Attempt At 8 Second Run Results in running off the track

[Filo]

I really don't understand drag racing (as in, I don't know anything about it; not that I don't like it). What makes the difference in a 8 second run versus 9? Can the difference just be made up in rider skill (which I assume is reaction time, launch ability, and correct/smooth shifting)? Or do you need to just motor up to get faster? On the front brake thing - has anyone tried a single pot front brake setup like they have on little pit bikes? Enough braking power to scrub speed but not enough to flip the bike? I guess you have to hope that a pad doesn't fall out and jam-lock the wheel, but other than that...

[Husky]

I really don't understand drag racing (as in, I don't know anything about it; not that I don't like it). What makes the difference in a 8 second run versus 9? Can the difference just be made up in rider skill (which I assume is reaction time, launch ability, and correct/smooth shifting)? Or do you need to just motor up to get faster? On the front brake thing - has anyone tried a single pot front brake setup like they have on little pit bikes? Enough braking power to scrub speed but not enough to flip the bike? I guess you have to hope that a pad doesn't fall out and jam-lock the wheel, but other than that...

Hey Filo, in drag racing as odd as it may seem, when you are running say 12 or 11's its fairly easy to go faster by say 1/2 second or .75 by just doing some minor mods, but once you get below the 10 seconds you are litteraly fighting 1/10 at a time for faster speeds. Its like any racing, land speed, road race etc. The land speed guys can reach speeds up to 200mph fairly easy but than alot of factors come to play going past that. The road race guys can run certain lap times but again once they reach the top they fight for every tenth off their lap time. (Hope that makes sense)

In drag racing, yes the difference can be made up in rider skill, launch ability smooth shifting etc but your reaction time has nothing to do with your end time. You can sit there for five mintues than go and still run a good time. The clocks dont start until your front wheel breaks the beam, of course you would lose the race as the other guy will be half way down the track. Also, yes you do need to motor up to go faster as no matter what your skill level is, if you dont have the horsepower, you'll be limited to only going so fast, so you need all of the above you mentioned in order to run fast times.

As far as the braking, drag bikes are set up completely different from street bikes/road race etc, as some have no suspension at all and most at least have no fork travel. This is due to getting the bikes to have the lowest center of gravity as possible to stay on the track as you are trying to launch a 300 horsepower bike without wheeling and spinnig the rear tire. The rear tire only has about a 5 inch contact patch with the track and the bike usually carries the front tire for the first 60 feet, so you stear it by leaning right or left to keep it straight. Most people think it looks easy but like any racing, the faster you go the harder it gets. Hope my rambling made some sense.