[Devious2xs]

How much power and torque will make you happy?
Think about this realisticly.

I asked this same question last year, when we had fewer members, and less was known about the potential of the Speed Triple engine - atleast by me. I received some interesting answers and later, some interesting results.

Now there is more available for performance and looks for these bikes. The aftermarket has gone into full swing on parts for our bikes. So I want to know realisticly, how important to YOU is more performance and at what cost. There is less interest in performance than in apearance items - that is to be expected.

If we use current Dynojet numbers for rear wheel power and torque (SAE), The stock 1050 Speed Triple makes 112-113 rear wheel horsepower. With aftermarket silencers and mufflers and the TORS tune, 117-118 hp and 73-74 ft-lb of torque is available.

Is THIS enough?

With TuneBoy and a good tune or tuning session, the same bike can make 122-124+ hp and up to 76 ft-lbs while really filling in the midrange areas of the powerband. Is THIS enough?

With some header work, and a few other mods, 130-135 hp has been made with over 82 ft-lb of torque.

With some head work and a custom exhaust, 142 hp has been done. Is this enough? A few owners ahve even gone as far as turbocharging thier bikes to make over 200 hp at the rear wheel.

What I am asking for is a realistic idea of just how far most of you (not the head cases like me and a few others) will go to make more performance. Or even if you are happy with the bike in stock form.

For you, what would ruin the character of the bike? What would improve it?

If you are not interested in more than this, I would like to know. Think of this as your chance to tell the aftermarket what YOU want.


Thanks for your time.

 

[Tight TL]

Devious,
I like the "streetfighter" style of the engine and don't want to drastically change that. I'm pretty happy where I am...the Tuneboy should put me at 130rwho and 80 rwtq. When time/effort/money bring diminished returns I prefer instead to spend that money of fork/shock upgrades. Every straightaway is followed by a turn and getting through that turn quickly separates the men from the boys. I don't have a drag racing background I have a road racing background and turn in points, lean angles, apex's, and exits brought me back to motorcycles after 10 years.
Fred

 

[Dobieman]

Well most of us have to measure the performance gains against cost to decide. Its too easy to say I want 150 HP and 90# of torque but if the price tag doubles the cost of the bike then it would be much easier to buy a liter sportbike and have those numbers or close to it from the start.
Considering I dont do engine work I would have to hire a shop to handle it so Devis cost and mine are a long ways apart.
I dont think I would actually go into the motor. I have exhaust and Tuneboy now and what would probabaly do it for me would be a header or clean up the stock header. Bolt on performance is attractive to me. If the bike is sold later the performance items can be removed and sold seperately while returning the bike to stock
for resale. I am taking the same approach to non performance mods as well. No custom paint here or anything that could not be returned to stock.
So with this in mind if 130 - 135 hp at the rear wheel with 80# torque is available without engine work that would be my goal or a close to it as possible.

 

[cheapbastard]

Bingo Dobie, yer think'n like a true CB. ;D Y'all take this with a grain of salt, because it is coming from the cheapbastard. ;D Soon, I should be very close to the #'s Fred is speak'n of. ;D With the fuel additive that Devi has shown me, you can even boost those #'s by atleast 3%. All of the #'s I am giving are, I guess what you would say optimistic, but with my setup, for under $1000, I have added 20+HP(once I do the header mods) and probably atleast 8 ftlb of torque. Now I didn't have my bike dyno'd in stock trim, so I will never truly know my exact gain, but the #'s Devi has given for a stock S3 has been seen on numerous occasions. Not only do I feel like I've achieved the maximum bang fer my buck with these mods, but my bike is a f'n monster now, and I still have the header work to do. ;D The mods that Devi has shown me, have not only improved top end HP, but have improved the characteristics that makes this bike so great. Even if I had the $ to do some more things, I think she will be perfect once I get the header work done. 1st gear is practically useless now. ;D I bought this bike to enjoy my street riding even more. I commute more than I ever have with this bike, even though that's not much. But with the above setup, she's even more of the PERFECT bike that we've all come to love. :drink: ;D Thanks again Devi!

 

[cheapbastard]

My setup...

Zard slipon - $500 US
Tuneboy - $400 US
coming soon... Precat removal and header cleanup - $hopefully a bottle of good Bourbon$ ;D

That my friends is money well spent, throw in some fuel additive, and you've got one of the most ferocious 2 wheelers from 0-100 that money can buy. ;D

 

[littlefield]

I'm running a Zard and a Tuneboy with an appropriate map(don't remember exactly which one, I've tried a couple). The bike is stronger than with the TORS and PC which dynoed at 118 rwhp. I've got it geared with a 17/44 and for me this is good enough. I like running on the shorter tracks as I'm kind of a chicken for top end so the 135 or so it will do now is adequate. I think it pulls great.

 

[J-Pip]

My bike is completely stock and honestly, it's enough. More Power is always nicer and funa and all, but my bike currently outperforms my skills. In time I might look for some big gains, but for now everything I do will be asthetic. Exhaust for looks and sound, don't get me wrong, i'll still upgrade the tunes and all to make her run smooth, but till I get a bit better, I won't be looking for a lot.

 

[Tight TL]

Ok, I've changed my mind a bit. I could be talked into R/R the cams (they have to come out anyway for valve adjustment, right?), installing slotted cam sprockets, skimming the head ever so little, radius valve job, some intake and exhaust porting. That would probably get me to around 140 -145 rwhp and 85-87 rwtq. I'm still doing the suspension work though...a track day is in my future.
Fred

 

[cheapbastard]

Ok, I've changed my mind a bit. I could be talked into R/R the cams (they have to come out anyway for valve adjustment, right?), installing slotted cam sprockets, skimming the head ever so little, radius valve job, some intake and exhaust porting. That would probably get me to around 140 -145 rwhp and 85-87 rwtq.
Fred

shut up Fred! MUST NOT LISTEN TO THESE GUYS!!! :violent1: MUST BE CONTENT!!! :violent1: :tongue2:

 

[Devious2xs]

Thanks for the info guys. Keep it coming.

Fred - You WILDMAN! You are my kind of crazy. ;D

 

[milq]

Check the signature! Can't believe no one had answered with that yet. ;D

 

[Devious2xs]

Check the signature! Can't believe no one had answered with that yet. ;D

Whose signature do you mean?

 

[milq]

Mine of course! I just changed it.

 

[littlefield]

I'm all over some suspension work. First thing I did was put on a Ohlins shock, Racetech the front, rearsets, low bars, extra set of Marvic wheels with BT002's. The thing is on rails, no cornering clearance issues.

 

[dfib]

Enough = The power gained by doing mods myself without spending my future child's college fund. I think it's our nature to always want just a little more. It's what seperates us on the furum from those who are just content to go ride their bikes. ;D

 

[Devious2xs]

So by the responses thus far, do I understand that you like the cheap mods I have shown (which you may or may not copy). And that more costly items for performance (such as a custom header) just wouldn't be that appealing?

Or even that for many of you, the stock power is just fine?

I understand that there are a few of us that always want more, but we definately are a very small minority.

No harm either way, I'm just trying to get a feel for the majority on here. And see if posting more info on further performance modifications are worth the time to post. And whether a few other performance items are worth bringing to market for these bikes.

 

[cheapbastard]

well Devi, I would like to go as far as I can with the mods that increase hp and torque throughout the rev range, but if and when and it gets to the point of sacrificing a couple of ftlbs of torque here for a couple of hp there, that's where I would draw the line. So far, all of the mods that you have shared with us have increased everything everywhere, and that's the kind of performance I'm look'n fer. ;D Sure money is a big factor, but if I see that it's possible to gain even more thoughout the entire rev range for not a tremendous amount of money, I'm sure I'll start saving more pennies to eventually do what I can. ;D Fred really got my wheels turn'n talk'n about 140-some hp and 85 ftlbs of torque, sure that would be very nice. ;D I hate that it takes so much of yer time to test and tune and then share it all with us, but I dang sure enjoy read'n and learn'n all that you have posted. Keep it up! :afro:

 

[cheapbastard]

one last thing Devi, I really do like the idea of bolt on mods too as Dobie mentioned, but if the cams thingy that Fred mentioned could produce good results, and the labor wasn't too awful bad fer a dummy like me, that would prolly be as far as I would go into the engine. Yes I'm dumb and stoopid, but I do likes more power. If it mentions the words increased hp and torque, and the cost is reasonable... ;D

 

[dfib]

Dang!! Once again I agree with CB.

If it's not going to break the bank and it increases the bike performance with out undue sacrifice I am surely interested.

My biggest drawback right now is time and knowledge. I surely don't know enough about exhaust (as evidenced by the exhaust thread) to start work on a custom header. Even if I did, free time is really in short supply. Another big factor here is the short riding season. I hate to start a project that will put my dear sweet Lily out of commision for more than a couple of days. Not only is she my main method of transportation in the summer, but with only 4-5 months of riding weather (notice I didn't say good, just able to ride) I want to use her as much as possible.

However I am hoping to get some serious garage time in this year and every post that goes up is a big help!

That being said, and understanding your time is valuable, I encourage you to continue to post the mods you do, even if you think they are beyond the skills/interest of the masses. It's great for the old noggin!!!

Also love to read whats possible out of this marvelous bike! :smitty:

 

[Tight TL]

+1 with dfib and cheapbastard. Than makes it unanimous amoung those who want something but can't really do anything themselves...so to speak.
Fred