Nothin' but real-world installs and hardcore tech here. Forget paying for service; this is about getting your hands dirty and spinnin' a wrench on your own ride. Whether you've got a brand new bike or a clapped-out crapper we're showing you how to make useful upgrades. Kawasaki Replacement Parts...
Kawasaki Replacement Parts
$45.95 (air filter)
$9.99/each (spark plugs)
kawasaki.comThe bulletproof reliability of Japanese sportbikes never ceases to amaze us. Take our 2004 ZX-10R for example. Despite 37,000 miles without a valve adjustment, new spark plugs or coolant and only one oil-change (you read that correctly), the Ninja managed to belt out 150 HP at the wheel. And while this ZX-10R's defy-all-odds performance is nothing short of spectacular, we couldn't help but wonder what kind of power a good old tune-up would net us.
So with wrenches in hand we dove into this dusty steed to see if regimented maintenance was worth anything on the dyno. The oil and filter change was uneventful, save for the old oil that had long ago lost its viscosity and had the consistency of coffee. In place of the old junk we used Spectro 10W-40 full synthetic oil and a K&N high-performance oil filter.
K&N oil filter
$13.99
...
Next up was the air filter and spark plug change, and to say that working on the ultra-compact ZX-10R was a pain would be the understatement of the year. Not only does most of the bodywork have to be removed, but the upper motor mounts must also be ditched in order to access the outermost spark plugs. To make matters worse, the mounts are jammed just above the valve cover and the bolts are recessed beneath a lip that makes accessing them a chore of colossal proportions. Some four hours later we had the new OEM-spec NGK Iridium plugs and air filter in place. After buttoning everything back up we hit the dyno with great success. It gained 4 HP at the wheel and a few LB-FT of torque along with a nice bump from 6000 RPM onward. In addition to the newfound power, valvetrain noise is also decreased, throttle response is crisper and shifting is much smoother.
K&N oil filters flow like...
K&N oil filters flow like crazy and filter much better than stock. it can easily be wire-tied for trackdays and comes with the 17mm nut welded on the end, making it an easy choice as a replacement oil filter.
While a valve adjustment would have been ideal, deadline was upon us. But for a few bucks and some skinned knuckles you too can add some power and breathe new life into your old ride.
Please don't treat your bike as poorly as this owner has. It's bad practice, and most of the time you wont end up as lucky as we did.
The Specto Platinum 4 fully synthetic oil is made from the best stuff on earth-it's like Snapple for your engine. After all, they say oil is cheap but an engine isn't. So don't skimp on good oil.
2 The four-year-old oil had...
2 The four-year-old oil had as much viscosity as coffee with over 20,000 miles on it. Do not follow this owner's service intervals if you value your bike.
3 Forget the painful process...
3 Forget the painful process of tightening a regular oil filter; the 17mm nut on the K&N filter makes life easy.
4 A funnel makes pouring the...
4 A funnel makes pouring the black gold a lot cleaner and easier.
AIR FILTER AND SPARK PLUGS
1 After removing the tank...
1 After removing the tank and airbox you'll have access to the center spark plugs. Remove the coil followed by the plug.
2 The OEM NGK Iridium plugs...
2 The OEM NGK Iridium plugs are great for performance and have a 15,000 mile service interval
3 The two outside plugs aren't...
3 The two outside plugs aren't easy to access. You must first remove the upper motor mount. remove the two forward bolts and loosen the rear, then pivot the outer mount downward.
4 You're not out of the dark...
4 You're not out of the dark yet; now you must remove the three bolts sandwiched between the valve cover and the underside of the frame. Then remove the inner mount to access the spark plug beneath it. Good luck.
5 The six-year-old air filter...
5 The six-year-old air filter was obviously long overdue for a change.
6 After all of the plugs are...
6 After all of the plugs are done, install the airbox and new air filter. Then button everything up and you're done.
The slippery oil and filter,...
The slippery oil and filter, fresh plugs and new air filter gave us solid gains from 6000 RPM onward with a peak increase of 4 HP. How's that for cheap horsepower?