smoked on the first run!!!

[snowbeard]

ok, so I've never thought I was a dragster, but this morning it worked out just the way things sometimes do, pulled up beside a custom jobber, harley or harley look-a-like, at a red light, both of us in the front of our lines. he revved a couple times, which sounds good, so I didn't rev, especially as something lately has a god awful rattle... when the light changed we both hit it, but of course, he knew how to blow out of a light, whereas I managed to bog it down on the start. even tho I felt like I was keeping pace once I got thru that, he may have just been letting me stay in the rearview...

anyway, that was fun, now I think I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for 'im, cause I know I can take 'im!! :roll: :lol: :lol:

any good suggestions for the quick start?? only other time I tried it was just for fun on my own, and I missed more gears than I ever have I even found some way to get it into neutral between third and fourth 8O 8O 8O (which can't be good for my baby...)

 

[bradleymaynar]

Power shifting (not using the clutch) can help a lot, but it takes a little practice to get it right.

Brad tt

 

[KGB]

Yea, power shifting and be firm on the lever when lifting.


Never look back always concentrate on ahead of you.

And laugh

 

[HiSPL]

Rev it up and engage the the clutch smoothly and quickly to get off the line. You have to practice this manuever because it takes more RPM than you think to not bog down the engine. Just think of it this way, He has as much or more displacement in one cylinder than your whole bike. It's quite an accomplishment to hang with a bike that has that much advantage.....

 

[scotty]

A 650 should be able to take A full sized Harley but if you don't practice the runs from a stop then you shouldn't drag and expect to win.
Now i want to take exception to this shifting without the clutch when drag racing. I believe it should only done if you have a kill button and have much experience using it. My idea of torque multiplication comes in the form of revving to the shift point and never let go of the throttle while ((rapidly)) pulling the clutch and changing gears.
IF I MISSED SOMETHING AS I NORMALLY DO, SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS POWER SHIFTING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH. Thanks
I will never be too old to learn a new way to win a race.

 

[Hoomgar]

A 650 should be able to take A full sized Harley but if you don't practice the runs from a stop then you shouldn't drag and expect to win.
Now i want to take exception to this shifting without the clutch when drag racing. I believe it should only done if you have a kill button and have much experience using it. My idea of torque multiplication comes in the form of revving to the shift point and never let go of the throttle while ((rapidly)) pulling the clutch and changing gears.
IF I MISSED SOMETHING AS I NORMALLY DO, SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS POWER SHIFTING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH. Thanks
I will never be too old to learn a new way to win a race.

I do it all the time Dom, always have. I had a dirt bike that didn't even have a clutch cable at one point. LOL! Stupid kids... I still seldom use the clutch but have been trying to retrain myself to have better habits. It can be bad on your shifting forks if you do it wrong.

 

[Nerobro]

In theroy my 550 should be able to at least match a harley. the 883 sportster only has 54 horsepower. The GS550 is supposed to have 53. And with a higher redline I can stay in first gear longer.

 

[TheBigRed]

In theroy my 550 should be able to at least match a harley. the 883 sportster only has 54 horsepower. The GS550 is supposed to have 53. And with a higher redline I can stay in first gear longer.

Not only that, but you are lighter!!

Amos

 

[Nerobro]

Wow, my numbers were off.

The 883 sportster has:

Max Power = 41.4 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Max Torque = 42.5 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

And weighs 503lbs. Dry.

My gs550 supposedly weighs 431 dry. And for calculation sake I use 660lbs for bike, gas and nero ;-)

The sportster 1200 gives...

Max Power = 61.4 hp @ 5200 rpm
Max Torque = 73 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

given the weight difference I could probally hold my own against the 1200 sportster as well.

Practice.. and you'll be whooping harleys all over the place

 

[snowbeard]

I do need practice, but I certainly didn't really expect to win :?

but that 750GXXXEERRRS harley eater has given me bad ideas!

edit to get it right! GSXXRRSS750ED!

I've been doing pretty good at shifting quickly using the clutch even, just need to work on the start....


one good question to ask before I start F-ing around, what would be the sequence of movements to initiate a wheelie?? 8O 8O (just so I know what NOT to do!)

 

[scotty]

A 650 should be able to take A full sized Harley but if you don't practice the runs from a stop then you shouldn't drag and expect to win.
Now i want to take exception to this shifting without the clutch when drag racing. I believe it should only done if you have a kill button and have much experience using it. My idea of torque multiplication comes in the form of revving to the shift point and never let go of the throttle while ((rapidly)) pulling the clutch and changing gears.
IF I MISSED SOMETHING AS I NORMALLY DO, SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS POWER SHIFTING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH. Thanks
I will never be too old to learn a new way to win a race.

I do it all the time Dom, always have. I had a dirt bike that didn't even have a clutch cable at one point. LOL! Stupid kids... I still seldom use the clutch but have been trying to retrain myself to have better habits. It can be bad on your shifting forks if you do it wrong.

Mark I have been driving without using the clutch for so many yeasr i cant remember BUT for drag racing you must back off on the gas or kill the engine to shift without the clutch. It is not the way to win a drag race unless you use a kill button and leave the throttle wide open. im just dis agreeing with the no clutch thing in a drag race and ill flatly say that you can not just shift the bike with an open throttle.

 

[Nerobro]

How to wheelie...

Well first off, there's a keith code's wheelie school.

Seccond http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Riding_Tips/Wheelie.htm

Third, not specifally how to wheelie, but a lot of relevant infomration http://www.msgroup.org/TIP058.html

fourth, a not bad one. http://www.dirtrodders.com/wheelie.html

If you're dumpign the clutch to early, you're more likely to just lurch instead of launch the front wheel. your clutch hand is your torque selector.

to launch fast, you need to have the torque avilaable (throttle open wide enough, and at the right rpm) And then you use the clutch to take power from that engine and apply it to the rear wheel. Fast launches are... interesting. in anything. bike or car. (this is what I've learned with my car and my friends cb450)

 

[earlfor]

You got that right Scotty. Start trying that one, and youre going to become very good at rebuilding transmissions.

Earl

im just dis agreeing with the no clutch thing in a drag race and ill flatly say that you can not just shift the bike with an open throttle.

 

[moto_dan]

Something that some GSers may be overlooking. Some of the custom V-Twins are running relatively high perfomance engines producing 100 hp+ with about that many ft. lbs of torque. IMO it may take more than better technique to smoke one. Ft. Worth is the home of American Iron Horse and I've been surprised more than a couple of times. 8O

 

[Hoomgar]

A 650 should be able to take A full sized Harley but if you don't practice the runs from a stop then you shouldn't drag and expect to win.
Now i want to take exception to this shifting without the clutch when drag racing. I believe it should only done if you have a kill button and have much experience using it. My idea of torque multiplication comes in the form of revving to the shift point and never let go of the throttle while ((rapidly)) pulling the clutch and changing gears.
IF I MISSED SOMETHING AS I NORMALLY DO, SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS POWER SHIFTING WITHOUT USING THE CLUTCH. Thanks
I will never be too old to learn a new way to win a race.

I do it all the time Dom, always have. I had a dirt bike that didn't even have a clutch cable at one point. LOL! Stupid kids... I still seldom use the clutch but have been trying to retrain myself to have better habits. It can be bad on your shifting forks if you do it wrong.

Mark I have been driving without using the clutch for so many yeasr i cant remember BUT for drag racing you must back off on the gas or kill the engine to shift without the clutch. It is not the way to win a drag race unless you use a kill button and leave the throttle wide open. im just dis agreeing with the no clutch thing in a drag race and ill flatly say that you can not just shift the bike with an open throttle.

Yeah I missed that. You have to leave up on the throttle slightly for a millisecond or you wouldn't be able to. To me that would still be good enough for drag racing but since I don't do professional strip I most likely don't know what I am saying.

 

[DMPLATT]

Something that some GSers may be overlooking. Some of the custom V-Twins are running relatively high perfomance engines producing 100 hp+ with about that many ft. lbs of torque. IMO it may take more than better technique to smoke one. Ft. Worth is the home of American Iron Horse and I've been surprised more than a couple of times. 8O

I agree, those things are deceivingly quick. I rode a sportster a few years ago and couldn't believe the quickness of it.

I was behind 2 harleys the other day and when the light turned green, I didn't stand a chance. Of course I only have a 750.

Dave

 

[moto_dan]

Something that some GSers may be overlooking. Some of the custom V-Twins are running relatively high perfomance engines producing 100 hp+ with about that many ft. lbs of torque. IMO it may take more than better technique to smoke one. Ft. Worth is the home of American Iron Horse and I've been surprised more than a couple of times. 8O

I agree, those things are deceivingly quick. I rode a sportster a few years ago and couldn't believe the quickness of it.

I was behind 2 harleys the other day and when the light turned green, I didn't stand a chance. Of course I only have a 750.

Dave

Now don't misunderstand me...I've never been smoked by a HD of any size including the new V-Rod even on my 750, but the custom V-Twins running, built RevTech and S&S engines are a bit more of a challenge.

 

[scotty]

Dan
i have seen and heard Daves 750. It is buy no means a pusseycat. I just think Dave may need to get used to it. Believe me it was a sweet sounding motor just asking for a chance to show its stuff.
When i hear a good running engine my heart starts to pound :twisted:

Just a note on racing with big inch bikes. You have to do it from a dead stop and KNOW FOR SURE where your shift points are. if you change up too quickly or start from second from a normal start, the cubic inch rule comes into effect.
My 650 yammy took a beating because i was just fooling with a full sized harley and tormented him with rev noises AFTER i was in second and way too early. My 650 is bone stock with stock exhaust.

There is no substitute fro cubic inches after a point.

 

[DMPLATT]

i have seen and heard Daves 750. It is buy no means a pusseycat. I just think Dave may need to get used to it. Believe me it was a sweet sounding motor just asking for a chance to show its stuff

Scotty,
Your right. I also forgot to mention I had to get around a car, which didn't take too long, but gave them a bit of a head start. I'm still not used to these high reving engines, plus as Hoomgar put it, I'm not a dragster and my start time is pretty slow.

Guess I'll have to practice a bit. :twisted:

On a side note, I've tried UP shifting without the clutch and it actually is pretty smoothe. I will still use my clutch however. Makes feel better? :roll:

Dave

 

[Nerobro]

I agree, those things are deceivingly quick. I rode a sportster a few years ago and couldn't believe the quickness of it.

I was behind 2 harleys the other day and when the light turned green, I didn't stand a chance. Of course I only have a 750.
Dave

You're 750, with a little bit of skill should be able to keep ahead. You have 73hp, and are very slightly lighter than the sportster. So even if it is a 1200 sportster you should be able to stay ahead.

As another note. the most horsepower you can reasonably expect to see coming from a harley is the mid 120's. And in that case we're talking about some serious hardware. That 45deg Vtwin is a ghastly design. It has more in common with a lawnmower than a proper bike engine. People complain about buells blasts sounding like lawnmowers, they're effectively half of an 883 engine.

Some numbers to chew on. http://www.amiwrench.com/brute_results_2004.html