flyboy
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posted August 30, 2007 08:30 AM
 Edited By: flyboy on 30 Aug 2007 11:34
Bonneville 2007 - Part 1
As we know September is just around the corner and for speed enthusiasts that means Bonneville. Speedweek has already taken place and that leaves the BUB International Speed Trials where I will be going this Saturday. After setting one World (FIM) and three National (AMA) records last year on the 14, I started contemplating my next plan of action this past winter. A second World record in the modified "naked" class was disallowed because I had the plastic over my rear seat, which they said allowed for better aerodynamics. I argued with the people in Switzerland for three months to no avail but that is another story.
As for 2007 my first thoughts were to beef up the engine but with life, jobs and two teenage daughters everything got side tracked. When I finally got on the ball in April, I called APE and they said it would take six months to get me the engine parts I needed. I was behind the eight ball. I then made a decision to go with nitrous. Great bang for the buck--. The only bad part was I knew nothing of nitrous, my mechanic Richard knew nothing of nitrous and the only place to fill up a nitrous bottle was over an hour away in San Jose. As you might remember I posted a question two months ago on this site asking, which was betterwet or dry. No, not martini but what type of NOS system was better. And I got some great answers. Luckily one of the residents of my small town was a man named Dale Walker who used to be the National Drag racing champ six or eight times back in the eighties. He got me started and told me what I would need. After endless questions and answers I decided on a wet system from NOS.
Richard of Cycle Imports in Soquel, CA, works on the solenoids.He's one of the best bike mechanics in country.
My first call was to Nick at Schnitz and I started ordering the parts. The parts arrived and my next question was where do they all go? At the same time I started asking questions about NOS on this site and the Bonneville site Landracing.com. What I was finding was the people on Bikeland knew a lot about drag racing but the people on Landracing knew more about the use of NOS with Land Speed Racing. The dilemma I had was that any spray system can last for ten seconds but I wanted mine to last for 20 to 30 seconds. I immediately started hearing "expect to take your motor home in a basket".
I didn't realize what I had gotten myself into. I decided on nitrous but didn't have time to beef up the engine for nitrous but on the other hand wanted it to last a long time while making runs out on the salts. I decided on a wet system because most people said that was best for the engine. The kit arrived with a lot of jets, which I didn't know where they went, but after studying the kit, bike system and asking eight million questions Richard and I started to put it all together. A fantastic aspect of the 14 is that the engineers already knew you were going to put NOS on your bike so they put in various holes into the air box and made a nice little compartment next to your battery to accommodate your solenoids.
Now the question remained what type of horsepower did I want to give my bike. The jets that accompanied my kit gave me the option of adding from 30 to 120 horsepower. Luckily the 14 comes with forged pistons so I felt they wouldn't melt if I kept them under a constant 50 horsepower. When I called the techs at NOS and told them I wanted to hold down my horn button from 20 to 30 seconds they really didn't know how to advise me-- only that I was smart to get the small solenoids as they last longer and are more durable than the larger ones. The main problem I would have would be the coils in the NOS solenoids failing during the run as in possibly burning out or freezing over. To cover that possible scenario I'm bringing an extra assemblies for the NOS and fuel solenoids. As another safeguard to protect my engine I installed a Wego II air/fuel monitoring device and then quickly leanred about air/fuel ratios and what is best. As we are currently at sea level, we knew that at Bonneville, (4,500 ft and an expected density altitude of 6,700 ft) the bike would be leaned out and that additionally, the bike would be leaned out even further as the NOS started to deplete from the bottle.
I also had the exciting challenge of deciding what size bottle or bottles would I use. The good thing about the Busa is that you can put a bottle in the back of the seat cover and still maintain your aerodynamics. I researched the sizes of the various bottles, how long they would last at a constant spray and then how to mount them so that they would not flap in the breeze, so to speak. I decided on mounting them backwards directly on the rear frame so they would be in tight.
Last Saturday, the bike was finally assembled and we had our first dyno run. I have decided to run without a muffler this year at Bonneville as I understand that will give you peak horsepower at top end. Some people said I would do better with a muffler but I've made my decision. Richard said I could not run the bike on his dyno without a muffler as he didn't want the police to arrive at this small shop and have the neighbors burn him in effigy. We decided to attach my Smeg to our system for the runs to hold down the noise. The results of the first dyno run were 222 hp and 138 pounds of torque. Although the NOS book says to reduce your retard by 2 degrees per 50 horsepower, my Bonneville experts told me to reduce it to between 6 and 8 degrees for the altitude and to keep away from detonation. With a final dyno run of 222 horsepower, 146 pounds of torque and an A/F ratio of 11.75 I felt we had exactly the setup we needed for a couple more records.
I wanted the bike to have a conservative increase in horsepower where I could run it for a long time with the NOS. I'm taking 40 pounds of NOS to the salts to see that this fabulous bike will do. I really don't know what I'm doing but I know that you only live once... so I like to do with gusto. I'll let you know what happen in part II.
This is how the bike will look running in the modified "naked" class (seat will be on). They allow no fairing so the only thing keeping you on your bike is your grips and the squeezing of your thighs. And for those of you that remembered last years write-up-- about the fact that I was worried my grips were going to come off during the runs... (weights had been removed for more aerodynamics). This year weights are gone and the grips are doubled wired for more security. Last year I did 174 mph in this configuration. This year with the NOS I hope to break 200 mph. Only eighteen people in the World have ever done it--
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'There's more living in five minutes flat-out on a bike than some men have in an entire life'.
"The World's Fastest Indian"
One fast red ZX-14,
Three World and four National Land Speed Records,
One faster red and white Cessna Turbo 210
   
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 30, 2007 09:12 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 30 Aug 2007 10:14
Cool pics, really nice article. Keep us informed on how it works out for you! BTW, they make Y fittings for multiple injectors at one hole. If you hooked up 2 sets of solenoids, at the beginning of the return run you dont even bother using the first set (prob wont work for another full run if at all). Just flip a toggle and use the second set. Hate to see you run a 200+ on the first leg but not be able to back it up because of frozen solenoids. If using just the single set of solenoids, use as much time as possible before making your second run-let the engine heat work its thawing magic. Good luck wish I was there with ya. Hitting 200 on a bike has been one of my lifes goals since I started riding back in '87. With my 14 I can hopefully realize it. I'll probably be copying you and your friends lead on how to go about it so make sure you include all info and photos!! lol
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lucky14
Pro
Posts: 1439
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posted August 30, 2007 10:07 AM
quote:
This is how the bike will look running in the modified "naked" class (seat will be on). They allow no fairing so the only thing keeping you on your bike is your grips and the squeezing of your thighs. Last year I did 174 mph in this configuration. This year with the NOS I hope to break 200 mph. Only eighteen people in the World have ever done it--
After your description of the naked run last year, I can't believe you're ready to do it again! 
Maybe you could duct tape yourself to the bike - it IS called 200 mph tape - right?
Anyway, great writeup, and I look forward to reading about your adventures. 
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1badzx12r
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Posts: 8321
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posted August 30, 2007 10:51 AM
I HOPE THE BOTTLES GOT SIPHON TUBES IN THEM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
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Halvefast
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted August 30, 2007 11:19 AM
Edited By: Halvefast on 30 Aug 2007 12:19
I noticed the pressure regulator for the nos,
what pressure are you going to run it at?
Another question, it takes about 10 seconds to get thru the second half of a mile,
how far do you have to go that you need to hold the button 20-30 seconds?
30 seconds is alot of heat generated on stock pistons 
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 30, 2007 11:59 AM
He apparently has trouble getting up to speed on the salt fast enough with all the wheel spin and groove following. I'm betting he plans on using it from 100mph on up. Idle wondering: does the heat from an engine making 222hp utilizing a 50 shot equal the heat from a turbo'd bike making 222hp? Or even a monster engine only bike making 222hp? It all comes down to how much pressure you got in the cylinder for that downward travel, not my area of expertise but I would imagine nitrous creates less heat versus PSI than gasoline. Or it could be that since nitrous burns more completely and faster it expends ALL of its heat inside the chamber versus gasoline still burning all the way out the exhaust thereby expending its heat over a larger/longer frame.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 30, 2007 12:17 PM
flyboy, awesome write-up... thanks man
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bayou boy
Expert Class
Posts: 147
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posted August 30, 2007 12:49 PM
u runing on a stock motor or u have anything added in it
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Ojref
Expert Class
Posts: 336
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posted August 30, 2007 03:05 PM
THE Dale Walker? Holy motherfucking shit. That guy turned the quickest time on a stock Vmax, ever.
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2006 Kawasaki ZX-14 Ninja, Red now with mo' Brock's in my lyfe
1991 Yamaha Vmax - Because I need a mule to carry the manhood
2002 Ford Lightning - Ford GT Aluminum block engined, 802HP 911TQ now WhippleCharged
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smokinzx14
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posted August 30, 2007 03:16 PM
Very cool Flyboy !!!!! It seems that you have done your home work...Good luck and we will see you the other side of 200 MPH ... Smokin...
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted August 30, 2007 11:24 PM
Excellent article Flyboy, there's a tuning shop over here who put a supercharger on a 14, haven't seen what it can do yet, though.
Good luck this weekend, "Bonneville 2007 Part 2" should be worth reading.
Bob.
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Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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nabrxx
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posted August 31, 2007 02:44 AM
Great write-up. Magazine quality, looking forward to the next issue.
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What we don't understand, we can
make mean anything...
src="http://www.bikeland.org/board/i
mages/smilies/smile.gif" border=0>
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Sticks_n_Stones
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Posts: 3930
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posted August 31, 2007 05:22 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 31 Aug 2007 06:27
That'll be $4.99 nabrxx. Credit Card or Paypal only, please.
Oh yeah, Flyboy, next time some guy claims you aren't funny, tell him to "shank off you wanker, I've gone 200mph on a naked bike! You?" And I promise I won't make fun of you until I hit 200 myself.
-damn I'm gonna regret this, I just know it.-
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nabrxx
Needs a job
Posts: 2853
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posted August 31, 2007 09:49 AM
That humor thing is tricky...some guys are blessed that they can call someone an asshole and folks laugh....when I try it....no one laughs...go figure.
____________
What we don't understand, we can
make mean anything...
src="http://www.bikeland.org/board/i
mages/smilies/smile.gif" border=0>
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Sticks_n_Stones
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Posts: 3930
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posted August 31, 2007 10:28 AM
You just gotta stop punching the guy while you say it, nabrxx! Jeez I can't take you anywhere can I?
Seriously, humor has to be built up too or expected from you to get laughs. One helluva line popped at the right time works wonders, too. If you don't normally drop lines or jokes, especially if you're the serious type, people won't know you're joking and will try to analyze what you just said to figure out if they miss heard you. By the time they figure out it was a joke only, they spent too much time analyzing it and nobody will find it funny. In other words, if they got to think about it/interpret it no one will find it funny. Keep the joke in the same frame of thought as what the group was talking about or steer it to the subject of your punchline. Good luck and one more thread jacked+1!
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Halvefast
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted September 18, 2007 10:27 AM
Flyboy- I'm can't wait to find out how you made out.
Was it enough to accomplish your goals?
Did you encounter any NOS problems,
how did the 14 hold up to spray for that long?
Give it up!  
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dbeadling
Zone Head
Posts: 699
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posted September 18, 2007 03:39 PM
I knew it red is the fastest...go get them...good luck and gods speed
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1badzx12r
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Posts: 8321
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posted September 18, 2007 06:30 PM
i think that with the front reflectors on it only got 199.99 mph
or since he left a bolt off the gas tank mount and the tank fell off
is why no word
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wrongway
Pro
Posts: 1078
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posted September 19, 2007 05:45 AM
I am following your lead and I am going to run my 14 at maxton. What did you use for valve crash protection on the nitrous bottle?
Roy
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