Never dragged a bike before, but I now want to since I have a pretty fast Harley (see signature for the 2000) as far as I am concerned. Want to take it to the track and see what she'll do. Any suggestions? Also, anyone built a set of wheelie bars from scratch before and have plans, or do you buy them? I am a decent welder and all I have is a wire feed, but I am willing to try anything. I am thinking of starting drag racing every once in a while at the local track (190 miles from my door, ouch) and I think I am going to need bars since I don't have a longer swingarm. Tried launching a few times on the street, mind you I have never dragged a bike before, and the front wheel comes up even then. With VHT on the track I am sure to flip the bike if I am not too careful. :rolleyes: Thanks for any info and help. :)

PM me. I got one for ya.

Sam

you dont need a wheelie bar! there for girls, you should be able to give that thing hell without worrying too much about loopin out. seriously, they look gay as hell anyway.

like this one
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/jmatzen/benny22.jpg

You don't need a wheelie bar you just need to practice more, you need to learn how to slide the clutch. Strap down the front end and just keep making passes you will get the hang of it and ask some of the locals at the track for some advice. I agree wheelie bars on a street bike are for girl's they look stupid and they don't make you a better rider.

like this one
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/jmatzen/benny22.jpg

Yes, exactly what I am looking for.

You don't need a wheelie bar you just need to practice more, you need to learn how to slide the clutch. Strap down the front end and just keep making passes you will get the hang of it and ask some of the locals at the track for some advice. I agree wheelie bars on a street bike are for girl's they look stupid and they don't make you a better rider.

Strap down the front end? You mean with a ratchet strap to lower it? Do you have any advice? If you have an 87" sporty and you don't need a wheelie bar, I need advice from you since you have at least 40 more HP than I do. I know that there is a lot of practice in my near future. Just need to get out and do it.

you dont need a wheelie bar! there for girls, you should be able to give that thing hell without worrying too much about loopin out. seriously, they look gay as hell anyway.

Okay...guess wheelie bars are for girls. :) Lol!! Maybe I don't need one. I just don't want to hurt myself the first time out on the track. My wife already says she doesn't want me doing it and I don't want to give her a reason to say I told you so, if you know what I mean.

Wheelie bars are a must if your gonna run a slick and want to get the most from your high rpm launch. If your just running a street tire you don't need the bar you just need lots of practice. Practice slipping the clutch, practice rpm control. Go out to your local track on a test and tune session and get some easy passes in and as you feel more confident you will also get faster.
The big thing to watch for is becoming addicted to drag racing. It can get very expensive and time consuming but, it's also alot of fun!


Wheelie bars for girls? Maybe fast girls.

It's hard to focus on the end of the strip when you have a gas cap blocking the view. Kills the 60 ft time, too. Never was happy with the medium compound Goodyear slick. Got a more repeatable hookup with a radial.

Acceleration is fun, but holding WFO is better. Ah, Bonneville.

SAm

You can get a front end strap from schnitz racing.com its kinda like a rachet strap but made just for drag racing it helps keep the front end down. Bolt it on and pull it tight to compress the fork to keep it from extending when you 60 ft. The 60 ft time is what you really want to work on its where you can make the biggest improvements in your e.t. Basically the rule is if you cut a tenth off your 60ft it equals 2 tenths off your e.t. The best thing is just get to the track on a test & tune night and make as many passes as you can. Pick a rpm to launch at and slid the clutch and roll on the throttle at the same time just keep experimenting till you find the right combo of rpm and clutch slippage and shift without using the clutch just blip the throttle when you shift. Good Luck and tell us how you ran.

you dont need a wheelie bar! there for girls, you should be able to give that thing hell without worrying too much about loopin out. seriously, they look gay as hell anyway.

Ha, smuck......
Try a 1.5 ish 60 foot with no bars on a sporty stock chassis....I recommend you bring several sets of leathers.
Does this bike look gay. You are allowed your opinion, but tell me my bike looks gay and I ride like a girl all in one breath okay.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/Narley/Harley%20racing/edelbrocklogosideview.jpg

You can get a front end strap from schnitz racing.com its kinda like a rachet strap but made just for drag racing it helps keep the front end down. Bolt it on and pull it tight to compress the fork to keep it from extending when you 60 ft. The 60 ft time is what you really want to work on its where you can make the biggest improvements in your e.t. Basically the rule is if you cut a tenth off your 60ft it equals 2 tenths off your e.t. The best thing is just get to the track on a test & tune night and make as many passes as you can. Pick a rpm to launch at and slid the clutch and roll on the throttle at the same time just keep experimenting till you find the right combo of rpm and clutch slippage and shift without using the clutch just blip the throttle when you shift. Good Luck and tell us how you ran.

Ditto ....one tenth at the 60 is two tenths at the end.
And the smooth twist of the throttle while letting out the clutch is the thing....the wheel shouldnt pop up it should pull up after you are getting going. And the clutchless shift trick is good for keeping the carb air flow as uninterrupted as possible and is worth another tenth or two.....these are the tricks that make up for big horsepower differences. a good 60 and good shifting can save you 3-4 tenths and in raw hp to make those kind of gains i can only guess.
Nitro give us a quick update on your 07 race plans.
kerry

If your going with a wheelie bar then might as well go for a 2step and delay box and then your a top bulb guy taking the win.

Make sure your seat will keep your butt planted cause I've seen alot of first time wheelie bar riders slide off the back when they dump the clutch. Their setting on the track as the bike is still going down the lane.

As opposed to bad bulb guy....takin the loss.....best bulb guy gets the wins in the later rounds....or so it seems.

Narley has a good point about wheelie bars it depends on the racing you are going to do if its in a bracket class like Narley you need one. If all your going to do is just play at the track i wouldn't get one but thats my personal preferance. Narley sorry about the comment about wheelie bars, i just got my eyes opened up again this last weekend when i tried to run a 10.3 and 10.9 bracket class got beat both times by a bike with a wheelie bar im not good at trying to cut a light and 60 ft it on a pro tree plus it doesn't help when i rode like s*** either. Narley no racing plan this year just going to run e.t. at the local track, how about you?

My racing plans involve washing the bike and even thats a maybe. Bought a new house and have been renovating. Got few pics on myspace. So sadly no victories at the track this summer, just gotta get the testosterone boost from landscaping......somehow.
I have raced bars and no bars and both are for men ,and ladies...both are huge fun ,but in brackets and and in cases where the budget doesnt allow stretched frames but you need to be that fast bars have their place 4 sure. But there is a thrill in smokin that clutch out on a prolonged high rev lever release.......aaarrrghh I need to race! Pass me that flower pot....:(
getting this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/Narley/The%20new%20House/n628601554_76031_64101.jpg

to look like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/Narley/The%20new%20House/ColbsGradandthenewhouse284.jpg

another angle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/Narley/The%20new%20House/ColbsGradandthenewhouse263.jpg

That'll be nice when it's done!!!! Wow. You have a lot more ambition than I do. I have a pic to post tomorrow evening for you to see my project! Building a new three stall garage. I have an OLD one stall now...gonna be used for storage after the new one is done! I will post it on here tomorrow. I know it is off the subject, but thought I would add to the cause. :)

I think I am going to try the launch by smokin' the clutch first. If that works, then I will not worry about the bars out back. :tour

the garage is next, I am nervous about the costs. please post what ya can.

Btw , that is pretty much done...those deck pics are of the same place. We levelled the terrace back yard to one flat yard and then strapped those cement blocks and sided them with t&g cedar and then built the 18 x 35 deck with two levels, the higher bieng at the right height to allow the hottub to sit on the ground underneath but appear to be flushed into the deck. Outdoor living....its the new trend. Just a little more low voltage lighting to do.

If you see this, you can watch some bike drag videos on youtube to see some other bikes in action. (motorcycle drag racing) :) for what its worth.

And post us some timeslips if you can ( i'm curios) :tour
Best of luck to you!
P.S. i sent you a pm

Narley, Looks like you'll have a nice place to relax after a hard day at the track!

Good work!

the garage is next, I am nervous about the costs. please post what ya can.

No problem Narley. :) I know the guys over at Menards and got somewhat of a discount, not a lot, but any little bit helps. The materials if I haul them home are going to be about 6k and the cement about 6k. 12k total, not bad considering cement here is expensive and I got a good deal. One cement guy quoted me 14k (!!!, needless to say he wasn't getting my business. I used to work for the guy for christ's sake!). The garage is a 26x40 three stall. I wanted 32x40, but had to downsize because the bank (the one I work at!!!!!) wasn't very nice. Oh well, 26x40 is still a good sized garage for me to park in the winter and have room for me to work on my bike(s). I plan on doing a paver patio and a kennel for my dogs behind the garage yet this summer and I will get pics on late tonight of what the yard looks like for you. I'm with you on this one, outdoor living, the new trend!!

:shhhh My wife is a semi-retired Landscaper so I can watch her do all the work! :D She is a banker like me now...God, two in the same family... :)

Btw , that is pretty much done...those deck pics are of the same place. We levelled the terrace back yard to one flat yard and then strapped those cement blocks and sided them with t&g cedar and then built the 18 x 35 deck with two levels, the higher bieng at the right height to allow the hottub to sit on the ground underneath but appear to be flushed into the deck. Outdoor living....its the new trend. Just a little more low voltage lighting to do.

You do nice work, can you come to my place for a weekend? I am in SD. How far am I from you? Who cares, ride your bike here!! :laugh

Here are the pics as promised. FIrst one is directly behind where the garage will sit. Second one is the back corner where the sod was piled up to be put around the garage after it is finished. 26x40 three stall. Can't wait to get started!!! Cement is next week! Sorry for the big pics... Cement is next week because it is so frickin wet here now. This spring alone we have had almost 16 inches of rain...

http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t51/bigbluebowtie/DSC03707.jpg

http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t51/bigbluebowtie/DSC03706.jpg

Big garage ...a cement pour that would make an italian drool. good on ya.
here is a link to the home renos we just finished up.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6114&id=628601554

I built a 200 sq ft deck. Does that count? ;)

No sam it simply doesnt .....have you NO skills with your hands or what!!??
Man I kill myself.
My deck has a built in subwoofer ,does yours have a turbo? 200 sq ft with a turbo charged beer cooler counts. mine only has a nitrous cooling system....

yup, I knew it was missing something.....

Get on it...you gotta have a few spare garretts around. I have cooled a six pack with a 2lb bottle before...desperate ,yes ,proud of it...hell yeah.
Got all the photos done now plus some of the lighting.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6114&l=82e85&id=628601554

Hi ,
you don't need bars to go play at the track i was runing low 12's with mine front end would come up a foot or so ,stock wheel base ,foot shift,street tire,
front straped,and it was a 1200 then .now she's 90" and run 11.89 in the 1/4
last sun still getting use to all that raw power down low!!
you just need seat time and work on the basics clutch and throttle control
good luck

Hi ,
you don't need bars to go play at the track i was runing low 12's with mine front end would come up a foot or so ,stock wheel base ,foot shift,street tire,
front straped,and it was a 1200 then .now she's 90" and run 11.89 in the 1/4
last sun still getting use to all that raw power down low!!
you just need seat time and work on the basics clutch and throttle control
good luck

AHDRA sat 6/23/07 ran 1164@113.48mph:) ,sun called for rain:(

There is no replacement for seat time. Getting to know your launchpoint. Then learn to shallow stage. ;) If you're a little fish in a big pond (SP/F)....

Sam

Hey Narley check out Forced Air, hand skills etc

Hey sam, sorry But I don't get it? I love your stuff, show me some more...is there a link missing?

I know it's not a deck, but it was raining yesterday and got some shop time.
Now to re-clock the cold side of the turbo to match. Imagine this sitting in a box filled with ice, salt amd maybe methanol...
http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/cooler1.jpg

had to re-clock the cold side 120 deg, but it fits like it was planned for....
http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/cooler_left.jpg

now a new home for the turbo oil pump.

SAm

Let me just add one thing to what has been said, And that is what will make you faster is:

PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE !




P.S. And a Lot of Clutches !!!

good leathers give me extra confidence too.
I know about the ice water and salt as a catalyst ,but what does the methanol due for us....
Ps did I say I really need to race...my mind which always seem to be racing is getting way ahead of itself and the results are getting scary.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/Narley/DSCF2923.jpg

I clipped this from an intercooler discussion on landracing.com;

"Air to air is limited by the ambient temperature. Water intercoolers can remove more heat.

But what you REALLY want is dry ice and methanol. -70C/-108.4F. For the short time of the run this is the best bet. If you don't like the flamability of the methanol, 70% Glycerine in Water will give you -39C/-38.2F, Calcium Chloride will give you -42C/-43.6F."

Seems some time has been spent on the idea.

Sam