Landracing Forum
Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials => Bville Motorcycle Speed Trials General Chat => Topic started by: MOSHIS on August 06, 2016, 10:12:51 AM
-
I am memorized by the design of the fully faired motorcycles used at Bonneville and other land speed locations. I was wondering why we do not see this design being used on the 1/4 mile drag strip. They are built to eliminate as much drag as is possible. I understand these bikes have specialized gearing and tuning to reach top speed in distances of a mile or greater, but if one was geared and tuned properly would this aero design work on a drag strip. Thank you for any thoughts.
-
The Pro Stock Bike rules mandate stock appearing body panels. I am sure other classes are more open. One that comes to mind that follows your thoughts, is the Triumph powered Top Fuel bike of Aussie Jay Upton. He has since switched to Honda power...
https://youtu.be/-AYCHWAEfXU (https://youtu.be/-AYCHWAEfXU)
http://www.mcnews.com.au/one-mad-and-very-bad-dragbike (http://www.mcnews.com.au/one-mad-and-very-bad-dragbike)
(http://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/DragBike1.jpg)
(http://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/DragBike6.jpg)
-
All that body work is a lot of extra weight for the 1/4 mile. On the salt the body is worth the while, but for fast acceleration it is going to hold you back. This is why none of the full stream liner T/F bodies ever lasted long. JC
-
Looks like a Darth Vader bike
-
One on one drags are GREATLY contested at the light (reaction time) and in the 1st 60-feet :-) :-) :-)
-
As JC said it is a Power to Weight thing .....
As far as Jay Upton's Bike ......
the Bodywork is primarily a Safety thing so he can stay connected to the Bike in the top end and minimise the risk of a being blown off the Bike if a hand comes off the Handle Bars .......
The Bike has not run for a few years now and was for sale .....
Pete
-
As far as Jay Upton's Bike ......
The Bike has not run for a few years now and was for sale .....
Pete
I would love to have that Triumph engine...
-
Engine tune is a lot different. There is a short interval allowed in FIM between the down and return runs and a rider needs to wait at the end of the track on the down run, be escorted back to impound, get released from impound, be escorted to the other end of the track, and wait to make the return run. There is not much time for screwing around so the bike and rider are set up so no refueling, maintenance, etc is needed between the runs. This requires a much gentler tune than a drag bike with an emphasis on reliability.
-
The 2 main reasons I don't run my APS bodywork at the dragstrip is:
1 - Body positioning is very different between the two, especially at launch;
2 - Wheelies. The shorter gearing and great traction of a drag race put you at risk of shaving that tail section right off when the front comes up.