As all of you probably already know, my ZX-10R is my go-to track weapon. And for good reason. Multiple WSBK titles, approachable price, and a platform that you can sharpen along with your skills; what’s not to like? Now, that last bit is what matters for this particular piece. I have done a fair few track days with it. And I started to feel like it could do more. This is not to say that I have saturated it because I am not a professional racer. But I just felt like if I am going to frequent the racetrack with it, it will need a shot in the arm. 

Before I list the stuff I did with it, I will tell you that the only change I made before this particular outing was to the exhaust; I switched to Arrow. Apart from that, racing slicks because, of course. Other than that, it was pretty much bone stock. So, what is the first thing you change on a superbike meant for the road? The fairing. I switched to race fairing. It gets rid of stuff that you do not need on a racetrack. That, along with the material, contributes to weight savings. So in its current avatar, my ZX-10R is around 9 kilos lighter. And 9 kilos is a lot on a racetrack where tenths and hundredths of a second count. 

Another major change I made was to the braking setup. I sharpened things up in the braking department with Galfer Race Pads and HEL steel braided brake lines. When we talk about the racetrack, we usually talk about outright speed. What one misses is the importance of braking. If you have better brakes, you can brake later and harder, which ultimately contributes to shaving those tenths off of your lap time. And I could tell the difference, but more on that later. 

With more than 10 national champions crowned, Apex Racing Academy has produced some seriously quick motorcycle riders over the years. The ease with which their team delivers lessons on the complexities of motorcycle racing is one of the major contributing factors here. Keep an eye out for their next track day, participate, and see for yourself.

Then we have the tyres. I use racing slicks from Pirelli. Superbike SC2 tyres to be precise. I have been using these for a while, so I know how good they are. If you do not believe me, Pirelli is the official tyre supplier for WSBK. Then it became one for Moto2. And from next year, MotoGP. They are the preferred tyre choice of some of the biggest motorcycle and car manufacturers, so their pedigree and praise are not unfounded. 

Now, perhaps one of the most important bits. First of all, I want to talk about the BMC Race Air Filter. The difference in how a motorcycle engine breathes makes beggars belief. Gasoline or petrol is the fuel, but it won’t burn without oxygen. The air plays a major role in our beloved Suck-Squeeze-bang-Blow toys. Too little, and the combustion is incomplete. Too much, and you know that there’s more than air that is making its way into the combustion chamber. So, how do you strike the balance? 

Well, you simply go with BMC Air Filters. These guys have been at the top of the food chain when it comes to air filters for a while now. They have proved their mettle in some of the toughest motorsport challenges and came out on top. I have been using them for a while, and such was the difference felt that all the vehicles in the xBhp Garage now run on BMC Air Filters. So, it was a no-brainer that I went with BMC for my racetrack-prepped ZX-10R as well. Permeable enough to let the engine breathe freely and restrictive enough to only let pure combustion-catalyst air through. The perfect balance. 

Another little tweak was to the ECU. I got it remapped for better corner exits. Since I am not named Valentino or Marc, I cannot gain time in braking, no matter how much better the system gets. So I do it the easy way, pick the bike up earlier at corner exits, get to the fat part of the tyre, and go bonkers. So a little more poke out of corners was what I was looking for, and that is what I got from the remap. 

With a lighter kerb weight and a freer breathing engine, our ZX-10R is sharper than ever and yet, the Pirelli Superbike SC2s kept up without a hitch, providing superb grip and feedback through all our sessions on the racetrack.

Now, I have tried to keep whatever I have told you as jargon-free as I could. But still, that is stuff written on a piece of paper. They are numbers and stats, and no matter how impressive they sound, they do not compare to the real thing. So, let’s get to it. First off, with all these changes, I also decided to go with a new livery. In my opinion, it looks more purposeful than ever. But then again, I designed it, and I believe in humility, so you can write to us about it to let me know your opinion about it. 

Now, out on the racetrack, the first thing I felt was a sense of slight unfamiliarity. I am not sure if it has happened to you, but we all get used to how our motorcycles feel. Ride them long enough, and you get to know all the gradients in their character. With the weight loss and the better braking system and the BMC Air Filter and the ECU remap… it felt sharper. And not sharper as in, “Hey, this is sharper,” but more like, “Oh, wow, I’d better buckle up.” I do not want to use this word, but it almost felt twitchy. 

I have always found the ZX-10R to be a fairly quick motorcycle in terms of handling. But now, it just felt too eager. But, ride motorcycles long enough and your mind accommodates the change in characteristics much quicker. So after a few laps, I got a feel for it. I began trusting the motorcycle more and more, and the lap times were there for the taking. I could sense the improvement since it was significant and thus palpable. 

Eventually, the best lap time I did was a 2:11 something. Now, I could have gone faster, but I am still getting used to how focused my ZX-10R feels now. I believe that with more track time, I will be able to shave it down significantly. But, I will take it one day at a time, or should I say one tenth at a time. Talking about track time, a big thanks to Apex Racing Academy for the track time. They are a bunch of awesome folks who have trained people not only to ride on the racetrack but also to be national champions. 

All that said, I can still think of a few more changes that I can make to my ZX-10R, but those will have to wait till I learn to make the most of what I have done to it so far. As is the norm, I will keep you guys updated. Till then, Ride Safe. Ride Hard.