Took my Valk down the 1/4 mile today (now with pics)

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I have a standard 96/97 Valk that I am planning on making my own 6 into 6 exhaust for this winter (amongst other things), so I decided to get a benchmark 1/4 mile time at a National Sprint Assoc. event today. It was at a disused airport on the Somerset Levels, cracked concrete and tarmac.
She's unmodified, 40k on the clock, recently fully serviced with a Bridgestone G702 on the back that I run at 42psi on the road. It was hot, 85 in the shade.
I had never done this before.
I did eight runs in four hours, red lined myself at 7000 and powershifted.
20 psi and no burnout for the first four runs. Couldn't get traction, smoked the tyre all thru first and half of second, best run was 12.70, 100.8 mph. That was using 2500 rpm off the line, using 4000 was about 0.5 sec slower. And also got me hairily sideways on my second run.
Went down to 12 psi and prepared with a burnout for the second four runs. Much better traction using 4000 off the line. They averaged about 0.3 of a second faster, best 12.58 at 104.6 mph. On that run I was against a 200 bhp Busa and kept with him for the first half, anyway!

She loved it, a real thoroughbred performance, then cantered home through the traffic!  
A superb day out, she was totally the star of the show,  my daughter got some great pictures and video and then lost the camera.

[solo1]

As I remember, those times are consistent with Rider magazine and another biker mag when they tested the '97 Valk back in '96. I was impressed enough to buy a new Valk then.  That and the rooster tail commercial.  Although the Valkyrie was on the showroom floor in '96, it was advertised as a '97.

Honda was innovative then.

[DFragn]

On that run I was against a 200 bhp Busa and kept with him for the first half, anyway!

Shouldn't have been able to. With a better rider on board the 'busa you wouldn't have been able to.

Sounds like ya had a great time

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Yeah, I did thanks 

Maybe that should read "in sight" not "with".
Hell, I got beat by a 2 stroke as well 

[Tim H]

Sounds like a blast.  Very nice photo by the way.  The colors are great.

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Luckily, some other people managed to not lose their cameras......

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Now in full gory detail, includin video, at

http://the-man-from-porlock.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-customising-valk-over-winter-and.html

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Cool