Keihin ECUs at KTM & Husqvarna: The Generations at a Glance
From the EXC unit 812.41.031 to the big LC8 models: which Keihin generations sit in KTM and Husqvarna bikes, and why the sticker decides.
October 26, 2026 by Leo Efimow
"Does my KTM have a Keihin ECU?" The answer is almost always yes. The next question is harder: which one? Keihin has supplied engine management to KTM and Husqvarna for many years, but not as a single unit. There are several generations that differ clearly in size, design and functionality. For tuning that matters, because a file only ever fits exactly one unit. Here you get an overview of the generations, the models they are fitted to and how to recognise yours.
Who Keihin is
Keihin is a Japanese supplier that has been a fixture in the motorcycle world for decades. The brand became known for carburettors. Anyone who knows an older KTM enduro or motocross bike usually knows the Keihin flat-slide carburettor too. With the switch to fuel injection, Keihin also supplied throttle bodies, injectors and the control units. Since 2021 Keihin has been part of Hitachi Astemo, but the units still carry the Keihin sticker.
The cooperation is particularly close at KTM. After KTM took over Husqvarna in 2013 and Husaberg was merged into Husqvarna, many models of these brands run on shared technology. That is why the same control units often show up in enduros of all three brands.
Generation 1 off-road: the compact EXC unit
For model year 2012, KTM switched the four-stroke enduros of the EXC range to fuel injection. With that came a small, light Keihin control unit that KTM lists as "EFI 11". The KTM part number is 81241031100, which replaces the older 81241031000. The second line of the Keihin sticker shows a number starting with 812.41.031.
This unit is fitted to a whole range of models:
| Brand | Models | Years |
|---|---|---|
| KTM | 250 EXC-F | 2012–2013 |
| KTM | 350 EXC-F, 450 EXC, 500 EXC | 2012–2016 |
| KTM | Freeride 350 | 2012–2017 |
| KTM | 450 SMR | 2013–2014 |
| KTM | 250 SX-F, 350 SX-F | 2014 |
| KTM | 450 SX-F | 2014–2015 |
| Husaberg | FE 250 / FE 350, 450, 501 | 2013 / 2013–2014 |
| Husqvarna | FE 350, 450, 501 | 2014–2016 |
| Husqvarna | FC 250 | 2014 |
A typical feature of this generation is four complete map banks that the unit switches between while running. From the factory they are meant for different riding characters; for tuning they are the basis for multi-map. The full list with displacement and stock figures is on the page for the Keihin 81241031100.
The successors off-road
KTM updates its models quickly. New engines and frames brought new control units too. The SX-F from model year 2016, for example, has a different unit with the number 79041031000. The 250 cc four-strokes from model year 2014 no longer use the EXC unit either, and later EXC model years also have a newer control unit.
Some of the units look similar from the outside. Inside they differ in memory, software and programming route. A file for the EXC unit therefore cannot simply be carried over to a successor, even if the bike looks almost the same.
The big singles: 690 and 701
The KTM 690 with the LC4 engine and the Husqvarna 701 are a world of their own. They are not sport enduros but large road and travel singles, in their current versions with ride-by-wire and considerably more electronics. Accordingly they use their own, larger Keihin control unit. On the 690 that is part number 76041031000. Apart from the manufacturer it has little in common with the EXC unit.
The twins: LC8 from Adventure to Super Duke
KTM has also fitted several Keihin generations to the big twins. Roughly, three stages can be distinguished:
- Older LC8 models of the 990 era with an older control unit generation.
- The 1190/1290 generation from the mid-2010s, for example 1290 Super Duke, 1290 Super Adventure or 1090 Adventure. Ride modes, traction control and ride-by-wire arrived here, and with them a much more capable controller.
- The current generation in the newest big models such as the 1390 Super Duke, with yet another new technology.
For these models it applies all the more: the generation determines how the unit is read and programmed and what is possible at all. There is no blanket statement for "the KTM Keihin".
Why the sticker counts more than the model
Model name and year are a good first hint, nothing more. There are transition years, special models, imports and bikes on which a control unit has already been swapped. Only what is printed on the unit is certain.
How to check it:
- Remove the seat. On the enduros the control unit usually sits underneath in a rubber holder.
- Read the sticker. The second line of the Keihin sticker shows the hardware number. On the EXC unit it starts with 812.41.031; the last three digits can differ depending on the software version, for example .033 or .100.
- Take a photo. A sharp photo of the sticker saves questions later.
If a different number is printed there, that is not a problem, just a different starting point. Then it has to be clarified first what is possible with that unit.
What the generation means for your tune
In practice the generation decides three things:
- Which file fits. The tune is always matched to the original software read from your unit, not to a file from an archive.
- Which functions make sense. The EXC unit with its four map banks, for example, is ideal for multi-map. Other generations are structured differently.
- How it gets onto the bike. Tools and procedures differ by unit. That is why the control unit is programmed by us and not sent as a file.
Currently all models with the Keihin control unit 812.41.031 can be configured online. For them you put together power, pops & bangs, party mode or multi-map in the motorcycle configurator. Prices start at €150 for one option, several options cost €200, multi-map €230. You bring your bike to Stödtlen or send in the control unit; by post it takes about 3–7 days in total including shipping. How that works is explained in the article on sending in your motorcycle ECU. If your model is not listed, you can send an enquiry through the configurator.
Legal framework
Regardless of the generation: modifying the engine software voids the vehicle's type approval. All functions are intended exclusively for motorsport and are not permitted on public roads, even on a road-registered enduro. Details are in the motorsport notice.
Conclusion
At KTM and Husqvarna, "Keihin" is not a unit designation but a manufacturer with several generations. On the enduros from 2012 to 2016 it is usually the compact EXC unit 812.41.031; the 690/701 and the twins have their own, larger units. Before you order, check the sticker. What the tune actually changes on the EXC unit is explained in the article on the KTM EXC with Keihin ECU, and the term itself in the glossary under Keihin.