Sportbikes and computers are a lot alike in some aspects. Each year they get faster and lighter, and we always want the latest and greatest model. Whether we can actually utilize all they have to offer isn't particularly relevant either. After all, bragging rights play a big part of our day to day life. Just check out Facebook and Myspace as proof that a little boasting about our belongings is accepted, if not encouraged.
There are a handful of meaningful mods that'll get your bike sorted for bike night blasting and trackdays alike, and they all serve a purpose. After all, spending money for upgrades is senseless unless they're making an improvement in some way.
OK, so maybe you're not as lucky as us to have the latest and greatest 600cc sportbike parked in your garage, but that doesn't mean you can't get your ride ripping with the right mods.
Remember, oddball upgrades like a tank bra or cargo net might seem attractive because they're inexpensive, but that doesn't mean they're any good. Instead of wasting money on meaningless mods you should make a basic outline of what you're trying to achieve. The end result should be better looks and/or performance. For some riders that means chrome, while others lust for carbon fiber. Either way is good, just do it for a reason and see it through. One chromed wheel and a used slip-on pipe ain't gonna cut it.
Machinery And Mods
The 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R has been vastly improved over last year's model with more power and new suspension. The new Big Piston Fork is a major improvement, particularly for heavier riders who generally find stock springs too soft. Baseline power is up significantly as well, and a seat of the pants test will reflect what the dyno reports on paper-the '09 ZX-6R is a beast.
But there's always room for improvement. And why not own a 600 that will murder a 750 and hang with the big 1000cc dogs? We decided to start with the most popular mod-the exhaust. As far as "bang for your buck" goes, this is a smart upgrade.
Stock pipes are heavy, too quiet and sap power due to emissions regulations, not to mention they're plain ugly. The solution to this sound and power barrier came with a full system from Leo Vince. But why a full system? Aren't they a waste of money for the street rider? Perhaps a few years ago when emissions were more lenient this was a fair argument, but with stricter laws have come more stifled stock pipes.
To be honest, we were shocked with the results from our aftermarket pipe. Not only did the Leo Vince save 15 pounds over the stock exhaust, but it also picked up eight horsepower and more torque. Though a Power Commander fuel management box isn't totally necessary, it helped us pull out an extra two horses and cleaned up the overall power curve.
The boost in power and reduced weight were immediately noticeable and made a serious improvement over the stock pipe, but we weren't done there and had another quick and easy upgrade for our power delivery lined up-sprockets. Bikes come from the factory with particular gearing to help pass emissions and sound tests while still maintaining optimum performance. We're not as concerned about what decibel level the bike will display at a certain rpm in a particular gear, so we geared the bike lower for more low and midrange punch. Sure, we might be sacrificing some top end speed, but we'd rather enjoy a friskier ride up to 100 mph than what happens after.
Though the new ZX-6R is pretty potent in stock trim, our power increase, weight reduction and lower gearing have made it a serious machine. It now needed more performance from the brakes to match the upgraded engine.