Are the 998 or 950 kits worth the price tag???

[Aboogie]

I have a 1999 ZX9..... I love the speed that the bikes gives me and it is a very comfortable ride but I wanna go faster.....

At this point in time, getting a ZX-10 isnt an option.... So I want to really put some work into my bike.....

A couple years back I changed the gearing and it did increase my take off, but killed my top end..... So I went right back to stock......

But I do have the full micron exhaust, K&N air filter and a stage 1 jet kit.....

I am currently looking at these two kits:

1. http://www.muzzys.com/ZX998/index.html


2. http://www.zlockracing.com/products.html


Now if this kit is worth getting, what else will need to be replaced???

A serious mod like this, I know it has to be something.....

I have searched the forum here but havent really found many concrete answers.......

I also see that someone has a 1050cc ZX9... How is that possible???

Any help you guys can give me will be appreciated..........

[Hammerhead]

Muzzy stuff is usually pretty high in quality, but the mistake most people make is thinking slapping on a big-bore kit is all you need to do. As soon as you increase displacement, you increase strain on the crank, transmission and driveline. Also, without some serious work on the head, cams and valves, you'll never realize the kit's full potential. If you don't have a machine shop, by the time you make all the proper mods to make a big-bore kit really work as intended, you've spent enough to buy a bigger displacement bike and lessened the reliability and service life of the one you are left with. Don't take this the wrong way, but most riders (myself included) are not skilled enough to fully take advantage of the average 600cc sportbike, much less a 1000cc hand grenade. So my advice would be to keep your bike as close to stock as possible and by the time it's ready for the crusher, you might be ready for something more powerful. You already have the pipe and jet kit. The only other things I would do are mods to reduce weight, especially unsprung weight unless you are really set on throwing a bunch of money at something that won't last long enough for you to save up for that ZX-10.

[Aboogie]

Thanks for the honest answer.......... My last goal is to make the bike less reliable....... I cant get rid of the ZX-9 EVER because I love it so much, so I will just wait till next year when I can get the extra money to have them both......

What suggestions do you have for getting rid of some of the weight on the bike.......

[maut9r]

I have a well done 973 Wiseco kit in mine and have put over 10k miles on it so far and it just keeps getting stronger. It burns zero oil, starts good, and runs fine on 93 octane fuel. The bike is an absolute rocket and still is rideable at low rpms, over 4k it runs fine, over 6k it's starting to really wake up and goes into orbit at 8k. It does run a bit warmer than stock and a 6 blade Muzzy fan is required.

I have heard nothing but great things about the Zlock kits and I've talked to the guys there and they are very helpful, If I didn't have my kit I would not hesitate to buy either the 950 or 985 kit they have. To get a good reliable job it's probably going to cost $2,000 or so. Done correctly and within reason a bigbore can be quite reliable.

I wouldn't spend $2,000 over a bone stock 9 to buy a 10 for one reason, I'd never be able to make it comfortable enough to ride far enough to have any fun. Look at it this way. Your 9 is probably already depreciated and paid for so you're only going to lose the money you put in it. A newer 10 will depreciate on you so you'll lose that value in addition to any mods you make and if you're making payments it only adds to the cost. Plus modding a bike gives you a greater sense of ownership and attachment to it.

In reply to needing other engine mods to match the bigbore, 9's are way over valved, cammed, and ported in stock form. Talk to Ivan, talk to the guys at Zlock, you don't need the extras to wake up a 9 with a bigbore. The bigger bore matches the head better than a stock bore. Time the cams correctly at 105I and 104E, throw in a jet kit and ride the wheels off the bigbore.

If you want to drop weight......Magnesium wheels or Carbon Fiber if you got lot's of cash! Mags cost about $2000 for a set, CF's are about $3500 I think.

If you go with a bigbore you'll also need a steering damper and want suspension work. I think that catches all your questions! Good luck!

[maut9r]

Forgot one thing, since you have a '99 you'll need a 2000 or 2001 cylinder to go more than 1mm overbore. The Muzzy is 4mm over and I think the larger Zlock kit is 3.5mm over.

I have heard of 4.5mm overbores, which is about 1010cc. Anything larger than that has a stroker and usually a spacer plate between the cylinders and block.

[Aboogie]

Thanks for all the advice....... I appreciate it and it will help me a lot to get the bike ready for the spring............ I am still riding now and cant force myself to take a month or so off, to do the work........lol

[ian022]

Does anyone have any videos of big bore ZX9Rs? I currently have a big bore ducati 916, but I'd really like to buy a 2000-2--3 ZX9R and do a big bore kit....and a zx10R front end, wheels, swing arm brakes...you get the picture.

[Kawzxr9]

I did a 2002 ZX9 as per Ivan's specs and all I can say is WOW!!
It still is the most reliable & comfortable bike I've owned. I sold
it because Kawi finally built the bike I dreamed of all along.
Went out and bought a used 04 ZX10R and regretted my decision
immediately. Zlock has done a cylinder head for me and I think
Dan is a good guy. Muzzy makes good stuff, but I went with an
Akrapovic system. Ivan makes the best jet-kit IMHO.
If you want to wake up your 99, No replacement for displacement.