These are the power curves I obtained from a car chassis dyno which was interesting in itself as I had to tie the bike into the roller which measured power and to stop the rear wheel smoking when applying the load had to get someone to sit on the pillion as well! You can imagine what it looked like whilst the bikes were doing 11000 rev/min two up and going nowhere. After the runs the rear tyre was stuck to the rollers! With this in mind the absolute power figures may be a little down as some may have been absorbed through friction i.e more than in normal road use. The drive chain also was red hot and even though the tyre pressures were increased it still will have sapped some power. When this is taken into account the same was true for all tests so that as a comparison between bikes it will stand up as a good test.

The ZX10 was also derestricted but I had not taken a restricted power run as it is more involved with the machining of the carb tops. The Exup was derestricted whilst still in the rollers and not long passed between power runs. On the road there were two definite steps in power that could be felt with the ZX10 and this translates to the graph at 6000 and 8000. The graph shows a change of angle at 6000 and a huge one at 8000. The dip at 10000 may be a mistake in the reading of the power as it seemed to pull strongly on the road.

When you look at the Exup restricted curve you can immediately see that it is a smoother delivery albeit lower at the top than the ZX10, but more at the low to mid range. When I got the Exup it felt more powerful than the ZX10 but wasn't according to the graph. I think this is because it is smoother through the complete range. The ZX10 did feel faster from 8000 which is obvious from the steep incline in the curve there.

The derestricted Exup curve shows an increase all along the curve and definitely makes more power and holds it longer than the ZX10. I have since fitted a carbon race end can and although no figures to prove it definitely feels even stronger from 6000 and if nailed from the line with the clutch home and the throttle on full at 6000 the front comes up!

I've actually seen 180mph on the clock but as its only geared for 171 at the red line and I was 750 rev/min short the clock obviously lies! The bike has been down a sprint (10.9 secs 130.1 mph terminal, standing start 1/4 mile), done track days and 1 race meet. In all the time (9.5 years and 18k miles) I've owned it its gone through 7 sets of tyres, 1 chain and sprocket kit at 14k(scotoiler fitted from new), a genuine clutch kit 16k, regular servicing and the bike remains strong. The bike did handle well on Pirelli MP7S's but when they stopped making them I tried loads of different ones including Metzlers which made the bike a pig to turn in as it just wanted to stay bolt upright around bends on the power and now have found that Avon AV39(120/60ZR17) front and AV40(180/55/ZR17) rear have brought it back to normal, they just don't last.(1200 road miles (thats not flat out everywhere) on a rear!) I tried fitting EBC brakes but they Faded!!! not recommended so dunlopads are in now and before the genny clutch went in I used an EBC one which had to come out straight away cos it slipped when cold! No probs with the genuine one. I'm not saying don't use EBC, just that I won't again.

I did fancy an R1 but to be honest apart from the lack of weight and better looks I think the Exup has better handling and is more user freindly, although on the track, redlining, it can shake its head a bit on the gear change.(nothing to worry about though) If I were to get one it would be as well as not instead of!