Engine tuning..

[Juvenilerider]

Is there a downside to it?

Just curious really, I mean proper engine tunning though, race tunning, systems, power commander, cams, timing etc... other than the fact it cost a ****ing bucket of reddies, do you like lose reliability or anything like that?

[stu600cc]

when tuning your bike properly you usually get parts that are stronger to cope with the extra strain from racing so i wouldnt have thought that getting it tuned will make too much a difference unless your racing.

[Lateshift]

The further you push engines the less reliable or better put prone to failure they can become (especially if ridden/driven to use the extra power properly)

However to do it properly and minimise it you use strengthened components like Stu said, but with that comes a price normally, not only financially but also on the servicing side of life, performance parts normally need a bit more care and maintenance to keep in the right tolerances, lots more valve clearance checks etc etc :)

[Tark]

I have a Nicky Kennedy tuned engine in the CBR and it really does the job. Thing is I have to change the oil after every meeting and will need refreshing after a season or two. On the other side I am reving it 1500 more than it should due to a re programmed CDI and doing it in every gear everywhere! Honda engines are usually pretty bulletproof though. Mine is about 30BHP at the back wheel more than standard but there isn't much more you could do to it! Its as fast as its going to be. Problem is a brand new 2006 cbr or r6 isn't far off it as standard!

[Perilous]

Thing is I have to change the oil after every meeting and will need refreshing after a season or two.


If that's the case it's pretty good. There's a lot that have to be refreshed at least once if not twice a season.

Our glorfied drive on mower engines:grin2 start to loose hp after about 800 track miles.

[Tark]

400s are nuts for tuning though!!

[Perilous]

400s are nuts for tuning though!!

Yep on a percentage gain they're pretty good and contrary to popular opinion (usually from 2 stroke racers), FZRs aside (and the NC 30 I used to tune myself:grin2 )on the whole they're pretty reliable and of course being a zillion years old we don't have the financial traumas of a 3 year old bike being obsolete.

However you still have time to make a cup of tea before you reach the end of the straight at Brands Gp.:grin2

[Tark]

I thought my CBR was quick until I raced in the open at Snett!! I was loosing a few seconds just on the back straight to the 1000s!