R1 performance mods.

[tigertim20]

Hey all. I recently acquired a 2001 R1. I am wondering what common mods can be done to extract a little more power.

As I understand, from what I can see so far, is that the bike has had the exup removed, and a full free flowing exhaust including headers added. Other than that I dont know what else, but I have good reason to beleive that other than the exhaust system, it is stock.

So I have done some googling, but its hard to pick through the myriad of shit on the internet to find genuinely helpful articles.

If anyone could help me out with articles, or advice (preferably from people who have had one of these things!) I would be in your debt. I dont really know a huge amount about these bikes yet, I am still reading up as much as I can.

I look forward to any advice help or info!

[onearmedbandit]

One question. What's the suspension like? If it's a healthy std engine it will be already making 150ish, are you using all that power out of corners etc?

If you can honestly say that you are nailing it 100% in 1st and 2nd gear out of corners and begging for more power then start looking at things like making sure the fueling is setup properly (on a dyno tune) to make sure everything is as it should be so you can start adding more power.

Then it comes down to your budget, velocity stacks might add 'some' (read 2-4bhp) top end and are cheap but will more than likely sacrifice some midrange. Getting your head flowed/ported will give you improvements across the whole rev range (depending on the job) but will cost you mucho dollars. And then there are other options in between, ignition advances, cams, etc etc etc.

Where do you most want the performance gains? In the midrange, or at the top end? What sort of riding are you doing? Are you constantly bashing the thing off the limiter in every gear, or are you more often than not in the middle of the rev range?

[SS90]

I agree with Onearmedbandit,

What are you using the bike for (for example, do you want to 1/4 mile competitively), or are you riding on the road only.

If you are only riding on the road, the search for extra power form a bike that put son something like 150ps is not really needed.

I see you ride a TZR250 and a CBR600 (old steel framer).

Using your bikes as an example......

A good rider on the TZR, can easily out ride a good rider on the CBR, and the same rider on the CBR could easily out ride a good rider on, say, a 2001 R1.

to get more power from something like an R1 (that already has a pipe) is quite some work (like has been said, head, cams and so on), and you are looking at BIG money.

I have never in my life met any one who can honestly say they need more power from an R1 on NZ roads, or any road legal situation anywhere in the world for that matter.

The easy answer is Tyres and suspension.

If you are 1/4 mileing it, that of course is different, open your wallet, and let the fun tickets out!

[nallac]

If its got the full exhaust system has it been jetted to suit?.Pull the carbys to check.
Would be a good time to clean and balance the carbies,it can make a big difference to how the bike goes.
Has it got an A/M air filter?.
Besides the mods you've got it costs lots more to make em go faster.

[DMNTD]

If its got the full exhaust system has it been jetted to suit?.Pull the carbys to check.
Would be a good time to clean and balance the carbies,it can make a big difference to how the bike goes.
Has it got an A/M air filter?

Agreed on the above plus 'tuning' the suspension. If the suspension hasn't been serviced in a while (20,000kms+) have that done
IMO mid+ range torque/HP is where it's at for fun road riding. It's a bloody R1 so it'll always have 'enough' up top no matter what you're doing on the road.
IMO the 'best' and most cost effective mod you could do to your bike for a bit my 'yeee ha' is to replace its front sprocket with a one with less tooth as it'll give you more pull in all gears and if you go drag/track riding it'll bar you up

[tigertim20]

thanks for the replies!
SS90, those other two bikes are actually gone now (sniff!) but I get what you mean. Truth be told, I dont need and R1, but I want it. same goes with extra power!. Its something I would consider doing in the next few months, for not much other reason than to tinker, but if its at the point where gains become a big deal I wont bother, I just didnt know what could be done with relative ease.

Its a fun as hell bike as it is, Im just the kind of guy who likes to spend the freezing raining horrible days pulling his bikes apart and playing, and the nice days riding!. I reckon Ill have a look at the carbs and filter etc in the next few days. A dyno run certainly couldnt hurt to see how she is running either.

A sprocket change may prove to be the best way of playing around for something different, besides in a year or so, Ill want something different, like an 01 R1 or zx10, I hear theyre getting around 180HP easily...

[DEATH_INC.]

Turn the right hand further. Easy.
But if you must, beware that you can spend way more than to upgrade to a newer better model.
Like has already been covered, there's the bolt-ons...pipe (it has, but what sort?) filter, jetkit. Then velocity stacks. Then the more serious stuff, cams and porting. Bigger carbs. (flatslides or similar $$$$.) It's all the same recipe it's been for years.
Seriously, where do you want to stop?
I'd say after gearing (like DMNTD said), get a 1/5 turn throttle, and then look into suspension and weight. Later wheels will be lighter = better accel handling and braking. There's lotsa carbon bits out there, get rid of the stock headlights and fit some little one's into a race fairing, it'll feel like its gained heaps of power, and handle better to boot.
Good luck.

[schrodingers cat]

This site actually has some resonable info as a start point.
http://fzr1000.co.uk/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=50&sid=a298a6c443a35cdb7cfcef2e74dc8568

If you like fiddling why not get a project bike?
Otherwise - keep throwing tyres at it. Best bang for back IMHO

[skippa1]

They already have heaps of Hp. Remember every action has an equal and opposite reaction. A tinker with fuelling, exhausts, cams etc has a cost somewhere else and the real engineers have already ironed out the highs and lows whilst maintaining reliability.

If its a weekend tinker you want, put your money into a project as said above. better return and you can still ride the R1 in the weekend instead of looking at it in disppear wondering what you have done to it.:Punk:

[Dodgy]

I put Ohlins fork and shock on mine. Wow what a difference and I already thought that the standard suspension was pretty good.

I also have some Marchesini rims that I have tried - massive improvement as well. They are awating a repaint before going back on the bike.