ALASTAIR KAWASAKI ZX-10RR
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Making big flames...”
Apologies for the lack of RR musings in recent months. It’s been sat in JHS Racing’s workshop, lying redundant in a comatose state as we waited for a part to be delivered. That, and life in general getting in the way, has meant little time for tinkering.
But this month has proved very fruitful indeed. The RR and myself have enjoyed a bizarrely mild November that’s resulted in several extended rides, plus an Exmoor TT with a few mates that got very silly. Without sycophantically raving, I cannot get tired of expressing my love for the 16T front sprocket and consequent shorter gearing, which has made the RR so much more rideable. Well, that and the PipeWerx exhaust that I bodged on (the can and link pipe from Rootsy’s old ZX-10R long-termer from last season) and I’ve finally got round to a dyno assessment.
In real-time, my botty dyno suggested a 7-8bhp increase over standard – no real shock given the hefty cat removal – but it was the midrange that had me salivating: a trait not normally reserved for a Euro 4-powered Ninja’s repertoire. At 7,000rpm, there’s now a thrilling surge. And the noise. Blimey. It’s loud enough without being offensive, and the overrun is pure sex. More importantly, the Pipe Werx has installed a dose of badass to the Ninja, a heightened sense of occasion every time I open the throttle – something that’s been missing in standard trim while its rivals have superior elements.
In our experience, Pipe Werx exhausts are not only extremely good value for money, they also supply instant power gains. And, in the RR’s case, it’s no different on JHS Racing’s dyno. The thing was spewing out flames for fun, provoking rib-rattling bangs, and a power gain of 11bhp. 11bhp?! Boom. As you can see from the graph, the bolt-on has mirrored the stock set-up and beefed up the midrange. Granted, Will reckoned there were a few ponies gained in atmospheric changes in the dyno room, but it’s still a resounding success. And all for under £400.
Being made specifically for the ZX-10R, not the RR, the clamp isn’t in the right place but who cares? For under £400, you’ll have yourself a hefty power hike, some big fucking flames and a far grander soundtrack. When you consider the Akrapovic is just over £800 for the can alone, for me, there’s no considering to be done – the Pipe Werx link pipe is £99 and the R11 Tri-Oval titanium can is £300, and the full Akra’ system is going on as I finish writing these words.
The only issue – if it is an issue – is the fuelling. As you’d expect from a de- cat, the throttle is a bit fluffier than I’d like and, although the flames look amazing, it’s a sure- fire klaxon for a fuelling module. The fine folk at JHS Racing are already ahead of the game and have ordered a Rapid Bike to map the RR, where we’ll ( hopefully) find a few additional ponies and sort that horrid slump at 6,000rpm.