A 1990 GSX-R1100 intake cam, 5-degree timing advancer, three-angle valve job, lightly milled head and careful porting complete the list of internal modifications. To help harness the extra power, billet motor mounts utilize the unused bosses in the frame cradle that attach to rubber mounts on European-model Bandits.

Walker claimed these mods, which total little more than $2500, were good for around 150 horsepower. And true to his word, the big Four pumped out 143 rear-wheel ponies at 9250 rpm on the CW dyno, compared to the stocker's 102. Torque was up as well, from 70 to 92 foot-pounds at 7250 rpm. A slight torque dip in the region between 4000 and 5000 rpm hinted that all might not be well with the jetting, but Walker indicated that this is an inherent characteristic of the Bandit engine. And the astonishingly quick-revving engine blows through this "flat spot" so fast, you don't even notice it from the saddle.

Now, 143 horsepower by itself isn't enough to run with a 160-horse Hayabusa, so Walker resorted to a few drag-racing tricks to find the extra tenths. Naturally, the bike is equipped with one of his patented Power Shifter 3 electric shifters ($499), which consists of a remote solenoid that pulls a cable connected to the stock shift lever, allowing full-throttle upshifts via a pushbutton on the left handlebar. And then there's the clever "convertible" swingarm ($599), which allows wheelbase to stretch from 1 inch over stock to a whopping 5.5 inches over. Again in the interest of cost-savings, this is made by sawing off the end of the stock swingarm, then welding in new billet axle bosses.