HP estimate 1015 kit

Mcdroid wrote:

It would be a LOT cheaper to buy a ZX14...and have an instant 10 sec bike (9 sec if you ain't fat like me )<br><br>Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/12/27 08:11

Alot cheaper? I dont know about that considering that buy the time you pay off a 12 grand note on the bike and at least that much in full coverage insurance until its paid off. Id say it was much cheaper to build the hell out of the old kz. Lets face it, these old bikes are cool and nostalgic but its not so cool to get embarassed on the street by a 600cc crotch rocket when he walks off and leaves you in the dust. Before I give in and just buy a new bike, I'll have to be convinced that I CAN'T build a reliable street motor that can outgun a modern sport bike.

You can build a 120 hp motor for not too much money. The parts start getting spendy but if you do the assembly yourself you will save a ton. It's a lot cheaper than a new bike and a lot more fun.

madkawltd900 wrote:

Mcdroid wrote:

It would be a LOT cheaper to buy a ZX14...and have an instant 10 sec bike (9 sec if you ain't fat like me )<br><br>Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/12/27 08:11

Alot cheaper? I dont know about that considering that buy the time you pay off a 12 grand note on the bike and at least that much in full coverage insurance until its paid off. Id say it was much cheaper to build the hell out of the old kz. Lets face it, these old bikes are cool and nostalgic but its not so cool to get embarassed on the street by a 600cc crotch rocket when he walks off and leaves you in the dust. Before I give in and just buy a new bike, I'll have to be convinced that I CAN'T build a reliable street motor that can outgun a modern sport bike.

try a 1170 kit

Not to be a jerk, but I think you'll have a hard time outgunning any modern sportbike that is at least 600cc. You're just starting with something to heavy and to far removed from current to do it. A modern 600 is probably 100 lbs less or more and already around 110-115 at the rear wheel. And thats stock. Most squids will add a pipe and pc which will give at least another 3-5 hp.

That said at least you won;t look like every squid in the world when you pull up on something classic.

Muddy wrote:

Not to be a jerk, but I think you'll have a hard time outgunning any modern sportbike that is at least 600cc. You're just starting with something to heavy and to far removed from current to do it. A modern 600 is probably 100 lbs less or more and already around 110-115 at the rear wheel. And thats stock. Most squids will add a pipe and pc which will give at least another 3-5 hp.

That said at least you won;t look like every squid in the world when you pull up on something classic.

No offence taken!
Just to keep it all in the family: My stock '78 KZ1000A2 is listed at 240kg dry and 86 ponies. A 2007 ZX6-RR is 118 ponies and about 170kg dry. Its also $12000 (in Canada) So yep, any rich squid can boast better specs. I can guarantee they won't look as cool, or have as much fun, as you on your ugly pice of shit. Unless of course your wife sells it to me!

A quick search on crank hp vs rear wheel hp has most info looking like a 15 percent difference although there is some contention on that number. A decent read from the Factory Pro site (was copied from another bike site):

zvmax.com/TrueHorsepower.htm

Guess we all need a reminder once in a while to search the archives. Like most subjects, this has been covered.

kzrider.com/archive/viewthread.php?tid=12586#pid107792

Check out Mark's numbers for his (obviously not stock) KZ650. Considering the big-bore and other mods, it doesn't surprise me to see how close it is to what Motorcyclist magazine had gotten from a 2000-something ZR7 (basically an updated version of the old KZ750 engine, yes?)

Making your bike into a 10-second bike won't be that hard to do. Of course, a lot is in the hands of the rider. You can have a ZX14 and if you don't have experience, you can have trouble getting in the 10's. My Godson has a ZX12 with a dyno'd 189 HP and it took him a long time to get into the 10's. The guy who did the work on the bike claims it's a low nine second bike if he could ride it! My lowly KZ was beating him to half track....the rider makes a huge difference. I bet Sandy's bike would make it. Lots of guys with a 1075 kit, 29's, and a header are running mid-11's already. Add some .410 cams or so and some head work and you are probably knocking on the door if you haven't stepped through already. The important thing is the head. Buy a big-bore kit, header, carbs, better tire...whatever, but without a good head, you will have a low rpm puller. That's good on the street. The head on a KZ is the bottleneck with these bikes. Fix that part and it really wakes up. Spend the money on a good head and the rest of you parts will work the way they are supposed to. Just remember, it's not the one single part but the whole combination that matters. The parts must work with each other. Get the right parts and a KZ can run in the nines, but of coourse by then, it's not much for the street, but it depends on what you want. It's a street bike to a point, then it becomes a track bike ridden on the street. You need to decide how fast you want to go and what sacrifices you are willing to make to get there in performance and streetability. Talk to people like APE adn tell them what you are trying to do...they can give you different options on how to get there. If they won't help, go somewhere else....the knowledge is out there, use it. Just support those that help you out!

Well, when I say "outgun" im not talking about racing it through the twisties and riding it like a sport bike. The KZ is a total sled compared to sport bikes and will just never be able to compete with them in that capacity. I was of course referering to it outgunning the sport bike in straight line acceleration till the KZ hits its top end( which will undoubtedly be considerably less than the sportbike) and in the qtr mile. Muddy wrote:

Not to be a jerk, but I think you'll have a hard time outgunning any modern sportbike that is at least 600cc. You're just starting with something to heavy and to far removed from current to do it. A modern 600 is probably 100 lbs less or more and already around 110-115 at the rear wheel. And thats stock. Most squids will add a pipe and pc which will give at least another 3-5 hp.

That said at least you won;t look like every squid in the world when you pull up on something classic.

Your Z will be quicker out of the hole. Most modern bikes are geared very high-that's one reason they get all that mph. You can build or tune the motor for high rpm/high power but it won't be as streetable but have a better top-end by using gearing and cam selection and or timing. Lighten the bike up wherever you can too. I've beaten 600cc bikes in a dragrace on more than one occasion...barely, but that's where the rider came in though. All you can do is build the biggest cc motor you can or want to live with and mate the right parts to it. If you can't beat them, you will surely scare them. I've beaten quite a few bike/riders who think my Z is a dinosaur and wasn't a good race and it isn't that much in the motor. They will definitely have more top-end...nothing you can do about that. Build it and they will lose! Just pick your race!

Even if they beat a 30 yr old bike they won't be so proud anyway . On a 550 you can keep their mirrors full in the twisties .

Muddy wrote:

Not to be a jerk, but I think you'll have a hard time outgunning any modern sportbike that is at least 600cc. You're just starting with something to heavy and to far removed from current to do it. A modern 600 is probably 100 lbs less or more and already around 110-115 at the rear wheel. And thats stock. Most squids will add a pipe and pc which will give at least another 3-5 hp.

That said at least you won;t look like every squid in the world when you pull up on something classic.

Finally somebody gets it. A new 600 will kill these old pigs.......built or not. Technology and engineering...to hard to beat. Enjoy these bikes for what they were. Even if you update the suspension and drive train.....your still riding a 30 year old sow. Sure you can make straight line speed..........but, most of the roads I ride have curves.