Ram Air Induction with KZ1000P

Hello All,

I finally got my 1995 KZ1000P running and she's a blast to ride. Still, I'm always thinking of ways to improve performance and was considering removing one or both of the secondary headlights (police fairing) and routing that 4 1/2" diameter hole on the front of the fairing to the air box. Seems like it might have a nice "ram air" potential. Has anyone done this? Worth the effort?

I'm no engineer but I would think not. The benefit of an airbox is a stable air supply without turbulence.

When riding the frame is pressurized allowing more air for the air box. The opposite for pods. At speed a vortex is formed behind the legs and engine starving the carbs for air. I don't use the snorkel that came with the KZ 900 airbox. You might be looking to make yours breath a little better.
Steve

Interesting idea. Add in a 12v computer cooling fan each side for extra pressure at low speeds. Good talking point and bragging rights evenif it didn't work

Just wire up a couple of these turbos . Heck get four they are only $3.60 ea. Guaranteed up to 100HP!

In principal it will work and aid high speed running by providing cooler denser air.
It's just a milder form of supercharging.
The incoming air shouldn't be unstable but just increase in pressure the faster you go .
You would need to make sure the airbox is sealed except for where the rammed air enters so that you actually get positive pressure.

I think I would use it to route cool air into my jacket.

In theory ram air works. But does it really? I have a 09 Kawasaki ZG/GTR1400 Concours which has factory ram air. The air is drawn from scoops in the fairing just below the head light housing. The air is then ducted directly to the air cleaner housing. The people who can figure if the ram air really works say the speeds one would have to obtain to get any HP benefit would be high. High enough speed that in most states it would get the bike impounded and a stay at the county bed and breakfast for the rider.

Also consider this. Air cleaner filters are nasty when changed. Even though there is a screen in the scoops a large amount of bugs and other debris end up on the filter. Most filters when checked dirt can be blown out inspected and in many cases good for another round. Not so with the Concours air filter.....they are so nasty you throw in a new one and discard the old one wondering how the frick did the bike even run?.

I don't know the cost of a air filter for your bike. An after market for the Z1 is relatively cheap. An Air Filter and even after market for the ZG/GTR 14 is rather expensive as filters go. Most have found the suggested mileage between an air filter change might be a bit too high.

Funny, I was just reading about ram air on motorcycles this morning.

It works, for sure. The system needs to be sealed or you will loose the benefit of ramming air into the airbox.

Also, when Kawasaki added it to the ZX series carbed bikes, they had to reference all the carb vents to the airbox. Otherwise it would go lean as the system pressurize.

Real gains aren't seen until 90+ mph though. Not sure it would be much help in your application. Sounds cool though!

RAM AIR: What's It Worth? - Sport Rider