advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 19, 2007 06:40 AM
Weight "Shaving" ideas
Gonna start race-prepping a 14, and figured before I do, I'd hit you guys up to see if someone's already attempted to shave some weight off. It's gonna be a racebike, so obviously it's not gonna have lights and the stock bodywork. Wheels won't be an option initially, because it's gonna be SS. The subframe looks like it can be hit hard, anyone do this? Anywhere else?
TIA
   
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted June 19, 2007 07:52 AM
How much do you weigh?
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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Tool man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted June 19, 2007 12:34 PM
Jenny Craig :P
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The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
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ninja_knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted June 19, 2007 12:51 PM
Stay away from soda and juice.
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 19, 2007 01:14 PM
Soda and juice?
Jenny Craig?
What is this, a sewing circle?
It's beer and ice cream, and no, I'm not giving it up, but that has nothing to do with the bike or the guy who's gonna ride it. The rider is a professional, and he's fit.
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ninja_knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted June 19, 2007 01:17 PM
My bad... I was just messing around. I am certain the pros on this board will give ya what you need... I am just a little bored at work, is all.
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 19, 2007 01:33 PM
No worries..
Looking at the subframe, I think it can be carved down a tad (a lot)
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countersteer
Needs a job
Didn't read the owners manual
Posts: 2207
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posted June 19, 2007 03:14 PM
carbon fiber and titanium.
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Scott
Long Island, New York
2006 ZX-14, 2003 ZX-12R
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jarhead
Expert Class
Posts: 418
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posted June 19, 2007 03:22 PM
Kawabusa kid has been shaving his bike, he may be able to help. I think the obvious ones are the most worth while. I guess I look at it like this, you can take thousands of pounds off of an aircraft carrirer and even though it is lighter it is still going to be heavy. This bike is big, heavy, and fast and I think that is going to be the way it is no matter what you do to it. If you go with the body work, pipe, and delete headlight it is just going to be little stuff from there.
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zx14r191
Novice Class
Posts: 54
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posted June 19, 2007 07:55 PM
Pipes, wheels and bodywork will reveal most of what you can save. Few pounds might be in the rear sub frame plus all the crap in there but not too much.
You will probably need different front rotors for race applications since you will be dumping so much energy into them slowing the beast down - stock for street are fine but after a few hard stops they dont feel so good.
Ride height adjustment will probably be necessary - I put on some of my old 209GP "take offs" on and the extra height has made it a lot more twitchy that with stock tires.
If nothing else you will smack em all at that drop of the flag!!
Good luck.
S.
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06 ZX14
04 R1 - race bike
01 R1 - big bore stroker - 191 rwhp
06 ZX6R - wife's
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted June 19, 2007 08:32 PM
+1 @ everything everyone suggested except the guy saying "it'll still be heavy", as every pound counts towards reducing lap times.
plus shed the kickstand, half the banana seat, and the entire assembly under the seat that holds cargo straps and such
do me a favor and post up some pics of the bike in its track plastics.
I've been debating running mine on the daytona track instead of the 600rr in October (considering th straights/curves ratio on that track).
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 19, 2007 10:12 PM
everything said here was the same i already mentioned before.
The wheels dood, the wheels is where it is at!
Even if you had a spare set of zx10 wheels and modded the spacers to fit... it may be possible and cheap if the team has a spare set laying around...
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 20, 2007 06:31 AM
quote:
Ride height adjustment will probably be necessary - I put on some of my old 209GP "take offs" on and the extra height has made it a lot more twitchy that with stock tires.
S.
Dunlops are nervous. If you're running the 195/60 it's taller. They also grow as much as 12mm at speed, and the profile of the tire is designed to give more edge grip, which sacrifices stability up to that point.
I don't personally like 'em.
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 20, 2007 06:34 AM
 Edited By: advanced kawasaki on 20 Jun 2007 07:35
quote:
+1 @ everything everyone suggested except the guy saying "it'll still be heavy", as every pound counts towards reducing lap times.
plus shed the kickstand, half the banana seat, and the entire assembly under the seat that holds cargo straps and such
do me a favor and post up some pics of the bike in its track plastics.
I've been debating running mine on the daytona track instead of the 600rr in October (considering th straights/curves ratio on that track).
I had Catalyst send me some race plastic. They don't make an oil-containment lower, so I'll have to fab one.
It's gonna be interesting. The thing will only race @ WSIR. The track is a bunch of high-speed sweepers, so it's lazy chassis won't be a huge problem there, but I'm hoping that the length might help get the power down sooner, and keep the chassis better composed under power. Nobody has done it before, so we'll be figuring it out as we go along. I'll keep you posted
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 20, 2007 06:37 AM
quote:
everything said here was the same i already mentioned before.
The wheels dood, the wheels is where it is at!
Even if you had a spare set of zx10 wheels and modded the spacers to fit... it may be possible and cheap if the team has a spare set laying around...
Can't.. SS rules mandate stock wheels. I haven't even weighed them yet, so I'm not sure how much lighter ZX10 wheels are, if at all.
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted June 20, 2007 08:27 AM
Pirelli Super Corsa's are the lightest tires on the market...
Are you going to race professionally along side the Pro's???...If not then dont waste your $$$
How are you going to compete with Manufacturer sponsored riders???
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 20, 2007 08:34 AM
quote:
quote:
everything said here was the same i already mentioned before.
The wheels dood, the wheels is where it is at!
Even if you had a spare set of zx10 wheels and modded the spacers to fit... it may be possible and cheap if the team has a spare set laying around...
Can't.. SS rules mandate stock wheels. I haven't even weighed them yet, so I'm not sure how much lighter ZX10 wheels are, if at all.
Too bad.
I have been told the zx-10 wheels and hub assembly with rotors and sproket/ damper assembly weigh about 12 lbs less total frt and rear.
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zx1kr
Pro
Posts: 1301
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posted June 20, 2007 07:08 PM
Yes, they are much lighter!
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 21, 2007 05:51 AM
Edited By: advanced kawasaki on 21 Jun 2007 06:52
quote:
Pirelli Super Corsa's are the lightest tires on the market...
Are you going to race professionally along side the Pro's???...If not then dont waste your $$$
How are you going to compete with Manufacturer sponsored riders???
It'll start in WSMC SS, and if it works, Toyota Cup F1. I have a Pro license, and will set it up. I will then give it to one of my riders (he rode for Attack last year in the Toyota 200 and won, and also has raced the IOM, AMA, and Maccau), who will then see how fast it can go.
Why would you say it's a waste of $$$ ?
Have you tried it?
I've put the thing on a track, and it did quite well for it's girth, especially considering it was a streetbike. I kept getting told I was crazy for doing that as well, but the nay-sayers saw the light at the end of the day.
WSIR is a high-speed track with a lot of sweepers. The 14's chassis might have a slight advantage under these conditions. Someone's got to do it, and we have a long history of doing things others think is crazy/stupid/a waste of $$, so we're the perfect candidates.
I might work, and it might not. We won't know unless we try.
As far as the tires, I ride Pirellis, but I'm a little concerned about the sidewall flex on such a heavy bike. The evetual rider is contracted with Dunlop
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 21, 2007 05:55 AM
quote:
quote:
quote:
everything said here was the same i already mentioned before.
The wheels dood, the wheels is where it is at!
Even if you had a spare set of zx10 wheels and modded the spacers to fit... it may be possible and cheap if the team has a spare set laying around...
Can't.. SS rules mandate stock wheels. I haven't even weighed them yet, so I'm not sure how much lighter ZX10 wheels are, if at all.
Too bad.
I have been told the zx-10 wheels and hub assembly with rotors and sproket/ damper assembly weigh about 12 lbs less total frt and rear.
Yeah, I called Kawi yesterday, and they confirmed the 10 wheels are lighter. Still can't use 'em in SS, and if/when the bike gets to F1, we'll run 16.5's
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted June 21, 2007 02:34 PM
lotta bs for racing the bike huh
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 21, 2007 06:13 PM
From what I remember about handling my ZX10 wheels, they're actually lighter than the rear tire.
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FYYFF!!!
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted June 21, 2007 07:05 PM
Edited By: stevewfl on 21 Jun 2007 20:06
I keep weight down by not allowing big chicks.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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zx14r191
Novice Class
Posts: 54
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posted June 23, 2007 04:55 PM
What do you normally ride at Willow and what times are you running??
S.
____________
06 ZX14
04 R1 - race bike
01 R1 - big bore stroker - 191 rwhp
06 ZX6R - wife's
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advanced kawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted June 24, 2007 07:32 AM
I ride whatever I need to. This year and last, I developed the (then) new 650R. .27's is the best I've done on it, and that time is the lap record for the class that bike races in. .Currently .29's will lay waste to the field. If Kawi comes out with a new bike next year, I'll develop that one as well. I let my racers concentrate on racing, and I do the developing . My guys on 10's have done .21's, on 600's they've done .22's, and one bike we're working with data aquisition, and are looking for that bike to dip into the .20's (yup, .20's)
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