Landracing Forum
Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials => Bville Motorcycle Speed Trials General Chat => Topic started by: Bill Fulmer on May 05, 2009, 10:18:37 PM
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New to this type of competition but not competition in general. I am planning to run in the RWB class and have a few questions to get started.
1) What is the altitude of the race course?
2) My bike is a 600cc sport bike,what are the best tires and pressures to use?
3) Is a steering dampener required?
4) I have read that getting traction is difficult,what is the best way to accelerate to safely reach the top speed?
Not looking to set any records just want to experience the salt and do it safely,no ambulance or helicopter rides!
Thanks in advance for any help. Bill
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New to this type of competition but not competition in general. I am planning to run in the RWB class and have a few questions to get started.
1) What is the altitude of the race course?
2) My bike is a 600cc sport bike,what are the best tires and pressures to use?
3) Is a steering dampener required?
4) I have read that getting traction is difficult,what is the best way to accelerate to safely reach the top speed?
Not looking to set any records just want to experience the salt and do it safely,no ambulance or helicopter rides!
Thanks in advance for any help. Bill
Bill Welcome to the site. :cheers:
About 4K feet and at times 8400+ corrected
Stock ZR rated tires at about 36-40 front and rear
Yes
Smoothly and work your way up.
Have a good time and clean your bike, trailer/truck very well as soon as you can and do not use a high pressure washer.
John
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Thanks for the reply John,another question,the RWB class is listed as a 3 mile course. Where are the timing lights located on the course? And what is the best way to slow down,coast,engine braking,rear brake or a combination? Thanks Bill
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Thanks for the reply John,another question,the RWB class is listed as a 3 mile course. Where are the timing lights located on the course? And what is the best way to slow down,coast,engine braking,rear brake or a combination? Thanks Bill
Bill,
I am not sure of the RWB course..I have never ran it, I tried once however was told I could not..(same thing when Jon Amo and I asked about riding over 200 mph riding double) as far as braking I would roll out off the throttle lightly and then slowly pull in the clutch while sitting up and make the first turn out you feel comfortable with..I have been 256 mph and never used the brakes to slow down back a few years ago and was able to safely turn off the course in under two miles.
For a motorcycle running under 200 mph you should be able to safely brake and turn out in well under a mile depending on the course conditions.
John
PS, I am sure Bob Baker or another RWB racer can give you the skinny on the timing light location..
Remember to go as fast as you can and have a great "safe" time. :cheers:
John
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i turn out at the mile and a quarter, but i am not nearly as fast as Noonan...LOL...No brakes at all, just ease out, and use your body as a sail, and you will be under a hundred in under a mile.
good luck!
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i turn out at the mile and a quarter, but i am not nearly as fast as Noonan...LOL...No brakes at all, just ease out, and use your body as a sail, and you will be under a hundred in under a mile.
good luck!
Speak for yourself! I sat up & the darn thing just kept rolling and rolling & rolling without slowing down! I finally had to use a little brake to turn out before a mile was up (on the "special" short course) cause I sure didn't want to hit the crispies at 70+ mph! That was on a 185 run. The rest of you probably think that's fun but not me! I'm like a little ole granny on the chunky stuff! :-o That's what happens when you weren't a dirt bike rider as a kid! :-D
Debbie
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some riders are bigger sails than others... :) I do downshift a little if we are not trying to read the plugs...
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some riders are bigger sails than others... :)
Deb is more like a handkerchief than a sail. I would think my big fat head would slow a bike down faster than all of her. LOL
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i turn out at the mile and a quarter, but i am not nearly as fast as Noonan...LOL...No brakes at all, just ease out, and use your body as a sail, and you will be under a hundred in under a mile.
good luck!
Well I am big enough if I was a sail I could rig a whaling schooner,so slowing shouldn't be a problem. :-o Thanks to all for the advice. :cheers: Bill
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I only run 150 and turning off one mile is not a problem ... I just roll out of the throttle gently and sit up when I feel the engine pulling down .... I am set up for rear brake only but I dont touch it ... Joe
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Wont an 180mph or higher get you kicked off the RWB?
, seemed that way the last 2 years.
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being a 600, and maybe a rather large man as well (from previous post), 180mph may be a challenge to attain. he will surely know after a shakedown run or 2 where he is prior to wacking the throttle full tilt boogie :) just my $.20 (adjusted for Obamaflation...LOL :)
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No 180 mph unless I strap on the Acme jet assist from Wiley Coyote :-D Stock FZ-6,1st time hope to break 130,maybe. I am coming for the experince and to see what this all about. Bill
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You may just suprise yourself! Welcome, and have a great, safe time. Careful though, the salt bug has a bite on most who come to sample the wares :evil:
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Anothe ?, My friend who is also planning on running has A Buell with belt drive,does the salt have any effect on the belt and does it need any special attention before or after a run?
Thanks Bill
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a bunch of racers ran belt drives at Bub's ... I didnt see any problems
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I usedf my Harley for a pit bike, washed it off at the car wash and checked the belt. Still running it with no adverse effects. FYI Crow
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Bill,
No problems...
J
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I cannot speak from experience here, but i can't see where a belt drive would need anything different on the salt than it requires on the street. Anyone running a belt have input?
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You for sure don't want to get the salt "packed" in the belt, for obviouse reasons. In '07, at the "swim" meet it was picking up pretty easily, but again, hosed it off and still running the same 3" BDL belt. BCNU soon. Crow
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Thanks again for all the good info guys. :cheers: Bill
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Getting closer to event,more ?'s popping up. They say in the staging area to bring shade,does a large golf umbrella fit the bill?Also not to bring a large crew,one person assisting in the staging area OK? Thanks Bill
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Bill,
If you can rig it up have a canopy that fits to a vehicle to that the rider and bike are always in shade while sitting and waiting, a large umbrella works however a canopy is much better.
John
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umbrella for when you are leathered up and ready to run (3 back from starting line), and a canopy otherwise has always worked best for us. You need to be alert for wind gusts, however, so your canopy doesnt take off and possible injure/damage other participants. Having one affixed to the trailer is also a good option. Shade is definitely your friend on the salt...
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Hey Bob, the weather at Bonneville is going to be like spring compared to what we have had this summer. :-D
Fred
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Another noob, coming from Indy first time on salt running RWB. Concerned over response to
3) Is a steering dampener required?. "Yes", I am not setup with that nor can I read it anywhere in RWB supplement.
Can anybody please verify this and post... have quick mods to make if so :?
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The only thing I could find in the RWB supplemental was - "Stops to steering must limit riders hands from touching the fairing or tank at full right or left
turns. A hydraulic dampener cannot act as a fork stop." I saw no mention of a damper being "required", but in the AMA supplemental - page 22 -2.n states Steering Damper Required in all classes.
So the next question would be - Is RWB considered a class ?
Personally, if it isn't a physical engineering marvel to install one , I 'd say put one on. Better to have a steering damper if you need it at speed, then not having it.
Have you e-mailed or called the BUB office? Linea & Delvene are super nice to talk to, and if they can't answer the question I'm sure they will get you somebody who can.
Keep it fun, and see you on the salt.
Jimbo
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Will contact.... I've been experiencing some of the Admin kickbacks on email so will go a different route.
I understand the install statement and potential benefits. With time to departure close & this will have to be an order item, I guess another question would be... Is it just plain ridiculous to come to the salt without a damper ???? Do many/some/none ride without?
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Some of the internet performance parts suppliers can get items to you real quick. Usually you pay extra for the added shipping costs.
My Triumph with the old chassis went into a speed wobble when decelerating on one out of every four runs. We never figured out the exact cause. It likely was due to excessive nose dive when shutting the throttle off. The trail is reduced when the nose dives. Trail gives the bike stability. The best chassis setup was minimal spring preload on the rear shocks, increased spring preload on the front forks, and no more than a half tank of gas. Also, a light and gentle touch on the handlebars. I moved the triple clamps up on the fork tubes to give me as much rake as possible.
Do not panic if you go into a wobble. Hang on and go straight in the direction that you are pointed. Eventually it will stop wobbling. Make sure your clip-on bars are tightly bolted onto the fork tubes if you use them. A loose bar adds to the fun.
Most folks have no wobble problems. Hopefully you will be one of them.
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Another help when in a speed wobble/tank slapper -- is to give it the gas. Pin the throttle, and the front end lifts some, and that changes your geometry enough to get the front to settle down. I know, I know -- when you're booking right along and the front starts getting wiggly -- it's not easy to get your wrist to twist for more speed - but it's what will work. Nancy and I both have tried it.