How much does ignition improve performance? What else does it do beside its intended purpose of creating a spark in each jug at the right time?

On the buell the ignition is taken care of in the ecm. The race ecm has an advanced ignition curve, whereas the stock ecm is more moderate. How much performance is gained with the advanced curve?

I'm not asking for hard numbers and facts, just to understand what advancing does and how it works etc.

With the stock ecm, can I advance static timing to more or less compensate?

Thanx!

Well for the 04 the timing is not adjustable. You also have to remember that the factory must pass all the EPA standards, which means a lame advance curve for emissions and stuff. I saw a bike on the dyno, not mine, with just an ignition change and it made more torque and HP. Not a lot but it picked up 2-4ft lbs across the bottom and 1-2 hp on the top end. So from a performance standpoint, an ignition can give you more power to your bike. It's already there it just needs to be let out, and a factory ignition won't do that.