Components Overview

FT550 Sensor Overview

This section outlines the critical sensors and components required for the FuelTech FT550 ECU to operate properly—and for the motorcycle itself. It includes both aftermarket upgrades and OEM component adaptations, along with setup notes for FT Manager and any wiring modifications. As you'll see throughout this wiki, I converted most of the connections to Deutsch DT or DTM whenever possible. That said, I did track down most of the OEM connectors, so if you decide to reuse OEM, you'll have the correct part numbers.

🔧 Required Sensors for FT550 Operation

The FT550 requires several key inputs to function correctly. These include:

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)
Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor (FT550 integrated or OEM)
Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECT)
Intake Air Temperature Sensor (IAT)
Crankshaft Position Sensor (TRIG)
Camshaft Position Sensor (CSYNC)
Wideband O2 Sensor (via NanoPro or equivalent)
Fuel Pressure Sensor (optional but recommended)
Oil Pressure Sensor (optional but recommended)

⚙️ Aftermarket Components

As outlined in the Project Planning page, several aftermarket components were used to ensure compatibility and reliability:

FuelTech NanoPro – Wideband O2 interface
FuelTech Pressure Sensors – For fuel and oil pressure monitoring
Haltech ECT Sensor – Used for coolant temperature input
CBR 600RR COP Conversion – Required for SparkPRO ignition setup
FT550 Integrated MAP Sensor – I used the internal MAP sensor on the FT550. If using the OEM sensor, you'll need the calibration table from the service manual.
SPAL Fan Upgrade – Upgrade to pusher SPAL fans for each radiator.

🧩 OEM Component Integration (ECU Related)

The nice thing about aftermarket ECUs is that they're highly configurable. As long as you understand how a sensor or component is expected to perform, you can use just about anything. Many OEM sensors on the RC51 can be reused with the FT550, but some require research to configure correctly. Luckily, I’ve done that work and documented it here.

OEM TPS: Compatible with FT550—just calibrate it in FT Manager.
OEM IAT: Requires voltage calibration in FT Manager under Inputs. Many aftermarket sensors have different mounting styles.
OEM Crank Sensor: (Crank Trigger Sensor) OEM VR sensor. Must be configured correctly in FT Manager to ensure proper polarity.
OEM Cam Sensor: (Cam Sync Sensor) OEM VR sensor. Helps the ECU determine engine phase. Also requires correct polarity setup.
OEM Bank Angle Sensor: Integrated into the custom main harness and power supply. Mimics OEM logic for fuel and ignition cut, as well as fan control.
OEM Transmission RPM Sensor: Output shaft speed sensor used for vehicle speed readings.
OEM Fuel Pump: Reused the in-tank pump and pressure regulator on the throttle body fuel rails.
OEM Fuel Injectors: Reused the OEM Denso injectors.

🧩 OEM Component Integration (Non-ECU Related)

The following components are a mix of OEM and aftermarket parts not directly tied to ECU operation. I’m including them here because I recreated what I call the "Main Harness"—which powers things like headlights, taillights, etc. I separated this from the "ECU Harness" so that a race-only version could be built later. The main harness could be removed, leaving just the ECU harness with minor modifications (like a master switch). More details are available in their respective documentation.

Starter Relay
Starter Motor
Alternator
Rectifier
Side Stand Switch
Neutral Switch
LED Front Turn Signals
Hot Bodies LED Taillights/Turn Signals
LED Plate Light
Headlights
Ignition Switch
Brake Switches
Low Fuel Reading Thermistor
("OEM") Ducati Clutch and Front Brake Switches

This covers most of the components used. I’ve omitted a few, like handlebar switches and a custom light bar, but those are documented elsewhere.

🛠 Setup in FT Manager

As mentioned above, each sensor must be configured in FT Manager with the correct input type, calibration curve, and filtering settings. Key setup tasks include:

Assigning input channels to each sensor
Loading calibration data (resistance tables, voltage curves)
Setting filtering and update rates
Verifying live data during initial power-up

These tasks are documented in each component’s section as needed.

🔌 Wiring Modifications

Wiring changes—while not strictly necessary—were made to give the build a more professional feel. These modifications include:

Splicing or replacing connectors with compatible terminals
Shielding signal wires (especially for crank and cam sensors)
Routing sensor grounds properly to avoid noise
Adding harness protection using Raychem DR-25 and SCL where needed (also helps with aesthetics)
Labeling and documenting each harness branch for easy identification

Tip: I created a lot of logic and troubleshooting checks for each component in its respective section to ensure proper function and easier diagnostics.