A little help with the straps please!!!

[money mike]

What's goin on guys? i just got some front end straps and installed them. Now for the good/bad news.
Good news: I LOVE 'EM!!! they work great!!!
Bad news: They're stuck in the compressed position. Ther is a "button" to press that is supposed to release them, but it won't go down. i think that i may have pulled the straps too tight??????
Has this happenned to anyone else. it's kinda hard to get in there to it and i'd really rather not pull my entire bike apart to get in there???
THANKS ALOT GUYS!!!

 

[badazgtp]

Get one of your friends to push on the buttons as you hold the front brake and try to compress the front a bit more. You may need another friend to help you with that. The tension on the straps is probably causing a bit of a bind to keep you from being able to puse the release buttons.

 

[money mike]

Thsnk, i'll try that here after dinner!!! Any other ideas would be appreciated

 

[m_ridgeway]

helps to see the setup you have, but most straps you can pull them to release the tension on the mechanism then release and hold onto what you have and let it out slowly.

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

I used to set mine up where the strap came up the LH side. THis way I could roll the bike forward and hit the brake with my right and tighten the strap using my left hand.

Then when I left the track, I could reach down and roll the bike, hit the brake and rock my weight forward while pressing the release button

 

[PaulCav]

One thing to keep in mind when using straps is the fact you do not have to pull them any tighter than it takes to stop your forks from expanding at take off. The whole goal of the straps is not so much to lower the bike but to keep the forks from expanding thereby gaining momentum and jerking the front wheel off the ground.

If you pull the strap down an inch or two it is a sufficient amount to make the bike have to pull the entire weight of your front wheel and brake assembly combined off the ground.

Another problem that happens when you pull the straps until the forks are fully compressed is that you are now in serious danger when drag racing of having the front end wash out when slowing down at the top of the track. The forks were designed to compress when braking which allows the wheel to slow down while still rolling. If there is no room for the shocks to compress the wheel instantly locks up. Also no compression in the forks seriously affects cornering as the front wheel bounces around and is caused to slide.

Just a heads up for safety...

 

[Ft Campbell Busa]

One thing to keep in mind when using straps is the fact you do not have to pull them any tighter than it takes to stop your forks from expanding at take off. The whole goal of the straps is not so much to lower the bike but to keep the forks from expanding thereby gaining momentum and jerking the front wheel off the ground.

If you pull the strap down an inch or two it is a sufficient amount to make the bike have to pull the entire weight of your front wheel and brake assembly combined off the ground.

Another problem that happens when you pull the straps until the forks are fully compressed is that you are now in serious danger when drag racing of having the front end wash out when slowing down at the top of the track. The forks were designed to compress when braking which allows the wheel to slow down while still rolling. If there is no room for the shocks to compress the wheel instantly locks up. Also no compression in the forks seriously affects cornering as the front wheel bounces around and is caused to slide.

Just a heads up for safety...

Very good advice! I nearly had this happen for the first time a month ago after a pass. I have been keeping it looser than normal after hearing this on another site but I guess I still had it too tight. I was returning from picking up my time slip and I shoved it on the dash. I took back off and it blew away so I hit the front brake to slow down (only doing like 20) and I guess I hit it too hard because I almost low sided. I am normally very careful and use the rear brakes as well when stopping when it is strapped. I was going slow so I just hit the front and the wheel shot to the left instantly. Almost threw me off the bike.

 

[money mike]

The forks were designed to compress when braking which allows the wheel to slow down while still rolling. If there is no room for the shocks to compress, the wheel instantly locks up.

I was going slow so I just hit the front and the wheel shot to the left instantly.

Thanks alot guys, i had no idea!!! This sounds like something that every one should now!!! I got it unstuck and unfortunately had to remove my side fairing!!!

 

[money mike]

I used to set mine up where the strap came up the LH side. THis way I could roll the bike forward and hit the brake with my right and tighten the strap using my left hand.
Then when I left the track, I could reach down and roll the bike, hit the brake and rock my weight forward while pressing the release button

Great advise bro, after i got it unstuck i did this!!! LOL, it's one of those things that you SHOULD think about before installing it, and then when someone metions it your like "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT!?!?!?"
LOL

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

Glad I was able to help!

I forgot to say that you need to leave an inch of travel and not bottom them out as well, lol

 

[speedytl]

my got stuck at the track to, good thing i had a needle nose plier, pop right off

 

[PaulCav]

You can actually leave alot more than in inch of play. Just remember all you have to do is pull it tight enough to stop the forks from expanding on take off.

If you are doing it to lower your front end, change your triple tree and do it right or get those 1" spacers from Schnitz Racing if you plan on using your stock triple tree.

Another reason people try to pull the straps so far down is because there is a rumor out there that for every inch you lower the front you will pick up a tenth in the 1/4. Lowering the front end does not lower your times... Horsepower and less weight does.

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

I would not say there is a tenth in it, but lowering the front lowers the CG, which makes it less prone to a wheelie.

 

[money mike]

Lots of helpfull advise guys!!! Thanks