2014 Honda Fireblade SP
Carlo, one of our customers who previously owned a 2012 Kawasaki ZX10 that we tuned to 198hp, recently
bought a 2014 Fireblade SP after wanting something different. Most people were
asking him about the reason for getting off one of the fastest bikes on the
road, for something seemingly “slower”. The Fireblade SP is equipped with full
Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes and a blue-printed engine. These make the bike
feel smooth and incredibly confidence inspiring on the mountain road passes
that surround the Western Cape. It can be immediately felt once you sit on the
bike. It might not fall within the 200hp bike category, but don’t try and keep
up with one when the road gets twisty.
He now came to Superbike Solutions and asked for the same
treatment his Kawasaki received. A Power Commander 5, Autotuner and HM
quickshifter were fitted. The HM quickshifter unit came off his previously
owned bike and after some changes was able to work with the Honda systems.
The bike was already fitted with a titanium Arrow slip on.
This now needed a threaded bung to be welded into the stainless steel link pipe
for the wide-range Lambda sensor the Autotune uses. Carlo, being an engineer,
decided a mild steel one was not good enough and drew up a Stainless Steel one
which he had machined and requested us to fit.
The Fireblade SP was then put on the dyno and did a base run
of 174.25hp. After meticulous dyno tuning we were able to realise gains across
the rev range and a new peak figure of 180.66hp. This is only half the story
though…
Blue line is the stock 2014 Fireblade SP with Arrow slip on
and before dyno tuning. Red line is after Power Commander installation and dyno
tuning.
Peak horsepower figures suggest the SP is still “under powered”
when compared to his previously owned Kawasaki ZX10. But when comparing our two
dyno graphs, the Fireblade makes more power all the way to 11,000rpm. This ZX10
then goes on to peak at 198hp but considering where in the rev range a road
bike is typically ridden, the SP is likely to be a more tractable and usable
ride.
Julian, Superbike Solutions
Photo's done by Redandblack Photography
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