Do mirrors make a difference?

franc01 · 03-05-2006, 9:42 AM

Hi,

Does anyone know how much time (if any) you'd shave off your 1/4 mi by removing mirrors, all else being equal? It seems like an easy thing to do for the track, especially for a tenth or two.

Thanks,
Franc
'03 954

Mojave954 · 03-05-2006, 9:46 AM

Can't see mirrors affecting a bikes drag coeffecient that much in the 1/4 to make a difference.

Most bikes stock are in the low 11's high 10's. How fast do ya wanna go?

PM SILVERBULLET, he is the dragracer amongst us

franc01 · 03-05-2006, 10:02 AM

How fast? Considering the dragbike.com guys saw 9.1X run on a strapped, lowered, piped (otherwise stock) ZX-14 by Ryan Schnitz, I guess it's all relative. Seriously, though, I'd love to get down to 10.5 or so. My best last year was 11.5 with horrible 60' times, so there's plenty of room for improvement. I now have a front strap that I'm waiting to try out.

Take care,
Franc

luvtolean · 03-05-2006, 10:03 AM

4 Bolts.

Take them off.

Hammer · 03-05-2006, 10:04 AM

Cannot hurt, take your hand and hold out the window of your car going 70mph and feel the force necessary to hold it in one place, and then double that force because in the 1/4mi 140mph is about trap speed.

Edit: 10.4 is an achievable goal with the 954.

Mojave954 · 03-05-2006, 10:09 AM

Actually surprised the track doesn't have you take them off.

Getsome · 03-05-2006, 12:08 PM

None of the drag strips I have been to around me make anyone take off their mirrors.. Of course this isn't competiton racing either it's just open days where people can come and run what they brung. I would say it'll make a marginal difference.

And trust me there's a big difference in how fast your average everyday street riding guy will do on the strip when comparing to Ryan Schnitz or any of the other professional drag racers..

He can get a stock 600rr straight out of the box into the 9's...

franc01 · 03-05-2006, 3:24 PM

Oh, I'm sure the rider makes a huge difference. I think Ricky Gadson was a few tenths slower than Schnitz on that ZX-14, and he's a professional racer!

I'll take the mirrors off next time, what the hell.

Take care,
Franc

Custom900 · 03-05-2006, 10:03 PM

I might as well put in a shameless plug for Baketech. www.mirrorplates.com should be the site.

Several of the guys here have his block-offs and seem happy about them. As soon as I remember to bring my wallet in the house and not leave the thing in my truck I'm gonna get a set.

Do mirrors effect your ET? No more than you're big head poking over the windscreen followed by a pair of shoulders.
It's a good thing to remove them though, just in case you go down. There's no need to have glass shards in your body along with the rest of the damge that will likely occur.

Wags · 03-20-2006, 4:44 PM

I raced my 1989 GPX750R Two different events. 1st time 12.3 was the best .2nd time 11.88(contstantly in the 11s) mirrors tucked in but also feeling more relaxed than the 1st outing.I'll be taking the 929 down soon as I've only had it 3 weeks, hopefully can get in the tens.

SJ96F3 · 03-20-2006, 4:49 PM

Not necesarily related but... I read an article on the 1100XX a couple years back when they were big on top speed and in this particular test they said they couldn't get a real world top speed because everytime they got up to about 180 the wind they were riding into was so strong it was activating the hand brake. True story... I can find the article tonight.

SilverBullet · 03-20-2006, 4:54 PM

It doesn't hurt to take them off. I also have Baketechs Mirror block off plates they are TOP NOTCH!!!!

Elmo · 08-20-2006, 12:30 AM

we have a 7sec busa in Australia that runs with stock mirrors...

I don't think it really matters.. but i guess every little bit counts.

But don't go thinkin ya gunna drop 10ths... you most likely won't even notice the gain, especially if you are so inconsitant..

just my 2cents.

sheepofblue · 08-20-2006, 9:04 AM

In most racing work on the part that can get you the most time first. Now if your 60' time is bad and I am understanding the meaning of it that is a low MPH section where a mirror would have no effect. Working on that section would probably yield the greatest return. But then I don't drag race so

dattaway · 08-20-2006, 9:32 AM

I believe wind drag is insignificant compared to the dominant forces acceleration in a drag race. For a top speed run, sure, but when half your speed is low and most of the energy is spent accelerating mass, no.

Scout · 08-21-2006, 7:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

Not necesarily related but... I read an article on the 1100XX a couple years back when they were big on top speed and in this particular test they said they couldn't get a real world top speed because everytime they got up to about 180 the wind they were riding into was so strong it was activating the hand brake. True story... I can find the article tonight.

Yes. They actually changed the design to prevent that.

JBODIE · 08-21-2006, 9:05 AM

It can not hurt to take them off.

MSGT-R · 08-21-2006, 12:21 PM

I keep mine loose enough to pivot if bumped, and to swing up and back in the garage. There's no reason you can't do that for the track (if you don't want to remove them).

kawboy69 · 08-21-2006, 1:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wags

I raced my 1989 GPX750R Two different events. 1st time 12.3 was the best .2nd time 11.88(contstantly in the 11s) mirrors tucked in but also feeling more relaxed than the 1st outing.I'll be taking the 929 down soon as I've only had it 3 weeks, hopefully can get in the tens.

I dont think the mirrors made that big of a improvement in your time. the improvement came from you with a better launch and or better 60'