Need Advice for 1st 1/4 mile run kz650

I am testing the old Kaw out this Friday at our local dragstrip. She is a 1979 kz650 that is basically stock except for dyna coils and ignition. I am wondering if some folks can give me some good advice for my first run. I just wanna see what she can do, but am completely inexperienced and willing to learn. All advice appreciated :0)

do little or no burnout lower your rear tire pressure to around 15-20 lbs,try launching at about 4500 to 5000 rpm and feed the clutch out evenly,don't dump the clutch.leave on the last yellow tighten up the pre load as much as you can on the rear shocks and most important of all have fun and do some experimenting. also try not having more than about a half tank of fuel in it.

Good tips. Try to show up at the track in time to meet some of the other bike racers-I'm sure you'll find lots of advice/help in the pits. Anybody that races at our local tracks would get a good swift kick to the nutsack for not helping a new guy out.

Don't PANIC :woohoo: and don't freak out. The starting line is NOTHING like the street. It is VERY VERY tacky and if you dump the clutch you will stand it on its end or even flip it over backwards. I have seen it many times with new riders. It's almost guaranteed you will screw something up on your first few passes so just calm down an try to concentrate. I always wear earplugs to help me ignore what is going on in the other lane. If you are just testing and tuning remember you are not racing the bike in the other lane. You are trying to make the most mistake free pass possible. Have fun.

and if you don't know anything admit it to the guys at the track trust me if a guy try's to bullshit it will be figured out real fast and you will lose a lot of credibility with the guy's some of which will have been racing for years. hang close to the other guy's and pay attention to the p.a system don't get wandering around to much.don't expect too much at first rome wasn't built in a day so don't panic if it takes a few trips down the strip to get it all together and have fun that is the most important thing.

First...go with the idea of having some fun. Don't try to rotate the earth like lots of guys do. Ask questions...most of them will help and let them know you are new to this and would like some help. Might even get one of them to go to line with you and watch to help you out. Pay attention to the PA so you know when to go to the lanes. Once called out, drive AROUND the water...do not drive through it like some guys do. Fine for a car but when you only have one front tire, you don't want it wet when you use the brakes. Try no burn-out and see what it does. Decide on a rpm to start at and keep track of all this. Slide the clutch out while feeding it throttle. This is the hardest part to get right. Takes lots of seat time and practice to get right and even then, you don't always get it right. The clutch/throttle is a combination that is hard to get just right but that's what makes it so much fun. Just go up there without expecting too much, take your time (within reason) and be sure of yourself before you pull the trigger. Watch the more experienced racers if you can and LISTEN. You will be surprised what you can learn by just listening. After your run, think about what happened. Spin the tire? Maybe less throttle, less tire pressure, small burnout to heat up tire, less clutch, etc....Not sure? Ask one of the regulars at the track. Just be careful at first, don't let anyone talk you into doing anything over your head and take your time. It all comes with time, practice and persistence. Practice makes perfect as they say. Have fun...anyone here who has done this can tell you how much fun this is....right guys?!

HAVE FUN. I used to leave at about 5000 on the last yellow and slip the clutch out. It's tricky but you want to control the front wheel rise with the clutch, you also want to watch the tac and keep the rpm's going higher while adding more gas. It takes practice so don't except to get it all right the first time, just have FUN. Drag racing your bike is about as much fun you can have.

Mark

All the above and the few times I did it I lean forward over the tank with my legs out back some. This keeps your body wieght more towards the front to keep keep the front end down. She might get a little squirrly but the bike will follow the front tire. Have fun and be safe, and let us know what she does. New stock 650's ran about low 13 quarter. That's with a good rider, let us know.

i prefer to run with the rear shocks set on limpest setting to help transfer weight to rear end a little quicker,youll have to experiment with your air pressure in rear tire depending on what youve got on there.once youre moving dont pay attention to anything but the end of the track thats where youre trying to get to and just remember to have a good time and be safe getting to the other end in one piece in 2nd place beats getting in over your head and sliding through the lights on your ass anytime!

one other thing make as many passes as they will let you try going in to competition it will be intimidating as all get out but then you will be hooked and one last thing from me. what is a redline? there is no such thing when your racing.

redline is that magic number right before the pieces fly out! :laugh:

i just got back from the strip today, and am a newb myself. It takes the first run to get the jitters out of ya, but there is nothing better. I still have alot of runs left, before i get it down and dont screw up at all, but every run was an absolute blast. Like the others said, just listen, learn, and have fun.