These thoughts/stories are good to post, at least to get clarification and promote discussion.
I noticed this set of muffler tips on a production machine, at Loring (photo from a different venue, but same bike):
Stock:
The bike also seemed very low in the front, but I didn't measure it with a tape...although I do have many of this particular bike model.
When I think of production, I just go to the rule book:
The motorcycle must appear identical in all respects to the production model
represented including the air box and exhaust system (excluding paint and
decals). Any performance modifications must be out of view.As far as strapping the bikes down, or slamming them down in the front, I never thought that was allowed on production machines. Realistically speaking, if a strap is on the front end, how would you police the ride height? Someone simply pulls it down 3" before a pass, and pops it up on the return road. I don't think people generally are using these straps in order to improve braking; they are using them to pull the front down in order to minimize the frontal area...or affect aero in other ways...and that can make a big difference on certain bikes. A big danger, that I have seen, is when people slide the front forks up, strap, or lower them, when there is no rear height adjustment (almost all production bikes fall into this category). Then you are making some very serious, generally negative, changes to stability.
But, at the end of the day it really comes down to the specific rules of the venue, as outlined in their rule book. And the race director certainly has the final say, obviously.
Shane