So I took the connie to the track

[Kazairl]

The short straight one. The curvy ones are hard to find in this area. This is my first time drag racing any bike.

 Made about half a dozen passes. My best run was 11.57@118. But I had several in the 12-12.6 range.

  2010 with Bags off, Leo Vince Slip on and K-Trc disabled.

  I had a couple runs where I tried to launch too hard and the back tire just went up in smoke That was exciting.

 How many of you have taken your C14 to the drag strip and how did it do? Does anyone have some tips they would like to share on how to get my times down and more consistent?

[Rawman]

Start slow, don't think you can get on the starting line, launch a .00 light and hit 10.5 sec 1/4 mile.
Start with the RPMs at 3000 and get a good launch without lifting the front tire and without spinning the rear, then work up from there until you are just getting the front tire to start to come up without having to lift on the gas.  Try to get into an exact routine EVERY time so you can slightly adjust next time, consistancy is the key.
I was invited to the 1/4 mile strip in Myrtle Beach last fall, but I wrecked the C14 in Florida and was unable to make it to the track.  I was hoping to get a few passes in this year, but there are only 1/8 mile tracks near me and they don't allow motorcycles. 
I have dragged cars and bikes (LONG ago, lol) but even with that I would be doing really good to break into the 10's (Full AreaP Exhaust, PC-V, BMC Air Filter, Dyno'd 151 rear wheel HP). I am shooting for low 11's.

[metzgerf16]

I have to admire your guts here lol.  I've never drag raced a bike, and I still haven't worked up the balls to take my Connie to the strip.  If you're having trouble with traction off the line, you could try riding "through the clutch", slowly engaging the clutch as you come out of the beams.  There are some videos on youtube of a guy racing his C14 with a claimed best time of 10.8.  If you could find those, you could watch his technique and see if something stands out to you. 

[reesedp]

When the bike first came out there was an article in one of the journals about Ricky Gadsen making a 9.86 run on a bone stock '08 with the bags on.  I tried looking for it but couldnt find it again.  Maybe one of the old dudes has a link?

[Rawman]

Someone will definitely have to find that.  With 135ish HP stock and the OEM tire, I cannot see this bike in the 9's.

[lt1]

When the bike first came out there was an article in one of the journals about Ricky Gadsen making a 9.86 run on a bone stock '08 with the bags on.  I tried looking for it but couldnt find it again.  Maybe one of the old dudes has a link?

IIRC, the article shared info between the C14 & the ZX14.  He ran the C14 at the drags, but the 9.86 was on the ZX14.  I don't recall which bike was in the article and which was in the sidebar.

[metzgerf16]

A good rider on a stock ZX-14 can run high 9's, but I don't see the C14 doing that without forced induction or nitrous.

[VirginiaJim]

When the bike first came out there was an article in one of the journals about Ricky Gadsen making a 9.86 run on a bone stock '08 with the bags on.  I tried looking for it but couldnt find it again.  Maybe one of the old dudes has a link?

Old dudes?

[booger]

A good rider on a stock ZX-14 can run high 9's, but I don't see the C14 doing that without forced induction or nitrous.

I'd doubt turbo, super charging or N2 would get you in the 9's.

Guys, this is a heavy, shaft driven bike.  11's or high 10's are excellent.  Think of all of the expensive auto's asses you can kick!

[Aussie in AZ]

Old dudes?

He he.  That's what I was thinking.  Just what DOES constitute as old?



I would be happy with mid 11 mate.  Nice run and lots of fun

Aussie

[Kazairl]

I think next time I go I'll work on consistency first. When I can run a pretty constant 11.5 I'll try going faster. The hardest part is rolling on the throttle and releasing the clutch in the same manner every time. Dropping the rear tire pressure a couple pounds would probably help too.

[gflint]

First time ever on a 1/4 mile.  08 with Leo Vince, flys out, no cat.

11.542 sec 123.89 mph
11.579       123.13
11.872       119.64
12.046       115.23

First run on the bottom, last run on the top.  I was 800 miles from home at the time and still had another 1600 miles to go on my trip so I was being very gentle on the clutch.  I have not the sightest doubt someone who knows what they are doing can get 10s.

[Kazairl]

What elevation was that at? I was running in Julesburg, CO which is around 3400 ft and we had a head wind the entire  time that dropped my trap speeds down a little.

 

[martin_14]

  2010 with Bags off, Leo Vince Slip on and K-Trc disabled.

good decision there. This system is extremely conservative and calibrated for a touring bike, so when it kicks in it takes a looong time to release power back to the wheel, which would basically kill the run.
I base this comment on a  recent article on a German magazine where they compare 4 traction control equiped bikes: BMW s1000rr, Ducati 1098, something else and the C14. In the same time that the C14 recovers from a slip, the s1000rr (the best of the bunch) switches on and off 3 times and offered the best performance both in driveability (safety and feedback) and acceleration times.

[DaveO]

When the bike first came out there was an article in one of the journals about Ricky Gadsen making a 9.86 run on a bone stock '08 with the bags on.  I tried looking for it but couldnt find it again.  Maybe one of the old dudes has a link?

gadson is a great drag racer but  i dont think there is any chance in hell the c-14 got  down the strip that fast .
Way to big and not near enough power.
Even with pro rider  you must consider the not so good power to weight ratio

[Kazairl]

According to Motorcyclist Mag the C14 should run a 10.84@127.7. But that is a corrected 1/4 mile and probably on the optimistic side.

[gflint]

It was at Top Gun Raceway just outside Fallon NV.  4000 ft.  Kind of a kick.  I can see how the sport could get addicting.  My niece lives in Winnemucca and was running her drag car at the track for the weekend.  It was a run-what-you-brung on Friday evening.  I was on my way to San Fran from Missoula MT so I was a bit neurotic about my clutch.  I have no idea how much abuse a Connie clutch can take and I was not about to find out that far from home on a road trip.  I am glad there is not a 1/4 track near Missoula or would try to get under 11 seconds.

[reesedp]

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/newsview/07-11-26/2008_Kawasaki_Ninja_ZX-14.aspx

gadson is a great drag racer but  i dont think there is any chance in hell the c-14 got  down the strip that fast .
Way to big and not near enough power.
Even with pro rider  you must consider the not so good power to weight ratio

[jamiemac]

Wow! From the above article.: "Then, to prove what a pro could do, Gadson hopped on a shaft-drive ZX-14 Concours, with saddlebags mounted. And did a couple of passes in the nines."

[Bourne2Ride]

Wow! From the above article.: "Then, to prove what a pro could do, Gadson hopped on a shaft-drive ZX-14 Concours, with saddlebags mounted. And did a couple of passes in the nines."

Just finished the article, and all I have to say is, wow! If it really was a Connie, that's awesome!