TOPIC:

Wow wow wow!!!! I take it back. I cranked up the advance 6 degrees and the bike just.wants.to.go.fast!! Holy crap. It’s like a freakin turbo. Changed the whole character of the ride. When not gunning it the bike is like a caged animal, kind of bucking/begging to go. Not smooth at all. But if I give her what she wants, man!
Also noticed popping on decel disappeared entirely.
I don’t think I’ll crank it up this high in the city, the bike is way too jumpy. But on these twisties
No pinging yet. Do I dare go to 8 degrees?

Well, just be careful. Many people experience the euphoria just before things blow up

I wonder how hard it would be to add a knock sensor somewhere.

I'm curious as to what the 6 deg value means. The stock advance is way more than 6 deg, so is it 6 more than stock? I wouldn't have thought 6 deg would have been that effective.

loudhvx wrote: Well, just be careful. Many people experience the euphoria just before things blow up

I wonder how hard it would be to add a knock sensor somewhere.

I'm curious as to what the 6 deg value means. The stock advance is way more than 6 deg, so is it 6 more than stock? I wouldn't have thought 6 deg would have been that effective.

Yikes. That's a scary thought. Now I need to research knock sensors. Though I'm thinking if something didn't blow during this past run, it should be fine. I was at or past redline many times.

I have the ignition curve at home, will post it when I get back. But yes, it's basically six degrees advanced over stock - all in at 43 degrees BTDC. I was hopeful that advance would help because I'm running the higher duration zx550 cams with stock 9.5:1 pistons. I'd read that one way to make up for lower dynamic compression is to add some advance. Don't know if that's what's happening, but something awfully fun is...

Here are the curves

That's interesting. The SW+8 position is really only about 5 degrees more advanced than a Zx550 . Zx550's max out at about 40 deg BTDC.
So the SW 0 would have been retarded compared to a Zx550.

I’m very tempted to try +8 (45 degress total advance). Wonder if i should use higher octane gas. Still running 87.

Averaged 45 mpg today. The highest I'd gotten since swapping in zx550 cams is 40mpg ... so something is more efficient now. So pleased with this new system!!!

Yes for higher octane. if your going to push the ignition timing. You might not get pinging now but it might be a different story in hot weather
A knock sensor would be nice

loudhvx wrote: That's interesting. The SW+8 position is really only about 5 degrees more advanced than a Zx550.

I think the biggest difference starts around the 3000 rpm point, theres 6-7 degrees more than the ZX550 and is more like the KZ550s 35 degrees @ 3200rpm mechanical advance then reaches full advance round 8000rpm instead of 10,000rpm on the ZX550's

loudhvx wrote: So the SW 0 would have been retarded compared to a Zx550.

Total advance might be less but its very similar @ 3000rpm, it might even have more advance up from there up to around 8000rpm than ZX550 ,
Im pretty sure i read the ZR's had 35 degrees total, itwould be nice to see the factory ZR550 ignition curve for comparison.

But on a 550, 3000 rpm is nowhere near the power band really.

You would lose time looking for power at 3000 rpm. That would be downshift time or rev and clutch slip time. 3000 and light throttle would be fuel economy cruise mode, and that would be a slow cruise at that.

The kz advance down low is too much
, which is why the mechanical advance is a compromise. Lugging the motor that low while trying to get power would do bad things... Lots of knock. Which is why they went to electronic advance.

For power you would only be concerned with about 6000 rpm and up, maybe 5000.

I think the factory limits total advance in later years due to emissions.

loudhvx wrote: But on a 550, 3000 rpm is nowhere near the power band really.

You would lose time looking for power at 3000 rpm. That would be downshift time or rev and clutch slip time. 3000 and light throttle would be fuel economy cruise mode, and that would be a slow cruise at that.

The kz advance down low is too much
, which is why the mechanical advance is a compromise. Lugging the motor that low while trying to get power would do bad things... Lots of knock. Which is why they went to electronic advance.

For power you would only be concerned with about 6000 rpm and up, maybe 5000.

I think the factory limits total advance in later years due to emissions.

Exactly!! As the Kawasaki KZ550 performance chart below shows at 3000 rpm (red circle) the engine makes about 17 hp while at 6000 rpm (green circle) it makes about 40 hp. Also, using stock gearing, in top gear 3000 rpm would only propel the bike a bit less than 40 mph. Ed

Yeah i know there is very little power down that low i was looking a the graphs using 3000rpm as a starting point just for comparison purposes, thats all
The SPII has options for more advance at those rpm points. SW4 has 40 degrees advance @ 4500rpm , that's 5000rpm earlier than the ZX550 igniter,
zaddicts 43 degree total setting probably has 40 degrees @ 6000rpm and by his comments hes feeling it

i have read that some factory ignitors are suppose to have 35 and 40 degrees of advance @ 3500