What's on the chopping block?

Through hours of Internet research along with thousands of miles of my own riding experience, I've been able to identify the potential upgrades that would most benefit the 7R. Why doesn't the 7 keep up with other models, such as the potent GSXR 750 and can even be challenged by a few 600 models? The major factor is weight and luckily, that is the factor we can affect the most. By way of comparison, the 2001 GSXR 750 had a dry weight of 366 pounds in contrast to the ZX7R of the same year tipping the scale at a whopping 447 pounds dry. That is an 81 pound gap! While horsepower upgrades are plentiful, they are modestly effective and expensive. $500+ for a full exhaust system that gives me 8 whopping horsepower and requires further work to the intake and fuel systems (which translates to more dollars) will do what for me in the end? Improve my quarter mile slip by a tenth... if I'm lucky? But dropping between 40 and 60 pounds off the bike with a big chunk of that being in the "unsprung" department - now that is performance I will see everywhere that won't put added stress on stock engine components. In fact, moving less mass around, should increase reliability overall. In the process I'll add some more modern technology to the 7R platform that should benefit everyday functionality as much as taking time off of laps at the nearest racetrack.

So where might this weight be lurking and where can we cut the fat??

• Wheels: It's no secret that the stock wheels on this bike are boat anchors. And it's weight in the worst possible place, unsprung rotating mass. So we will look for a lighter alternative, both front and rear.
• Swingarm: The 7s swingarm is an old and unattractive design. A common mod for the 7 is to swap in a ZX9R or ZX10R swingarm - with the 10R being preferred as it is a more modern design allowing the use of lighter and more effective rear brake components such as caliper, hanger and rotor. Also, the ZX10R shock is a full pound lighter than the stock 7R.
• Front End: Again, the later model and lighter ZX10R front end is a popular mod for the ZX7R enthusiasts. It also allows for a more modern radial brake to be used.

So those are the components I will focus on initially, as they are readily available and there is a good amount of information from others who have completed these mods. With the swap of the Front and Rear suspensions allowing me to ditch the 7R wheels for the much lighter 10R counterparts and use lighter overall suspension components, the estimate for weight reduction of the above mods is between 20 and 25 pounds, with much of it in that most desired "unsprung" category. That is a staggering number and I will provide accurate actual numbers as the components are swapped. Mods further down the road would include a battery swap that should save 3 to 5 pounds. A possible exhaust swap, not necessarily for the horsepower advertised, but for the 15+ pounds it will take off the bottom line (perhaps more with a "shorty" style canister). I won't be doing mods that compromise the integrity or reliability of the bike as a daily driver. This isn't a race bike and I don't have unlimited funds to swap components out on a regular basis because they don't hold up week after week, season after season. Therefore things such as 520 chains and aluminum sprockets won't be employed as they are less reliable and in the end don't save much weight anyway. There are a few carbon panels I will consider because the weight savings is significant. Those might include the intake tubes and front fender as these can be had for less than exotic amounts of money. I’ll also be ditching the passenger accommodations for the most part as my significant other rocks her own ninja and hasn’t been on the back of mine since she started carving her own curves more than a year ago. That will allow me to drop the passenger pegs and substitute a much less bulky exhaust hanger (if one is needed at all should I opt for the GP style "shorty" exhaust)
See the next post for the parts I’ve begun to accumulate.