- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 443
Pazon has just announced a new all-digital electronic ignition with idle stabilization. This product, the Pazon Altair, sells for approximately $250 USD, delivered to your door in less than 10 days. For riders who are looking for higher performance and a stable idle, but are, like myself, doubious about logic electronics located in a hot cavity, this product will have appeal. I installed this unit on my Mk3 this weekend and can give a brief report on what I found.
First, the advance curve. I've compared it here to the curves from the standard Pazon Surefire (I've been running this EI on my British bikes for the past few years), TriSpark (from Ludwig), and the AAU (from Dave Comeau).
The Altair exibits an identical idle stabilization to the TriSpark, with its sweet spot at 900 rpm and usable range between 800 and 1200 rpm. This feature gets high marks from TriSpark users, so I was curious to see the effect for myself, on my bike. Compared to the Surefire, the Altair (and the TriSpark as well) delivers a more retarded spark at both tickover and takeoff, as much as 6 degrees or so more retarded at 2000 rpm, although more advanced than the AAU. At 3000 rpm both the Altair and the TriSpark are fully advanced at 30 degrees, while the Surefire continues to advance the spark up to 32 degrees at 5000 rpm.
Installation, like all modern EIs, was a snap once the tank and seat are removed. Pazon's static timing system, utilizing a LED indicator, was dead-nuts on; strobing the timing confirmed 30 degrees at 3000 rpm. After a 3-minute warm-up with the choke (single Mikuni 34) off, I adjusted the idle for 1000 rpms, where it remained.
I took the bike out for a brief 30-minute ride. Compared to the Surefire, the Altair-equipped bike was much more responsive and spirited while accelerating, largely due, I think, to the more retarded advance curve below 3000 rpm. Under load, the bike pulled smoothly and strongly up to 5000 rpm (the Mikuni runs out of grunt much beyond 5500 or so). This was a REALLY fun ride. At the end of the ride, coming to rest in my garage, the idle remained steady at 1000 rpm. I wasn't expecting such a change in performance.
Debby, this product should fix your wandering idle problem. Mex, this product is "all in" at 3000, just like the AAU.
Andy Perkins at Pazon tells me that the Altair is offered with a fixed advance curve to capture improved performance and still keep the price affordable for recreational riders. Programmable units will follow for more bucks.
First, the advance curve. I've compared it here to the curves from the standard Pazon Surefire (I've been running this EI on my British bikes for the past few years), TriSpark (from Ludwig), and the AAU (from Dave Comeau).
The Altair exibits an identical idle stabilization to the TriSpark, with its sweet spot at 900 rpm and usable range between 800 and 1200 rpm. This feature gets high marks from TriSpark users, so I was curious to see the effect for myself, on my bike. Compared to the Surefire, the Altair (and the TriSpark as well) delivers a more retarded spark at both tickover and takeoff, as much as 6 degrees or so more retarded at 2000 rpm, although more advanced than the AAU. At 3000 rpm both the Altair and the TriSpark are fully advanced at 30 degrees, while the Surefire continues to advance the spark up to 32 degrees at 5000 rpm.
Installation, like all modern EIs, was a snap once the tank and seat are removed. Pazon's static timing system, utilizing a LED indicator, was dead-nuts on; strobing the timing confirmed 30 degrees at 3000 rpm. After a 3-minute warm-up with the choke (single Mikuni 34) off, I adjusted the idle for 1000 rpms, where it remained.
I took the bike out for a brief 30-minute ride. Compared to the Surefire, the Altair-equipped bike was much more responsive and spirited while accelerating, largely due, I think, to the more retarded advance curve below 3000 rpm. Under load, the bike pulled smoothly and strongly up to 5000 rpm (the Mikuni runs out of grunt much beyond 5500 or so). This was a REALLY fun ride. At the end of the ride, coming to rest in my garage, the idle remained steady at 1000 rpm. I wasn't expecting such a change in performance.
Debby, this product should fix your wandering idle problem. Mex, this product is "all in" at 3000, just like the AAU.
Andy Perkins at Pazon tells me that the Altair is offered with a fixed advance curve to capture improved performance and still keep the price affordable for recreational riders. Programmable units will follow for more bucks.