put on my Himalayan, I had mentioned that it didn’t work for me. Seeing that post, Mr Madan from Pro spec reached out to me and said that they have a newer version which takes away all those issues and he welcomed me to try it out. So I went to their office in Bangalore and installed the new cable system.

Post the installation, Mr Ajay from Pro spec helped me in adjusting the lever action. So it’s a bit tricky and not like how you’d adjust the stock cable. I’ll walk you through it.

How does easy clutch work?

The Easy clutch works by a lever mechanism inside the unit. So there’s a short cable that comes from the lever to the unit and a long one that goes from the unit to the gear box. They recommend not having any free play in the lever as opposed to some free play in the stock lever. To adjust that, you’ll need to use the adjusters on the unit.

If you want to eliminate the free play and increase the clutch lever action, you need to unscrew and expand these adjusters and if you want to decrease the lever action you have to screw in and collapse these adjusters. The clutch engagement/disengagement falls in the middle 50% of the sweep. So you’ll need to keep 25% of the sweep in both the extremes free from engagement/disengagement.

How does the it perform?

Once I got the adjustment done, I realised the clutch makes a hell of a difference. The action is so light that you’ll feel like you are riding a Honda bike. It makes city commute much easier. I used to take my Himalayan only on the weekends and use my friend’s Suzuki Access for city commute mainly because of the hard clutch on the Himalayan. But now I’ve almost stopped using the scooter for city commute.

Gear shifts are also very click and precise. You’ll need to get used to the feel at first since the clutch now has more sweep than the stock setting. So getting adjusted to the level of engagement/disengagement of the clutch in the sweep takes some time but you’ll quickly learn it. And once you do, trust me there’s no going back to the stock cable ever.

I thank Mr Madan, Mr Ajay and the entire team of Pro Spec for listening to the feedback and improving the product. I really appreciate them reaching out and helping me getting it installed and working perfectly. It costs around 3000 INR and it’s bike specific so contact them before placing your order. I’d highly recommend the Easy clutch for making your life easier on the Himalayan 411.

Go check it out here – Easy Clutch Pro Plus

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Mototorque Crash Guard for Triumph Scrambler 400X & Himalayan

Tried & tested crash guards for Triumph Scrambler 400X & RE Himalayan 411

I installed the Mototorque crash guard and removed the stock engine guard on the Triumph Scrambler 400X. Why did I do it and how does it perform? Let’s get into it.

The stock leg guard and the lower engine guard on the Triumph Scrambler 400X is very functional. The build quality is great and it does a great job in protecting the engine in case of a fall. However there was one issue that we faced with it when we started taking it off road, on trail rides and dirt track practice sessions.

The stock engine guards sits close to the frame. And hence on multiple occasions, the bike fell over rider’s leg and it used to get stuck in between the engine guard and the ground. The leg wouldn’t get crushed but the foot would be stuck on the other side. It’d completely immobilise the rider and they can get out of the situation only if someone lifts the bike and then they can drag their foot or leg out of the situation.

When this happened a couple of times, we were on the look out for alternatives. That’s when we came across the crash guard made by mototorque. Before fixing it we went to their office and checked it out. Now it’s been more than 5-6000 kms riding with it so here’s my review on it. Long story short, it’s so good that i got one for my Himalayan too.

Pros of Mototorque Crash Guard

1. The Sliders

Mototorque crash guard comes with a big enough slider. When the bike falls, the slider is the first thing to come in contact after the handlebar. This creates a large enough gap between the flat ground and the bike to a point where you can pull out your foot by yourself instead of having someone lift the bike. This feature was the main one that made us go for mototorque crash guard.

The second advantage of these sliders are that in case of a bigger impact, these bolts that holds the sliders in place absorbs the impact and bends out of shape. And thus it prevents the full force from getting transmitted on to the chassis. This happened in our trip to Ladakh as well. All that was needed was to remove the bolt and replace it with a new one and we were good to go. And in case the slider gets severely damaged, you’ll get fresh ones from Mototorque.

2. Build Quality

The fit and finish of these crash guards are great. The powder coating on these match the quality of the chassis on the Scrambler 400X and hence these won’t feel out of place with the bike.

Cons of Mototorque Crash Guard

I don’t consider this as a con at all but some say these rigid 3 point mounting crash guards will transmit forces to the chassis and will break the chassis. To all those people I just have one thing to say. You can spend money and replace a chassis. No amount of money can completely replace a fully functioning femur or a tibia. So for me, our limbs are more important than anything else.

With that being said I’m totally against all the cage like crash guards that are actually a hazard in most of the cases. They cause more harm than good. But this particular one from Mototorque strikes a perfect balance in not being too much but just enough to give a little extra protection than the stock one.

On the Himalayan, I installed the crash guard that’s made for the Scram 411. Mototorque has a separate one for the Himalayan but i think it’s an overkill. This particular one for the Scram 411 fits perfect and is just enough for the Himalayan 411 as well.

Also another accessory that I forgot to mention in the other post is the side stand extender from Mototorque. This is a great help when going off road and when you go on tours. This prevents the bike from sinking in when it’s parked on sandy or muddy terrain especially when it’s loaded with luggage. We got it installed for both the Scrambler 400X and the Himalayan and it was of great help during our Ladakh trip.

Product Link – Mototorque Crash Guard for Triumph Scrambler 400X, Mototorque Crash Guard for Scram 411, Mototorque Side Stand Extender for Triumph Scrambler 400X, Mototorque Side Stand Extender for Himalayan 411

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Powertronics V4 improves performance on Himalayan 411 – Really?

Powertronics - Does it really improve performance on your Himalayan 411 A long term review

As a last resort to improve performance on my RE Himalayan 411, I installed Powertronics V4 and dyno tuned it. Here’s how it went and here’s my review on it.

For context my Himalayan has a BMC air filter, NGK iridium spark plugs, TEC cam, FuelX pro, a decatted exhaust pipe from HT exhausts and a Powerrage exhaust. The only restrictive link in the entire chain was the ECU. Hence getting a piggy back ECU and tuning it was the next best move.

So I approached race dynamics and they agreed to install their latest Powertronics V4. They also agreed to dyno tune it and make a custom map to fully utilise all the performance mods I had installed. They installed the map switch as well.

The installation took around 10-15 minutes and the dyno tune took around 15-20 minutes. They tuned 2 maps. One with the dB killer and one without. Powertronics aims to improve the horse power & torque and fix fuelling issues if any.

Together with the FuelX, it should work better to improve the overall performance and smoothness. But does it make a difference in real life scenario? To answer that, let me get into the pros and cons.

Pros of Powertronics V4

1. Improved fuelling

As soon as I rolled out the bike out of their centre, the first thing I noticed is the improved fuelling. Whatever minute jerkiness the bike had in fuelling at some RPMs, even after installing the fuel X, was completely gone. I never noticed the bike had small fuelling issues until it was resolved. The throttle seemed much smoother, linear and predictable throughout the entire rev range. Overall the bike became a lot smoother and calmer to ride.

2. Improved throttle response

The bike became a little more peppier. The ever so slightest delay in the throttle was gone and the response became almost instantaneous. This made the sudden accelerations in overtaking and off road riding a bit more fun.

Cons of Powertronics V4

No performance improvement

After dyno tuning, according to their charts, the bike got just around 2bhp of increase in power and 2.5Nm of increase in torque. But in real life I didn’t feel any improvement at all. The acceleration remained the same. The top speed improved by around 5km/hr but that’s due to the rev extender feature of Powertronics. So for the amount of money you spend on the unit, the performance boost you get is almost negligible.

Now I’d like to get into something that you should be aware of. My Himalayan is a BS6 2020 model. And I noticed a certain pattern. All the videos of people I have seen on youtube boasting around 5-6 increase in bhp with Powertronics and another 5bhp of increase in power with TEC cam are the owners of bs3/bs4 vehicles. I wondered why and asked around.

So apparently the ECU of BS6 bikes are heavily restricted to comply with the emission norms. Not only did this affect the bhp of a stock BS6 bike but it also restricted the amount of performace boost you could get with performance mods. Here, even powertronics cannot override certain limitations of the BS6 units. This wasn’t confirmed by race dynamics but it’s what I heard from users in certain forums. It makes sense as to why I gained very minimal increase in power or torque even with dyno tuning.

Who is Powertronics V4 for?

If you are looking to improve the overall smoothness of the bike, reduce the fuelling issues and run the bike in a much calmer and quicker way, then powertronics is a good upgrade. It makes the throttle response quicker, smoother and more linear and predictable. But do not install it expecting noticeable improvement in acceleration, top speed or even the torque.

Is Powertronics V4 value for money?

I do not think it’s a value for money product. For a mere increase in smoothness, you are paying 19000 INR for the powertronics unit and 1500 for the map switch. With that money you could go for better chain sprockets, tires and engine oil which improves the smoothness of the bike. So I don’t think you should get one unless you have some cash to spare.

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FuelX Pro – Is it any good for the Himalayan 411?

FuelX Pro Is it any good A long term review on my himalayan 411

I sold the FuelX lite on my Himalayan 411 and got the FuelX Pro. Why did I do that and how does it perform? Let’s get into it.

In my post on the performance mods on the Himalayan 411, I mentioned I got the FuelX lite along with the BMC air filter and the Powerrage exhaust. I didn’t want to fiddle around with the maps on the pro version and the lite was tuned to incorporate an after market air filter and exhaust. Hence I went with the FuelX Lite.

After that, I installed the TEC cam and the decatted bend pipe from Ht exhaust. Once that was done, I started getting some fuelling and stalling issues. I figured it might be from the FuelX and I contacted race dynamics for support.

They told me that the lite version’s maps were not tuned to include a high lift cam and a full system exhaust. So they advised me to get the Pro version and run the bike on a much richer map. So I sold the lite and got the Pro installed.

The sweet spot for my Himalayan with all the mods to be around 6-7 map setting for city commute and 7-8 for the highway. Now let me get to the pros and cons of fuel X pro.

Pros of the FuelX Pro

1. Improved throttle response

As with the lite, the FuelX pro also improved the throttle response of the bike. The bike became more responsive and quicker to accelerate. The fuelling issues I had after installing the TEC cam were almost gone and it overall increased the smoothness of the bike. The bike felt peppier and engaging to ride.

2. Less stressed engine

The bike felt less stressed at higher RPMs. Cruising on the highway at 120 kph became much smoother and calmer and you could do it all day. This made long distance highway touring a bit more relaxing.

Cons of FuelX Pro

1. Malfunction at high altitudes

The pro version has 10 maps and a switch to change the maps. Maps 1 and 2 run a leaner air fuel mixture than the stock, map 3 is stock setting and maps above 3 run a richer air fuel mixture which progressively increases in richness.

Now when you go to high altitudes like Ladakh, a leaner setting should be used as the air is thin there. But the Fuel X Pro started malfunctioning right from the ascend to Jispa from Manali. During our Ladakh trip, as we ascended from Chandigarh to Manali, I reduced the maps from 8 to 5 by the time we reached Manali which is around 6k feet above sea level. The next day I planned to reduce it to 2 by the time we reach Jispa which sits 10k feet above sea level.

But to my surprise the switch stopped changing maps. This affected the ignition of the bike. The bike failed to start at high altitudes and needed the application of choke and throttle to start. Luckily my Himalayan which is a 2020 BS6 model, has the choke. I wonder how the 2021 models would’ve started at that situation. It also used to switch off during idling so I had to keep the throttle pinned the entire time it idles.

I thought this would be a problem only with my unit but later I got to know from many users about the same issue with their Fuel X at high altitudes. Some had to disconnect or bypass it to get their bikes started. The issue completely resolved and started working again once we reached Srinagar. I reached out to race dynamics about this issue and they didn’t seem to have a definitive solution.

2. No performance boost

Race dynamics markets that FuelX improves horse power and torque but in real life usage you don’t feel any improvement in acceleration or top speed with Fuel X. It’s just that it makes the bike run smoother and a bit peppier and nothing else.

Who is the FuelX Pro for?

If you’re looking to improve the throttle response and overall smoothness of the bike, Fuel X is a good option. It makes the bike a little peppier and calmer to ride at high speeds. It’s better to have a free flow exhaust and air filter if you’re planning to get one. If you’re planning to ride to Ladakh with it, don’t! Disconnect or bypass it before you climb altitude.

Is the FuelX Pro value for money?

I think FuelX pro is a value for money product if you have a free flow exhaust, air filter and a high lift cam. It makes good use of all these mods to provide a better ride. It costs around 12k INR. If you don’t have any of these mods, I don’t think Fuel X helps much.