2018 AFT Flat Track thread

[Rough Edge racing]

Well , Indian and the rules committee pulled some shenanigans on that one .

 Dusty

 Oh..Just like Harley pulled with the AMA in the 50's-60's to stay ahead of Triumph.....

[oldbike54]

Oh..Just like Harley pulled with the AMA in the 50's-60's to stay ahead of Triumph.....

 Something like that .

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

So all but Indian are using a production based engine?....Hmm I was thinking production based was part of the game...

I doubt that Vance and Hines machine is a production engine.  Just as the V&H drag prostock "harley" which is a total billet engine.

[oldbike54]

I doubt that Vance and Hines machine is a production engine.  Just as the V&H drag prostock "harley" which is a total billet engine.

 Actually it uses mostly stock castings with highly modified cylinder heads . I think the crank and rods are custom pieces , but the XG more closely sticks to the production rule than the FTR , which is a complete clean slate race motor . At least Indian is making the package available now . For that matter , flat track motors going back to the old Class C rules bore little real resemblance to production engines . All of the fast Brit twins were twingled , even the XR ran what amounted to a twingle setup for years until the AMA outlawed twingleing . I peeked inside of a BSA that Jim Rice rode , it was running a billet crank , rods , pistons , and the valves were freaky big . The last Brit twins were making nearly 60 BHP at 7,500 RPM's , Mr Edge can tell you how hard and expensive that must have been . The first iron XR motors only made about 63 HP , which was just enough of an advantage to make the Brits obsolete . It is amazing that the last versions of the XR made 90 BHP reliably , about 95 if you could afford a new crank every other race , and nearly 100 if you could carry a complete spare motor to every race , because they would go boom W/O notice . The XR that we watched Mees win with at OKC in 2016 was a freak , probably 102 BHP at 9,500 RPM's, but he could afford to race a hand grenade .

 Dusty

[timonbik]

XR 750 was about as stock as the Indian FT bikes.  How many XR's did you see on the road or in dealer show rooms.  It was a purpose built racer just like the Indians.

[LowRyter]

XR 750 was about as stock as the Indian FT bikes.  How many XR's did you see on the road or in dealer show rooms.  It was a purpose built racer just like the Indians.

I did a test ride on one like this but I get your point.

[Rough Edge racing]

 but...the XR was originally based on the Sportster engine and although it evolved, it has the same parts in the same places so to speak..
  There's a few guys riding them on the street with total loss electrics and some sort of starter rigged up.....I wanted to buy an XR engine for the same purpose but what I found for the money I had was a pile of worn out parts..

[oldbike54]

but...the XR was originally based on the Sportster engine and although it evolved, it has the same parts in the same places so to speak..
  There's a few guys riding them on the street with total loss electrics and some sort of starter rigged up.....I wanted to buy an XR engine for the same purpose but what I found for the money I had was a pile of worn out parts..

 Well , kinda like the Chevy Nascar engine is based on a 350 production motor . Nothing interchanges twixt a Sportster and XR 750 motor .

 Dusty

[JJ]

I am going to this Flat Track event on May 12th here in Phoenix.  :1: :1:

[Daniel Kalal]

...hopefully Daniel K will be along to clean up my mistakes...

Looks fine to me.  It's probably best not to get too fixated on just the engine as today everybody makes enough hp to thoroughly smoke the tires.  If that were enough then the factory KTM team (and Suzuki before them) would have run circles around everybody.  Didn't happen.  It is really, really hard to get good things to happen between the tire and the dirt.

[JJ]

I did a test ride on one like this but I get your point.

Another flat-track inspired Harley - the XLX-1000 -  :1:

Always thought it would be funky to ride with those huge air-filters sticking out on the side!!

[Rough Edge racing]

Looks fine to me.  It's probably best not to get too fixated on just the engine as today everybody makes enough hp to thoroughly smoke the tires.  If that were enough then the factory KTM team (and Suzuki before them) would have run circles around everybody.  Didn't happen.  It is really, really hard to get good things to happen between the tire and the dirt.

  For me it's the engines...

[oldbike54]

  For me it's the engines...

 Kind of Daniel's point , the engine must make the right kind of power , W/O resorting to electronics the way roadracers and even street bikes do now . Getting an engine to work in a dirt track racer is actually more difficult than getting 200HP out of a one liter 4 valve per cylinder engine capable of 17000 RPM's .

 Dusty

[Rough Edge racing]

Kind of Daniel's point , the engine must make the right kind of power , W/O resorting to electronics the way roadracers and even street bikes do now . Getting an engine to work in a dirt track racer is actually more difficult than getting 200HP out of a one liter 4 valve per cylinder engine capable of 17000 RPM's .

 Dusty

 Yes...Actually in all forms of motorsports it's about getting the power to the race track..This is how I got my Triumph LSR bike to go faster than other bikes with more power.....
  Back in 1969 Triumph put 70 HP 750 triples on the flat track figuring they would clean up on the mile tracks against the ancient 750 Harley KR side valves with 20 less HP....It didn't happen,The Triumph power deliver was spinning the rear tire and the bikes were heavy...

[LowRyter]

Another flat-track inspired Harley - the XLX-1000 -  :1:

Always thought it would be funky to ride with those huge air-filters sticking out on the side!!

What I recall about the ride.  The air cleaner did interfere with my leg.  The performance was no more than my Seca 550.  But I think the XR was corked up and could've been kicked up with some jetting and exhaust.  Riding position seemed standard.  I remember the Harley folks seemed shocked that the bike's power didn't blow me away.  I didn't know that it was a special machine, I thought it was a hot rod Sportster and was disappointed that the Cafe Racer was no longer available.

This was back in '84 when Harley was coming out with the Evo and starting over.  I'd never ridden a Harley but thought they rode pretty good.  So this was the first Harley I'd ridden.  Nothing too radical from what I was riding at the time. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 Road tests of the bike above when it was new... Liked the excellent handling from the new Sportster frame and effective firm brakes, great on twisty back roads. Keep in mind it's 1983..They didn't like the vibration and the compromised riding position. Lot of torque and a clunky transmission ..They all mentioned the bike needed to be steered slightly right to go in a straight line.. The bikes ran about 12.8  in the 1/4 mile and a top speed of 120...

[JJ]

At the AZ Mile May 12th, I want to see this bad boy... :1:

[Rough Edge racing]

 Flat track has a new follower, my wife....I was just quick watching a few short track and then a one mile and she dragged over a chair and got right into the action .... excited wife voice... " OMG, he's gonna pass"......

[oldbike54]

Flat track has a new follower, my wife....I was just quick watching a few short track and then a one mile and she dragged over a chair and got right into the action .... excited wife voice... " OMG, he's gonna pass"......

 Tell her Welcome to the club  We are a small but dedicated group of , er , let's say unusual fans of a sport that is quintessentially American . None of that namby pamby European roadracin' for us , we like it dirty  Now introduce her to the singles class where a girl is one of the very best racers . She'll be hooked for sure 

 Dusty

[JJ]

Tell her Welcome to the club  We are a small but dedicated group of , er , let's say unusual fans of a sport that is quintessentially American . None of that namby pamby European roadracin' for us , we like it dirty  Now introduce her to the singles class where a girl is one of the very best racers . She'll be hooked for sure 

 Dusty

The last flat track races in went to was the San Jose / Sacramento Mile in NORCAL.  Quite exciting to watch ""live" and in person.  Looking forward to May 12th! :1:

[timonbik]

I drag my wife to all kinds of different motor racing but the only ones that she actually looks forward to is flat track racing.  Even though  it is quintessentially American we do have a very active race series up here in Canukistan.  Welland County Motorcycle Club has a race almost every  Saturday night during June and July.   Also a 12 race national series running coast to coast.
Cheers, Tim 

[oldbike54]

 ^^^ Tim , the Canadian champion from a few years back raced several races down here , I always rooted for the guy , he was a fan favorite .

 Dusty

[timonbik]

I think that would have been Don Taylor from Port Colborne, a Welland County member.   He raced down there in several events last year on a very uncompetitive Yamaha.  Haven't heard what his plans are this year.

Tim

[Pisano]

Speaking of Canadian Flat trackers;  anyone planning on going to the Belleville, On. race June 20th?

[timonbik]

Schedule says June 30th with July 1 as rain date.  I might if I can come up with a place to hang my hat.  Long weekend, accommodation can be expensive and hard to come by in that area.

Tim

[oldbike54]

I think that would have been Don Taylor from Port Colborne, a Welland County member.   He raced down there in several events last year on a very uncompetitive Yamaha.  Haven't heard what his plans are this year.

Tim

 Yep , he is well respected down here , despite his race bikes not being all that great . The announcers on fanschoice never failed to give him some recognition when he was near the front in any heat race . Maybe he can find a competitive mount and make a few races in the AFT series .

 There is a young Brit running the singles series who seems to be getting better with some seat time , and the Spanish FT champ raced at Atlanta in the singles class , doing fairly well .

 Dusty

[timonbik]

We have a local young lad, Hunter Bauer from Chippewa who is a force to be reckoned with.  Wins almost every race.  Fearless!!!!
Fully expect him to follow in Donny's shoes. 

Cheers, Tim

[Rough Edge racing]

 Closest AFT from us is 40 miles away at the 1/3 mile Weedsport track

[oldbike54]

We have a local young lad, Hunter Bauer from Chippewa who is a force to be reckoned with.  Wins almost every race.  Fearless!!!!
Fully expect him to follow in Donny's shoes. 

Cheers, Tim

 Let him know we are pulling for him 

 

Closest AFT from us is 40 miles away at the 1/3 mile Weedsport track

 Aug 7 , that is a neat little track .

 Dusty

[guzzisteve]

If you missed Atl Shortrack like me the reruns are up on Fanschoice.