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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I picked up some of the bodywork I'm going to use and started test fitting it. I originally was going to use a stock tail as I wanted to be able to gain access to my electronics. I have since given thought to that and I'm going to mount them in the nose where the headlights use to sit.

I went with a Flexi-Glass Super-bike tail section with integrated seat pan and their ultra light nose. I also picked up a front fender and under-tail but decided to not use them.

Quick look at the tail.





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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A few pics of the nose.











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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Since I run a strut the shock was unbolted and placed in the unused pile.

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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I ordered an Erik Buell Racing 2.05 pound battery so out came the cinder block of a battery. A 9 1/2 pound weight savings.



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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Factory undertail.


Flexi-Glass undertail.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Weight of the nose.




I'll weigh a stock one later today.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Weight of the Flexi-Glass Superbike tail.




I'll weigh a stock tail today to compare the weight difference.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Rear subframe.

Looking at the pictures of the Erik Buell Racing light weight "structual" subframe gave me the idea and rough dimensions to cut my subframe.



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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The cut piece, a weight loss of 2.12.


The "Keeper". Light weight "Strucual" rear subframe.


(Message edited by puzzled on December 31, 2010)
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Just enough left to hold by weight.


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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Not much there.


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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Fabricating a plate to act as my undertail.

Cardboard template first.




Transferred to aluminum and preliminary cut.


File fitting.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I will have to add a slot for the strut once I am able to bolt the swingarm back on. The area created should be large enough to hold all of the wiring along with the battery.









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Budgolf
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 12:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Awesome man!

Now get started on mine!
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 03:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The rough template is made. I imagine it could be used as a cut guide also. I don't have a problem tracing it and sending you a copy.

I am going to look at how to seal the pan to the sub-frame so the wire don't want to poke out (if needed).
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Jbolt
Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 - 02:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That's lookin good.!.!
How much do you think its going to weigh after you get her all put back together?
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Puzzled
Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Good question....

These bikes weigh 375 pounds dry?
So 423 pounds wet with gas/oil/coolant?

I'm thinking 380's maybe wet. 40 pounds is a lot to loose plus adding air shifter and bars (they don't weigh much at all). With the battery, sub frame, under tail and solo seat assembly I'm real close to 20 pounds right there. The shock and headlights is another 10 pounds. So I need to make up 10 more pounds in miscellaneous stuff. That shouldn't be to hard, lol.
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Williep13
Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - 09:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Here is a question I have always wondered, how much weight actually makes a difference?

I see guys doing all this stuff to shave a couple lbs but is it worth it? I know weight off the actual drive train (i.e. rotor, sprocket) makes big gains but does 5 or 10 lbs off the bike make that big a difference. I am not an idiot obviously 50 lbs is going to be a tenth or two but is there some kind of calculation for weight to horsepower and torque to see what kind of gains you would make?
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Puzzled
Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - 09:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Fair question.

7 pounds is 1 Horsepower
10 horsepower is 1 tenth

So it all adds up.

A Buell 1125 is 160 +/- pounds lighter than a Busa/ZX14.

A Buell makes 45 +/- horse less than a Busa/ZX14.

The weight difference is close to 23 horsepower alone.

Dropping 40 pounds off of the bike is like adding another 6 horespower.

It all adds up and makes a difference when racing. As you stated rotating mass makes an even bigger difference. Again it all adds up.

(Message edited by puzzled on January 04, 2011)

(Message edited by puzzled on January 04, 2011)
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Williep13
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 03:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

7 lbs = 1HP
10 HP = 1 tenth

According to what?

Why does torque and gear ration not play a factor?

Not trying to be a smart ass, and everything does add up I know every little bit counts but where do you draw a line between it being work without return. Or even worse, weakening structure of components and endangering your life and the person in the lane beside you.
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Puzzled
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 04:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

According to what? Fair question. I had to look it up at one point to confirm what I heard. It is a rule of thumb more so than an exact equation. Obviously as you want to go faster it takes more HP to move the same weight the same distance. Slower vehicles benefit greater from the gains more so than faster vehicles. A quick internet search yielded all sorts of info on power to weight gains.

Where one draws the line is his or her own decision to make. The rules within the sanctioning organization such as the NHRA try to keep things safe. Obviously endangering ones self would have to be the limit for me (been there, done that and have the metal rods and plates to prove it!).

As for the work with very little return... I guess that has to be looked at in the sense "it all adds up". Changing or drilling bolts will do very little on their own. As a collective combined with several other small things it will start to show. I think some of it becomes a labor of love, an obsession.
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Mike1125r
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 05:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I use the same numbers to estimate my 1/4 mile calculations. I've been drag racing a long time and have made modifications to chance performance weather is was making more horsepower or lightening the total race weight. Those numbers usually are generally very close if you are an experienced racer and have your gearing and chassis set up for optimal performance.
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Fast1075
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 07:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Those not familiar with drag racing fail to understand the importance of hundredths of a second. I would not hesitate to ride that bike. I weighed 126 pounds this morning...that should be good for a couple tenths at least. : )
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Puzzled
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 07:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would not hesitate to ride that bike. I weighed 126 pounds this morning...that should be good for a couple tenths at least.

I have a jockey! : )}
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Williep13
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 10:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Those not familiar with drag racing fail to understand the importance of hundredths of a second. I would not hesitate to ride that bike. I weighed 126 pounds this morning...that should be good for a couple tenths at least.

}I know the importance of a hundreth, I have lost by way less.

Not familiar with drag racing? I can't afford a 7 sec bike but we can bracket race all day and night, hence why weight has never been a big concern.

I didn't ask him why he was doing it. I don't know who you are and don't care but I race on the east coast see you at the track, most likely leave you at the tree ; )
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Lucas70374
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Willie don't you realize that they do offer more then one class other then bracket. If you get into a heads up class that does require you to start taking off weight to make your bike that hundredths or thousandths fast to win a race then so be it.

Oh and I'll race you heads up or bracket. Got to be on a Buell with a Buell title. Bring it
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Fast1075
Posted on Friday, January 07, 2011 - 01:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you don't "get" what guys like Puzzled, Mike1125r, and Little but Quick are doing with the bikes....im sorry...it's about doing the difficult, raising the bar and holding the Buell brand high.

Some people have the drive to do it and others sit on their hands and mock.

Oh by the way....one of the most successful motorcycle ET racers locally back in the 70's rode a freakin Rokon...it barely made the 19.99 cutoff for ET...

My workload prohibits racing...i'm not doing anything I don't have time to do properly...it's been some time since I made a pass. But I was "quite" good...I never ran any Harley events even though there were three or 4 a year locally. For some reason they douldn't let me pull one of my bikes out for fun.

Oh...at my home track, they would pay a $50.00 bonus if you cut a .500 light in the final round. I have 8 of those check stubs stapled to the wall in my shop.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, January 07, 2011 - 07:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ahh the perfect light, that still eludes me. My bud cut one running against me. I recall looking up at the board and seeing all zeros for his lane and twisted my head to see if he had left. Yep, he was right thre.
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Williep13
Posted on Friday, January 07, 2011 - 08:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You guys have took a simple calculation ? to puzzled here to heart. I asked about calculations to see the gains, maybe you guys have to much time and need to stick to something you know instead of getting on here and talking sh** instead of giving advice helping a fellow racer.

Lucas- I am aware of heads up classes I run two of them with AHDRA. I got three Buells which one do you want to lose to?

Fast- I am done with this conversation you don't even race, yeah back in 1832 you had a couple perfect lights great job!

I got a whole note book with perfect lights in it hell I cut three in one day. But it isn't can you cut a perfect light every now and then and red light the other times, its consistently cutting .00- or .01- lights that is what wins finals.
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Puzzled
Posted on Friday, January 07, 2011 - 08:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think that the printed word on the net was just taken incorrectly. I re-read the thread to try and see where it took a wrong turn. Moving on.....

It looks like I'm the only one without a perfect light. ; ) Hence why I have to try and make it up with power/weight loss. : )

I run with a lot of inline 4's which are simply stupid fast. We run heads up and I'm 20-30 horse down to all of these bikes however I'm able to jump them at the line with the bars and hold the slight edge. Going through the traps these guys are putting a good 10 MPH on me. It makes for some fun racing. There are maybe 5 of us who are regulars and we have a blast. On any given day one bike can be "on". Our last day at the track the 600 in the bunch was the hot bike. All year I don't recall seeing a bike leave me at the line, he was. Since it was a 600 I was able to chase him down however the fact remains, he was leaving me at the line!
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