Okay, so today I’m gonna walk you through my experience with R7 mods. Buckle up, it’s a bit of a ride!
It all started when I got my hands on this used R7. Stock, you know? It was fine, but I wanted MORE. More power, more sound, just…more. So, naturally, I started diving into the world of aftermarket parts.
First thing I tackled was the exhaust. The stock one sounded like a sewing machine. Did some research, watched a bunch of YouTube videos (as you do), and settled on a slip-on from Akrapovic. Installation? Pretty straightforward. Unscrewed the old one, slapped on the new one. Took maybe an hour, tops. The sound difference? HUGE. Much throatier, meaner. Definitely a win.
Next up was the ECU flash. This is where things got a little hairy. I knew the stock ECU was holding back the engine, especially after the exhaust upgrade. I looked at a few different tuners, ended up going with a Woolich Racing kit. Figured I could do it myself and save some money. Boy, was I wrong.
The Woolich software is a bit clunky, to be honest. Spent a good couple of hours just trying to get it connected to the ECU. Finally got it working, loaded a base map for my setup, and went for a ride. The bike ran… okay. But not great. It felt like there were some flat spots in the powerband, and the throttle response was a bit jerky.
I messed around with the settings for days. Adjusting fuel maps, ignition timing, the whole shebang. Got some improvements, but never quite got it perfect. Eventually, I caved and took it to a professional tuner. Cost me a few hundred bucks, but man, was it worth it. They dyno-tuned it, smoothed out the power delivery, and got the bike running like a champ.
Then came the suspension. The stock suspension was… adequate, but nothing special. Decided to upgrade the fork internals with some Ohlins cartridges. This was a bigger job. Had to completely disassemble the forks, install the new cartridges, and set everything up properly. Followed the instructions carefully, watched a bunch more YouTube videos, and managed to get it done. The difference in handling was night and day. Much more planted, confident in corners.
Other mods I did:
- Upgraded the brake lines to stainless steel. Better feel at the lever.
- Installed adjustable rearsets. Allowed me to fine-tune my riding position.
- Added a quickshifter. Makes gear changes faster and smoother.
Overall, the R7 mods were a fun, albeit sometimes frustrating, project. I learned a lot about motorcycle mechanics, and the bike is now a blast to ride. Was it worth the money? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Probably. Just maybe I’d skip the DIY ECU tuning next time!
