ZREXER
Expert Class
Posts: 492
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posted April 29, 2008 12:40 PM
Busa/ZX-14 Comparison on Motorcycle .com
Good comparison between the 2 machines, I found the following information interesting. They explain on the '08, the mixture is purposely rich on the top end to keep the catalyzers in the exhaust from over heating. I find this confusing as I would think a catalytic converter would run hotter, not cooler getting a big hit of rich mixture at the top end.
I know guys that have put turbo's on cars with stock exhausts and the converter goes 'south' pretty quick when they go on boost and the catalytic converter gets a big hit of rich fuel mixture as the richer on boost mapping takes hold. Converter goes 'stupid hot 'and expires pretty quick in these conditions.
Electronic Gee-Wizardry and What It Means to ZX-14 Power
On the dyno, the Ninja's fuel mixture is dreadfully rich from 8500 rpm and up, and it's especially fat above 10K. This rich condition puts a damper on top-end horsepower, and the '08 bike makes only 159.5 hp at its 9500-rpm peak compared to the previous version's 171. Apparently the new bike's Euro 3-compliant catalyzers can overheat unless the ECU pours extra fuel into the mixture.
But what if you fit an aftermarket exhaust system to your ZX, you might ask? There is supposedly a lot more power to be uncorked. A new pipe takes the delicate cats out of the equation, but then you're still stuck with the stock mapping and electronics.
There are apparently another 10 horses to be unleashed by the addition of a Dynojet Power Commander, but a PC doesn't take into account all of the ZX's sensors and its secondary throttle plates. So, according to some, throttle response can be compromised. Increasingly complex fuel and ignition maps governed by a multitude of sensors are the result of ever-tightening emissions regulations, and some current engines change to different maps in increments as small as 1000 or so rpm. This is what can make the addition of a relatively simple Power Commander potentially problematic.
But legendary tuner Rob Muzzy says his many customers who bought Power Commanders and mapping from him have had no such issues. This configuration plus the addition of a high-performance Muzzy's pipe will have the ZX knocking on the 200-horse door; change out the air filter to a performance item will net an honest 200 horses at the rear wheel on pump gas, he says. A similarly equipped 'Busa will put up an identical number. "It's amazing how similar these two motors are," said Muzzy.
The previous edition of the ZX-14 has its own tuning issues to achieve max output. The 2006-07 models were electronically set to keep the fuel injection's secondary throttle butterflies from opening fully until around 7000 rpm in the first two gears for fear that that imprudent wrists would result in unexpected acceleration and be thrown off the back of the bike; in addition, the ignition was electronically retarded in the low gears to reduce power. Drag-racing types learned to get around this problem by removing the secondary butterflies and plugging in new mapping for the ECU.
Ivan's Performance Products invented its TRE electronic gizmo that tricks the bike into thinking it's in a higher gear when the mapping is its most aggressive. And by making the ECU think the bike is in fifth gear, the Timing Retarder Eliminator also in effect removes the 186-mph speed limiter, but that's only true for Hayabusas and GSX-R1000s. A Yellow Box from Black Robotics can derestrict the top speed of the ZX-14 by making the ECU think it's going 10% slower. Muzzy hinted at a product in development that will alleviate these issues. Look for it this summer.
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In the '08 ZX, the secondaries open up quicker, so it has much more immediate acceleration in the lower gears. Our 2008 ZX-14's motor pulls like a locomotive off the bottom end, stronger even than the vaunted Hayabusa, and it's a major improvement over the old bike because a rider can enjoy this newfound punch during every run through the gears. It's only at the top end - a place few dare to tread - that the biggest Ninja somewhat disappoints because of its overly rich fuel mapping.
-Kevin Duke, Ed-in-Chief
  
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted April 29, 2008 02:06 PM
Adding raw fuel to cats overheats them big time. He is very mistaken on that point.
____________
Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted April 30, 2008 06:05 AM
My bike STOCK put down 169rwhp.
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