First trip to the dragstrip... ugh.

Becca_007 · 05-04-2008, 08:41 PM

I can shift without the clutch on the street but it never seems to work at the strip. Perhaps just more practice.

Here are several pictures from the day.

A couple of runs

Chit chat in the lanes

A couple more runs

Uh oh. I see Mark. He asked if I wanted to go for one more

And I think it's fitting for the final pic to have the finish line

PhiSig1071 · 05-04-2008, 09:14 PM

Cool Pics! That looks like fun, I might have to try that sometime.

NONE_too_SOFT · 05-04-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phenix_Rider

Some transmissions don't do it smoothly... ahem- Buells (or so I've heard)

more torque def increases the "lurch"

dReWpY · 05-04-2008, 09:56 PM

im thinking i would love to try a day at the strip, just for shits and giggles

but launching a 1000cc vtwin ... that sounds like a recipe for a endo backwards

PhiSig1071 · 05-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewpy

im thinking i would love to try a day at the strip, just for shits and giggles

but launching a 1000cc vtwin ... that sounds like a recipe for a endo backwards

I have heard that the pavement they use on drag-strips offers significantly more traction, similar to a race track, which can make launches, ahem, "tricky".

NONE_too_SOFT · 05-04-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhiSig1071

I have heard that the pavement they use on drag-strips offers significantly more traction, similar to a race track, which can make launches, ahem, "tricky".

yea, check out the gleam on the strip here.

and also check out the lift on that front fire and the compression on the suspension, so cool.

Dnyce · 05-05-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca_007

I can shift without the clutch on the street but it never seems to work at the strip.

maybe you're too excited cuz your at the dragstrip, and not timing the shifting right? thats what i did my first time out. that, plus at the strip you shift at a higher rpm than the street, harder to get the timing right. i missed 2nd gear alot my 1st time out, sometimes 3rd too.

at what rpm/how are you launching? 2.2 seems kinda high

cool picthat thing is pulling hard at the finish line! what gear do you cross in?

Rider · 05-05-2008, 08:58 AM

Next time you hit up 131, let me know, I'll go with you. I want to see what my Z750 will do.

1hottbikechic · 05-05-2008, 09:49 AM

Well your placement looks good, your all over the tank in the first few, so thats good.... Pics look great!!

OTB · 05-05-2008, 11:03 PM

Try this for power shifts if'n you're having problems;

A. Adjust your clutch at home, when the bike is hot. The plates can swell and drag, so go and do a couple burnouts and then check freeplay; you'll likely find it's GONE after you've het it up a bit. Now adjust for free play and engagment. Improper indexing the 1-2 shift and/or neutral is the best indicator of a dragging clutch.

B. Technique. I don't know your size/strength, but a FIRM boot is required for full-throttle upshifts. If you continue having problems, you may want to consider track-pattern shifting (one up/five down), it'll give you more positve upshifts (I don't know if you can flip on the Zed or not without a lot of rigamaroll). Best technique is to get that foot on the peg asap during launch and preload the lever as if your going to do a clutchless upshift, but instead of backing off the throttle, leave it on WFO and I slide my fingers out towards the end of the clutchlever ball end for better leverage, then pull the clutch in ever so slightly till the shifter slides into the next gear. Yes, bunky, you will be replacing plates more often if you are hitting the strip. And, yes, the engine will be bouncing off the limiter for a second, but that's racing, right?

Clutchless upshifts at the strip don't work very well because you have to either back too far off the throttle to remove enough pressure to get it to shift, or you have to slam shift it (yanking up (or stomping down if you've a race shift pattern) hard enough to force the shift drum to rotate) but this is hell on shift forks and gear dogs, and you WILL eventually blow the trans.

If you are racing stock classes with no air or electric shifters, check your local rules, some classes you are allowed to use the kill switch method. Add a spring-loaded button-type kill switch at a comfortable distance from your thumb. Shift technique with this is the same as clutchless shifting: full throttle, preload the lever, and when you are ready to shift, just touch the kill switch for a second and the bike will shift slick as butter. A little practice with this and you'l be amazed at the speed of your shifts.

Just a couple old racer tricks............

05-04-2008, 08:41 PM	#1
Becca_007 Street Stunter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Moto: 2003 Kawasaki Z1000 Posts: 93	I can shift without the clutch on the street but it never seems to work at the strip. Perhaps just more practice. Here are several pictures from the day. A couple of runs Chit chat in the lanes A couple more runs Uh oh. I see Mark. He asked if I wanted to go for one more And I think it's fitting for the final pic to have the finish line __________________ 2002 Camaro SS LE: 13.488 @ 102.93MPH 2005 Kawasaki Z750S: 12.239 @ 115.69MPH 2003 Kawasaki Z1000: 11.886 @ 117.72MPH

05-04-2008, 09:14 PM	#2
PhiSig1071 Let go of my ears. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Moto: '03 GSX-R600, '04 625SMC Posts: 1,394	Cool Pics! That looks like fun, I might have to try that sometime. __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda necessitatem

05-05-2008, 09:49 AM	#9
1hottbikechic Ninja Hottie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Frederick, MD Moto: Sportbikes, MX Posts: 64	Well your placement looks good, your all over the tank in the first few, so thats good.... Pics look great!! __________________

05-05-2008, 08:58 AM	#8
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	Next time you hit up 131, let me know, I'll go with you. I want to see what my Z750 will do.

05-05-2008, 11:03 PM	#10
OTB The Man Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CrabTown USA Moto: 00 Bimota DB4 Posts: 823	Try this for power shifts if'n you're having problems; A. Adjust your clutch at home, when the bike is hot. The plates can swell and drag, so go and do a couple burnouts and then check freeplay; you'll likely find it's GONE after you've het it up a bit. Now adjust for free play and engagment. Improper indexing the 1-2 shift and/or neutral is the best indicator of a dragging clutch. B. Technique. I don't know your size/strength, but a FIRM boot is required for full-throttle upshifts. If you continue having problems, you may want to consider track-pattern shifting (one up/five down), it'll give you more positve upshifts (I don't know if you can flip on the Zed or not without a lot of rigamaroll). Best technique is to get that foot on the peg asap during launch and preload the lever as if your going to do a clutchless upshift, but instead of backing off the throttle, leave it on WFO and I slide my fingers out towards the end of the clutchlever ball end for better leverage, then pull the clutch in ever so slightly till the shifter slides into the next gear. Yes, bunky, you will be replacing plates more often if you are hitting the strip. And, yes, the engine will be bouncing off the limiter for a second, but that's racing, right? Clutchless upshifts at the strip don't work very well because you have to either back too far off the throttle to remove enough pressure to get it to shift, or you have to slam shift it (yanking up (or stomping down if you've a race shift pattern) hard enough to force the shift drum to rotate) but this is hell on shift forks and gear dogs, and you WILL eventually blow the trans. If you are racing stock classes with no air or electric shifters, check your local rules, some classes you are allowed to use the kill switch method. Add a spring-loaded button-type kill switch at a comfortable distance from your thumb. Shift technique with this is the same as clutchless shifting: full throttle, preload the lever, and when you are ready to shift, just touch the kill switch for a second and the bike will shift slick as butter. A little practice with this and you'l be amazed at the speed of your shifts. Just a couple old racer tricks............