little drag racing help please...

okay, i have a 03 honda 600rr. i am 6'1" and 220 lbs. the bike is bone stock. i know you guys may not know the specifics of this bike, but no one else seems to be drag racing them yet. please just answer according to the r1 if you don't know. i have run about 6 passes total and have come down from a 16 second pass when i stalled it to a 12.66 this was my best pass so far... r/t=.991 60'=2.526 330=5.949 1/8=8.519 mph=96.24 1000=10.762 1/4=12.666 mph=117.08 i know the 60' sucks and needs major improvement. i am launching at 7000rpms and easing out the clutch. i think i may be easing it out a little too much. how many seconds should it be when the clutch is fully engaged? any tips for launching? i also have some questions on setting up the bike for drag racing. i have forks that come through the top of the triple tree. i have heard instead of strapping it i can lower the triple tree. how can i tell how far i can lower it? i am going down two teeth in the front. this will cause me to adjust the rear wheel to accomodate the chain and smaller sprocket. if i lower the bike with a bone will it cause me to move the rear wheel farther back or will it move in? motorcycle drag racers get major respect from me. i am used to drag racing cars and bikes are WAY harder to launch. thanx for your help guys, i appreciate it. Luke

well, the first thing i would say is to not go down two in the front, maybe go down one in the front and two up in the rear, that might save you a little wear and tear on your chain....

Your reaction time sucks. You need to launch as soon as you see the third yellow light on the tree. If you actually see the green light then you launched too late. A .500 is good. For launching, try leanign as far forward on thebike as possible to put the weight over the front wheel. I usually keep one foot on the shift side ont he peg and balance on the other. When you launch, get the front back down as soon as you can then crack the throttle wide open and power shift through the gears.

Your reaction time is bad, but it does not effect you ET at all. Take all the time you need to make sure you get the right launch out of the bike. Try easing your clutch out a little faster and keep all the weight you can over the front wheel... As was said above, once you are rolling, let er' rip...

Originally posted by 02RedR1 well, the first thing i would say is to not go down two in the front, maybe go down one in the front and two up in the rear, that might save you a little wear and tear on your chain.... why would it cause more chain wear?

You should be full throttle by the 60' mark...

Originally posted by 2003-R1 You should be full throttle by the 60' mark... i'm assuming with the clutch fully engaged?

600's rev alot higher than a liter bike... For starts, I'd raise the launch RPMs up a bit in incriments and use your 60 foots and time slips as a guide to what improvement you can make... Also monitor tire pressure so you know how it effects your 60 foots.... Slipping the clutch hard gives us the best results in the 60 ft. range ie: give more throttle than clutch at the start.. Just gotta watch the wheelies is the worst part.. lol.....

Sss is right on, i would find a nice safe spot to practice your launches(some where where a ticket happy cop wont be). i have dragged raced bikes all my life, and i get up on the tank when i launch..i ran a 10.55@128(a heavy 98 model !!) with my bone stock bike at a 3000' elevation track...i wouldnt mess with lowering the front by the triple clamp thing, a strap maybe..you run the risk of rubbing the fender/tire doing so.. launching is the most important thing, reation time is meaningless unless your racing someone other than your self.. go practice before you return to the track...

thanx guys, i really appreciate it. just recently adjusted my clutch pull, it had quite a bit of play in it. should be a little easier to launch now that is taken care of. i'll keep you guys posted on how i do. Luke

When dropping hard launches... over and over, you'll learn what clutch feel or pull that is best for you, a hard spring pull isn't always the best so don't make them really tight, it'll cause abnormal wear.... When bracket racing you don't alway have time to let the clutches cool, I've been known to explode a set or two during races... lol....

hey spider, you got any more good pictures of that black stretched r1? i want that as my background, that bike is sik as hell.

Originally posted by Luckydevil hey spider, you got any more good pictures of that black stretched r1? i want that as my background, that bike is sik as hell. I got some at the office.. I'll post them up soon....

Maybe try leaving at 4000 instead of 7000. Here is why I think this. You need to get the feel for lauching. It's easier to do if you are not balls out, it'll cut down on wheelies and allow you to get the clutch out quicker. Once you got you technique improving, start bringing your rpms back up. I bet you'll be faster almost right away.

Originally posted by Luckydevil hey spider, you got any more good pictures of that black stretched r1? i want that as my background, that bike is sik as hell.

my bad, i meant the solid black one with the exhaust that comes out down low by the ground.

Damn sorry that picture was small.... Here's one of Brad's....

Here is the pipe setup now..

that is the sickest bike ever. thanx!

Originally posted by Jeff Maybe try leaving at 4000 instead of 7000. Here is why I think this. You need to get the feel for lauching. It's easier to do if you are not balls out, it'll cut down on wheelies and allow you to get the clutch out quicker. Once you got you technique improving, start bringing your rpms back up. I bet you'll be faster almost right away. Don't lower your rpm's any, 4000 on a 600cc isn't nothing. You'll probably pig right off the line if you leave at 4000. My buddy has a 600rr with the following: Akrapovic slip on, lowered 3" rear and 2" front, 1 down in the front and 2 up in the rear on sprockets and he runs 7.10 in the 1/8 mile. He launches at 13,000rpms, but I think that is too high for someone just starting out. Also I don't recommend lowering the front using straps as then you have no suspension travel. If you pull the wheel off the line, it makes the landing pretty rough. Just lower it through the triple and you'll retain some suspension for those unexpected wheelies. Good luck man!!! Something to shoot for, another buddy has an '02 GSXR 600 and he's running 6.8s in the 1/8.(and no there's no nitrous, motor internals are stock)

Originally posted by grndscrpr03 Don't lower your rpm's any, 4000 on a 600cc isn't nothing. You'll probably pig right off the line if you leave at 4000. My buddy has a 600rr with the following: Akrapovic slip on, lowered 3" rear and 2" front, 1 down in the front and 2 up in the rear on sprockets and he runs 7.10 in the 1/8 mile. He launches at 13,000rpms, but I think that is too high for someone just starting out. Also I don't recommend lowering the front using straps as then you have no suspension travel. If you pull the wheel off the line, it makes the landing pretty rough. Just lower it through the triple and you'll retain some suspension for those unexpected wheelies. Good luck man!!! Something to shoot for, another buddy has an '02 GSXR 600 and he's running 6.8s in the 1/8.(and no there's no nitrous, motor internals are stock) Actually you most definitely, should look into strapping the front end down. You will find strap downs on 90% of the fastest bikes at any drag strip in the country unless they have spent $1000's in re-workng the forks for less rebound.... Your front end will come up higher fom the rebound of a standard fork alone... Straps do two important things stop the longer amount of rebound tossing the front end up and lower the bike to keep more of the riders weight forward over the front end. Also never tottally pull the strap tight. leave about an inch of travel ....

hey spidey is brads bike a sbs bike. looks like its about 10 in over. whats he running with it. very nice setup. looks liek its should be 8.40-8-50 bike. progressive system i take

Originally posted by 1longR1 hey spidey is brads bike a sbs bike. looks like its about 10 in over. whats he running with it. very nice setup. looks liek its should be 8.40-8-50 bike. progressive system i take 60" class.. stock motor low spray, 230 pound rider it was running 8.90..... A new rider that weighs 120 has been piloting the bike now and alot of engine stuff is gonna happen over the winter... With a 20 shot the new rider did a 9.10 on one of his first times on the bike..... I expect it to be in the mid 8's next year for sure....