207 mph ZX12 --9.5 sec 1/4 mi @150 mph

[OB_Dirty Pete]

On the Muzzys site they have shots and a story of Gadson running the 12 at numbers like those.

His 12 is definitely strapped down and wearing a Muzzy 4-1 pipe. Magazines don't test new bikes with pipes,strapped down, and driven by pro drag racers.

Even if there are no other improvements to Gadson's bike, and that is doubtful, you can discount those quarter mile numbers by over half a second to give yourself the real world numbers.

[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 22 December 1999).]

 

[OB_tinhead]

Dragbike stuff has it's place in the world, but how does the thing handle in top of 4th, 5th. and 6th i.e. above 160 mph? The world isn't all straight lines and what is the followup to the rumors of the zx12 crashing while attempting speed of 160 plus?

 

[Frank Adams]

Dp: You could ride it to those numbers, I know you could.....

All you have to do is get to know the clutch, the rest comes natural...

I watched Rickey make those passes. And from what I seen and could hear, Your going to see quicker ET's yet!

He (Rickey) slipped the clutch quite a bit in first gear on those passes...

....Frank

 

[OB_Bob]

Maybe the 12 will have a press launch like the ZX9R.

SuperBike Mag. reported in their latest issue that 9 ZX9R's went down at Misano. Journalists were allowed to make laps and 7 of em went down on highsides within 2 hours.

Abrupt on-off throttle out of the turns probably. They partly blamed the street tires for it.

I do like the rock steady stability of the Busa at speed. The 12's 56.7 inch wheelbase should make it interesting.

14 big degrees here today-h-e-l-p

Bob



[This message has been edited by Bob (edited 22 December 1999).]

 

[OB_redelk]

tinhead - where can I find info on the 160 mph test crash rumor?

 

[OB_GSXRTURBO1]

Frank, Rickey likely HAD to slip the clutch to prevent a huge wheelie. The ZX12Rs specs indicate it will handle well but should make for a wheelie monster when dragracing, even with the front end tied down. Even if the ZX12R is quicker and faster than the Hayabusa at the dragstrip, you will be hard pressed to improve the numbers when adding power on the Kawi without stretching the wheelbase quite a bit, whereas the Hayabusa will have an easier time running better numbers with a swingarm stretched the same amount (+6 inches on the Kawi will still be hard to control while +6 on the Suzi will be easier to control a wheelie). In my humble opinion the Hayabusa just appears to be the better choice when modifying the bike for dragracing.

 

[Gixx1300R]

Rickey's bike had Gasacinch under the cylinder head.I wonder why it was there.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

what is that?

 

[OB_FalconCOP161]

I cant believe that anything Stock has the "Velocity",((stability)),& power !! of our Busa's

The PURE Speed This Bike is capable of is Mind Boggling.

ZX-12 is gonna be an Unstable-at speed, wheelie Prone "back to the Drawing Board Project. it was put together way too quickly to be a refined Machine.

I'll Take My unique Looking,Copper Falcon.

161 ®

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Frank the day I break into the nines on a bike is the day I spray champagne on everyone in the pit/park area.

Hey wait a minute. That would take a lot of champagne. I'm a Scot. Well maybe water. But not that expensive bottled water.

I've never gone better than 10.3.

Actually I think I've got a solid chance to go nines this Spring on my bike as it is.

 

[OB_fastzx9]

Well, magazines don't strap and exhaust their bikes, but they do correct for perfect conditions. And although they're not pro dragracers, I think Canet and Kunitsugu know their way around a motorcycle.

Speculation is nice, but let's sit back a bit and let the mags and the public do their thing on this bike.

 

[Gixx1300R]

Hey Pete,Gasacinch is a product that allows you to remove the head and base gasket.It is fuel and pressure resistant.If you remove the head and base gasket it's like having you head milled what ever the thickness of the gasket are(sometimes as much as 40 thousandths)You have to make sure the cams chain does not have any slack.Gasacinch is a brush on product.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Agree with you fastzx9. That's the first time I've got into the speculation game. It's also the first time we've had some reliable photos and numbers to work with.

The showdown's gittin' close and it's pretty exciting!

My curiosity has nothing to do with BUSAPRIDE...it's more about seeing just what Kawasaki has been capable of doing under such heavy pressure to tune upwards when they were long ago committed to the bike's basics i.e. the new frame and 1200 cc's.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Thanx Gixxer. Am I right to say that a 40 thou milling would give you a one number jump in compression and allow you to run better fuel?

If so...sneaky.

[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 22 December 1999).]

 

[Gixx1300R]

Yes you are Pete.I have seen where porting the head,Milling the head 40 thousandths can give you as much as 15 horsepower.Just by polishing the piston dome and combustion chamber to a high polish can sometimes weld about 6 horsepower by retaining the heat inside the chamber.It also depends on other things such as combustion chamber design,piston dome shape and so on so dont go by this examples by themselves.I would go so far as to say Rickey's bike had anywhere from 175 to 180 horsepower at the rear wheel with ramair in order to run a 9.50ish time.Anyone else have any comments?

 

[OB_fastzx9]

Well, I disagree somewhat. I see bikes all the time go 9.50's with nowhere near 175-180 ponies. My ZX-9 with 125-130 ponies (plus ram-air) went 10 flat, are you saying that it would take 50-55 more ponies to go that remaing half second? Probably more like 20 usable ponies.

I would have to know the 60 footer on that run, the bikes running weight with rider, and a few other things before I would make an estimate on power. Although, the bike should make right at 160 to the wheel from the factory, add ram-air at 7-10% and you'll get real close to those numbers you're talking about.


P.S. - aren't some of the Carpenter Busa's with 170-180 ponies going 9.20's or better?

 

[Frank Adams]

Fastzx9: Who is Carpenter? lol....

Hey!, I heard his shop was turning out 1360 Busa motors with 212rwhp.

I ask one of his people on DragBike.com about it and no body wanted to come forward on it.

I don't know why, but I know that I would be proud if I were making those numbers!

Gixxer1300r: Rickey explained to us that kaw told him that his bike was thrown together for photos and not "ripp & tear". And if he had any plans to take it to G-ville he'd better pull the beerings out and check them!

Think about this,
There was no availibility for parts during this time. What would you put on your gaskets if you didn't have any new ones to replace them with?
I know i'd put something on there...

GSXRTURBO1: There is no doubt in my mind that is the reason why Rickey was slipping the clutch.

Also, I agree with you 100% on the stretching.

Dp: Only three more tenths to go!

Might be a good ideal to start taking a camcorder to the track with ya because I know you'll do it!

....Frank

 

[OB_c.dolan]

FastZX9 : Conversely, Bike could have 175~185 hp., and be nowhere near 9.50. As you said, 60' time , and overall weight is a factor. 40 or 50 more hp. would be needed, if it wasn't all being used efficiently. I had (and still have) an H-2 dragbike that ran 9.90's 23 years ago, with only about 70 hp. Of course, it only weighed 280 lbs. With air shifter, and current, better rim / tire, would probably run 9.50. Putting low gear, and wheelie bar on Busa, to run next month. Maybe see you at Carlsbad. Next "last Sunday" bracket series doesn't start till Feb.

 

[OB_Bob]

Yes thats what the the latest rumor is.

www.motorcycleworld.co.uk
then click More Sports news, then click Earlier Sports news, and click December 18th.

Also a great article in www.motorcycledaily.com on the GSXR750 includes tidbits on why Suzuki went back to a 180 series tire and more info. on their new Fuel Injection with secondary throttle plates.

If you really want to read a biased write-up on the ZX12R scroll down to the news for November 26, 1999.

Bob

 

[OB_GSXRTURBO1]

Bob, I think they are referring to Rickey Gadsons reputed numbers with a Muzzy pipe installed.