There are several different boost-capable stock street bikes. Some of these bikes are Kawasaki Ninja H2, Honda CX650 Turbo, Suzuki XJ650 Turbo, and Yamaha YZF-R1. While it is difficult to make a comparison between these bikes, there are a few things you should know before you buy one.
Kawasaki Ninja H2
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 street bike is an impressive display of high-tech engineering. The bike is built to handle the most boost, yet it remains nimble enough for long, intense laps. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a leading motorcycle manufacturer, and the Ninja H2 is the company’s most advanced street bike. The high-tech features found on the Ninja H2 are reminiscent of the advanced technology used in aircraft.
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 supercharger uses a crankshaft-driven system that minimizes boost lag. The resulting boost pressure is increased gradually, resulting in predictable throttle response.
Honda CX650 Turbo
While Honda’s CX650 Turbo street bike engine is still fairly new, there have been some significant improvements made over the previous model. The new turbocharged street bike’s suspension components are more rigid and offer better backroad handling. The 37mm air-adjustable fork includes a brace connecting its legs, and the rear suspension system now has a three-way adjustable shock. The lightest setting is identical to last year’s non-adjustable shock, but the number two and three settings stiffen the chassis by another 29 percent.
The CX650 Turbo is a highly collectible model. The first production of the Turbo was in 1983, but the model was only intended for school use and was not intended for sale to the general public. As a result, these bikes had no title or VIN number and were essentially written off as part-outs. Despite this, some CX650 Turbos are still available online.
Suzuki XJ650 Turbo
The Turbo is a mid-sized motorcycle, with a 56.7-inch wheelbase. Its power, however, is far from medium. The Suzuki XJ650 Turbo’s engine produces more torque and power than its predecessors, and it offers an aggressive, fun-to-ride power curve.
Its engine is a four-cylinder that has been reinforced in many areas. For starters, it has forged pistons, which have added strength and resistance to cracking. The piston crowns are also 30 percent thicker, which improves cooling and strength. In addition, the final drive now has a rubber shock cushion, which eases peak load on the rear wheel.
The Turbo’s power characteristics are less rpm-dependent than the Honda CX-TC, and it requires less coaxing to get going. The Turbo’s engine is ready to roll after a short warm-up period. The engine is peppy at low speeds, with a nice, punchy midrange. However, it feels average at cruising speeds.
Yamaha YZF-R1
The Yamaha YZF-R1 street motorcycle’s engine is designed to handle the most boost possible, yet it still offers a surprisingly low overall boost. This is possible because of the engine’s Launch Control System, which limits the amount of boost the bike can produce at a given rpm. This system allows the bike to accelerate smoothly from a standing start and maximizes the amount of power it can produce.
The Yamaha R1 features a 998cc inline-four-cylinder engine. This engine is based on the YZR-M1 MotoGP race bike and includes crossplane crankshaft technology. This technology provides a direct feeling of linear torque and the ultimate connection between the throttle grip and the rear wheel. It also uses titanium connecting rods made using a precision fracture-split method. These lightweight parts help achieve a high redline and an excellent over-rev capability. Additionally, the cylinder block is offset from the crankshaft to reduce friction loads on the pistons.
Kawasaki Z1R-TC
The Kawasaki Z1R-TC was a street bike that was developed for a turbocharger kit. Its exhaust system connected to the turbocharger, which was placed behind the standard carburetors. The wastegate had an adjustable screw that could adjust the amount of boost entering the system. The inlet manifold ran a single 38mm Bendix carburettor and a high-flow fuel pump. The boost gauge was mounted to the steering head and the bike cost approximately $5,000 USD.
The Kawasaki Z1R-TC had a turbocharger, which was available in various boost levels. It was possible to boost the engine to as high as six psi. But exceeding that level was dangerous, as it could blow up the bike’s engine.