2009 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Dave Sonsky: Editor
Miles Ridden: 5,540
Modifications: Full exhaust system
Last year I was in a mad frenzy to add as much horsepower as possible to my longterm Hayabusa. It was all for naught in the end, as I didn't really come that close to breaking the 200 mph mark anyways.
This year's approach has been more about enjoying the bike for what it is, while nitpicking for small areas of improvement. After all, if I swapped out the wheels, exhaust and suspension straight away I wouldn't really be riding a ZX-10, but merely the shell of one.
That said, I started with a slip-on pipe and enjoyed it a lot. Great sounds, killer looks and some weight savings too.
Then it got crushed by some idiot in an SUV.
This left me with an excuse to fit a full exhaust system. Not that the Kawi's lacking power, but I needed a new pipe anyways...so why not see what she'd do with some bigger lungs?
After a call to Leo Vince I scored a gorgeous stainless and carbon fiber system that didn't stay in the box for long. I ran the bike again on the dyno with the stock system and got a baseline of 156 horsepower at the wheel. Not bad at all. But the Leo Vince bumped that figure up to 161. Even better.
OK, here's where it gets really impressive. The air/fuel ratio is spot on, meaning an aftermarket fueling system would only gain a negligible amount of power. That equates to time and money saved. Second, the midrange power increase is through the roof. Although the peak power gain is "only" six, in the meat of the rev range (where most street riding is done) there's a gain of nearly 15 horsepower and 10 ft-lb of torque. That's serious power, and instantly noticeable on the road.
I could try to explain how aggressive yet civilized it sounds, but any feeble attempts wouldn't do it proper justice. Instead go check out the vids of it on our Web site.
On paper it's a little more expensive than some of the other options, but considering it doesn't require any aftermarket fueling and the monstrous midrange power increase, it's a bargain. I doubt there's another pipe on the market that can boast these sorts of results on its own either.
Leo Vince
SBK factory EVO II full exhaust
$1299
www.leovinceusa.com
Immortal Graphix Custom Tank Pad
from $49
www.immortalgrafix.com
Coming Next Month:
Whatever's clever!
Stock vs. Leo Vince |  A Custom Tank Pad Made With...  A Custom Tank Pad Made With Your Design adds some style to an otherwise boring part. |  The exhaust requires some...  The exhaust requires some patience to install, but it's well worth it. No aftermarket fuel setup is needed-something rare in a full system. The gains in the "street range" of the tach are astounding, as is the pipe's tone. |