Launching - About Racing, For Racers

maxim · 10-14-2006, 01:05 AM

hey everyone . im 15 yrs old . a month ago i got a 76 kawasaki kz400 that wasnt running from my uncle . it was standing for a long time . i put about 100$ into it and its runnin now . bout a kickstand , new battery . another carb , trottle ect . i have topped it out now . i dont know how fast i was going but i know that they top out around 100 mph . my speedomiter dosnt display the mph for some reason . gunno look into that tomarow . i have rode a bunch of little stuff before and raced them . mostly pocketbikes and 50cc dirtbikes . i own a little 50 pocketbike too . i have "dragged" 110's also . but nothing ever with a cluch . so i was wondering how to i "launch" when im racin some ? on the little 110's if you rev up in neutral and switch to 1st you will get trown off the bike . what is the propper way to do it on a motorcyle . i prolly sound like a huge noobie right now . well w/e help i can get i will apreciate . thanks . sorry bout the spelling too . thats one thing i suk at .

krazyzx6r · 10-17-2006, 12:40 PM

Well start out in first, Rev it up a few thousand and just slidethe clutch out, so the front wheel stays on the ground. Once you get the hang of it the object is to bring the bike out with out it bogging when youleave to get optimum 60 ft times. Just rember practice makes perfect.

maxim · 10-17-2006, 10:26 PM

thanks for replyin . finally someone did . kool u have a 636 . that what i want to get . but right now im fine on my kz400 . cant really ride it legally . im 15 and its not registred , but i still do , not to far frum my house tho . havent tried to wheelie it tho . will try soon . iv seen ppl wheelie them tho .

Pimpus Maximus · 10-18-2006, 05:17 PM

Keyword SLIDE the clutch out. Not DUMP the clutch out.

-Max.

voided37 · 10-20-2006, 02:20 AM

TAKE IT EASY....Don't get in too much of a rush, you wanna enjoy your next 50yrs or so. There's plenty of time yet...
They've given good advice already. Just bring the revs up a little above idle and ease off the clutch. If it bogs then more revs [gas]. You wanna smooth take off before anything else [holeshots, wheelies]. It won't take long before you know by ear how much rev to give it. And it won't hurt near as much to stall as it will getting dumped off the rear...you or the bike.
I gotta say it again and again; PRACTICE!
Have fun.

stuntsteel · 04-20-2007, 12:05 PM

get your tire warmed up with a good burn out.

balance on your right foot, keeping your left foot in the shift position.

lean forward to keep weight on the front of the bike.

rev it up some, slip the clutch out, and feather it if you get too much wheel lift.

proper dial in of your suspension will also help... lowering and static sag will help you hook and keep the front wheel down.

hope that helps some...

s0nofg0d · 04-20-2007, 02:05 PM

as said above practice practice practice

practice slow and progressivly try to get faster and faster.

easier said then done

Z50NATIONALS · 05-01-2007, 12:06 PM

400 was my first bike too, a red one faded out to almost pink we called it the pink pig , just a note they dont launch for chit, go trade it in for a 250 ninja
abot 12 times more fun to ride and about 12 times easier to ride
i know your young and poor i was too,second gear always worked for me on launches depends on what sprokets you have on the bike, practice and be carefull that thing is like launching a brick

4theU · 05-01-2007, 09:07 PM

Our bikes are completely different but I just use the same strategy with all my toys, rev as high as you can, and slip the clutch as fast as you can WHILE MAKING SURE YOU DONT BRING UP THE TIRE OR LOSE TRACTION!!!!

Honestly every bike and road has different conditions so there is no magic RPM number, you just have to practice. Be patient and practice and eventually it will just start happening naturally.

Mr. Farley · 05-31-2007, 07:04 PM

I went up to Bandimere (Drag strip) up here in Colorado last weekend and ran my 03' 600rr. I was launching from almost 10k, it's a bone stock bike other than a K&N but she ran pretty good... 12.5 was my best but I was on the brakes but I know it would have ran a 12.2 or so if I wasn't on the brakes at the end of the track. But I can tell you now getting a good launch is key, and "sliding" the clutch out is the KEY... do not dump it unless you want to be on your ass!!

Cornermonster · 02-23-2008, 02:56 PM

Crawl, walk, run. Learn the basics from someone with much more experience than you. Then practice them until their perfect. Then worry about more advanced stuff. This sport is 90%skill, 10% bike.

Ziptied10R · 03-22-2008, 06:41 PM

Like everyone before me has said, slip the clutch.. Please do not dump it.
Practice make near perfect!

10-14-2006, 01:05 AM	#1
maxim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wa USA Age: Bike: 76 Kawasaki kz400 Gender: Male Posts: 6	Launching hey everyone . im 15 yrs old . a month ago i got a 76 kawasaki kz400 that wasnt running from my uncle . it was standing for a long time . i put about 100$ into it and its runnin now . bout a kickstand , new battery . another carb , trottle ect . i have topped it out now . i dont know how fast i was going but i know that they top out around 100 mph . my speedomiter dosnt display the mph for some reason . gunno look into that tomarow . i have rode a bunch of little stuff before and raced them . mostly pocketbikes and 50cc dirtbikes . i own a little 50 pocketbike too . i have "dragged" 110's also . but nothing ever with a cluch . so i was wondering how to i "launch" when im racin some ? on the little 110's if you rev up in neutral and switch to 1st you will get trown off the bike . what is the propper way to do it on a motorcyle . i prolly sound like a huge noobie right now . well w/e help i can get i will apreciate . thanks . sorry bout the spelling too . thats one thing i suk at .

10-17-2006, 12:40 PM	#2
krazyzx6r Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Valparaiso, IN Age: 24 Bike: 03zx6r 636/ cbr 600 rr/ dragbike Gender: Male Posts: 17	Re: Launching Well start out in first, Rev it up a few thousand and just slidethe clutch out, so the front wheel stays on the ground. Once you get the hang of it the object is to bring the bike out with out it bogging when youleave to get optimum 60 ft times. Just rember practice makes perfect.

10-17-2006, 10:26 PM	#3
maxim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wa USA Age: Bike: 76 Kawasaki kz400 Gender: Male Posts: 6	Re: Launching thanks for replyin . finally someone did . kool u have a 636 . that what i want to get . but right now im fine on my kz400 . cant really ride it legally . im 15 and its not registred , but i still do , not to far frum my house tho . havent tried to wheelie it tho . will try soon . iv seen ppl wheelie them tho .

10-18-2006, 05:17 PM	#4
Pimpus Maximus Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: coatesville, Pa/camp lejeune NC Age: 19 Bike: 03 cr125, 83 atc200x, 05crf70, 05 metropolitan, 91 vulcan, 07 gix750 Gender: Male Posts: 2,959	Re: Launching Keyword SLIDE the clutch out. Not DUMP the clutch out. -Max.

10-20-2006, 02:20 AM	#5
voided37 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Propagandia, USa Age: Bike: GSXR1K Gender: Male Posts: 20	Re: Launching TAKE IT EASY....Don't get in too much of a rush, you wanna enjoy your next 50yrs or so. There's plenty of time yet... They've given good advice already. Just bring the revs up a little above idle and ease off the clutch. If it bogs then more revs [gas]. You wanna smooth take off before anything else [holeshots, wheelies]. It won't take long before you know by ear how much rev to give it. And it won't hurt near as much to stall as it will getting dumped off the rear...you or the bike. I gotta say it again and again; PRACTICE! Have fun.

04-20-2007, 12:05 PM	#6
stuntsteel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: StuntSteel.com - Philly, PA Age: Bike: f4i, 636, r6, r1 and raptor 660 Gender: Male Posts: 578	Re: Launching get your tire warmed up with a good burn out. balance on your right foot, keeping your left foot in the shift position. lean forward to keep weight on the front of the bike. rev it up some, slip the clutch out, and feather it if you get too much wheel lift. proper dial in of your suspension will also help... lowering and static sag will help you hook and keep the front wheel down. hope that helps some...

04-20-2007, 02:05 PM	#7
s0nofg0d Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: crummy part of ohio Age: 22 Bike: 07 600rr Gender: Male Posts: 2,029	Re: Launching as said above practice practice practice practice slow and progressivly try to get faster and faster. easier said then done

05-01-2007, 12:06 PM	#8
Z50NATIONALS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: DALLASS Age: 42 Bike: ZRX100 ,03 XR50,72 YAMAHA R5 Gender: Male Posts: 656	Re: Launching 400 was my first bike too, a red one faded out to almost pink we called it the pink pig , just a note they dont launch for chit, go trade it in for a 250 ninja abot 12 times more fun to ride and about 12 times easier to ride i know your young and poor i was too,second gear always worked for me on launches depends on what sprokets you have on the bike, practice and be carefull that thing is like launching a brick

05-01-2007, 09:07 PM	#9
4theU Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central FL Age: Bike: 2004 1000RR Gender: Male Posts: 7	Re: Launching Our bikes are completely different but I just use the same strategy with all my toys, rev as high as you can, and slip the clutch as fast as you can WHILE MAKING SURE YOU DONT BRING UP THE TIRE OR LOSE TRACTION!!!! Honestly every bike and road has different conditions so there is no magic RPM number, you just have to practice. Be patient and practice and eventually it will just start happening naturally.

05-31-2007, 07:04 PM	#10
Mr. Farley Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 5280 Age: 26 Bike: 600RR Street, FOR SALEF4i StuntFOR SALE Gender: Male Posts: 6,498	Re: Launching I went up to Bandimere (Drag strip) up here in Colorado last weekend and ran my 03' 600rr. I was launching from almost 10k, it's a bone stock bike other than a K&N but she ran pretty good... 12.5 was my best but I was on the brakes but I know it would have ran a 12.2 or so if I wasn't on the brakes at the end of the track. But I can tell you now getting a good launch is key, and "sliding" the clutch out is the KEY... do not dump it unless you want to be on your ass!!

02-23-2008, 02:56 PM	#11
Cornermonster Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Age: Bike: 96-F3, 08-R6 Gender: Male Posts: 12	Re: Launching Crawl, walk, run. Learn the basics from someone with much more experience than you. Then practice them until their perfect. Then worry about more advanced stuff. This sport is 90%skill, 10% bike.

03-22-2008, 06:41 PM	#12
Ziptied10R Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Age: Bike: 06' ZX10R Gender: Male Posts: 18	Re: Launching Like everyone before me has said, slip the clutch.. Please do not dump it. Practice make near perfect!