Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans. - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

M.vinay · 08-10-2011, 08:26 PM

Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans.

Kawasaki is working on a supercharged four-cylinder bike as a replacement for the mighty ZZR1400.

A flurry of new patent documents from the company show enough detail to suggest the idea of supercharging a new high-performance machine is far more than just an engineering exercise.

Recent power increases in 1000cc superbikes, exemplified by the 190bhp BMW S1000RR, have created a problem for super-fast sports tourers like the ZZR1400 and Suzuki Hayabusa. Once the final word in flat-out acceleration and top speed, they are now outperformed by lighter, nimbler superbikes in a straight line as well as around corners.

The solution? Take advantage of the fact the ZZR has no race regs to conform to and add a huge dollop of power with the addition of a supercharger.

Over the last few weeks no fewer than four patents have been published, all showing different aspects of the same ZZR1400-style supercharged bike. But don't rush out to place your order just yet - Kawasaki is believed to be working on a revised ZZR, so a supercharged machine is likely to be at least 18 months away.

The design neatly slots the supercharger itself just behind the cylinders, underneath the throttle bodies, with drive to the turbine supplied via an idler gear (to increase its speed relative to engine revs) and a short chain. Air coming in through the normal intake between the headlights runs through a filter, over the engine and down to the supercharger, where it's compressed before being fed back up to the throttle bodies. There's no provision for an intercoooler, suggesting the set-up is aimed at providing a relatively modest power and torque increases, rather than drag-strip boost figures.

When it comes to supercharging, Kawasaki isn't breaking new ground; the firm already has years of experience with a remarkably similar supercharged four-cylinder engine. Not on a motorcycle, but in one of its jet skis. The Ultra 300X uses a motorcycle-style DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, fairly close to the ZZR1400's in dimensions although with a slightly larger 1500cc capacity. In a bike doing without the Ultra 300X's intercooler around 250bhp should still be within easy reach.

Suggestions of a supercharged ZZR first emerged in 2009, however, this is the first time we've seen hard evidence to substantiate the rumours. The bike's relatively low development costs - adding forced induction to boost performance is a far cheaper way to boost performance than developing an entirely new motor - make supercharging the ZZR a promising prospect for a strong power-to-money ratio.

Source: Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans - | Motorbike reviews | Latest Bike Videos | MCN

Noor · 08-15-2011, 05:39 PM

News approved

milancherian · 08-15-2011, 06:38 PM

Sounds cool,could improve on the visual appearance though!

surya220 · 08-15-2011, 10:01 PM

Awesome..

The Monster is back.. Just can't wait to see the bike crack the 250bhp barrier as a production vehicle..

A small afterthought.. How big will the rear tire have to be to handle all that power and torque..?

Please don't change the looks Kawi.. Its BEASTLY.. And thats how it should stay..

Aneesh@4GHz · 08-15-2011, 10:14 PM

Awesome!

lockhrt999 · 08-15-2011, 11:17 PM

LOL. Supercharger will make it slow only!! by reducing fuel efficiency and having to stop for refuel very frequently. Isn't this meant for sport touring?

For such an engine, supercharger will need about 20-30 bhp to run itself. Although it's more relative to what compression they want to achieve.

Tourbocharger makes more sense as it can increase power as well as fuel efficiency. It can even produce more power than supercharger. The only disadvantage is, it will make bike unpredictable. And that's must be why they chose supercharger over turbocharger.

j4zb4 · 08-16-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockhrt999

LOL. Supercharger will make it slow only!! by reducing fuel efficiency and having to stop for refuel very frequently. Isn't this meant for sport touring?

For such an engine, supercharger will need about 20-30 bhp to run itself. Although it's more relative to what compression they want to achieve.

Tourbocharger makes more sense as it can increase power as well as fuel efficiency. It can even produce more power than supercharger. The only disadvantage is, it will make bike unpredictable. And that's must be why they chose supercharger over turbocharger.

I don't think you want a turbocharger kicking in when you are taking a curve...

driftjockey · 08-17-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockhrt999

LOL. Supercharger will make it slow only!! by reducing fuel efficiency and having to stop for refuel very frequently. Isn't this meant for sport touring?

For such an engine, supercharger will need about 20-30 bhp to run itself. Although it's more relative to what compression they want to achieve.

Tourbocharger makes more sense as it can increase power as well as fuel efficiency. It can even produce more power than supercharger. The only disadvantage is, it will make bike unpredictable. And that's must be why they chose supercharger over turbocharger.

are you sure?

Ghost11 · 08-17-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockhrt999

LOL. Supercharger will make it slow only!! by reducing fuel efficiency and having to stop for refuel very frequently. Isn't this meant for sport touring?

For such an engine, supercharger will need about 20-30 bhp to run itself. Although it's more relative to what compression they want to achieve.

Tourbocharger makes more sense as it can increase power as well as fuel efficiency. It can even produce more power than supercharger. The only disadvantage is, it will make bike unpredictable. And that's must be why they chose supercharger over turbocharger.

Superchargers are less efficient than turbochargers,that is true but for a turbocharger you need various other things like for better cooling.Plainly it is more complex than superchargers.Even when a supercharger uses 20 or 30 horses the end gain in HP is considerably high.Besides i dont think manufacturers are looking at pumping out 300 or 400bhp.I am guessing somewhere between 220-250bhp is what they are aiming for.So turbos seem a little too much for the job ie;cost involved.Also like you mentioned turbos can be a little unpredictable when it comes to power delivery.

Talking about superchargers ,the VYRUS 987 C3 4V,top end model runs a supercharged ducati engine putting out 211 or so bhp.When i saw that video the guy who developed the system happen to say that the supercharger was only running at 17%(or something similar) of what it is capable of so as to keep the power vs reliability factor justifiable.

surya220 · 08-17-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j4zb4

I don't think you want a turbocharger kicking in when you are taking a curve...

Turbos can be designed to give a linear power delivery if required.. The turbos mods we've seen and heard about till now were in custom one off record setting bikes.. They need a peaky setup rather than a tame one..

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftjockey

are you sure?

Superchargers need engine power to turn.. Their power requirement depends on the target output power.. If you want higher power output, you'll have to feed more power to the supercharger.. The Supercharged ZR1 Corvette needs a humongous 120+ bhp just to run the supercharger at full pressure to attain a nice 500+ bhp power output..

08-10-2011, 08:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
M.vinay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 276	Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans. Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans. Kawasaki is working on a supercharged four-cylinder bike as a replacement for the mighty ZZR1400. A flurry of new patent documents from the company show enough detail to suggest the idea of supercharging a new high-performance machine is far more than just an engineering exercise. Recent power increases in 1000cc superbikes, exemplified by the 190bhp BMW S1000RR, have created a problem for super-fast sports tourers like the ZZR1400 and Suzuki Hayabusa. Once the final word in flat-out acceleration and top speed, they are now outperformed by lighter, nimbler superbikes in a straight line as well as around corners. The solution? Take advantage of the fact the ZZR has no race regs to conform to and add a huge dollop of power with the addition of a supercharger. Over the last few weeks no fewer than four patents have been published, all showing different aspects of the same ZZR1400-style supercharged bike. But don't rush out to place your order just yet - Kawasaki is believed to be working on a revised ZZR, so a supercharged machine is likely to be at least 18 months away. The design neatly slots the supercharger itself just behind the cylinders, underneath the throttle bodies, with drive to the turbine supplied via an idler gear (to increase its speed relative to engine revs) and a short chain. Air coming in through the normal intake between the headlights runs through a filter, over the engine and down to the supercharger, where it's compressed before being fed back up to the throttle bodies. There's no provision for an intercoooler, suggesting the set-up is aimed at providing a relatively modest power and torque increases, rather than drag-strip boost figures. When it comes to supercharging, Kawasaki isn't breaking new ground; the firm already has years of experience with a remarkably similar supercharged four-cylinder engine. Not on a motorcycle, but in one of its jet skis. The Ultra 300X uses a motorcycle-style DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, fairly close to the ZZR1400's in dimensions although with a slightly larger 1500cc capacity. In a bike doing without the Ultra 300X's intercooler around 250bhp should still be within easy reach. Suggestions of a supercharged ZZR first emerged in 2009, however, this is the first time we've seen hard evidence to substantiate the rumours. The bike's relatively low development costs - adding forced induction to boost performance is a far cheaper way to boost performance than developing an entirely new motor - make supercharging the ZZR a promising prospect for a strong power-to-money ratio. Source: Kawasaki's supercharged ZZR1400 plans - \| Motorbike reviews \| Latest Bike Videos \| MCN __________________ Ride Like A Devil Feel Like An Angel

08-15-2011, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Noor Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Posts: 2,336	News approved __________________ Happiness is finding you have another Gear left.... Join xBhp On

08-15-2011, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
milancherian a.k.a BLITZKRIEG Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chengannur,Kerala Posts: 1,032	Sounds cool,could improve on the visual appearance though! __________________ I am THE BLITZ, rider of THE BLITZKRIEG ! Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/milancherian Time Freeze(My Photography) : http://www.facebook.com/MilanCherianPhotography

08-15-2011, 10:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aneesh@4GHz The D.I.Y Angel :P Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kollam,Kerala Posts: 3,375	Awesome! __________________ DIY's & More... 2006 Karizma [ SOLD ]

08-15-2011, 11:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
lockhrt999 LicenseD to ReV HarD Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 870	LOL. Supercharger will make it slow only!! by reducing fuel efficiency and having to stop for refuel very frequently. Isn't this meant for sport touring? For such an engine, supercharger will need about 20-30 bhp to run itself. Although it's more relative to what compression they want to achieve. Tourbocharger makes more sense as it can increase power as well as fuel efficiency. It can even produce more power than supercharger. The only disadvantage is, it will make bike unpredictable. And that's must be why they chose supercharger over turbocharger. __________________ It's always brainy to go with the heart.™ - DIY Another day: Upgrading the headlight and pilots of Pulsar. Tomorrow Never DIYs: Safest and easiest way to tune the AFR

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