MY Story

[xb9fog]

There seems to be a lot of inaccurate information on a couple of other Buell Bulletin Boards regarding my integrity and how I gained the knowledge to put my products together. It appears there are others out there that feel I "stole" their knowledge and then turned around and started selling their knowledge as my own.

Although I freely admit there has been some limited collaboration with these individuals in the past, It was always a two way street - SHARING of information. I would provide information to them, they would provide information to me as a collaborative effort. For them to make statements like "I got him going" or "where Dave presents all the facts he got from me and other EcmSpy enthusiasts for free" is totally absurd and completely off base.

Since I can't post on the one board that this seems to be the main focus right now, I'll post the facts here as I see it, and have experienced it. I know this may seem lengthy but to get the complete picture there's a lot to tell.

My background

Tuning /Racing Background
I started tuning motorcycles in the '70s.When I was racing in the late 70s and early to mid 80s, I was tuning my own bikes that I raced. This is when I learned all my tuning fundamentals, although it was carburation, not Fuel injection.
All the fundamental tuning principals I learned during this time applied later to Fuel injection. I was fairly successful during this time, earning 4 WERA regional championships and 2 AMACCS Regional championships.

In 2002 I purchased my first Buell, an XB9R. At this time I started searching for anything I could find in the way of information on how the fuel injection system worked on the Buells. Information was scarce, and at this time EcmSpy or Direct Link software did not exist, and I did a lot of experimentation with stuff that didn't work very well, like resistors in the O2 circuit to trick the ECM into providing a little more fuel to the bike. I also purchased and installed a Power Commander and tuned it with limited success. Then Technoresearch came out with their Direct Link Tuning software, which I purchased as soon as it was available. I also purchased a Zietronix wideband controller at this time, to use with the DL software. I learned how to use these tools, and ended up with a very good tune for my Drummer equipped XB9. The bike ran great and I finally had a good solution for tuning it.

In 2004, after about 27K miles, I had a transmission failure on this bike that mucked up the engine cases. The search was on for a salvage bike with a good engine. I found and purchased a wreck, disassembled it completely, and got her up and running again with a fresh motor. During the winter of 2004 I purchased an XB factory race ECM and Tuner software as I felt it was a better solution for tuning over the limitations of using the Directlink software. This new DOS based software was amazing to me because with the factory software you could pretty much figure out every aspect of how this ECM works, and all the parameters that you could adjust - everything! I was in heaven! This is where I learned 90% of what I know about the DDFI Fuel injection system. I spent many months looking at all this information and experimenting with the tuning aspect of it. This was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Somewhere about this time, I had read about a group of guys in the UK and Europe that where researching and trying to find a way to tune their Buells. I had posted a couple of things up that I may be able to help, and did receive an email from one of the guys asking if I could provide some detailed information regarding what I knew about the factory race tuner. He was literally begging me for a copy of the Tuner software; Now I'm not going to say here if I provided it to him, but let it suffice to say that he was thankful for my help and I wished him success in his group's research. I don't know exactly how long after this it was, seems like maybe a year, but EcmSpy was released as a free tuning application and created quite a buzz. I downloaded this new software and took a look at it, and checked out the website. Found that there was a lot of good information on the site, and I did learn some additional things from it. But since, at this time I had the factory race ECM and tuner software (which gave me capabilities beyond what EcmSpy provides) I didn't have an need for it.

The winter of 2006 I decided I was going to build a tricked out big bore XB9 track bike with all the extra parts that I had accumulated. I used the factory race tuner on this project to handle the unique fueling requirements of this beast, and did so with success and further honed my knowledge and skills with DDFI tuning. In 2007, Buell announced the release if the 1125R, and after riding their demos and three inside pass trackdays, I had to have one.

So during the winter of 2007/2008, I parted out both my XBs and purchased the first one my local Dealer got in. Well we all know about the early fueling issues on the 2008 1125R, and my experience told me I had to find a way to correct it. It was so bad I couldn't stand riding it on the street. I was hoping that the EcmSpy software would be updated to be able to adjust the mapping on these new DDFI-3 Fuel injection systems. Then I read a post by one of the EcmSpy founders that they were not going to further develop the EcmSpy software to be compatible beyond the 2007 model year bikes. Reasons cited at that time where constantly changing EEPROM layouts by the factory, and some vague reference to legal issues and being forcefully asked not to develop the software further. It was also posted that the source code for the PC version of EcmSpy would not be made available, but if someone wanted to pick up the ball and start their own development, the Palm version source code was freely available (and still is available for download).

At this point in early-mid 2008, If I wanted to get the fueling corrected on my bike, I was pretty much on my own. And there were a lot of other owners looking for a solution as well. I experimented with using EcmSpy to fetch the EPROM data from the 1125, and found that it would in fact read in 13+ pages of EPROM data. I also found that once the data was fetched, I could get it to write changed value(s) to the EPROM, on a limited basis. Everything else in the program (fuel maps, etc.) was coming up gibberish, but this part seemed to work. But the EPROM data is hexadecimal, and I couldn't work with it like that.

I came up with an idea of taking the EcmSpy Hex dump, importing into an Excel spreadsheet, then creating a mirror of it in decimal values (through the use of Excel formulas) that made sense to me. Next, my focus was to determine where the fuel maps were located, and this was done by using my knowledge of where they were in the earlier XB EPROM’s, and finding like patterns in the data. Hours of staring at numbers in a spreadsheet it started coming out and I was able to define the fuel and spark maps, along with their axis. Then I went further to extrapolate the maps in a table format within Excel so I would have a somewhat crude interface in which I could see the TPS and RPM axis along with the cell seed values. I was on to something. Once I got this done, I installed my wideband, disabled the O2 sensor feedback and went data logging. After a few sessions of corrections on both front and rear cylinders, focusing on the cruise areas in the fuel maps, I had a very happy Helicon engine that ran like it should. I shared these maps (I code named this calibration "Nirvana") with several other local 1125 owners and the feedback was unanimous -- wow, finally this bike runs perfect!.

The rest is pretty much where I'm at now, I decided to further develop and refine the spreadsheet solution that I now offer as an application called BDDFI-III Tuner. After supporting the users and corresponding with people interested in the software, it became apparent to me that most didn't have the desire to learn how to become tuners; they really just wanted to be able to load a corrected calibration and enjoy. This feedback and need sparked the idea of building a software application that could load a calibration and switch back and forth at will between a stock calibration and a modified performance calibration. So I started developing from scratch a Visual Basic application called BDDFI-III Flash Utility. The main objective was to give users with little to no tuning and computer skills an easy means to correct the calibration on their bike for performance track use, and also comply with regulations for street use by being able to switch back to the box stock calibration.

Regarding the development of my Performance Calibrations, I will tell you that what I offer is completely developed by myself without any copying or use of anyone else's custom mapping or calibration "secrets" in whole or in part. Although one individual had provided to me (voluntarily, I didn't ask for it) his "core changes" , I never even looked at it because 1. I have no idea what his changes were, and 2. I was already in development using my own methods, which differ significantly from this individuals approach.

Computer Technology Background
I started programming in the Basic language in the early 90's. I've been the IT manager for a small manufacturing company that I have worked for 23 years. I have developed software beginning in the late 90's for my company that required serial interface coding to communicate with specialized machines that mark characters on metal nameplates. This serial interface programming is the basis of which I used in my Performance Flash Utility to communicate and write to the ECM. As you can see I had developed this years before EcmSpy was released.

I hope this gives everyone a clearer picture of how my software products evolved, my
background, and how I went about developing it. As you can see these software applications came about because of a personal need for a solution where a solution did not exist for me. I decided to spend even more time and effort to take it further and offer my solutions for others to use.

Please feel free to question or comment.

[rey longoria]

Dave I like your story an man what a history ,it would be nice if there where more hard working people like you on this planet willing to do what you do . Owell keep up the good work we appreciate it . WFOREY

[xoptimizedrsx]

dave, i hope my post on both help clear up any misunderstanding as i read this after i did the post. check the date/time stamps. thats something i cant change.

you have worked hard on doing your data just as i have mine. I have many tools i use as you do. we both have made a big point on these systems on the buell ecms. two different ways same great result.

there are a lot of people very thank for for what you have done as well as i have done.

hats off to you on the flash system as a new item available for release.


xopti mike

[Zack]

Now I'm really confused.
I voted with my wallet and a smile.

Z

[spectrum]

Maybe this will help Zach. Sorry for the long and technical explanation.

The serial interface Dave spoke of for communicating with the ECM via the cable and a PC is nothing new or unique. Serial interfaces were the original means for electronic devices and computers or even two computers to communicate. Serial interfaces were out long before there were USB, networks wifi or TCP/IP, etc. All of which are now common means for electronic communications between computing devices. These newer interfaces have mostly replaced and all but obsoleted serial communications. Serial communications have been around for over 40 years and knowledge of them and how to use them is considered common in the IT industry. At this point, serial communications are only used for very rudimentary interfaces with basic standalone devices. These standalone devices are almost always very simplistic computers. By simplistic I mean they consist of an EEPROM chip and a Processor (CPU). Sometimes the Processor and EEPROM may be combined on a single chip (IC or Intergrated circuit). An EEPROM is nothing more than a chip for nonvolatile storage of data and software. In other words on these simplistic computers EEPROM's are the equivalent of disks on you home PC's. These simplistic standalone computers are now common place in all kinds of consumer products and industrial devices that require some means for storing of information and acting on that information to provide functionality for the intended purpose of the devices. Common examples of simple consumer products that contain EEPROMS and Processors are MP3 players, digital cameras, cell phones, GPS devices etc. We are used to seeing communications with these devices via USB, but in actuality there is almost always a USB to serial interface conversion happening that is transparent to the end user. Serial communications are still fairly common in industrial applications such as manufacturing, medical and scientific devices.

Another example of industrial use of serial communications and simplistic computers is in the automotive industry where processors and EEPROMS have replaced mechanical means for managing fuel, spark and other control and management systems associated with engines and vehicle operations. The ECM in our Buells is nothing more than an EEPROM and Processor.

I'm not sure exactly when serial communications first appeared. I've been in the business for 30+ years and when I started I worked on 10 year old devices that used serial communications. Thus my use of 40+ years to date the technology. Since serial communications has been around for more than 40 years, it is now considered public domain with patents on the technology and use of them long since expired. Note that patents expire after 17-20 years depending on when they were filled. Copyright expiration is a bit more complicated, but trying to enforce copyright on software that performs serial communication is a mute point since the technology is now considered public domain.

Buell owns the copyright on the data and software inside the ECM so no one but Buell can claim ownership over that or the functions they perform.

Dave's software and ECMSpy use serial communications to modify the data inside the ECM. Since Buell owns the data, the only thing common or overlapping function between what Dave has done and what ECMSpy does is modify the the data in the EEPROM via the serial communications interface. This is not unique or proprietary knowledge or functionality to either Dave's software or ECMSpy, but rather industry standard technology that has been around for multiple decades and used in literally millions of computing applications by thousands of programmers all over the world. As you can, see for anyone to claim ownership over the use of serial communications is absurd and just wrong.

[Zack]

Thanks, I was confused at Mike's turn-around.
I'm glad to see it tho.

I got an e-mail from one of my BWB friends on the left coast and apparently Gunter is very upset.
More disparaging words... I'm having trouble with the response to his e-mail.
Gunter said he gave up on developing Spy any further before Dave said a word about his project, another part that doesn't make sense.
This whole affair is having an uncomfortable, polarizing effect.

I stand by Dave

Until recently I was an E/M Tech for the last 30 years(field and R&D), hardware, but exposed to enough high-tech stuff and motors since the 70s to understand the mechanics of what Dave's doing.
Now I'm just a Parts guy at a HD/Buell dealer.

[xb9fog]

"Gunter said he gave up on developing Spy any further before Dave said a word about his project"
That is truth as stated in MY Story - I wish I could find the over 1 year old post where he made that statement - probably has 'disappeared'
Why would he make it sound in his recent post like I am now the cause of him ceasing further development? Wants to make me look like the bad guy?
And I'll emphasize again, what I have done here is a DIRECT RESULT of his decision over a year ago to cease further development. I didn't start on my software yesterday.

"apparently Gunter is very upset"
Maybe he is upset with himself?
I don't understand why, if he wanted to control how people can and cannot utilize his program, he never published a EULA (end user license agreement) with it? That's typically how a software developer communicates to the end user what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in it's use.
I don't understand why, after publicly stating over a year ago that he is ceasing further development, he then becomes upset when someone else comes up with a viable solution for what is not supported.
I don't know why he would make a statement over a year ago giving people direction to use the openly available ECMSpy for Palm source code if anyone wants to pick up the ball and run with it.
Thank God I didn't do that, I would have been crucified or burned at the stake.

"got an e-mail from one of my BWB friends on the left coast"
It doesn't take a rocket Scientist to figure all this out, when you look at where all the defamation is coming from.

Interesting how there's two entities on the left coast working togeather to sell maps (sponsors on Badweb), and the tuner has openly stated the he uses EcmSpy (commercially) without objection from Gunter.
No objections? I'll leave it up to your imagination to what's going on there. Keep in mind There's people making money.
Why is this left coast tuner's commercial use of ECMSpy "ethical"?

In business, when only one or two have a monopoly on a market, they enjoy and reap the benefit from that monopoly.
The last thing they want to see is more competition. When they feel threatened, some will go to great lengths to stop it.

I feel like I'm back in first grade and the new kid on the block - they usually get beat up pretty bad.

[badlionsfan]

Well Dave I support what you're doing, and was glad to be able to donate the flash that came out last fall to the research.

Now we just need to get together again so I can join the silky smooth running 1125r club.

[Zack]

I'm searching -
I'm pretty sure that comment is somewhere in this thread Dave started last June, right before Homecoming.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/m ... 1222047139

No go. Some innuendo but that's not what I was looking for.
Oh well, it's over 70, I'm going riding.

Z

[xb9fog]

It wasn't on that forum, as I recall.

[ponti1000]

Here's the first place I remenber hearing it definitively, though I know it wasn't from the horse's mouth:

http://www.buelletinboard.com/forums/sh ... php?t=6373

All this accusation stuff seems to be pretty ridiculous. With Mike coming out and saying he has no hard feelings, it seems to me that Gunter has the only unsubstantiated perspective. It's a shame the other board owner can't even allow discussion on the subject.

[Helicon]

"It's a shame the other board owner can't even allow discussion on the subject."

That is the truth. I'm not sure if anyone noticed or not, but the latest thread I had posted several questions as to why there was anything wrong/unethical about Dave's software. Instead of any answers to my questions .... there was one last post by the board owner stating something along the lines that it is sad that I would support unethical software and immdiately closed the thread so no other responses could be posted. Within a couple days the thread was removed completely. It almost strikes me as if they're trying to hide something and don't want the masses to know the truth. Or perhaps there really is not a good reason for the harsh feelings. I don't get it ... probably never will. Only thing I'm waiting for is the bike to get the 05Z flash ... and its on!

[ponti1000]

Sad....Really sad. Before I ever owned the 1125, I spent about 3-1/2 years on the various Buell forums, just reading and trying to learn as much as I could. I remember seeing lots of pissing contests on that particular site that I didn't understand and couldn't relate to (and don't see on any other site), but at the time my only concern was archiving as much useful information as I could get. The whole thing seems to have gotten significantly worse over the last 18-24 months, and now if you aren't waving a Buell flag while wearing a Drummer t-shirt you have a good chance of getting beat unmercifully out of the blue.

Anyway, hope everything works itself out for the best...It usually does, ya know.

[spectrum]

What I want to know is how do I get one of those spiffy "BDDF-III Tuner Owner" tags in my profile?

[Slypiranna]

FWIW,

I personally know the founder here and consider myself a factual witness to what has happened.

I also know or have communicated with the "players" involved.

IMO, the story heading this thread is the truth.

The b.s., as played out on BadWeb, is not the truth...nor is "this" the first time or the only individual/entity that has been wronged.

Funny thing about the truth, it always finds you, just takes time ...

Now, when are we gonna see cool "BDDFI-III Tuned" stickers and T-Shirts for SALE $?$... !!!! mm