Not sure if this is a safe way to mount the axle.

[swooshdave]

Did they really bolt a piece of 1/4 aluminum to the brake mounts and then bolt the axle to it in order to kick the front wheel out?

I guess for a drag bike it makes sense as to the why but I'm not confident in the how.

 

[normzone]

It's safe, as long as you are wearing those jeans.

[Groover]

I would agree; With the right jeans (such as those) you can do whatever you want, and it would always be the right way. Not even sure why you are even questioning this. I guess you didn't know, fair enough. 

[rodekyll]

Yeah, it's jeanetics in action.


I think the axle design is good.  I don't think that's aluminum there -- probably mild steel.  Plenty beefy for the job.  The design allows for adjustments in both planes -- infinitely tunable.

[normzone]

I think we would all agree that David Bowie summed it up best when he said -

The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah

[Rough Edge racing]

  That would be adequate for drag racing....

[Bisbonian]

If you don't think it's safe, just get louder pipes.

[Groover]

Jokes aside, I am pleased they chose a Moto Guzzi for the ad. Plus, more education on offset and trail that has been discussed here lately!

[Triple Jim]

I wonder how many runs you get from a Guzzi dry clutch.

[Rough Edge racing]

I wonder how many runs you get from a Guzzi dry clutch.

   Do Guzzi clutches dislike abuse?

[oldbike54]

I wonder how many runs you get from a Guzzi dry clutch.

 There was a Guzzi drag bike in the 80's that ran in the high 10's low 11's if my memory is working . Ran in one of the gas classes , national record holder , won some big races . It's not so much that the clutches are fragile , surely with the right pressure plate and friction disc they could survive 5 passes. Guessing the owner got really good at crabbing the frame 

 Dusty

[Rough Edge racing]

There was a Guzzi drag bike in the 80's that ran in the high 10's low 11's if my memory is working . Ran in one of the gas classes , national record holder , won some big races . It's not so much that the clutches are fragile , surely with the right pressure plate and friction disc they could survive 5 passes. Guessing the owner got really good at crabbing the frame 

 Dusty

 5 runs with high 10's bikes and the clutch is done, that's fragile.... Properly ridden and tuned stock Grisos can run  mid-high 11's, do they have multiplate dry clutches?

[swooshdave]

If the jean choice doesn't scare you the footwear choice should. 

[swooshdave]

Yeah, it's jeanetics in action.


I think the axle design is good.  I don't think that's aluminum there -- probably mild steel.  Plenty beefy for the job.  The design allows for adjustments in both planes -- infinitely tunable.

I wasn't being as optimistic as to the metal choice as you. One can only hope it's steel.

[Triple Jim]

5 runs with high 10's bikes and the clutch is done, that's fragile....

I wouldn't have used the word "fragile"... maybe prone to burning.  Shortly after I got my Mille, I did about half a drag start and I could feel the clutch starting to fade from heat.  I never did it again.

[lucian]

I don't think it's  a caliper mount, looks like a custom made fork tube. 

[rodekyll]

It did not occur to me that those lugs might be caliper mounts.  If they are, the fork lower has been radically modified to lose the original axle hole.  A caliper in that position would be grabbing ~150mm rotor. 

[swooshdave]

http://www.ygspeedshop.com/ferdinand-the-sparrow/

[Kiwi Dave]

I wonder why he just didn't push his stanchions up into the triple trees further.  Perhaps this arrangement is more stable?

[Triple Jim]

A lot of riders like to get their face right down near the tach, maybe tubes sticking up would prevent that.  Or maybe he didn't want the projections in case of a crash.

[Idontwantapickle]

http://www.ygspeedshop.com/ferdinand-the-sparrow/

That's one quick bird!  A 1200 Norge engine...... With nitrous!
 

[swooshdave]

Yeah, it can’t weigh much. Engine and wheels.


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[Turin]

That's pretty damn cool! I hope they go back to Bonneville.

[nyITguy]

Note the all-important clothespin on the clutch cable.


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[ITSec]

Note the all-important clothespin on the clutch cable.

It's a good place to keep it when it isn't holding a playing card against the spokes....

[guzzimatic]

For drag racing getting the front of the bike low helps with the launch.some motocrossers have a system that locks the fork down to help at the starting gate...

[mtiberio]

I wonder why he just didn't push his stanchions up into the triple trees further.  Perhaps this arrangement is more stable?

it makes no sense unless they have raked the frame and are trying to reduce the trail to a reasonable level. With nothing else changed, a leading axle setup like that is the same as using high offset triple clamps, it reduces trail, making a bike more prone to twitch. If that was my bike, I'd put the axle behind the fork tubes. Perhaps they needed clearance from the alternator/ignition area?

[Rough Edge racing]

it makes no sense unless they have raked the frame and are trying to reduce the trail to a reasonable level. With nothing else changed, a leading axle setup like that is the same as using high offset triple clamps, it reduces trail, making a bike more prone to twitch. If that was my bike, I'd put the axle behind the fork tubes. Perhaps they needed clearance from the alternator/ignition area?

  I build land speed racing bikes.. similar to drag racing in that the bike needs to go in a straight line...I agree with you on the axle in the front unless it has an unusual amount of fork yoke offset, but the yokes look typical...Some guys like a lot of rake and trail on a straight line machine...But on longer LSR paved tracks it's had to steer the bike it it drifts off course...
 Looking at the photos of the Guzzi, the rear hardtail section seems a bit flimsy to handle full throttle drag race starts...

[Groover]

I think they actually increased the trail on this one by moving the axle's centerline up, not just out forward. If it were just out forward, then it would be less trail. Hard telling for sure without know the real dimensions on the lowers compared to the originals. The triples sort of look like the factory ones, but not 100%

[rocker59]

I think they actually increased the trail on this one by moving the axle's centerline up, not just out forward. If it were just out forward, then it would be less trail. Hard telling for sure without know the real dimensions on the lowers compared to the originals. The triples sort of look like the factory ones, but not 100%

That's the way it looks to me. 

They got it lower, with more trail, and without interference with the engine/frame.