Well if you stick with the 1/4 mile scenario: Using a short wheel base/steep rake frame with a vtwin engine that requires fairing removal AND oil/coolant draining to change clutch plates as the basis for a drag bike needs a lot more thought! :-) Not to mention there is absolutely no aftermarket for drag racing VTR's......

A much better place to shave weight would be the wheels and all unsprung hardware. The less weight there, the less power required to accelerate/decellerate them.

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

Thank you for understanding BirdofParadise. Although I'm not interested in a straight up drag bike. I use my bike for trips in which I don't need to haul things around and just for the fun of riding.

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

Exactly on the light weight wheels superbling. I've actually got another post asking about lighter weight rims that are a direcct swap for the VTRs.

https://www.superhawkforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2638

You're on an incredibly expensive quest (even used parts). Good luck.

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

BTW, my cheeseburger comment was meant as a joke, NOT as a personal attack.

Deep breaths.....

Back to the topic at hand, you are making things extremely difficult for yourself in picking a VTR for a weight-loss program (maybe you like challenges?). In economic theory, they would refer to it as having reached the point of diminishing returns so to speak. It would be MUCH cheaper and easier to persue your quest on just about any other motorcycle out there. All things considered, if you do wish to proceed all I can add is best of luck to you and let us know how you make out.

cheers
Mikstr

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

It seems like a more practical "quest" then swapping out my front forks or swing arm for those off of another bike. Unless they're lighter. Also you just have to know where to look when finding cheap parts.

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

Performance Machine (?) Blade wheels are what I used on my 92 FZR1000.
I don't know if they have anything for the VTR but they were significantly lighter than the stock Yama wheels and at $2500.00 they should have been. You will lose the cush drive on this type of wheel as it is solid mount.

I'm with Bling and Mikstr on the cost vs benefit thing.
These are great bikes but not really good for in your face dragging. You might actually end up upside down with a bad launch.

Some of us older (read...morning our 23 year old bodies) folks tend to joke about personal weight reduction since it is so near to our hearts. Clogging them too. If you stick around you will see the humor come through. I have yet to see any malicious personal attacks...well there was this one born out of a misunderstanding.

Anyway....welcome to the site and don't take things personally unless it is posted three times in a row.

In fact, those other suspensions are probably adding weight as they are bigger and beefier than stock (larger brakes/wheels too). Anyway, they (we) are after more rigidity, better compliance and adjustability (don't forget bling too) rather than weight loss.

My bikes been to Jenny Craig. :lol: I'll have to put it on the scales and see what the results have been, (without my cheesburg eating ass on it)!

Carnage... Lightness is expensive and we were trying to communicate this to you. There are lots of titainium this and carbon fiber that you could buy or have custom made. Regardless, your project will get real pricey. Maybe to the point that it would be better to purchase a different bike. I think that the collective wisdom here was trying to have you expand your thinking on where to concentrate your efforts.

Personally, to make my money go farther I'd look to lighten things that would have benifits in two or more areas. Like Superbling said, look at the VTR's unsprung weight. Not only will the total bike be lightened, the handling is also improved. Things like wheels, brakes, and........... A Titanium Axel. Oh yeah... A Titanium Axel. Ummm... anyone know where I can get one of these. :)

All the Best
Ron

Re: Aftermarket headers
 

As you might have noticed most of my other posts are about decreasing weight on the bike and I'd love to get some carbon fiber rims but a rear one alone costs just over $2500.

Ther's always magnesium wheels... Not as flashy (in a cool way) as C/F but still lighter than aluminium.

Hey everyone Im a newbie here and I hopefully will be getting a hawk on sunday
Anyways I was reading this post and something that was not mentioned is the fact that the different metals (Ti and SS) actually resonate at a different frequency. That will increase scavenging of the cylinders at different RPM's

Carnage, lighten up man.
Sorry for the pun :)

/\ you guys realize that this thread ended over two years ago, right?

PWNED

Yea I knew that when I posted.

I have been into cars a lot for the past few years and I just wanted to point out something that had been overlooked.

Next time I will start off with "I know this is an old thread"

I wasn't so much talking to you, zmaniv