Can't beat the OE strut bar.
Considering that we don't have STRUTS, there isn't much you can do to stiffen the top of the assembly. Bracing the MC is about all you can add - attaching it to the firewall is a joke.
Newb.

Its just ugly, especially given the rest of the car, which BTW is beautiful.

For me it creates intake clearance and shock adustment access issues, so aftermarket it is ...

Thanks.

I stripped the paint off of it in anticipation of adding a back-stay, but found the data to be lacking.
Using latex, I was able to determine that there is almost zero stress on the bar at all, except where my AFE MC brace presses on it.

MM, Congrats again on the FFM shoot! It was a good read :)

Upon further thought, why have it on at all then? It shouldn't be needed for the MC brace :dunno:

Good question.
It was added fairly early in the design - it shows up in the earliest of the engineering drawings - so it may have been included before its efficacy was sorted out.
As much time as Mazda spent on "adding lightness", they left a LOT of weight-adding features in the design.

Quite a few of the FI guys end up losing it. I dunno. I'm used to it being there. It feels like it does something. lol

Nice 8! I had no clue you are from the Phoenix Area. Just started here as a member though which can account to it.....

Butt he doesn't have a Four Rotor or 4 cylinders.................

what are you talking about he clearly has 4 spark plugs lol

Reading comprehension a bit low around here this week...

lol, mine was just eyecandy
I got the greddy bar to match the charge pipes and blue silicone couplers