I used to sell nitrous kits (for cars) back around 1983-4, when I worked for Performance Plus (now out of business) here in Phoenix.
I went to work for Loper's Perf. Center 1986, talked them into taking on the NOS brand as another line, and was then put in charge of ordering it.
Observations of an old nitrous fan:
1) Any kit other than a small h.p. one requires forged pistons!!, I don't care what ANYBODY else says! (Our late model twins come with cast pistons, though the Wiseco kit contains nice forged jobs.)
2) Nitrous installed on a clutch vehicle is harder to control, as you need to back off on the nitrous button every time you up-shift. That hitting the button again when you shift is a little hard on the engine.
3) A kit as large as 40 hp will need a serious supply of fuel, so be sure to get a Pingle fuel valve. Don't even think about using a stock tank valve.
4) With the higher hp nitrous kits, you'll have to retard your spark timing, as you would do with a supercharged/turbocharged engine.
5) The lower rpms that you hit the button on your nitrous, the more torque is generated. (This can be calculated because the kits have a given horsepower number. Plug this known # into the horsepower/torque formula, pick an rpm point - say 2000 r's, and figure. You'll be amazed!) Punching the button in first gear should flip your bike over backwards before you know what hits you!
6) Almost everyone picks too big a h.p.-rated kit for his vehicle. A 125 h.p. kit is fine for a typical street car V-8. I'd think about 25 h.p. would be the max reasonable amount for an 800 cc bike twin cyl.
7) Other mods must be made to a nitrous engine, just as one would when taking other various horsepower increasing steps.
A. Colder spark plugs. B. Stronger/forged pistons C. better cooling system (or for the bikes, at least heavier weight oil, such as 20w-50, or better yet, straight weight oil) D. A stronger ignition system, as combustion pressures will go up quite a bit, which then will require more firepower across the plug gap.
Rememberences: Guys used to ask me how long a nitrous bottle would last. Answer - the first bottle lasts one weekend. Afterwards, a bottle lasts much longer.
The best way to fill an empty bottle is to open the valve on the empty bottle and place that bottle in the sun (back porch, window sill, ect. Then, close the valve while the bottle is still rather warm. Keep it closed when you get your refill, but put the bottle in an ice tub at your refill station, connect the filling hose, and then open the bottle valve.
