Weight, Feather or Fatass

[OB_FromKattoBus]

I was wondering, I weigh 128 lbs in wet clothes, so at first I thought to myself (this is an advantage in racing, cause my bike will go faster due to the less weight) but then I thought of possible problems...

1. If I only weigh 128 (which I am not proud of), I may lift my head while going 200 and float away!

2. That I will not put much weight on the rear will and spin for 5 minutes while Fat Albert is 1 hour away 200 miles down the road.

Does anyone know the advantages/disadvantages?

 

[OB_gsxr1117]

Don't sweat it bud, being light poses alot less of a problem than being heavy. Being light is not going to cause the tire to spin anymore than if you were heavy. It is all in the chassis setup and throttle control and clutch control. I am only 145 myself and do lots of drag racing. Not only that but the heavier an object is the more it takes to get it moving. Be advised that weight is a factor but not as much as some think. Yes lighter is quicker but if the heavy guy knows how to ride and you don't youll still lose the race. Also, a heavy person will transfer more weight rearward in the start causeing possible wheelie problems for him. As for sitting up at 200MPH......why? LOL My advice to you is don't worry about the weight so much and concentrate on being a better rider and the weight will not matter that much unless the guy is 300 or better. LOL For the record, I have removed over 25 lbs. off my bike and ran it back to back at the drags the same day and the time was the same(within 1 tenth in the 1/4 mile). Just so you know I am not a NOB, I have a 94 GSX-R1100 with 123HP all stock and have gone 10.48@130 on it with 1.70 60' times. With a best 60' time of 1.67, a couple 68's and a few 69's as well. My average is a 1.71 on most days.
Randy

 

[OB_FromKattoBus]

Thanks Randy, I feel better now. I'll keep my head tucked down from now on. LOL. BTW nice times. What are your 60 times with the Busa? I seen the a mag say 2.6 but seems to me like it could do better let me know.

 

[OB_gsxr1117]

Don't mention it. As for the 60' times on a busa, well I don't have one. would not mind if I did but can't afford it. And I think you are confusing 60 FOOT times with 60 MPH times. at a dragstrip they measure time to distance not time to speed, you get the speed in the 1/8th and 1/4 but that is is. NO 0 to 60 MPH or anything. that is what you see in the mags, is 0 to 60MPH of about 2.6 and bear in mind getting a bike from a dead stop to accelerate as fast as it can is not as easy as many believe it to be, it takes lots of pratice and a great clutch, traction, throttle control and other things to make it happen. The only time to speed you can measure at a dragstrip is from 0 to 107 for me which is my 1/8th mile speed at 6.76 sec and my 1/4 mile speed of 130 which is 10.4 sec.
Randy

 

[OB_gsxr1117]

By the way, feel free to email if you have any further questions and I have a post on here myself in the discussion board entitled "the old GSXR1100" if you are interested.
Randy

 

[OB_fastzx9]

GSX-R1117, that's all?