Sport Rider Photos
If you've perused any of the Kawasaki forums, you've undoubtedly heard of the popular "jumper mod" that can be performed on the ZX-6R to unlock the European mapping inside the ECU. We made the modification-a simple matter of inserting a wire in a connector under the seat-while at the dyno, and the results are shown here: a stunning increase in peak power that puts the ZX-6R on about equal footing with the Suzuki and makes a huge difference in top-end performance. We slipped the wire in partway through our top-speed testing as well, and the Kawasaki leaped from the back of the pack (154.4 mph) to almost the front with an increase of more than 5 mph to 160.1 mph. We're not certain of the reliability, warranty or emissions ramifications of the upgrade, but if you ride your ZX-6R on the track regularly it's worth some investigation.
2008 600cc Sportbike Comparison - Balancing Act