1/4 Mile help needed

We have an event coming up that I have been invited to attend. Basically a "Race what you Ride" at the local speedway. Another rider in our club wants to run against my VFR. My problem is I haven't been on a sport bike since 89. I have no issue getting up to speed, I just need to know what to expect on deceleration. I have heard that rolling off the throttle from high speed could cause tank slapping. And THAT, is not something I want to experience at 100+. I know the tires are good, balanced, etc.

So what would I need distancewise for run down and stopping? And will these linked brakes help or hinder that? And second, how high of a risk is that tank slapping going to be? I want to run with them but I DON'T want to end up 6 feet under either.

 

Roll off the throttle rather than just shutting down. If this is an NHRA strip you should have plenty of room to slow. If your bike starts to dance get some weight on the back wheel. By shutting off suddenly the laws of physics adds weight to the front end.

Better dudes here than me on suspension. Generally the OEM steering head bearings are not all that good. Check the levels of your fork oil too.

"Race what you ride" ?? How bout "Run what ya brung" ? That first one sounds kinda ..... PuC

 

See if CandyRed from this site stops by. if not, send him a PM. He seems to have invested/dedicated quite a bit of time over the last couple years in doing what he can to get his QM times down.

 

You'll be fine the VFR is rock solid and the linked brakes are a strong as anything out there. Just think that cars will run over 300 there and get stopped so you won't have any issues.

The hardest part is getting off the line. Street bikes aren't set up for quick 60 foot times so some though about that would serve you well. Don't try to set any records!!

 

As much as I detest being even a little controversial, patting this guy with a 13 year old bike and not much experience on a "sportbike" , on the fanny and telling him everything is going to be AOK on some strip that may be who knows how long is not great advice, This IMNSHO of course.

Our bubba Kargustav of Texas Mile fame might have a few wise words too.

 

when you hit the finish line just pop the parachute on your back and try to hold on.

 

So I gather your bike is new to you and you havent been on a sportbike since the late eighties...my question is WHY?
Think your lookin for trouble

 

Dude, he shouldn't have to justify why he wants to do something.. He wants to do it. And he's probably going to have fun. You don't have to go balls to the wall first pass, anyways. He can learn.

These bikes probably don't trap much over 120 mph, and there is plenty of time to slow down. I hope someone chimes in who has raced one of these bikes before. Im pretty curious what they are capable of.

 

I ran my third gen fairly often at the strip in Wichita. I got faster (reaction time and 60 foot) but trap speeds wer usually 116 to 117 consistently. I strapped the front and dropped the tire pressure for a better bite off the line but it needed a gearing change to get off the line better. It was fun but hard on clutches. My best Et was 12.2.
Not super impressive but consistent and it kept the bigger bikes honest. If they made a tiny error I had a chance and that was what made it fun. Nobody expects David to beat Goliath!

 

Nice! That's awesome. What was your best 60? I plan on racing my 86 at least once, but I have no idea what to expect. Any idea what it could run in a best case scenario?

 

My 85 500 ran it best of 11.99 @124 mph with a larger rear sprocket (47 Tooth) and consistantly ran a 12.1-12.2. In stock trim they were rated at 12.28 @121mph. Just go out and have some fun a 1/4 mile track usually has another 1/4 mile run out. After you hit the final traps just back off on the throttle and slow down as you would normally do.

 

I don't remember now what the times were and the slips have long gone missing. I just remember the reaction times and 60 foot times got much better with practice. The bike was geared for the street so it was a really fine line between a wheelie or breaking the rear loose and spinning. It was just my inexperience really. It is much harder than I thought when I first rolled up to the lights as the race is decided in the first one or two seconds. It's a fine skill that takes time and practice to develop. I never really did but I learned alot and I gained a great respect for the riders who could do it well consistently.

 

LOL Thanks for the rather "interesting" feedback. I about spit coffee all over the place laughing. As to "why" I haven't been on a sport bike since 89? I had a new 89 Suzuki Katana 1100. Now I have been riding since 13 and overly familiar with the handling of assorted bikes. Late in 89 I was riding with a group when a buick pulled out in front of us down in Ft Myers. 4 of us hit and the rest slid out. It was a rather ugly mess. I never got on another sport bike till I got this one. Now I have ridden other bikes "similar" since then. I have had Vulcans, Nighthawk 650, different Goldwings, etc. Just never have drag raced a bike. It this a good idea? Probably not LOL and I may not even run. I haven't had this girl long enough to know her quirks, and such. But knowing a bit more about what it could and could NOT do? Is a good idea on my end. A lesson hard learned during OIF 2 in Baghdad. So each opinion counts to me. Good, bad, indifferent.

 

I have been drag racing my 07 steadily every few months or so for around 4 years. I have never experienced anything remotely close to headshake or a tank slapper or came close to running out of room, so no need to get on the brakes too hard. Now, while I am not telling you that nothing could go wrong, I am telling you that VFR's are inherently stable in the nature of their handling. This being your first time out, please don't try to set any records or impress anyone. Just please focus on having a good time and BEING SMOOTH. If you get nervous, flustered or upset etc it is really hard to get a clean run. VFR's are known for sometimes having a really grabby clutch, so I wouldn't launch any harder that you normally do on the street for your first couple runs, then slowly start to raise launch rpm's and more throttle. As soon as you get there ask some of the regulars where the shut down point is and where the turn around point is, so you are not caught off guard or surprised at the end of the quarter, it will come up quick and when it does, ROLL OF THE GAS SLOWLY AND SMOOTHLY AND APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE SLOWLY AND SMOOTHLY. For this reason you may want to do a few practice runs shutting down around 100 mph or so. Once you become familiar with the track and comfortable with your surroundings you can start more safely staying in it to the end. Have fun and good luck!!!

 

Hey CandyRed your not to far from where we will be. Bradenton Motorsports Park on Sat. Should blaze down here LOL

 

This from a dude with two ratbikes that would not get on the strip at PIR due to tech failure. This with one caveat, the all Harley drags and perhaps sometime in future drag night for all comers.

 

For the fast guys who are not running dampers or still have those shit OEM headstock bearings and have not yet enjoyed the delights of a really great tankslapper or footed the bill to fix a tank with two really nice bigass dents that look just like impressions of fork tubes, check out some of the tankslappers on Utube.

Some of the stories about how great an improperly equipped bike is great at well over the ton sounds like most of the BS tossed out by a bunch of harleydudes all pumped up on Mountain Dew and white lightning.

 

yeah that's not too far away! how much are they charging to race?

 

I did essentially what you're looking to do, only for a longer distance. No real experience running straight line races prior to the TM event. Prepped my '07 per the requirements and went out to have fun. For 1/4 mile advice, I'll defer to CRRC46 & his considerable experience with bike set up, launch control, etc.

In my case, a tethered kill switch, steering damper, metal chain guard, and overflow catch bottle, were mandatory changes to my bike in order to run. While I don't believe that a steering damper is necessary for a VFR in good condition running straight line races, it was required for any motorcycle running this event.

The following video from my run shows my launch. Critique it as necessary, maybe learn from my mistakes

http://youtu.be/ogVnl_c9yK8

ACE

PS - no problems rolling off throttle and slowing for turn off ...

 

What does that have to do with anything? My bike is a work in progress. You know that.