Help needed: Drag start/race launch

**Nomad** · 05-22-2011, 01:54 PM

All,

Looking for some advice on launching the S1K. I've been struggling with it all season (road racing).

I don't have traction control so I'm not able to rely on the wheelie control feature.

I've had two distinct problems.

If I launch at medium RPM (7k) feed it clutch and more throttle at launch, the clutch tends to grab causing huge wheelie's. I then have to grab more clutch and lose drive. These launches have typically had 1 or 2 big wheelies before I'm fully underway. When the clutch grabs, it's like it mechanically locks up. There's no slip whatsoever. This situation has made me hesitant to launch at higher rpm or to whack the throttle open for fear of looping before I can catch it.

The other situation is I feed a little less throttle at launch than in the previous case to try to control the wheelie. The result is that the clutch locks up and the RPM's dump to 2-3K causing a very slow start.

The best I've been able to achieve is a relatively soft launch (like you might do when splitting lanes at a red light). This gets me away reliably but I've got bikes from two rows back passing me before turn 1.

Any advice? Better yet, and GoPro footage to help illustrate how it's done?

russianvr4 · 05-22-2011, 02:48 PM

the best results i've gotten were bouncing the rpms between 9-11k and REALLY slipping the clutch, let it grab just a tad, add throttle then release. if you want to drag race a lot get brock's clutch mod, makes the stock clutch a lot more controllable for launching.

**Nomad** · 05-22-2011, 07:32 PM

Thanks. Will give it a try. Trying to stay supersport legal for road racing so I can't mod the clutch. But I'll try your advice and see how it goes.

poiteau · 05-23-2011, 08:53 AM

Hello,

The method I use for race starts for years on 1000cc (what ever the brand) is : rev at 10-11 K then very slippy clutch use and as soon as I feel the clutch locking I gear up in 2 (I do not push the rev until red zone in 1st gear on starting, to be honest I do not have a look on the rev tacho when I am doing a race start except when the startsign is still red).
The S1000RR clutch is not the smoothest of the market but this method works.

**Nomad** · 05-24-2011, 11:25 AM

Thanks. I'll try that too!

JGraves · 05-24-2011, 04:16 PM

Brocks Performance also has a clutch upgrade kit so you can totally dump the clutch. If you are going to drag race you have to modify the clutch, because it will not be covered under warranty if you burn it up. Check out Brocks Performance and it will cost you at the most $500.00 total with labor.

**Nomad** · 05-24-2011, 11:08 PM

Thanks! If I wind up doing anything to the bike that knocks me out of supersport class, I'll look at it as an option.

-Bill

Nikk777 · 06-08-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGraves

Brocks Performance also has a clutch upgrade kit so you can totally dump the clutch. If you are going to drag race you have to modify the clutch, because it will not be covered under warranty if you burn it up. Check out Brocks Performance and it will cost you at the most $500.00 total with labor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by russianvr4

the best results i've gotten were bouncing the rpms between 9-11k and REALLY slipping the clutch, let it grab just a tad, add throttle then release. if you want to drag race a lot get brock's clutch mod, makes the stock clutch a lot more controllable for launching.

The OP is road racing....NOT drag racing. Brock's clutch mod is for drag racing only and eliminates the slipper clutch!!!

I'm in the same boat! Nothing worse then having to play catchup after a crappy start! The clutch isn't getting oil on the discs very well and they are grabby at high and low rpm's for me! The STM clutch apparently fixes this but I'm not ready to shell out $1100 for that just yet.... I've heard that if you rev to 4k and basically do an aggressive street type start and roll on the gas it works well. Haven't tried that yet but let me know what you come up with. A buddy that races got to race a friends bmw this weekend and he did the 4k rpm method and got the jump on everyone! Note this was his first time on a bmw so might be something to that method...

russianvr4 · 06-08-2011, 03:23 PM

op clearly stated drag race launch...

Nikk777 · 06-08-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad

All,

Looking for some advice on launching the S1K. I've been struggling with it all season (road racing).

Quote:

Originally Posted by russianvr4

op clearly stated drag race launch...

No, sorry...he didn't. All road races start as a drag race....to turn 1. that's why many racers go to the drag strip to practice starts. Basically you excel if you are good at drag racing and cornering when it comes to road racing.

Plus, modding a bike with a drag racing specific part and eliminating something as important as the slipper clutch is completely out of the question!