Got my Schnitz lowering straps today which I will use this Friday at my second time at the drag strip. And now I have 3 questions, one of which I already found the answer to.

1.) When installing I found that the attachment at the brake caliper bolt was binding with the brake line and banjo bolt. At first I thought I might have to loosen the banjo bolt slightly to rotate it a little. Thinking (wisely) that this might introduce air bubbles in the brake lines I just added a couple washers to the under side of the attachment on the strap to raise it out of the way of the banjo bolt and brake line. Problem solved.

2.) What tricks do you use to compress the forks while tightening the strap? I can sinch it down a ways but then it becomes pretty tough unless I sit on the tank which risks scratching the tank and requires the rear stand which I don't wanna take to the track (I'm riding to the track with the strap loosened).

3.) How low should the straps be tightened for optimum launches? As low as possible?

Put the strap on so that you pull up on it with your left hand. Sit on the seat, grab the front brake and throw your weight into it, while pulling on the stap. Do this a couple times and you will have that baby strapped so tight you'll be able to play it like a banjo.

don't forget to zip tie the loose part of the strap to the triple clamp so it won't fall and go in your wheel.

Go as low as you can within reason, use your judgment, don't compress the forks to the stops. I would say using the above method will get you as tight as you want it to be, you should definatley not need any more than that.

Does 1.5 inches sound about right?

Hope that helps fro.

Of course!!! Great and simple idea and I feel like a chump for not thinking of that. Of course I put the pull up portion of the strap on the right hand side which is why I never thought of that. I'll switch em and I'm sure that method will work great.

By the way, folks with a Scott's damper. I discovered you can still route the straps over the top triple clamp and in front of the damper and not cause a problem. Routing over the lower triple clamp causes 2 problems on an 02-03 R1. 1.) First there is a small bracket holding the brake lines that the strap would have to go over which is sharp and would eventually cut through the strap. 2.) Second it looks like the strap would get caught in the steering stops.

Let us know how it goes, the biggest mistake I made the first few runs with the strap was not givin er hard enough in the first 60. Strap really helped my 2000 stay down and I was running it like it didn't have one trying not to wheelie.

Originally posted by Backmarker
Let us know how it goes, the biggest mistake I made the first few runs with the strap was not givin er hard enough in the first 60. Strap really helped my 2000 stay down and I was running it like it didn't have one trying not to wheelie.

Great.....knowing me I'll end up on my back again. Better not. I'll ease into it.

I took the washers from the bolts used them under the bracket that is connected to the strap. This gave me enough room so the interfernce was gone. So it goes Washer, Strap bracket, and them bolt. I lowered my bike throug the triple trees and them tied it down like an 1" 1.5" I wanted to still have fork travel in case I got a big wheelie it would have some fork to compress. I also used Jeff's mythod to tighten the strap up. Left hand pull side.


Good Luck

Jeff

I got to the track last night and they had cancelled the whole night because of a little rain. Ruined my whole weekend. Was really looking forward to seeing what kind of effect the straps had on my times. Oh well, there will be other chances.

pm'd u keep up

Just in case this can help anyone else out:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bambooi wrote on 04-20-2004 09:10 PM:
How do you like the schnitz strap w/ a scotts steering damper? I am planning to get this setup. Did you leave your strap on but lossen when riding around the city.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahhh, good questions. I wondered the same things before I got the straps. First of all, the strap works just fine with the damper. Just route it over the triple clamp and in front of the damper and it's smooth as silk. In fact, I think the bracket for the damper actually make a smoother transition for the strap as it goes over the sharp angles of the triple clamp cuz the bracket it rounded and smooth. Secondly, I always take my strap off after I get home from the drag strip. Yes, I loosen it for the ride home (and keep the end of it where you pull on it to tighten secured with a loosely fitted zip tie so it doesn't fall and get caught in the SPINNING FRONT WHEEL) but I always remove it before taking a ride around town or through the twisties. Why? Well, you don't want it tight around town cuz it adversely affects suspension. But you don't want it loose either cuz the metal clamping mechanism bounces around and bangs into the radiator, fork, horn, anything else in the nearby vicinity. Not a good plan. Just take it off when not at the track. Only takes a couple of minutes to take out the top brake caliper bolts and put 'em back in. No big deal. But make sure they are torqued properly.

Good luck,

John

replied in pm

keep-up Which track do you race at?

just registering to this thread, my straps are on order.

Originally posted by bongo315
keep-up Which track do you race at?

"The River" in Temple. Formally known as Temple Academy Raceway. Click below for more info.

http://www.templeacademy.com/

Here is my bike with the Schnitz Strap. Notice the distance between the fender and the nose. Strap it so it has about 1-1.5 inches left of fork travel. Without a strap, my bike wheelied way to much. Times sucked. With it, 10.37 @135 Stock with high mount Micron.

Originally posted by keep-up
"The River" in Temple. Formally known as Temple Academy Raceway. Click below for more info.

http://www.templeacademy.com/

It says "Track Length - 1/8th Mile (1/4 Mile For Street Cars Fridays and Saturdays)" I assume that also means 1/4 mile for bikes too, right?

I'll be planning on heading out there 4-29 if that's the case.

Thanks

YAMI-R1INCT: Thanks for the tip