Topic: CYCLEX DRAG BIKE.......INTO THE 8'S!!!

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Y'all should link to this!!!!!!
http://cyclexchange.net/Cycle%20X%20Honda%20Drag%20Bike.htm
Some pics

5mm stroker,Pro Stock Rods,38mm intakes/34mm ex....15.5 to 1 compression,lots more on site!
Talked with Kenny today,coming rt along!!!
Roadracer did sell,went to Ireland!!!Maybe see it @ Isle of Man!!!!
With rods that color,we KNOW where engine # 2 should go!!!!! Thanks,Bill
Oh,yeh,last time I held that head in me paws,it didn't have little holes drilled in intake spigots!!!!

[Old Scrambler]

 

Boys and their toys..........something to do during the long winter in northern Wisconsin.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Definitely a Big Boy's Toy!!!!!!!! When we were in Valdosta @ World Finals I asked Rick Stetson what was the best he ever did normally aspirated CB750? ...........9.200!!!!!! Anybody know of a better time single engine? Ken's ought to be solidly in the 8's......as long as he can hook up that 7 inch rear with his 3 speed!!! Bill

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

And we can surmise that since those intake holes are on the bottom they are NOT for sync'ing ??!!

Is Kenny riding it?

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Insurance....in case he needs it!!!!!! Bill

[Sam Green Racing]

Then it wouldn't be normally aspirated, would it.

[Greggo]

WHOA!

I love their description for those purple rods: "You will never break these rods" 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Then it wouldn't be normally aspirated, would it.

What's a little laughing gas ?

[Sam Green Racing]

Nitrous. 

[jweeks]

     If you want the world's quickest, why settle for a +5 mm stroked stock crank? I'd be +9 mm on a 900F crank stroked by another +3 mm. Yes, the clutch setup gets more complicated with the bigger crank.
     I think that holding the clutch together may be the biggest challenge in this effort. When I see billet clutch basket pictures, I'll know they're getting serious.
     One quick pass is far easier than racing it in competition. Would love to see it at a Manufacturer's Cup event in Pro ET.  Good Luck!

                                                            Jon Weeks

[MRieck]

     If you want the world's quickest, why settle for a +5 mm stroked stock crank? I'd be +9 mm on a 900F crank stroked by another +3 mm. Yes, the clutch setup gets more complicated with the bigger crank.
     I think that holding the clutch together may be the biggest challenge in this effort. When I see billet clutch basket pictures, I'll know they're getting serious.
     One quick pass is far easier than racing it in competition. Would love to see it at a Manufacturer's Cup event in Pro ET.  Good Luck!

                                                            Jon Weeks

Jon....the stock basket is steel....how is aluminum stronger than that? Weight is more the issue. Stetson never had an issue with the basket. I guess you didn't see that head when Kenny had it in his hands at Valdosta.....it wasn't amateur.

[jweeks]

Mike,
     http://metals.about.com/library/bldef-Billet.htm. Where did I mention aluminum? How the clutch basket is made is the question. Where the stress is concentrated. You're saying that a 34+ year old OEM clutch basket will survive just fine on an 8 second quarter mile bike? Stetson never ran that quick. Running a half second quicker than Stetson did does put more stress into the drivetrain. Aftermarket baskets are available for the Kawi's and Suzuki's from back in the day. Durability was better with the aftermarket units. If you are bracket racing, you need the durability in your drivetrain. Making one quick pass requires less of your equipment.
     They're chasing Pena. He ran in the 8's and had clutch problems. I read an article about that bike way back when. If anyone has contact information, we can get it from the source.
     I handled the head. Never called them amateur. My assumption is to go the quickest, start with the biggest cubic inches you can. Using the 900F crank does require some clutch engineering (Goldwing parts or make your own.)
     These are my opinions. I'm not trying to slight their efforts. None of our discussions will change what is being built. Let's see what happens when it starts going down the track. I'm hoping to see a dragbike that races, rather than a youtube video of one quick pass followed by a for sale sign.

[MRieck]

Mike,
     http://metals.about.com/library/bldef-Billet.htm. Where did I mention aluminum? How the clutch basket is made is the question. Where the stress is concentrated. You're saying that a 34+ year old OEM clutch basket will survive just fine on an 8 second quarter mile bike? Stetson never ran that quick. Running a half second quicker than Stetson did does put more stress into the drivetrain. Aftermarket baskets are available for the Kawi's and Suzuki's from back in the day. Durability was better with the aftermarket units. If you are bracket racing, you need the durability in your drivetrain. Making one quick pass requires less of your equipment.
     They're chasing Pena. He ran in the 8's and had clutch problems. I read an article about that bike way back when. If anyone has contact information, we can get it from the source.
     I handled the head. Never called them amateur. My assumption is to go the quickest, start with the biggest cubic inches you can. Using the 900F crank does require some clutch engineering (Goldwing parts or make your own.)
     These are my opinions. I'm not trying to slight their efforts. None of our discussions will change what is being built. Let's see what happens when it starts going down the track. I'm hoping to see a dragbike that races, rather than a youtube video of one quick pass followed by a for sale sign.

  Jon...I ran a Falicon basket in my FJ and at over 200HP (with nitrous) it beat the crap out of the fingers. And that was with minimal nitrous use. Than there were problems I had with other Falicon baskets.
 I think you would be hard pressed to break a 750 basket even at 40 years old. It would be like breaking a 100 year old crowbar.
  The backing plates are the weak link in most more "modern" (like only 30 years old) baskets.
  I don't mean to come off as indignant but I have talked to Rick at length about his bike and I talk to Kenny about this bike several times a week. The basket isn't a problem...primary chains, tensioners and primary drive units are discussed. Luckily the heavy duty primary chains are available. Rick used to use the CR750 chains. He had more problems with the transmissions ( drive shafts splines twisted like a pretzel) and crank ends.
 Anyway....it is not my intention to start an argument. Lets leave it at that.

[Big Jay]

The oem steel basket will be just fine. KZs have the same thing and have run low 7s. I don't think Gary ever had problems with the basket.

The billets for the Kawasaki were for the J models and GPZs which had a cast aluminum basket.

One issue with those big Hondas is they need that 15:1 do run the first 330 really hard. But with that much piston dome and only one spark plug, you have to run too much ignition timing, so it is fighting itself on the back half.

[Sam Green Racing]

So the next big problem is.....how do we get 4 more spark plugs in there. 

Sam.

[MRieck]

So the next big problem is.....how do we get 4 more spark plugs in there. 

Sam.

Forget it Sam....it ain't no KZ or GS. Byron did fit 3 in the FJ.

[Sam Green Racing]

That's why there were these. 

Sam.

[dragracer]

I hope he decides to use a Schnitz Pro Series 2 ignition on that bike. It is infinitely tunable as far as ignition timing is concerned as well as acting as a progressive nitrous controller. Leave at 20% and ramp it up to what ever final percent will yield an 8 second pass. IT might even be necessary to leave on motor by delaying the nitrous and then begin spraying while removing timing to curve detenation. And yes, i feel he will need nitrous to run in the 8's if he is only using a 3 speed transmission- I really don't get the reasoning behind that part of the build. Don't get me wrong, i saw the head too and with the 5mm crank and good rods, this thing will make power. The lockup clutch they have should be fine as long as its tuned correctly. I have not seen theirs in person but i'm sure it allows the use of extra weights on the arm. Personally i would use stock static springs to allow some slippage on the launch and then allow the arms on the lockup to handle the rest of the pass. One peice of advice i would pass along is to PLEASE USE AN ADJUSTABLE CLUTCH 2 STEP SWITCH.  If you do not properly time the release of the 2 step with the clutch release, the bike will either bog the motor or run through the clutches on launch= especially when spraying nitrous. The two step release point can be determined electrically followed by a dynamic test to see where the clutch lever is when the bike actually begins to move. The two step MUST come off just BEFORE the bike tries to make forward motion.

The output shaft and primary chain set up will be the weakest points in the overall package in my opinion.

Very much looking forward to this bike being competitive in a full race scenario. I'd like to see it entered into Super Comp ( 8.90 index).

[johno]

All I can say is the cycle x boys must be cashed up $ big time.     twice over the last few months I have tried to place an order for a few grand and they havent evan bothered to reply to 3 of my repeat emails.  I am thinking of giving up with them.   

On a positive note I must say Every supplier that is involved on the forum has given excellant service or advice when emailed, real SOHC enthusiasts helping fellow SOHC enthusiasts ,  the cycle x boys must be too busy working on the race bikes or something.
johno

[jweeks]

I've looked on Dragbike.com forums for contact information on Gary Pena. This is what I found:

"Gary Pena currently lives in Kingman Az 928-530-6666 Still building hot rods and fast race cars. Still kickin after all these years. "

My memory seems to be off after 30 years since I read about his efforts. Someone closer to the CycleX effort could get some useful information for the price of a phone call. Gary had major west coast connections back in the day.

                                                      Jon Weeks

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Johno, pm me info.I'll talk to Kenny on Monday.We'll get you handled.Believe me, Kenny wants the business and wants satisfied customers.He has been busy....he'll tell you ...not that busy! He'll be glad to find and FIX problem. Thanks, Bill

[Sam Green Racing]

Good lad Billy. 

[cbr954]

If you call for Ken he will get back to you, but I have also had several unanswered emails lately also.  But when you get to talk to him he has always been very helpful. 

[Sam Green Racing]

That's all well and good 954 but when you live in Australia, phoning Ken can be quite expensive. 

Sam.

[754]

So are those goldenrods re anodized? ..looks like them..