Well it was my first time on the Dragstrip today (it was a test and tune day - no official racing as such). Was on my bog stock 03 R1 no lowering straps or anything. The only thing i did was to stiffen the back end in the hope of counteracting a little of the tendency for the front end to rise (probably the wrong thing to do, but it seemed logical to me).

Was an interesting experience being the first time i've ever even been to a drap strip ever (not even as a spectator).

The result is that i've got a crap reaction time (it's very distracting having proffessional drag bikes deafening you and others faulting the start)... but i was crap all the same.

I've attached the result slips if anyones interested...i'm bike 482.

What's interesting is that as the night went on and more rubber got laid down, my times got slower, while my terminal speed increased (particularly when comparing the last 3 runs). What seemed to be happening is that as i did burn out's for the last 3 runs ( in an attempt to get more warmth and grip from the tyres and it worked too well)... the rear gripped and the front came up a little harder each time, which is where i lost the time (trying not to throttle it too hard and being a pretty gentle), and the terminal speed increased as i was trying a lot harder (after 200 or so yards) in the final 3 runs.

My main problem seems to be launching the beast well... either the front tyre was trying to point straight up, or i got bogged down a little left behind to try and chase them down.

All i can say for sure is that my bike has really nice top end power.... i was catching up most other bikes before we reached the 1/4 mile mark (with the exception of the drag bike and GSXR!)

Just a question on reaction times, (remember i'm a total novice here), why do people consider them important if the whole "RACE" is really against the clock (ie from the time you trip the start beam to the time you trip the finish beam)?????

I can't say that i'm going to be a great fan of the sport, but it was worth the experience as i did get to see how minor suspension changes can result in massive changes (there was a person who improved his times by half a second simply by adjusting the tyre pressures so he'd get more bite when launching the car).

I was also a little bemused by the 4 hours it took to prepare a top fuel drag car for a run, only to have it get stuck in reverse and then take another 2 hours to fix.... all for a single 5.4 second run (he had to get off the gas twice or it could have been faster)

sorry for my rambling, any suggestions gratefully received

my last three runs

and here i am

cool I look forward to going myself

When I tried any suspension changes on mine I went the opposite of what you did and backed my preload all the way off. My theory being that when the bike would squat upon launch this would soak up some of energy of the bike trying to wheelie. Can't say for sure if this helped because I also strapped it too and with a combo of changes its hard to say but I credit the strap with the most improvement. Looks like your 60s are whats slowin ya down. Only one way to lower them and thats lots of practice slippin that clutch. For comparison sake the best stock run I had was a 10.68@132mph 00r1. Strapped and preload backed off was 10.42@134 and could of been lower for sure as I had to breath er a little to steer it back on track, ahhh drag racing is addictive if you go more then once. Let us know how you make out if ya try it again.

I went 11.6 with my '98 F3 and a slip-on the first time to the track. And I only have 80-85rwhp :confused: :confused: :confused:

What I want to know is how the magazines turn such quick times with "stock" bikes and then when we find the time to take our bikes, we dont come anywhere near them. I cant wait to take my bike to the track. Maybe my RT's will suck and I wont run any quicker than 10.5, but I bet Ill run over 140. Anyways, I guess Ill just continue to stay quiet until I get down there.

Cook

I'm not sure but do not most of the times contained in American tests say corrected for sea level times at the bottom? I'm not sure but I think thier #s are a litle off. I have seen a 95 f3 with a slip on and jetted do an 11 flat though so I think the times can be done.

crazeinc..... yeah but your f3's front wheel wasn't trying to shoot skywards in first and second gear though was it?

Oh and my weight has a bit to do with it too... i'm about 110kgs (about 240 pounds or thereabouts)

I will be going back somewhen, just not sure when! Will try going the other way with the rear suspension and see what happens. I think my biggest problem was a fear of wheelieing too much.

As for the magazines and manufacturers claims, they will be proffessional riders......... and will probably do 10 or more runs to get it perfect.

Good luck with your next trip and I agree the R1 is a whole different beast to launch compared to a 600 that you can justt whack the throttle open without fear of flippin. Even being a big guy, you'll get to the tens, I'm sure.

ok, I might take my bike down to test&tune the 27th when the track opens back up, I am not even going to worry about R/T this time, but I am wondering if I cranked the preload down a bit as well as dropping the compression dampening down as well, that would help alot in not fliping right, cuz isnt preload just how hard the spring is pushing up when it rebounds and the compression dampening is how much force the shock will resist when trying to compress. mines set just like i bought it still, and I can usually keep the fornt tire down thorugh 1st until about 8k, cuz I slowly apply the throttle and thats about the time its at full and it starts picking up. I only weigh 140 as well. and in first you get to like 3500 and you already got alll the power you need to pull the frton up without mesing with the clutch.

I went to a stretch that is damn near a 1/4 mile, where i got my civic up to 87 once and i usually pass the marker at about 86-88 in it at the track, and on my bike I got going 146 in the same distance and wasnt even takign it to redline, shifted at like 9-10k everytime. so I am hoping ill be able to drop into the 10's when i go, maybe high 9's but I highly doubt it. I bet if i extend the swingarm a bit I could hit 9's no problem though.

Dude, those times are SLOOOWWWW!!!. I used to go faster than that on my 600. On my '00 R1 I was running 10.5

You gotta work the shit outa the clutch coming off the line. Thats how you will get good 60 foot and 1/8 mile times. My 60 foots are 1.7 1/8 mile is 6.6 1/4 10.04. bone stock mph is 149. Takes some practice but its all about getting off the line hard and being able to stay in it.

To answer the question of reaction time...it doen't have any effect on your ET. It only matters if your racing someone else. It is very hard launching the R1. I've been twice with mine and my best is a 10.806. I weigh about 195 with all my crap on. I'm thinking of getting some straps for the front end. Do you have to use locktite on the bolts you remove to put the strap on? The dragstrip is a lot of fun.