Pretty much spot on explanation. Pre CANBUS (2009 and earlier) are a cinch. CANBUS - not so much.
I think it was [USER=3630]@Mittzy[/USER] who did the "will a canbus ECU bike work withouth the correct speedo". IIRC it would run without one, but would not start without one.
I'd not risk running the block without coolant flowing. The R3 block warms up fast ime.
