tuning on the cheap?

[alanh]

i have a zxr 400l which im using as a trackbike, the bike is totally standard apart from the end can. are there any parts i can change on the cheap that will give a reasonable bhp or torque increase? dont mind getting my hands dirty swapping cams/cdi's etc. etc, already in the process of removing all unnecessary weight and sorting brakes/suspension (if anyone needs any road going gear let me know)
all help is much appreciated
regards
alan

[cargo]

Depends on how you define "cheap" and "reosanable" (your spelling not mine)

funny how everyone wants horse power but doesn't want to pay for it

[zimm]

not a lot to be gained from swapping OE bits about really ..

depends how fit your bike is to start with..

if its a tired jap import with 30mm carbs, mild cams etc .. then you'll be around 57bhp @ the wheel.. a fit one with 32mm carbs and early cams will make 65bhp @ the wheel ish..

so thats your frst step.. get it up to what is effectively UK spec and healthy.. then get it dynoed to set the fuelling up so its crisp

if its just for track days, i'd leave it there .. it'll be slower than anything except other 400's anyway .. whatever tuning you do.

If you're racing, then yeh, there's another 10-15bhp to be had at the expense of your wallet/longevity/useability...

[cargo]

and sanity

[alanh]

Depends on how you define "cheap" and "reosanable" (your spelling not mine)

funny how everyone wants horse power but doesn't want to pay for it

im not asking for 150bhp for 50p, im spending a few £'s on my R1 over the winter, the zxr is just a track toy that i got cheap for a bit of fun and to improve my riding skills. just trying to make the most of what i've got without spending a lot, is that a crime?

think i best check which carbs i have first, what markings am i looking for on cams and carbs to see which is which? rather switch cams now while im shimming etc. to save re-shimming and more jetting/carb setup work later on. know a place that should be reasonable for the dyno work once its up and running. and my sanity went a long time ago, about the time i passed my bike test i think

thanks for the help zimm

[cargo]

No not a crime.................but maybe a waste of money and time......................I'll explain





Those of us who race 400s are forever seeking more. An extra horse power or two is very welcome and sometimes it comes at great cost................but we are also restricted in that to remain in class and be within the rules we must still only have 400cc
At best with the best of standard parts you might get 65HP..............I doubt it myself but there you go................... the difference in performance from a 60hp 400 to a 65hp 400 will help anyone racing in the 400 class but it wont gain you any real advantage for a track day........................and if more money is spent 80hp is possible...and that will make a huge difference to someone racing in the 400 class and cost a lot of money...............

But for a track day toy it makes no sense to spend 80hp money on a 400 because that same money or even less would buy a very lovely 100+HP 600.....................why would you give yourself all the grief that comes with tuning a 400 to get it faster when you could just buy a 600 and have little or no grief and 100+ HP


For a track day toy it just does not make sense ................

One of the best engine tuners I ever knew made a fortune from tuning and selling parts to guys with track day toys and road bikes...............they all thought that the extra power or bolt on goodies would help them go faster and be better riders...................sadly it doesnt'............. but my friend made a healty living out of it all and as they came back to say that lap times had not got much better he sold them something else if their tuned stressed engines blew up he got the job of rebuilding them.............easy money and lots of it.

Another good friend of mine raced a RC45 for 3 years he loved it and spent a clean fortune tuning it having the engine rebult and modified lightened and every concievable extra the the Honda race corperation could provide him with......................................then he sold it and bought a bog stock R1 he stuck a shock in the back and lapped the TT course faster on it....................the RC45 stood him 25K plus the R1 was about 10K in fact less as he lifted it off the showroom floor in his own bike shop.

So feel free spend a few quid on your 400 track day toy and I promise you every 1000cc bike will still be faster than you as will 90% of the 600s but at least your 400 will have 5HP more than most and about 15 less than a few..............................and there will be plenty of very scruffy bog stock 400s coming past you as well.

As Zimm say..........................."not a lot to be gained from swapping OE bits about really "

Perhaps if you want to improve your riding skills then spending you money on decent tyres and suspension would be a far wiser move

[alanh]

already done that, got a set of cbr600rr brakes coming, maybe a gsxr rear shock, got braided lines and replaced the fork seals/oil. gonna run either supercorsas or racetecs, did a trackday on my r1 running racetecs and they were well up to the job, was my first trackday and i put in some sub 1.50's round cadwell so not bad for a beginner. got my suspension set up by 100% suspension while i was there and really helped, probably the best thing i've done to the bike since i bought it, will do the same with the 400. not planning on tuning the death out of it or aiming for silly bhp, just wanted to get the most out of what i have, i know that silly levers and fancy wheels etc. make feck all difference. will probably convert my R1 to a dedicated track bike next year when i get a new bike, just want to hone my skills on the 400 a bit first as anyone can lap quickly on a thou lol