Drag racing a Bird (how to set off?)

NIFreebird · 01-14-2008, 4:15 PM

Ok on the 3rd Feb I am hopping to enter my first ¼ mile sprint out here in NZ, standing ¼ following by a flying ¼. Now my question to those who have done this kind of thing before is; (standing ¼) what’s the best way to start? Just whatever feels right or short shift first hold second to red line then third or something else?

Also the straight for the flying ¼ is around 1.7 miles before the timed 1/4 , is this enough time to be flat in 6th?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

PS the bike is standard

Partsguy · 01-17-2008, 11:12 PM

Interesting event.
Start at 6000 rpm in 1st,the bike does not have a good clutch for smooth starts so don't snap out the lever but don't hang on forever either,try and practice your launch around town.I shift in to 2nd by feel because it's too hard to watch the tach in the first 2 seconds,shift at 95000-10,000 from then on,you should hit 5th by the 1/4,6th shortly after if you've been aggressive enough.
On 2nd thought,what's the starting line like?If it's just plain pavement you may spin at 6000,but much less and the bike will leave like a turtle.

NIFreebird · 01-18-2008, 4:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Partsguy

Interesting event.
,but much less and the bike will leave like a turtle.

Thanks Partsguy, but leave like a turtle ??????

Partsguy · 01-20-2008, 4:59 PM

Good luck!

AntXXG · 03-12-2008, 12:06 PM

Hi, how did you get on? What was your ET and Terminal Speed...I've got my standard bike into the 10.9 bracket at over 130 but I didnt get into 5th as previously mentioned above...always changed up in every gear just before the redline/limiter...short shifting 1st to 2nd will affect your ET quite a bit, maximum acceleration is in 1st gear afterall..oh and make sure you lean well forward!!

NIFreebird · 03-12-2008, 4:23 PM

Unfortunately the set-up was not very sophisticated, two timing lights placed a ¼ mile apart on a narrow, but straight, country road, and therefore reaction time was not taken into account. My best standing ¼ was 10.84s and my best average speed on a flying run was 162mph (I think it was reading 170+ on the clock). The bike was still pulling so I don’t know what length of run-up you would need to reach the achievable top speed. I think the run-up we had was about 2 km but it sure went past very quickly and the road got very narrow (telegraph polls, gate posts, wire fences etc). I come from N’Ireland and I now have even more respect for the guys who do the likes of the North West 200 (R.I.P. William Joseph Dunlop MBE and OBE 1952-2000 “KING OF THE ROADS” a true hero)

Thanks for the interest it was a great day, if a little to hot, the sun was baking and there was a crowd of us standing around in black leather we must be mad.

Regards
Davey

Partsguy · 03-15-2008, 8:23 PM

Davey?The same Davey that has the only running lights on a Bird in NZ?
10.84 on a plain road on a stock bike is something to be proud of,well done!
I would think 2k would be more than enough to hit top speed but I've never tried it on a measured stretch of road so who knows.The heat would have taken some away from it for sure by the sounds of it.
Al

NIFreebird · 03-16-2008, 11:12 PM

Yep that’s me, unfortunately one of the indicators doesn’t work, I think there is a dry joint in one of the connectors, not worth sending it back and thanks for all your help, I must get around to fixing it as I have a warrant of fitness test coming up soon. I was very pleased with the 10.8 run but slightly disappointed with the top speed run.
Cheers
Davey