I wanna....RACE!

[William P. Guff]

Yea, so I thought to myself Id like to try the whole drag racing thing. After taking my bike and flying off of a couple of stop lights I thought "What better way to spend my time instead of risking my life on the street." And "I wonder what kind of drag bike my gs450 would make".

And it is that last thought that brings me here. Now I know nothing about drag racing. But I would like some tips and advice for the vision I have for my bike.

I would like to know what I can do to make it drag ready.

Id like to know what kind of modification options I have for my engine type,(boring out, NOS, or both).

What class my bike would qualify for?

This is a photo of my bike. But I want to get it like the bike in the dragbike.com photo underneath of it.

I mean without changing paint or anything.

So what am I looking at in cost?

 

[trevor]

First thing you could do is take off the fairing and put on some lower bars. You don't want the wind pushing you off that beast.

 

[blowerbike]

buy a larger bike with a lot of valves and cylinders.
will be cheaper than modifying your 450 twin.

 

[madjack57754]

A few questions first.
How far to the local track?
What do you have for safety gear?
Do you know anyone local that drag races and you can ask questions of? (bike or car, it doesn't matter)

I'd leave your bike just as it is, with the exception of what is required by the track.
You may be required to have a kill switch lanyard. Some tracks require it, some do not. Having the right type of helmet is also a big deal.
Find out if the track has a street legal or open track program.These are generally ment for people like you. After that you can progress to E.T. racing, which is predicting what you will run against someone else. Closest to their prediction wins, but with a hundred other variables thrown in to confuse you, so I won't go there for now.
As far as class to start, I'd say just do time-trials or test & tune sessions. No pressure, just make a few passes to get the hang of the lights, how your bike reacts, and how the whole dragracing thing is run.
One last thing, don't be afraid to ask questions, we all started where you are now and had to learn somehow. There are a few internet troll's that will give you grief, just ignor them and keep asking. I'll answer as best I can and some of the others on this racing sub-forum will too. We need to bring new blood into the sport to make it continue, and that is people like you
You will see for something as simple as going from point "A" to point "B", it can sure get complicated in a hurry.
I've been drag racing for 45 years and I learn something every time I run down the track........Jack

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

With your 450 Walk it around the water/burnout box !!! you don't need it.Go to a parking lot and practice launching and slipping the clutch at progressively higher RPM's

 

[blowerbike]

quote
"Id like to know what kind of modification options I have for my engine type,(boring out, NOS, or both)."

my reply pertains to this comment the OP made.
if he wants to learn how to drag race only then the above mentioned comments are correct.

 

[CivilRock]

So what is it about drag racing that is so appealing to you?
1. Building a bike?
2. Having the look of that pink drag bike?
3. The rush of blasting off the line?

I would go find a drag strip and see if they have a "Street Rips" or something for daily drivers to go have some passes down the track. In Portland, it's 3 times a week, and it's $29 to do it. You have to have a SNELL 2005 approved helmet and a chainguard (among a whole list of other stuff, but that's what was holding most of the people around me from passing tech)

I just did it for the first time and had a blast. I got 10 runs in, and I guess if you go on Friday instead, it's as many as you can do. (less people)

I don't want to tell you not to race a GS450, but the bike in that picture you supplied is a 4 cylinder liter bike. I'm going to guess 150HP. Just a guess. I'm also going to guess it would take more than $20,000 to make your 450 have even 100HP and handle it.

It's not that racing a 450 wouldn't be fun. It would be!!! do it!!! I just wouldn't advise you to start putting money into it. Buy a GS1100 for $400 and put your money into that.

Your original question about what options you have? Very limited with a 450, and enormous, wide, varied, easier, with a 1000/1100/1150. And dare I say, more fun?

But by all means, find a track and have a taste. You'll have an awesome time on that bike stock.

-Kevin

 

[Guest]

Where do you live?
Curt

 

[Guest]

Take that 450 to the track just the way it is except for a kill teather you will have a blast. Launch it like you would if you showing off at a red light.
And make some new friends most drag racers are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. They want you there and most will help you and guild you in the right direction. Just be very careful adrenalin is very very addictive

 

[storm 64]

Nice picture of Vicky Far... she was fun to watch in the old IDBA days. She only weighed about 100 lbs.Her and her husband Marshal very nice folkes...

 

[William P. Guff]

Take that 450 to the track just the way it is except for a kill teather you will have a blast. Launch it like you would if you showing off at a red light.
And make some new friends most drag racers are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. They want you there and most will help you and guild you in the right direction. Just be very careful adrenalin is very very addictive

Thanks for the advice.

 

[William P. Guff]

Where do you live?
Curt

I live in Pennsylvania. Mid State, like by Penn State University. But about an 1hour and a half from Pittsburgh.

 

[William P. Guff]

So what is it about drag racing that is so appealing to you?
1. Building a bike?
2. Having the look of that pink drag bike?
3. The rush of blasting off the line?

I would go find a drag strip and see if they have a "Street Rips" or something for daily drivers to go have some passes down the track. In Portland, it's 3 times a week, and it's $29 to do it. You have to have a SNELL 2005 approved helmet and a chainguard (among a whole list of other stuff, but that's what was holding most of the people around me from passing tech)

I just did it for the first time and had a blast. I got 10 runs in, and I guess if you go on Friday instead, it's as many as you can do. (less people)

I don't want to tell you not to race a GS450, but the bike in that picture you supplied is a 4 cylinder liter bike. I'm going to guess 150HP. Just a guess. I'm also going to guess it would take more than $20,000 to make your 450 have even 100HP and handle it.

It's not that racing a 450 wouldn't be fun. It would be!!! do it!!! I just wouldn't advise you to start putting money into it. Buy a GS1100 for $400 and put your money into that.

Your original question about what options you have? Very limited with a 450, and enormous, wide, varied, easier, with a 1000/1100/1150. And dare I say, more fun?

But by all means, find a track and have a taste. You'll have an awesome time on that bike stock.

-Kevin

20 GRAND?!


I was thinking I only needed an:

extended swingarm,

struts,

tether kill switch,

a drag slick,(M&H Vintage Dragslick to be exact),

Drag Bracer bars, or Wheelie bars,(whats the difference?), I want the long chrome looking things that triangle behind the bike,

Drag Bars(but ill be using short custom Z bars),

1/4 fairing like the Kawasaki woman Vicki Fars bike,

The cost to lower the bike,

New chain,( and guard? for extended)

Fool around with a NOS set up.

Hows that 20 gs?

 

[Kris V]

Like Blowerbike said...get a bigger bike! something more user friendly at the track. Any old GS 1100 or a KZ 900/1000 there are still alot of them out there for sale at a good cheap price. Once you get the bug you won`t want to stop! trust me on this!!! I have been doing it for 30 years. The big bikes are easier to get aftermarket parts for than your 450. The last time I ordered parts there was nothing for 450`s...it just not a popular bike at the track and you don`t want to mess up your riding bike by killing it at the track. Got five grand... I will sell one of my drag bikes that is ready to roll! and it IS a GS1100. By the way...it looks like the bike you want also...just black.

 

[blowerbike]

leave it like it is...
it does not make enough power to pull a slick and load the wheelie bars.
you would have to put a 70 tooth sprocket on it to make it leave the line and then it would still bog.
now if you spray 100hp on top on your factory 30ish hp maybe it would work but your engine would be in pieces by the 60 foot lights.

 

[Guest]

After you go to the track and race you will most likely be hooked hard so then you will be looking for something quicker and faster. Cost wise you can't beat the old GS1100's they are easy to make into a nice bracket bike. Here is a pic of a GS1100 bracket bike that work very well and was built on a budget. The only motor work was the crank was welded and the tranny was undercut everything else was bolt on parts. It had 33mm Mukuni's and a VnH sidewinder pipe a MSD ignition with a 2-step, a slider clutch and a delay box, wheelie bars and a small slick. It is not mine but that is me on it I finished runner up to the man that owned the bike who was my team mate 3rd round I took out the guy with the #1 plate with a double 00 light your pic you posted brought back some good ol' memories it ran 10.64 every pass with me on it. It was the first time I raced with a delay box. the day before I lost in the semi finals on it at Bradenton. I miss the old Dragbike days. My real passion is no bar racing though
Can I ask how old are you I was 19 when I started racing on a 1973 CB550F 13.30 @105mph If I could find a pic I will post it up Boy did I look goofy I have to take pic of my old pics to post them I have no scanner.

Here is a link to video of my son Jr. learning to race at Bradenton there is more video's under my screen name stetracer and jdkitt "warning I really suck at filming"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2kaa9fo3o8

I just noticed that the 13th video down is me on the same Bandit doing a burnout in front of my house shortly after I first got it before I modified it. It says "Suzuki burnout"







.

 

[William P. Guff]

leave it like it is...
it does not make enough power to pull a slick and load the wheelie bars.
you would have to put a 70 tooth sprocket on it to make it leave the line and then it would still bog.
now if you spray 100hp on top on your factory 30ish hp maybe it would work but your engine would be in pieces by the 60 foot lights.

What about NOS?

 

[William P. Guff]

After you go to the track and race you will most likely be hooked hard so then you will be looking for something quicker and faster. Cost wise you can't beat the old GS1100's they are easy to make into a nice bracket bike. Here is a pic of a GS1100 bracket bike that work very well and was built on a budget. The only motor work was the crank was welded and the tranny was undercut everything else was bolt on parts. It had 33mm Mukuni's and a VnH sidewinder pipe a MSD ignition with a 2-step, a slider clutch and a delay box, wheelie bars and a small slick. It is not mine but that is me on it I finished runner up to the man that owned the bike who was my team mate 3rd round I took out the guy with the #1 plate with a double 00 light your pic you posted brought back some good ol' memories it ran 10.64 every pass with me on it. It was the first time I raced with a delay box. the day before I lost in the semi finals on it at Bradenton. I miss the old Dragbike days. My real passion is no bar racing though
Can I ask how old are you I was 19 when I started racing on a 1973 CB550F 13.30 @105mph If I could find a pic I will post it up Boy did I look goofy I have to take pic of my old pics to post them I have no scanner.

Here is a link to video of my son Jr. learning to race at Bradenton there is more video's under my screen name stetracer and jdkitt "warning I really suck at filming"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2kaa9fo3o8

I just noticed that the 13th video down is me on the same Bandit doing a burnout in front of my house shortly after I first got it before I modified it. It says "Suzuki burno


Thanks for the link. Ill check it out. One question though. Couldn't I just put a different engine in my bike frame? A more powerful engine swap?

 

[Guest]

Your chassis is to flimsy and will cost to much to make work. You can find old GS's1100/1150 or 1200 Bandits for under a grand. I paid $450 for a 02 Bandit with the top end off of it but all the parts were there. I sold $600 in parts off it and I still have everything I want off it.
What I and other are saying is ride it the way it is and find you a bigger bike to build into a street / drag bike or what ever you want it to be.

As mentioned on your bike you have now you could put some lower bars, strap the front end down. Have you installed a pipe and re jetted the bike yet?

 

[blowerbike]

What about NOS?

spray=NOS...