2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 - Canyon Killer

A Proper street sleeper is a bike that appears stock at first glance but ultimately shows that it's anything but when the wick is turned up. A blue and white 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is nothing unusual, but how about one that's had some serious engine and suspension work done specifically to make it a stronger street runner? That's right-you might not initially notice because there aren't any fat tires or turbo dump pipes to grab your attention. Instead, there are insanely lightweight wheels, a sick brake set-up from top to bottom, and a fuel-management system that would make World Superbike racers envious. Over the next several months, SSB will show you how to transform your stock ride into a true street killer using high-performance parts that add an element of bling no piece of chrome or airbrushed plastic can compete with. This month the motor gets a boost with Bazzaz Performance's ultra-trick fuel-management, tractioncontrol and quickshift system partnered with a full exhaust from Micron.

To handle the GSX-R's sophisticated fuel injection we chose the only system we could find that was capable of controlling all eight fuel injectors independently-the Bazzaz Performance Z-FI TC. The Z-FI TC is Bazzaz's flagship product, and we found out that it's far from simply a fuel-control box. The full system includes traction control and a quickshifter that are both tunable per gear, rpm and throttle position. Although quickshifters are nothing new, traction-control technology is a first for us street riders and starting to become a necessity with power levels nearing the 200-hp-per-liter mark.

You say traction control on the street is pointless? Say that after a coldmorning wet spot spits you off or a dirty corner causes a highside. Traction control is a "smart" device and can help eliminate the dangers of these unforeseen obstacles.

We spent a day at Bazzaz Performance to get the Gixxer set up with the Micron Serpent header and MotoGp Ti cans, the Z-FI TC and a BMC air filter. A quick run on the dyno for some stock hp and torque numbers gave us a baseline, then off came the stock parts. Installing the pipe and filter was pretty straightforward, and believe it or not the Z-FI TC went on smoothly as well. We were surprised because advanced electronics can be tricky, but the system comes with a model-specific wiring harness that uses OEM-style connectors, so installation is a simple plug-and-play deal. The optional Z-AFM selftuning module requires an oxygen sensor in the exhaust header, so Bazzaz modified our Micron mid-pipe with the necessary O2 sensor fitting. Installation was finished and the bike was back on the dyno in just over an hour.

Once strapped back on the dyno we let the Z-AFM's self-mapping feature get the bike zeroed in on prime hp and torque curves. The Z-AFM module takes the air/fuel ratio from the header and adjusts fuel amounts automatically to meet our user-specified mark. Air/fuel ratios safely range anywhere from 13:1 for max power all the way to 15.5:1 for fuel economy. We chose a ratio of 14:1 for the best of both worlds.

Using the Z-FI and AFM module is as easy as fingering the starter button-you just do runs at specific throttle openings (10%-100%) and the Z-FI does all the rest. You can let the Z-FI map itself or just log data for you to interpret yourself after the runs are complete. We did both; runs with self-mapping and runs manually adjusted to refine the map as we went by checking hp and torque curves to air/fuel ratios.