I purchased the Akra optional headers at a steal, but when I got a chance to compare the stock headers up against the Akra headers I don't see much of a difference. The Akra headers seem to he a hair lighter but the tubing on both exhausts are identical. I'm curious as to how Akra made improvements with their exhaust to advertise a 6.5hp/4.9 torque gain.

Left- Stock header Right- Akra header

* Last updated by: siroht on 8/4/2023 @ 4:26 PM *

Happy dyno! The collector on the OE pipes is pretty rubbish IMO. So it's probably overall quality.

Kaw can produce their pipes for $100. Akro can produce their pipes for $200. Akro is willing to do this, Kaw is not. IE, it's not worth it for Kaw to do this especially considering completely ignoring exhaust restrictions (noise, pollution) no matter what stock pipes were most would probably end up being replaced. No doubt, whatever money Kaw is putting into the exhaust, it's on the noise and pollution side of things.

IMO, you won't see any gains from adding the exhaust. You might see higher dyno numbers (slightly), but this will translate at best into maybe a 10th in a quarter mile. Even with single side titanium you might lose 20+ lbs, which is said to be worth a 10th in the quarter per 20 lbs (estimate).

Now you will probably feel gains. And most of that is just the added sensory inputs, particularly the noise levels pumping your adrenaline.

Makes sense....so really the biggest benefit with going aftermarket is weight savings which correlates to performance gains due to a lighter load. Also since the stock headers has a large collector and the Akra appears to just join all 4 pipes ups to the 2 outlets may be Akra's magic.

* Last updated by: siroht on 8/4/2023 @ 5:30 PM *

You also only have the middle two joined with that short piece instead of both the left and right outers. I'd trust the engineers on this one, they don't usually join any of the headers but they did it for some reason on this one. If you got a deal on the header, there's no reason to not have it. I'd always go with a full system over slipons.

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/4/2023 @ 7:45 PM *

I had my bike dyno tuned with the Akra headers/Brocks Alien Heads and due to me crushing the header pipes and causing major leaks, I decided to remount the stock headers until my M4 GP Full exhaust arrives next week. After taking some very spirited rides with the stock headers, I'd be hard pressed that I can tell a difference between the 2 headers. It feels as though the low/midrange is a bit more responsive with the stock headers, which is odd as I was expecting to feel a somewhat major decrease in performance when I switched back to stock.

Anywho, I was just curious because of my latest searches before deciding on the M4 Full, I've seen videos where before(completely stock) and after (Full Brocks) dynos were performed and they usually yielded 4-5 rwhp over a stock ZX14R. The last dyno runs where they flash and tune the bike is where the gains really come from(an additional 10-15 rwhp). So I'm rethinking my recent exhaust purchase as it relates to costs/gains. If I were to stick with stock headers/slip ons with no cat in the stock header, I'll gain 2-3 rwhp over a stock bike. So you see where I'm going with this...stock headers/slipons vs a full system, the full system has a 2-3 rwhp advantage slip-ons(with a flash/tune). I guess I can look at it this way, that full systems are meant for those who want to squeeze every ounce of performance out of their bikes, and the premium that comes with purchasing a full exhaust and what you actually gain in return is a moot point. Brocks $1800 system and 5 additional horsepower equates to $360 per HP gained.

I think depending on your goals, priorities, and resources. As you say, one way to look at this may be $/hp. Or another way may be to $/increase in acceleration.

IMO one problem with hp is that dyno's don't really mean anything, unless your primary goal is to have a piece of paper with the biggest numbers. Send me $50 and I'll send you a dyno sheet that states your bike has 220hp. That's kind of the problem with dynos. Or to say, bigger numbers on a dyno don't mean anything unless you have actual performance numbers to compare to. IE, 5hp isn't going to drop you from a 9.5 to a 8.5 bike. I've ran into so many people who believe that kind of BS, "my bike pulls WAY harder now".

If you goals are to make the bike as quick as possible, IMO you should aim for a single sided titanium system. The weight loss is important, AND as expensive as titanium exhaust are the $/pound is pretty good.

If your goal is to start doing 1/4 mile. Don't modify the bike, at all, YET. First, get as good as you can with whatever the bike is, right now. When you start running consistent times, THEN you can start to make changes and understand the benefit/liability. Otherwise, what will definitely happen is you will see lower time slips (or whatever) but the biggest difference will be YOU and not the mods you are making. That's the value in practicing and tuning yourself before you ever worry about 12 hp on the dyno.

Well said VicThing! Thanks

I made this a few years ago. Didn't seem to get the appreciation I think it deserved. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on things.

Drag Racer Logic

LOl!! I get it. :)

The quarter mile is so much more than a five hp increase.. Take the bike you have, Put a lowering strap on the front and a good tire on the back and learn to drag race, which mostly comes from seat time . If you are racing ET Bracket racing there is so much involved that learning what is going on with dial ins would be number one for me if you want to win races..If you just want to go faster then throw everything at teh bike , then learn how to ride it :) I have been racing a long time , two track championships in et racing since I started racing the ZX14R.

Really decide what you have as a goal and then ask for help as to how to get there. There are guys here that have 8 second bikes that can tell you what works and what doesnt.

As a side note We took my 14R , did a base line run and then later did Brand Y and brand B full SS exhaust systems.
I will try to find those runs and post them for you.

in passing , what caught my eye was the traction control bit ...Vic.. what were your best times at the track and did you do runs both off and on ?

The reason for the last Question is because I have been thinking about no prep days at the track . I have almost given up on those events because of spinning dang near all the way down the track .. Now I am kind of anxious to see what no prep runs would be like . The strip makes it so easy to compare because of time slips.

* Last updated by: chrly on 8/8/2023 @ 12:07 PM *

Chrly I don't do drag racing. It's not my thing. My comic was from 2016, if I recall correctly (and I may not) someone asked about using TRC and drag racing and it seems like people were like "no that's for newbs". I found it ironic, most of the people telling his person using "driving aids" like TRC is for idiot newb losers, had whatever various other mods to their bikes and didn't consider those same things "driving aids". Thus DRAG RACER LOGIC.

Now, I think you're asking that question though to passively make a point, sort of a wink. I think that's based on my comic, and most likely not reading or comprehending the rest of the thread. I stated the same thing you are about goals, in fact I'd say the way I made my point is maybe a little clearer and helpful, since I included resources (money, time, knowledge, tools, skills, people that can help (paid/unpaid)), which is highly important along with "goals".

The principals of goal setting, or more accurately, project management, are the same whether we're talking about drag racing, or any type of racing, or really just about anything from building a shed, reorganizing a drawer, or planning for retirement.

And while I don't drag race, I have raced other things and have a general understanding of racing principals. The first mistake non-pros make is to buy speed, instead of focusing on practicing and improving their own skills.

While it's OK that someone spends $20k on upgrades to a bike as a newb racer, they sure do look EXTREMELY stupid getting beat by someone on a stock bike running KTRC who's practiced a few times. At least some newb on a stock bike, people probably won't laugh at them too much if they don't perform well. Wear a superman cape, people will expect superman, I know I sure do.

Siroht, I did the same thing. When I bought my previous '12 14R new, I installed slip ons because nothing else was available. I eventually added the Akra header. Although not a huge difference, I could feel an improvement in throttle response. In your photo, I see quite a difference between the Akra and stock. The Akra primary pipes are tapered, and it's a 4-2-2 vs.the stock 4-1-2. I'm glad I made the change.

Thanks for the info ZX9! You are correct 4-2-2 vs 4-1-2. I guess I need a ruler to measure the OD to notice it tampering down, because with my old eyes they both look the same.

Also since I’ve had time on my hands over the past 2 weeks I decided to swap back and forth between the 2 headers to get a butt Dyno comparison. Overall the stock headers has more punch and get up and go down low/midrange over the Akras. The Akras definitely win in the top end category. Kawasaki did a good job engineering the 2012 headers since going aftermarket only yields marginal gains over stock. If they had made them titanium that would’ve definitely hurt the aftermarket exhaust manufacturers.

My M4 GP full system will be arriving soon and once I get them installed I think I'll have a good idea of what aftermarket exhausts offer over stock, at least for the ZX14R. I do have a dilemma where I recently had my bike dyno tuned with the Akra Header/Brock's Dual slip ons, and after I install the M4 full system I'm wondering if I should have it retuned($$$). From looking at the M4 headers they are almost identical to the Akra headers as it relates to 4-2 aspect. Since the M4 is a single sided system I'm not sure if the AFR would be too skewed if I ran it with the Akra dyno tune.

* Last updated by: siroht on 8/10/2023 @ 1:20 PM *

Update:

My M4 system arrived this morning and I got it installed with no issues. I took it for a ride and with the previous tune created for the Akra headers it ran fine but was somewhat gutless down low compared to the previous 2 setups. I called up my dyno tuner and he instructed me to bring it in so he could readjust the fueling since I changed the entire exhaust system. He ended up having to add 4-5% fuel pretty much across the entire RPM range because he said it was running lean. Now that I have the M4 system in hand the headers tubes are definitely larger than the Akra/stock headers, which explains the lean condition(more air). Now she's running great...especially on the top end and it sounds ferocious!

* Last updated by: siroht on 8/12/2023 @ 9:55 AM *

Vic..Lets see if I can clarify what I was getting at..
Chrly I don't do drag racing. It's not my thing. My comic was from 2016, if I recall correctly (and I may not) someone asked about using TRC and drag racing and it seems like people were like "no that's for newbs". I found it ironic, most of the people telling his person using "driving aids" like TRC is for idiot newb losers, had whatever various other mods to their bikes and didn't consider those same things "driving aids". Thus DRAG RACER LOGIC.

I began racing the 14 in 2015 and had never had a vehicle with traction control. I had been racing guys with 14s for a few years and asked them about traction control. Several had discovered it definitely cut their ETs and because I respected their judgement, it was just something I never did or saw anyone trying, at least on the 14s. As I understood the problem, traction control definitely interrupts ignition, thus slowing down the bike , not much granted but we are dealing in thousands of a second . We are now running "Street Legal Drags at some of the strips and prep is minimal , to the point that my 14 times are off a half a second if I can even get a decent launch. Your caroon got me thinking that at the street legal races Traction control MIGHT be a help ?? :)I guess the only way to find out now is to use it ..
The other part of the cartoon suggests something other than what I experience at all the tracks I race at and that is a racer would never have that projected attitude, especially towards a new racer. Racers are forever helping bring new racers into the fold as it only benefits the track in more participation , and, the racers .
Now if I misunderstood the cartoon, fair enough but it was not drawn by a racer, at least none that I know :) Usually the first got to congratulate a race winner is teh guy he just beat ;)
Lastly, the internet diminishes greatly , ones ability to express attitudes and if mine was projected as tongue in cheek, then my apologies as I try to be as Blunt as possible :)

chrly, given your rather technical racer oriented analysis, do you really think asking me what my experience with TRC is relevant without asking about a dozen other questions first?

That's a rhetorical question, and I don't really want an answer... since I know the answer, and know the answer I'd be getting.

Thanks chrly. I didn't intend this to turn into a me vs you thing. If people could just get over their damn egos for a minute. Fine I get it, you have actual drag racing experience, and I don't. You're a much much much better person than me for it, and your advice is 100% perfect all the time, every time, and my advice is lame and stupid because you know, you can't possibly apply experience from other things, especially other forms of racing, to another type of racing. Especially not basics like fucking exhaust pipes.

And I have 2 suggestions, to which you may or may not find any value. 1st is that if you're interested in TRC it's something you should test. If I know anything about drag racing, I know they normally have test sessions. And that would be my answer no matter what my experience. The 2nd suggestion is if you want to claim expertise, or deny expertise based on specific experiences, just have the guts to put your thoughts out there instead of bsing asking a seriously pointless question intended to expose whatever you're trying to expose.

Thanks Vic I will take your advise under consideration in the future :)

For sure it's not a parts swap kind of starting out. It's all about wipe the hard drive clean in the head. The tree, the noise, the seconds ticking away is stage one. Next stage is reflex when the yellow(s) trickles down. Last stage is leave and feed.

Apply those assembled parts to road racing or leave from a traffic light. I'd say the most short fuse of time to gather it all up is the tree and you.

1,The clear head in full concentration.
2. The reflex to cut a light.
3. The leave and feed is not to bog out of the shoot.

A dyno and pipe does not get you there. How close am I to the basics?

Updating this post after a few changes since I started this thread. When I started this thread I had bought the Akra headers to pair with my slip ons to create a "Full" system. The gains from the Akra header were really felt in the low/midrange area with a slight top end increase. Since then and because I was curious about the dual vs single exhaust debate, I purchased a M4 full system(single exit)and swapped it out from the Akra setup. Right before I installed the M4 system I had my bike dyno'd with the Akra setup and it put out 203 hp. After installing my M4 system I returned it back to the dyno shop and was disappointed that it came in at 198 hp. Although the dyno was done on different days the conditions were close. Yeah 5 hp probably can't be felt but on paper the Akra headers stand out especially in the midrange where the gains were significant, and because with the M4 full system I could definitely feel the low/mid range was lacking and fell short up top compared to the Akras. In all honesty I missed the dual exhaust look so recently I pulled the Akra setup out of storage and reinstalled them. Coming back to them is a joy and a blast in the low to midrange, to the point that I feel as though I'm riding a totally different bike.

I'll be sticking with the Akra setup from here on out, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone not wanting to spend out big bucks for your traditional full system setups.