How To Make Your Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R Faster Than Ever
Think fast entry-level bikes, and the Ninja ZX-4R will probably be the first to come to mind. It is seriously fast in every sense of the word, courtesy of its wild inline-four engine. But things can always get better, and GoodBikeBadBike is here to tell you some easy ways to make your Ninja faster than ever. Ready? Let’s jump in.
Exhaust System
This is the most effortless way to gain horsepower. The engine breathes better, which equates to more performance. A slip-on works wonders as is, but a full system will unlock unmatched performance. A full system is rarely road-legal, though.
Popular Exhaust Choices
- Akrapovic full-system exhaust
- Graves Cat-Back slip-on exhaust
- Graves Works 2 full-system exhaust
- Arrow Indy Race Evo slip-on exhaust
- Yoshimura AT2 slip-on exhaust
Performance Air Filter
Air is proportional to power. An engine that sucks in more air will inevitably make more power. So an air filter is an easy recommendation. Pick a reusable filter, so you can simply clean the filter periodically and use it again rather than buying a new one during every service.
Velocity Stacks
This is a slightly tricky thing, but it will get you good gains for less money. Graves Motorsport–shown above–is a leader in making velocity stacks for the ZX-4RR, and a look at the performance graph will explain just how much you’re gaining. It also makes the power more usable, so bonus points.
Chain Sprocket Kit
Okay, this won’t actually boost power. But it will make the power more fun. Go two teeth up at the rear, and your Ninja ZX-4R will accelerate harder off the line. Go two teeth down, and you will see superbike levels of top speeds in a straight line. Sprocket change is easy, too, so you can DIY depending on whatever you’re in mood for.
