Drag Racing the Bird

jmillington · 03-22-2007, 4:43 PM

I took my 03 Blackbird (it is black) drag racing yesterday evening at Sacramento Raceway (CA). I drag raced a car wayyyy back when, but haven't drag raced since then, and never on a bike.

Anyway, I just took a deep breath, took it to the line, saw yellow and took off! I pretty much sucked, but my times were;

Reaction: .877 (sucks)
I1: 2.294
I2: 5.795
I3: 8.375
MPH(I3): 96.822
I4: 10.534
ET: 12.374
MPH: 123.227

but not bad (I guess for a first stab).
I forgot to lower my visor, and couldn't see shit!

On my 4th pass, I lofted the front wheel a bit hitting 2nd gear, but the Bird kept going straight so I stayed on it until it came back down...what fun!

I got better pretty much every run, learning as I went along, and my best time was

Reaction: .657 (still sucks)
I1: 2.245
I2: 5.287
I3: 7.673
MPH(I3): 103.692
I4: 9.714
ET: 11.478
MPH: 127.942

I know, I know, many of you are into the 10's, but I had fun and learned a lot...I need practice in launching!

The other bike racers there didn't know much about the Blackbird.

I got comments like "I like your bike, I had a VFR just like it!"..."My stepfather has a bike just like it, those 1000's are nice".

One kid on an R6 said, "Its nice you brought your cruiser out to the races."

Then I quietly smoked him running a mid 11 while he ran a mid 12!

Although I "won" every one of the 7 passes I made, the 5th pass was the first bracket race, and I got there first, but I broke out of my bracket.

I was racing a chick on a GSXR750 who dialed in at 11.5 while I dialed in at 11.6 (my best pass at that point was 11.62).

Unfortunately, I ran a 11.478 breaking out, while she ran a 11.99 winning the race.

So key learnings were, leave when you see yellow, and learn how to launch.

See you at the track!
- Jim M

PJNXX · 03-22-2007, 8:40 PM

Way to go, Jim! Show 'em what that old cruiser can do...

Partsguy · 03-22-2007, 8:57 PM

Another racer is born!Welcome to the club.
Leave on the third yellow,but let it light up,don't jump all over that third bulb in anticipation.
Try leaving at 6000 rpm next time,that should get you better 60 ft and still keep the front wheel on the ground while you're learning.
Practice quick shifts while out riding.See how fast and how little movement you can use on the throttle while cutting the gas to shift without the clutch.Or try full throttle and blip the clutch(hard going into 2nd sometimes),works better 3rd and up.
Keep practicing!

jmillington · 03-23-2007, 3:07 AM

Thanks guys for the support and the tips.

I'll practice your suggestions, and try them out at the next Wednesday Night Drags!

BoostedBird · 04-03-2007, 9:19 PM

Welcome to the Dark side young padawon. Just playing, You don't have to be the best or the quickiest to just go out and have some fun. And bracket racing is a run at your comfort level form a racing. You might have a real fast bike, but all you need to do is cut a light and run the number!

sandyraz · 04-03-2007, 9:33 PM

you got beat by a girl lol

BoostedBird · 04-03-2007, 11:10 PM

I wasn't going there. My wife is a pretty mean bracket racer, she treats the launch like leaving from a stop light @ 2.50 60ft time and rolls on the throttle. real dang consistant too. She hasn't beat me though, yet

eliXXir · 04-03-2007, 11:34 PM

You only have a dollar's worth of concentration. Spend it wisely! Worry less about the reaction time and focus on getting to know how to launch the XX first and foremost. Once you are consistently fast, then you can worry about winning races.

Cruiser.. Pfffft.

jmillington · 04-03-2007, 11:42 PM

Thanks for the support, you'all. And I didn't get beat by a girl, I got beat by a chick!

Her name is Stacey and she's one of the chicks at PlushRacing.com, and goes by the nickname Greek Freak.

I let her win to get on her good side!

Daryl · 04-11-2007, 7:36 PM

Hello , I am new here but having a great time. I have been dragracing my XX but it has developed a problem that I can't solve. When launching the clutch grabs and you can not slip it at all. I have read a little about some kind of steel ring Kent Stotz installed in his clutch set up. If anyone has any info on this or any kind of fix for this problem I would be very greatful.

Thanks, Daryl

xler8me · 04-11-2007, 8:41 PM

hey guys wanted to now what some of ya run in the 1/8 mile. that way i can talk smack to my farther inlaw and maybe take him on some money the first race.

John01XX · 04-11-2007, 9:12 PM

anything under 7 sec. is good

xler8me · 04-11-2007, 9:23 PM

i was hoping it would be under 7 secs now i will have a wheelie bar on and i shouldn't have to wourry about the wheel comeing up 6.85 or 6.9 yes no

John01XX · 04-11-2007, 11:25 PM

Should be a "piece of cake" "walk in the park" etc. with a wheelie bar

many are in the high 6's with just lowering and some 6.8 or 9 in stock form

xler8me · 04-12-2007, 8:54 PM

ya good cause i really want to be that little purple truck u see near my name.

Beondwacko · 05-29-2007, 9:52 PM

I'm a little late with this thread but , 6's ???? 1/8 mile I assume.

My best 1/8 mile is 6.68@109mph. Long wheelbase / heavy bike = good launches.

Yes the stock clutch can get grabby at mid-high RPM's but it just takes practice on the "slip" to get it down right. Also, you won't ever have to launch the bike at stock height at anything over 5,500 rpm. You'll most likely wheelie or blow the tire away when you try to get 7Krpm+ on the hole shot.

JEDI · 07-07-2007, 10:33 PM

Got a question guys,how much horsepower can the stock connecting rods handle,I was told 300 horsepower,is this a true statement....

Partsguy · 07-08-2007, 1:17 PM

I'd feel safe up to 250 after that I think I'd go for rods,I wouldn't doubt the 300 though,I'm sure lots of Busa's have that on stock rods and that motor is not as strong as the XX.You'll need a better clutch before the rods I think.

JEDI · 07-08-2007, 5:51 PM

I've upgraded my clutch,I'm really concern with my rods,you say the stock rods are stronger than the busa's..........What kind of horsepower are the busa rods capable of withstanding

BoostedBird · 07-09-2007, 1:14 PM

I pulled a little over 250 on my stock motor for a long time, get closer to 300 u will be pushing it. Anyway the stock pistons wont. Over say 14lbs and the ring lands will give up. Spend the money now and replace both, and cut the tranny while u are in there.

Partsguy · 07-09-2007, 2:46 PM

I meant the busa motor wasn't as well built as the XX.They are known to destroy trannies,countershafts,rods, pushing 300hp.

JEDI · 07-13-2007, 5:34 PM

Are you saying I'm safe up to 250hp...........

Partsguy · 07-14-2007, 9:28 PM

Yes.

JEDI · 07-15-2007, 3:32 AM

Thanks.....................What do you do to combat the heat problem?

BoostedBird · 07-15-2007, 12:38 PM

what heat problem?

JEDI · 07-15-2007, 4:34 PM

Boost generates a great deal of heat when you stay in it..........Also your FI light doesn't like boost...do you mix your C16 to help cool it off...Do you have the problem with smoking , or you have a scaving pump,if so, what kind...

eliXXir · 07-16-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEDI

Boost generates a great deal of heat when you stay in it..........Also your FI light doesn't like boost...do you mix your C16 to help cool it off...Do you have the problem with smoking , or you have a scaving pump,if so, what kind...

Yeah, it is funny how people expect issues like that.. You must be experienced with friends who have Velocity kits, eh?

A properly designed system will not have smoking issues, you won't have any FI light issues, and heat isn't an issue either. Good kit has a header that holds the turbo high enough, FI light (not an issue on an XX) will not light up when a single $1.44 check valve is put in the right place, and heat is best controlled by design & ceramic coating. None of which are seen on the bottom $$ kits that are pretty common out there.

I wouldn't repeatedly hot lap the bike, but then again, I wouldn't do that with a stocker either...