What's up?
I'm about to bite the bullet and buy a RCC Stage 1 turbo kit for my bike. I've heard some say, you'll need the exhaust ported and valve spring work or there could be issues? Any thoughts, ideas on this?

Here's the kit: https://store.schnitzracing.com/rcc-turbo-kit-stage-1-kawasaki-zx14r-12-20/

I've been using the stage 1 kit since 2017 with ZERO issues. I did have them do a stage 1 plus install which included thicker head gasket, APE studs, Carpenter springs etc. That allows me to go as high as 10 psi. On the base spring which you're safe with mine dynode at 247hp@ 9,600rpm on pump gas. I'm in the process of having a full race motor and converting to stage 2 plus and even with that there's no need for porting as it's being force fed! Good luck with your build!

They may be referring to a Gen 1 but valve springs are a good idea anyway.. Really important if you run near teh limiter a lot ..My personal experience and opinion , for what it is worth :) , unless you are going to run it hard ( and I know of very few who are not addicted when they feel the power} , then just install and have fun.
I am waffling between built motor and turbo at teh end of the season,,If I do the turbo, the least I will do is springs
Built motor is truly stealthy and I have a great shop/sponsor with dyno , etc to keep everything inline.
Turbo has much more in the way of power and only need to pull the head ..Cost ? For me, the turbo would run about 15 to 20 % more ..
All above are just my opinions , dont forget :)

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/16/2020 @ 11:22 AM *

Listen to ANYTHING Fordtech says as he definitely knows what he is talking about..and a good guy to boot :)

So the Gen2 motor is better for turbo? I've been debating whether or not to put a Gen2 motor in my 08 thinking it's not going to make much difference after a Gen1 or Gen2 motor is turboed.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/16/2020 @ 4:13 PM *

I dont know..I was just responding to comment.

Interesting topic...here's some thoughts from a guy who has had a half dozen turbocharged street bikes and put almost 50,000 miles on the last one in 4 years.(Honda Blackbird (intercooled)with 255 HP and 155 lbs tq. on pump gas)
Head porting: This is probably the thing to do last on a big horsepower build. Generally, the combustion chamber is smoothed and polished, a larger exhaust valve is fitted along with heavier springs, and the port is enlarged. It's expensive, not many guys do it right, and it yields minimal results. My 1216 Bandit with MC Express (intercooled) blow thru kit had the head done because we were using 20 lbs of boost...(287HP and 187 lbs torque on race gas)
Valve springs: Only use as much pressure as you need to get the job done. With turbos, the old rule of thumb is add 1 lb of pressure per lb of boost.On low boost applications, up to say 10 lbs or so, springs are generally not needed unless the motor has marginal valve springs to start with. Suzuki Bandits and GSXR's are an example as they had pretty low seat pressure to start..
Turbo vrs NA built motor..I had 2 200 HP Bandits at the same time. One had a 1340 motor that Bob Carpenter built. It made 195 HP and 109 lbs tq on race gas. The other Bandit had a Mr Turbo draw thru turbo and made 190 HP and 110 lbs tq. with water/methanol injection. The turbo was much easier to live with on the street. I could idle it in traffic, drive it normally, got good mileage and the power was only limited by boost level. The NA motor was highly strung and while I never had any problems, was more of a time bomb. It required way more maintenance, didn't like traffic, and didn't like to be lugged down. Between the 2, I generally jumped on the turbo.
With turbo bikes, you want more horsepower, you just turn up the boost.
I generally ran 10 lbs max with pump gas, 15 lbs with av gas, and used race gas for high teens.
Hope that helps you guys out a bit...Hank

Thanks guys. I just paid for the turbo kit. My mechanic talked to the owner/mananger of RCC and he said that it would usually take him about 2 weeks to build it (he said he had all the parts except the turbo) and so if he can get the turbo soon maybe a little faster on the build. My mechanic also inquired about the Guhl flash, so he called Don Guhl and he said not to worry about the timing that the flash had on it and that plenty of guys had his flash and were running turbos with no problem.

I must admit I am really looking forward to riding the new beast in a few weeks.

Progress on the install:

Lookin good. Keep at 'er!

I love the RCC turbo oil return pump, it takes the worry out of an electric scavenge pump and have to drill the oil pan.Did you remove the swing arm to put an extended arm on it or just to mount the fuel pump? With a stage 1 kit you don't need to extend the arm more than 3 inches at most probably don't need to do it at all. I'm 5" on my 350hp 93 octane fully built 14R and it is too much, I'm going to shorten it to 3-4". Richard, the owner of RCC is a great guy and will help your mechanic anytime he needs some information. The most important part of a turbo is to take it to a tuner that is familiar with turbo bikes as it is easy to go lean and blow a motor so that is crucial!!
You should really be posting this in the turbo section maybe the moderator will move it.

bobk, it already had the Roaring Toyz extended swing arm on it. The tuner doing the work said he needed to remove the swing arm for the fuel pump. The swing arm is 5 inches over and I prefer it that way to reduce the wheelies when I take her to the track.

OMG! Went for a test ride at the crack of dawn this morning (my first ride on the turbo). She dynoed 262/148

What does it feel like? Snorting a line of coke and busting a nut in a super fine girl all at the same time;)

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* Last updated by: skewedTotheLeft on 7/17/2020 @ 9:39 AM *

Awesome! I hope I can do that someday.

Awesome!!! When RCC did mine I had them add valve springs, head studs and a thicker head gasket so I could lean on it harder as it's a drag bike only. It made 249/147 on the 4lb. spring but was tuned for 6+7.5 also. 1 mile out of the crate, 10 miles off the dyno.
Good luck and be safe!

Here's a little YouTube video where you can hear how it sounds: RCC Stage 1 turbo on a ZX-14R

* Last updated by: skewedTotheLeft on 7/19/2020 @ 4:24 AM *

BAD!

I f---ing LOVE it!!!!