What's the story with the Duc? It was listed as a 748 but supposedly the frame is 996. Fairing and seat look like aftermarket and termis look to be hanging low and are longer than most. Hope it came with a clean title that matched the frame number and that it also matched the engine number.
Either way, you will leave Zeke sucking fumes as he tries not to flip it or stall.
Those shirts proved to be worth 2.2hp on the dyno, though I'm yet to test multiple layers...
Beating a hot 996 (and I'm guessing this would be a low 10 second bike) would be a huge challenge. But then just coming within a second or so of its performance on the old Bul would be massively satisfying. It makes me think of some of the little bikes that I see on the salt, 80cc, 100cc, 125cc. Are they as quick as the big bikes? Of course not, but the performance some guys can wring from these little motors is even more inspiring to me than the big 300mph+ bikes.
Too many young males grow up in a household where the father is absent or ineffective, and the effect it has on their lives is often disastrous. Zeke is very fortunate indeed to have a dad like you Pat. What you've done with the bikes is impressive but it's nothing compared to what you do as a father.
Too many young males grow up in a household where the father is absent or ineffective, and the effect it has on their lives is often disastrous. Zeke is very fortunate indeed to have a dad like you Pat. What you've done with the bikes is impressive but it's nothing compared to what you do as a father.
Back to the bikes: my gut feeling is that there is still quite a bit of power in the current engine. And I think this coupled with the bikes light weight and some practicing of launch technique should provide a very respectable timeslip. And anyway, either you win or your son wins, both pretty good outcomes.
Looking forward to seeing Ralf's clutch.
That's a good price for a 996. Seat explains a lot. The PO much have had long legs I guess or wanted to be higher at the back end. Has he had it on the dyno yet? It should make more rwhp than my DesomTre 992 cafe racer. Nice wheels too.
Less (weight) is always more....
You could take a mold off the tank upper surface and make thin carbon fiber tank cover, or just wax the tank and layup a couple of layers of C/F and use that as the tank cover and hide a small fuel cell inside that. Or use the top frame tube as the fuel cell if that's doable.
You might get away with a 428 chain and aluminum rear sprocket like an RS125. They made around 45-50hp, so it should be fine. What about the engine bolts? Are they steel or titanium? More ounces to be sacrificed. And I assume that the brake cams have been drilled and lightened. And the wheel bearing spacers are aluminum or at least cross drilled stock ones to save a gram or two?
Axles can be drilled lengthwise or get some new Ti ones made.... Engine cover bolts can be Ti or Aluminum. And if you have any cash left, buy a box of laxatives - best weight saving bang for the buck - but timing has to be right......
You'd be surprised just how small a tire will get a lightweight bike down the strip, even with quite a bit more power than you have now. Wheels are especially weight sensitive - not only do you have to accelerate them linearly (is that a word?) but you also have to spin them up, hence BB's use of carbon fiber. A tire much smaller than what you have now will do the job nicely. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you need 100% hook right off the line, that just makes the launch awkward. Often a little bit of spin in the first foot or so makes the launch quicker and more manageable, especially with a peaky two stroke.
A 428 can take a surprising amount of power - 100hp is no problem - but it has to be the right one, there's a huge amount of variation in the capabilities of the different types. I use a DID 428VX on the LSR bike; the smaller chain lets me use higher tooth count on the front sprocket. These chains have a tensile strength equal to a conventional 530. It's never shown any sign of wear or stretch at all, the only thing I don't like about them is that they are sealed (X rings). The seals must produce some friction loss - the chain gets hot during a run - but I'm happy to accept that in return for the smoothness the short-pitched chain gives.
I'm not sure I'd consider a fairing - at the strip it's not going to be spending much time at speed, and any benefit from reduced drag will be at least partly offset by the weight of the fairing and its mounts. It's not something I'd make a priority.
The clutch won't be a problem, it's an easy fix. And power production is only just starting, I'm sure you'll find more. You're already working on further weight reduction. The only other critical factor is your launch technique but I'm sure once the bike is sorted you'll find somewhere to practice until you get it worked out. I think you're going to be very pleasantly surprised by how quick the bike ends up being, even if it doesn't quite beat the 996.
I have been studying John’s bike again. Rotax. It’s all about breathing.... Also I think we can do something to improve these transfers.
It isn't really about breathing, the old motors could flow plenty. Blowdown is what it's really about; that's what differentiates the old engines from the more modern ones. Think long and hard before meddling with the transfers. Use your time and money (they're finite resources) where they'll give the most benefit. I think you're on the right track.
Less (weight) is always more....
You could take a mold off the tank upper surface and make thin carbon fiber tank cover, or just wax the tank and layup a couple of layers of C/F and use that as the tank cover and hide a small fuel cell inside that. Or use the top frame tube as the fuel cell if that's doable.
You might get away with a 428 chain and aluminum rear sprocket like an RS125. They made around 45-50hp, so it should be fine. What about the engine bolts? Are they steel or titanium? More ounces to be sacrificed. And I assume that the brake cams have been drilled and lightened. And the wheel bearing spacers are aluminum or at least cross drilled stock ones to save a gram or two?
Axles can be drilled lengthwise or get some new Ti ones made.... Engine cover bolts can be Ti or Aluminum. And if you have any cash left, buy a box of laxatives - best weight saving bang for the buck - but timing has to be right......