Let’s Pimp My Street Twin

Do you have a 2020 Street Twin 900?
Are you surprised at how weak it is?
Join me on my journey of modifying my Street Twin to make it as powerful as possible (without doing a complete engine swap) Here we will be exploring, and modifying my,

1. Air intake system
Snorkel
Air filter
Possible relocation or replacement
2. Fuel injection system
Power commanders type attachments and maps
ECU flashes
Booster plug
Possible Dyno
3. Exhaust system
Cat to X-pipe conversion
Possible slip on or full system exhaust
4. Sprocket changes with the objective of more torque.
5. possible camshaft, crankshaft and other more exotic changes

I came from a CBR300R and thought the 900 was going to be nuts, I’m disappointed and will not rest until this bike is DTF. I will not change bikes. I will not let Triumph get the last laugh. If you intend to tell me it’s pointless and I can only expect a small performance increase then you are a negative Nancy and you can just go ahead and eat my shit. I will slap a turbo and nitrous on this bad boy just to spite you.

If you have achieved any significant gains please comment. If you have pictures please blow me up.
If you have heard of somebody achieving gains please comment. Please be clear on if this is verified as in you rode it, or speculative secondhand.

Everything I do I will post instructions and pictures,
top speed hitting the rev limiter in 5th,
and power wheelie ability in 1st will go here.
If I get it on a dyno I will post that map.

I want to see what Triumph would have done with this bike if they didn’t have to deal with noise and environmental regulations. I want to put my bike on steroids.

Join me on this classic Cafe Racer journey.

 

That's quite a list of mods which will be expensive. Wouldn't it be cheaper to trade it for a 1200?

 

Please see above.
WERE TRYING TO PIMP MY RIDE, NOT SELL MY SHIT.

 

Here is a simple subtractive mod,
The snorkel is put in to limit air intake noise in Europe, but also ends up restricting the airbox to a small extent, it costs nothing to remove. And only takes 5 minutes. The bike seems to idle with more stability and now doesn’t dip below 1000 rpms. This may be a placebo affect. But it is one of many to come that will work together.

 

If your going to go for a power commander, theres no point fitting a booster plug.

 

I mean one or the other, I’m liking the booster plug more, as the power commander for the street twin has only 1 map on their website for 1 exhaust with everything else stock. But this gentleman at a very high end dealership with a dyno who’s job was preforming those tests, said to not dyno the street twin but instead to use an aftermarket flashed ECU. That the computer within the bike can make its own air/fuel adjustments rendering the dyno unnecessary.

 

You told me earlier that you felt a substantial change from the xpipe cat delete, care to comment? What manufacturer did you use? Any complications that were unexpected on installation? What were the weight savings approximately like? Can you feel significantly or just noticeably more pull in the bike? Approximately how much louder is it? Any downsides?

 

I tried a booster plug on my 865 Bonneville SE. It made f*ck all difference - save your money!

 

Thank you for the review! Hate to ask, but you know I have to, was the air sensor installed properly, away from engine heat? This is the first negative review I heard and I hear it’s a common mistake. Also, any word on aftermarket ECU flashes?

 

Also found this, he’s obviously trying to market his company’s products, but he’s doing a great job, I’m convinced.
https://youtu.be/hRk6x_u3mBI

 

Yes, I cable-tied the probe to the underside of the frame under the pillion seat well away from the engine heat. (still didn't do much!). I kept taking it off and putting it back on but I really couldn't see any difference in performance. Most people claimed that it smoothed out low speed snatchy throttle response with that engine but I never found my throttle snatchy at low speeds so maybe that's why I didn't feel any improvement.

 

You've got an X-pipe on your list. I replaced the cat on my Street Twin with an X-pipe from Motone. It weighs approximately half as much as the cat, but as this bike is so fucking heavy I don't notice any benefit. It's very well made and straightforward to fit (in both ways superior to the TEC Parts X-pipe).
The most obvious improvement was in throttle response, it's now noticeably sharper and the slight delay I felt before has gone. It's the first fuel injected bike I've owned. My others have carbs, which when set up properly, give a more sharp and responsive throttle action. The X-pipe closes the gap.
No idea whether it adds any BHP's.
I've fitted TEC end cans and the two mods give a louder and deeper exhaust note. I like it. There is now some popping on the over-run, which I also like.

I've fitted the booster plug. I know the air sensor needs to be located away from any significant heat source. I placed it inside the airbox snorkel, which you've whipped out. I did not feel any noticeable change in performance.

You also have the crankshaft listed. This is getting serious. I would put the camshaft before that. You may well know this but the original Street Twin was restricted to 54/55 bhp largely by the camshaft. A change in camshaft design added a few more horses in the updated version. However George Milburn, the main man at TEC Parts, managed to squeeze even more than that from the first generation, largely by fitting the TEC camshaft. If you haven't watched his series of vids on their Street Twin development then you should.

I reckon if you can knock off some weight it's going to make a significant difference to performance. Obvious candidates would be the wheels and exhaust system. A single skinned, two into one, has got to be lighter than the ST's double-walled system and I guess you'll have binned the original shocks by now. After all, the original FireBlade trumped the opposition of the day through weight loss rather than extra bhp's.

Hope some of that proves useful and I love what you're doing..still bit mad though

 

The old saying is 7.5 lbs = 1 bhp, rotating weight even more.

Lithium ion battery
lighter rotors if available
525 chain conversion???
Alloy rear sprocket
Carbon fiber fenders
Trips to the gym to reduce weight and windage
Aerodynamics

Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go

 

No downsides, nice noise with standard silencers. Feels slightly livelier but only slightly. Hey go easy with being so defensive man, some of the mature gentlemen round here get a bit annoyed
Were all here for enjoyment, banter and bikes....
My x pipe is a Black Widow Exhausts. UK company so you'd probably find a US made one easier

 

Thank you for your quality input, I meant to say camshaft, and I can’t find any aftermarket ones online. Why do you find the Matone Xpipe easier to install? Why do people dislike the rear suspention so much? I found a set or rear shocks by TEC but don’t quite understand why I would upgrade, I have never has fancy suspension.

 

Seems very a angry chap for some reason.

 

I’m actually really happy you mentioned weight, I can’t cut much of my own, I’m 6’4” and 190 pounds wet and I’ve used COVID to go to the gym so I’m getting bigger every day. Trying to cut that weight would start stealing my muscle, and let’s not forget getting too thin can make you more likely to get seriously injured in a crash.
My gear could get lighter, I wear an icon airflite XL an EVS neck brace, and alpinestars gauntlet gloves with leather combat boots, joe rocket jacket and denim jeans. I’m seeing a lot more MC crashes as the season gets in full swing in Texas, so I’m getting a entry level race suit to wear when I ride, which I’ll weigh against my street clothes for possible weight savings. And an aerodynamic tail bag for my destination Street/work clothes. I would say the biggest sort of weight I carry with me is locks and a chain for theft protection, I use a brake caliper lock, and large diameter heavy duty chain and lock for my frame, adding about 18pounds. I have yet to find a way to get past this.
I really love the idea of a lithium ion battery and aluminum sprockets, I found a steel/alum hybrid that I love.
Carbon fiber wheels would be too expensive and fragile for my riding, and I already yeeted the rear fender, taillight and turn signals, with the mirrors, in favor of more compact alternatives.

 

"Still angry"

 

Im lashing out in the post your talking about because it was about better wheelies and it got swamped by old dudes who can’t wheelie and want to bash it. Nothing these guys say has any constructive or positive value, it’s the same bullshit you hear from Harley riders if you ride on a sportier bike, outdated men who never changed with the times on a bike that never changed either, bitter at the world for not staying the same and young people for being faster. I’m tired of these dudes trying to “teach young guys a lesson” it’s so obviously full of machismo bullshit, I’ve met enough 50year old drunks spitting drool to know age doesn’t equal experience or knowledge, or any of the things people tell themselves when retirement closes in. It’s condescending and clogs up a perfectly good post about bottom end torque.

 

Im at a funny age, 41. No longer a youngster but I've still got loads of spunk in my balls . Starting to have a bit more respect for the older ones as I can see they've been there, done that, lots of life experience! I can see both sides of the story quite well I think. Your right in what your saying too! But perhaps you did provoke a response with your choice of words. I don't care either way. Its all what makes this forum a good place, variety is the spice of life and all that. Bit of respect both ways is always appreciated. Dont be put off either, I'm keen to see how far you take your street twin