Q: Hi Noddy, I know you’re heavily involved with racing so I thought you might be able to answer my question.
I own a ZX-10 and always watch the WSB 1000 class. I already understand that they’re heavily modified bikes that cost a fortune.
But my question is what can they do to the engines in the 600cc Supersport class to make them so fast? Your information will be greatly appreciated and thanks for a cool and free technical section.
Colin Mitchell Cape Town
A: The Supersport class also involves heavily modified engines that cost a fortune so don’t think it’s a cheap form of racing. In fact they cost just about as much to modify and run as the big 1,000cc bikes do.
As far as I’m aware the engines still have to be 600cc but they run very high compression ratios, heavily modified cylinder heads, and the camshafts have to have the same lift as the originals but the duration the valves stay open is longer.
They also have some severe changes to the electronics including, programmable ECU’S, racing wiring harness and trick ignition systems including data logging features. This will allow the race teams to increase the rpm between 500-1000 rpm. Meaning a Honda CBR600RR for example will rev past 15,000 rpm, which of course can and does make the motor fragile. Of course bigger radiators are used to keep things cool as well.
You’ll also be interested to know that these modifications will push the horsepower past 140 at the rear wheel, which isn’t too far behind a stock 1,000cc engine, amazing eh?
