PRI 2019: What’s New and Cool Edition
three XS power batteries on a table with two ESM sitting in front of the one on the left
XS Power introduced the capacitive starting battery for PRI 2018, and we were blown away.

Now, XS Power has introduced a powersports-specific version of the SuperBANK capacitive battery, which might be even cooler. With a street price starting at $180, these batteries will offer direct fit replacement for the RZR side-by-side, certain Harley Davidson applications, and more.

In stark contrast to traditional batteries, lithium or otherwise, the SuperBANK has a lifespan of 5 MILLION discharge cycles. That means you can completely discharge these batteries to zero volts millions of times before they fail or need replacement.

As we suggested last year, the SuperBANK batteries are only for starting use, and cannot be used for any length of time to run accessories or other devices on their own, as they discharge very rapidly. But, if your hog or your jetski or other equipment has discharged the battery in the off season, simply hook up the included Engine Starting Module (ESM) to charge the SuperBANK in under a minute. The ESM itself simply charges via USB like most other portable electronic devices.

 

chillout systems cooler and ducts and boxes sitting on a display table
Chillout Systems went big this year at the PRI show, with a spacious booth displaying all of their wares.

While they didn’t have anything particularly new to debut at the show, it was one of their first appearances, so we wish them well. If you want to know more about the Chillout Systems Quantum Cooler, you can read about our installation of one on Project SC300 here.

 

intercooler cores, heat exchangers, radiators on a display table
CSF has been holed up in the same hallway intersection location for several years.

It’s actually a great spot that affords them tons of foot traffic. Interestingly, while CSF tends to trot out their direct-fit and “import” applications at SEMA, the PRI show has a much more hardcore racer/fabricator focus, so they tend to play up their universal and core products more.

Just about everyone that comes into the booth has some crazy hot rod-type project that is a combination of every domestic manufacturer for the last 100 years, but CSF’s fabrication support usually helps that individual leave happy. They are now beginning to expand their universal heat exchanger offerings as well.

That doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy on the OEM/direct-fit side. They have new heat exchanges for the W205 C63 AMG (CY20Q1), a heat exchanger for the new Supra, and a new N55 BMW engine oil cooler. They have also been getting into the overlanding market with Toyota applications covering the 5G Forerunner, 2G Tacoma, and all of the Tundras.

 

display of three black, yellow and purple KW dampers
Expanding on last year’s 4-way adjustable shock debut, KW has taken it (literally) one step further.

Now, pictured at the right, KW offers a 5-way adjustable damper which features adjustable blowoff based on a shim piston. This allows for fine damping control of extreme-speed compression events, like when hitting curbs. There are 18 steps of high- and low-speed compression and rebound adjustments, and the new blow-off adjustment features its own 12 steps.

There is also a new MacPherson strut application, which is essentially an inverted damper that was redesigned for maximum side force stability while still allowing for maximum hydraulic output. The MacPherson version features a 40mm housing with a 30mm internal piston, and is available in both a “traditional” 4-way damping configuration as well as with the new blow-off adjustment installed as an option.

8 comments

  1. I’d like to see a study on the differences between split calipers like the stoptechs and forged monoblock calipers like AP/Alcons. Other than saving a few grams what do you get for a 50% price hike?

    I’ve thought about putting a Fueltech ECU dash on my miata on and off since I heard about them. The support is what’s holding me back, there is a huge community of Megasquirt miata owners that can offer support. But the FT450 looks like a badass deal to me, ECU + dash + datalogger, it even has an internal MAP sensor.

    1. I mean, it really wouldn’t be that hard of a test to do, just expensive as it’s not like they give the suckers away. You’re also going to have to try to be apples to apples, as I have a strong suspicion that some parts of AP, Alcon, PFC etc’s lineup have picked different values on the compromise scale of stiffness vs weight or are designed with different constraints. A lot of the high buck monoblock calipers are built to specific classes/configurations. Like, just as a for example, I think the STR60GT is (I think) a similar pad shape/volume to the Alcon TA6 caliper, but will it fit as big of a rotor into a 16″ race wheel? Probably not, because Stoptech probably wasn’t designing for a specific class.

      1. The max rotor size is a good argument I hadn’t though of. You can probably get the same stiffness and rotor/pad size for half the price by going with a split caliper but if you want the biggest rotor you can fit in a wheel then monoblock would be the only option.

        1. Which is not anything against Stoptech IMO, it’s just a “stuff designed to the limits of rules for specific applications will do better at that then a generalist design” thing.

    2. @Nicolas Girard

      Most modern racing ECUs have internal MAP as well as some level of logging. It’s really the integrated dash that is the bonus, as that’s generally a $600+ option from just about any other vendor.

      For a non-forced-induction BP6 (I’m assuming NA/NB motor that doesn’t even have VVT) you really are fine with anything. If your motor is already running on the Megasquirt, you could go with one of the logging dashes like the AEM CD7-L. It’s pricey, but would round out everything you need, and in the future you could use any other ECU with that setup.

      If you don’t have anything yet, the FT450 could be a great option, and the support should be pretty good. FuelTech is based right around the corner from me in Georgia and they’re super friendly. Most of your “issues” would be around wiring (no plug-and-play FT450-BP6 harness) and a base map (FuelTech probably doesn’t do many NA 4-cyls). But motors will run even with pretty bad maps and you just need to get it going well enough to get on the dyno =)

      1. Thanks for the info, I’ve never installed an ECU myself, I’m looking at swaping my 200k miles BP6 to a later model engine BP4W or BPZ3 and the Megasquirt looks like the easiest option.

        NA/NB miatas have chunky MAF sensors instead of MAP, I thought the megasquirt didn’t have an internal MAP (it does) because I’ve read about putting in a GM IAT/MAP sensor when you delete the MAF.

        TIL: Turns out you do it because the MAF module you delete also has the intake air temp sensor inside, the GM part has the IAT and gives you a second MAP for barometric data.

        For a first time, the plug in ECU with the wide user base is probably the more intelligent choice. The FT450 is still a great deal, it’s a bit cheaper than the MSpnpPRO, has a dash and real slick program.

        The AEM dash is a cool piece but it is half the price of the Miata on its own. it would look off brand next to the knockoff Bride seats and cheapo NRG steering.

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