Question about front end straps...

TRaGiK · 04-27-2005, 07:43 PM

Just got my front end strap today and tried it out to see how much it's going to help. It did seem to help quite a bit as far as wheelies go, but induces headshake terribly on my SV. Tried 4 launches on the street, 3 of which gave me headshakes. All of them happened identically to each other. Right after I shifted into 2nd (around 50 mph), I'd hit a small bump in the road and it'd shake BADLY. Letting off the throttle instantly corrected the problem, but I'm worried 1st, is it going to happen at the drag strip, and 2nd, wtf if it happens while I'm crossing the finish line @ ~110 mph.

Is this normal? This is the ONLY time the bike has ever done this. As soon as I took the strap off, it did fine. Also, the front suspension is supposed to be completely compressed with the strap, correct???

Please help before I head to the drags friday.

ZXLNT · 04-27-2005, 11:28 PM

It steepens and quickens the steering angle along with shortening the wheelbase. Only proper way to do it, is to lower the rear end of the bike the same amount. If your bike is being goofy on you dont risk it crashing it and hurting yourself at the track..

Jammin_Johnny · 04-27-2005, 11:39 PM

As said in the previous post, you'll want to lower the rear to match the front to do it correctly.

Also make sure that the strap routing is proper and the staps are flat and not twisted.

Good luck @ the strip!

TRaGiK · 04-28-2005, 06:08 AM

damn. I've got no way to lower the rear currently. O'well.

TRaGiK · 04-28-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZXLNT

It steepens and quickens the steering angle along with shortening the wheelbase. Only proper way to do it, is to lower the rear end of the bike the same amount. If your bike is being goofy on you dont risk it crashing it and hurting yourself at the track..

I knew it would drastically change steering geometry, but definately wasn't expecting the headshake I got (nearly a tankslapper). Definately don't want to go down at the drags (wonder how long it'd take to stop while sliding on my ass at 100+mph?). Might try the strap anyway, but just without completely bottoming out the forks... maybe just compress them about half way.

Anyhow, wish me luck. Will be going tomorrow evening, and will report back in after I get back.

Jammin_Johnny · 04-28-2005, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRaGiK

I knew it would drastically change steering geometry, but definately wasn't expecting the headshake I got (nearly a tankslapper). Definately don't want to go down at the drags (wonder how long it'd take to stop while sliding on my ass at 100+mph?). Might try the strap anyway, but just without completely bottoming out the forks... maybe just compress them about half way.

Anyhow, wish me luck. Will be going tomorrow evening, and will report back in after I get back.

Good rule of thumb with the strap.........Do not bottom the suspension out with the strap. You still want 2 - 3" of fork travel. Most competition rule books require a minimum of 2" of fork travel when using a strap.

EDIT: Best to use with the rear properly set-up!

TRaGiK · 04-28-2005, 09:03 PM

I know it's best when the rear is properly setup, but I'm still stuck with stock (only adjustable for preload) suspension. So, for now, I'm stuck with what I got.

Jammin_Johnny · 04-29-2005, 02:25 AM

Be safe!

Have a good time bro!

TRaGiK · 04-30-2005, 08:35 AM

Well, I raced, and was horrible. 3 and 1/2 hours there, and only got 3 terrible passes it. Had to wait over an hour between passes, so I couldn't ever get a good feel of the track, my bike, etc.

First pass, I damn near looped it off the line b/c my clutch hand slipped off. Stood it straight up, slammed back down, ran a 12.8x at 105.xx. Horrible.

2nd pass, slipped the clutch waaaaay too much, but still ran a 12.7x.

3rd pass, had a descent launch (but still not good by any means), and ran a 12.6x.

All of the passes was a 105.xx mph. Temps were atleast 10 - 15 degrees warmer than last time I went, which probably explains the 2mph loss. Couldn't do a 60ft better than 2.2x.

It's a big race weekend (Mustang Civil Wars), so I should have known that I wouldn't get shit for passes in, but I didn't expect to wait 1+ hour between passes. Way to many ppl (atleast 3 per hour) were crashing, spraying down the track with oil, loosing drive shafts, exploding engines, etc etc.

On a good note, saw some fast damn cars run. Everything from a turbo'd v6 buick running 7.50 (1/4 mile), to high ten second STREET mustangs, to rail cars. Still had a good time.