launching a sportbike

seppuku · 01-21-2006, 10:52 PM

how do you launch a 600 hard without having the front end come up on you?

lvxtreme · 01-21-2006, 10:57 PM

Put it in second,hold the revs up at 8000rpms or so, and kind of ease the clutch out.Not too fast, and not too slow either.

seppuku · 01-21-2006, 11:00 PM

are you sure 2nd?

how do you launch it as hard as you can to get good times at a drag strip?

lvxtreme · 01-21-2006, 11:12 PM

if you want to keep the front down i would use second.Like i said rev'er up and feather the clutch out.-might be a little hard on the clutch, but it will stop the front from comming up.
Why do you want to race at a drag strip?you got an extended swingarm on that thing?These bikes are made for corners not straight lines.I recommend you do a track day instead, you will have why more fun, and you will get to know your bike and its capabilities really well.

seppuku · 01-21-2006, 11:36 PM

One thing at a time, I just wanted to know how to launch the bike hard and fast. Not saying all I'm going to do with it is run in a straight line, but it has been fun to play around with in that regard. I would hit up the twisties more often but I don't like going 30-40 over the speed limit to enjoy myself. That and around here there isn't very many good places for that sadly.

Track days would be nice but, it's not like I can do that every day. If I could I would do it next weekend.

likebikes · 01-22-2006, 11:36 AM

I've done it all on my bike: trackday, sport touring, backroad twisties, drag racing, cruising. All of it is fun. Drag racing is just another kind of fun to have. It is challenging and a legal way to go 120+ MPH. Cheap too, $20 for all the runs you want.

If you want to really want to launch hard you need to be strapped and lowered. $25 for the strap, $40 for the lowering links.

The basic technique is to launch in first at high RPM and slip the clutch. The trick is to not let the clutch out too fast or too slow. Too fast and you will wheelie or bog. Too slow and you are wasting time. The trick is to get to full throttle with clutch out ASAP. This is very hard on the clutch anyway you look at it.

The way to tell if you are doing this right is 60 foot time.

My best time without lowering and strap was 60' ~1.94, quarter in 11.48.

After strapping and lowering my 60' was ~1.71, quarter in 10.94. This was launching at 10,000 RPM. As you can see the 2 tenths at the start was worth half a second at the end. A good launch and it's hard to get the foot up for the shift to second.

It all comes down to experimenting to see what works for you on that bike.

hondajunkie · 01-22-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likebikes

I've done it all on my bike: trackday, sport touring, backroad twisties, drag racing, cruising. All of it is fun. Drag racing is just another kind of fun to have. It is challenging and a legal way to go 120+ MPH. Cheap too, $20 for all the runs you want.

If you want to really want to launch hard you need to be strapped and lowered. $25 for the strap, $40 for the lowering links.

The basic technique is to launch in first at high RPM and slip the clutch. The trick is to not let the clutch out too fast or too slow. Too fast and you will wheelie or bog. Too slow and you are wasting time. The trick is to get to full throttle with clutch out ASAP. This is very hard on the clutch anyway you look at it.

The way to tell if you are doing this right is 60 foot time.

Likebikes hit the nail on the head.

.

My best 60' was a 1.84, ET [email]11.40@122mph.This was done w/out lowering links or front end strapped down.

It just takes alot of practice to get it right, but you really abuse the clutch though.....

As a matter of fact my last time out at the dragstrip I could really tell my clutch was slipping as I would let the clutch out all the way early in 1st and and just pin it.

I'm replacing my clutch this winter,just got all the discs & springs 'bout $150
Bike has 12k miles on it on original clutch.

My best time without lowering and strap was 60' ~1.94, quarter in 11.48.

After strapping and lowering my 60' was ~1.71, quarter in 10.94. This was launching at 10,000 RPM. As you can see the 2 tenths at the start was worth half a second at the end. A good launch and it's hard to get the foot up for the shift to second.

It all comes down to experimenting to see what works for you on that bike.

Likebikes hit the nail on the head

To launch like a shot out of a cannon, you really have to rev the shit out of it (11-12,000 rpm) and let the clutch out and pin the throttle.Modulate the wheelie by slipping the clutch, then let it out completely. A good launch would have front tire about 6-12 inches off the ground almost all the way thru 1st gear

seppuku · 01-22-2006, 12:02 PM

thanks, but I had a bad experince with launching the bike and letting out the clutch to slow. The bike's rear tire just spun out and went the left.

So to get good times, are you going to have to power wheelie a little bit, or not at all?

O yeah doing those power wheelies starting out from the line have been fun.

Have to agree with you, everything on this bike is fun, except sporttouring that shit killed my ass!

likebikes · 01-22-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seppuku

thanks, but I had a bad experince with launching the bike and letting out the clutch to slow. The bike's rear tire just spun out and went the left.

So to get good times, are you going to have to power wheelie a little bit, or not at all?

O yeah doing those power wheelies starting out from the line have been fun.

Have to agree with you, everything on this bike is fun, except sporttouring that shit killed my ass!

Yah, your bike has another 20 or so HP on my bike so I could see you having some wheel spin. Can you say burnout? Fun.

The wheel should come up just a little.

You're right about the seat. It hurts to do longer rides. I'm still looking for a solution to that.

ZXLNT · 01-22-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seppuku

thanks, but I had a bad experince with launching the bike and letting out the clutch to slow. The bike's rear tire just spun out and went the left.

So to get good times, are you going to have to power wheelie a little bit, or not at all?

O yeah doing those power wheelies starting out from the line have been fun.

Have to agree with you, everything on this bike is fun, except sporttouring that shit killed my ass!

If you spun the tire then either you didn't let the clutch out slow enough or the track was slick, or both. U kind of have to snap/slide the clutch as you start to move. You want to get to full throttle as soon as you can and work the clutch to keep the front wheel down as much as possible. A small wheelie isn't that bad but a huge giant one is gonna kill your times.

ttp://dontbescaredracing.com/video/zx10r_nj.wmv

RipCurl808 · 01-24-2006, 12:34 AM

if you can do a burn out prior to staging. It will help warm up your tires, so that the "rubber" gets sticky.

lowerstrap for the front end helps with the lift

I launch at 10k rpms on my bike and I've been able to get 1.7's on the 60 foot but run a 10.8 average for my R6.

It does take practice, and time. Learning when to let go of the clutch and how throttle to give.

Once I learned how to do burnouts however, it helped so much on the launch.

chugger95 · 01-24-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seppuku

thanks, but I had a bad experince with launching the bike and letting out the clutch to slow. The bike's rear tire just spun out and went the left.

So to get good times, are you going to have to power wheelie a little bit, or not at all?

O yeah doing those power wheelies starting out from the line have been fun.

Have to agree with you, everything on this bike is fun, except sporttouring that shit killed my ass!

Also make sure your in the groove where the car tires go. They spray the sticky shit down there and there is a bunch of rubber so the tires will have a hard time spinning. I saw a kid do about a 10 ft rolling burnout and almost lose it leaving the line in between the two grooves.

ZXLNT · 01-24-2006, 11:21 PM

And stay the F#$$ out of the water with a street tire. No need for a water burnout with a street tire. The water will just get caught up in the tread and then drip down
onto the track while your staging..

Jammin_Johnny · 01-25-2006, 12:39 AM

Many good points mentioned. Here is a list.

1) Pingle Strap
2) Lowering Links
3) Corrected Rear Tire Pressure (less allows more contact patch & adhesion)
4) Bring your Cluth to the Friction Point (clutch lever out until you feel the clutch starting to engage - This takes much practice to master)
5) Burn-out Before (optimum tire temperature is between 160 - 190 degrees F)

Case in point. The above allowed our '94 ZX6E to do the following:
Best 1/8th ET: 7.15
Best 1/4 ET: 11.356
Best 1/8th MPH: 101
Best 1/4 MPH: 121
Best 60' : 1.674

Rear Tire Pressure Range: 24-27PSI
Rear Tire Choice: Rennsport RS2
Burn-out Cycle: 3-5 seconds
Engine: OEM
Bolt-ons: Those allowed by AMA Prostar Rules - 600SS

Enjoy the Ride!

Johnny

Ludicrous Speed · 01-28-2006, 10:18 PM

I do it every weekend, and I am no pro (too fat) But I have gotten my stock Busa down to a 6.44 1/8th mile time.

DO NOT start in second. All you will do besides burn up the clutch is look stupid. But, If you do not have the throttle pegged and the clutch out by the 60' mark, then you can do better. I back into the water and then pull up to the edge where it is dry for my burnout. I launch about 4k and then roll into it quickly, using enough clutch to load the engine hard, but not dumping it either. On a 600, I would start at 5-7k and work my way up. I don't like "loading" the clutch, either. It is another good way to overheat it.

Oh, btw, make two, three passes back to back and then rest the bike for about twenty minutes.