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Drag Racing Set-up for a Stock Engine
Harley-Davidson V-Rod.
I began racing a stock engine
Harley Davidson VRod in 2002 - as a matter of fact I showed up at Pittsburgh
Raceway Park with a little over 500 break-in miles for opening day, after being
out of motorcycles for 15 years...... but that is another story. Much to my
dismay, my early days at the race track were very disappointing. I was running
in the mid twelve's on a bike that I thought would be in the low elevens based
upon the motorcycle magazine V-Rod reviews. At first I thought I was the
problem, but time showed the difference between my shortcomings and the VRod's
set-up limitations. Since then I've learned a few tricks to improve a stock
VRod's performance at the drag strip. My best ET is now
11.35@115.8 MPH with bike and rider at 860 lbs.
The weight refects my addiction to chrome, accessories and cheeseburgers.
I like "show" AND "go". The price of that "show" is about 30 lbs
of extra weight over showroom stock V-Rod and 80 to 100 lbs more than a stripped down racer.
Doin' it in Style has
its cost....
Race set-up
for a stock Harley-Davidson V-Rod is about finding ways to increase
horsepower, decrease weight, launch harder, shift faster, and do it consistently.
The table at the top of this page shows many common drag racing set-up items.
The V-Rod
Performance Chart below summarizes lessons learned at the drag strip as my set-up
evolved over the past three years. A little math helped to estimate how weight
effects ET. The VRod Performance Chart is divided into three groups; a common
street set-up, street and strip, and a more aggressive race set-up. KSPZ3
- 02/05 |
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V-Rod Performance Chart |
Estimated ET |
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V-Rod Racing Setup Description |
HP |
Heavy WT 866LBS |
MiddleWT 800LBS |
Lite WT 736LBS |
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Stock 02-03 V- Rod 30/72 Final Drive |
100.0 |
12.35 |
12.05 |
11.75 |
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Screaming Eagle Stage 1 |
103.5 |
12.25 |
11.95 |
11.65 |
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SE1 V-Mod Exhaust |
107.0 |
12.15 |
11.85 |
11.55 |
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Topless and Power Commander Map |
110.5 |
12.05 |
11.75 |
11.45 |
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Stock 04… V-Rod 28 Tooth - 28/72 |
110.5 |
11.90 |
11.60 |
11.30 |
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Custom Dyno Tune - HD Race Tuner |
114.0 |
11.80 |
11.50 |
11.20 |
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Chain - 22/66 - Geared LOW |
114.0 |
11.65 |
11.35 |
11.05 |
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Air or Electric Shift |
114.0 |
11.50 |
11.20 |
10.90 |
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Open Stacks - No Air-Cleaner |
117.5 |
11.40 |
11.10 |
10.80 |
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Throttle Body - 58MM |
121.0 |
11.30 |
11.00 |
10.70 |
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Racing Exhaust - Best Case |
124.5 |
11.20 |
10.90 |
10.60 |
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Cams |
127.5 |
11.10 |
10.80 |
10.50 |
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Option B - Screaming Eagle 1250 Kit |
130.0 |
11.00 |
10.70 |
10.40 |
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High Performance Headwork |
134.5 |
10.90 |
10.60 |
10.30 |
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Higher
Gear needed for Top End |
134.5 |
10.95 |
10.70 |
10.45 |
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| Weight is Horsepower! |
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The V-Rod Performance Chart illustrates the effect of weight on ET. Basically 22 lbs is
equal to .1 seconds in the quarter mile. If you add weight you will slow down, if you
decrease it you will speed up. A stock VRod weighs about 610 lbs running on
reserve. Racing gear adds about 10 lbs to your normal weight. Weight reduction
for the VRod comes from three major areas. The best racing wheels for the VRod,
such as the carbon fiber wheels made by DYMAG,
are 22 lbs lighter than stock. Wheels provide big bang for the buck as
this is rotating weight that impacts acceleration much more than dead weight. A Racing exhaust,
for example the TurboTec is also good for another
20 lbs. Additional reductions can only be found by removing miscellaneous
parts, e.g. passenger pegs. |
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V-Rod Racing-High Performance Tricks
Increasing horsepower will reduce ET. Here is a list of modifications for
a stock Harley Davidson V-Rod to improve performance at the race track
1. The first step is to install a Screaming Eagle Stage 1 Kit (Air Filter & the ECM Flash).
The ECM
download can be installed with the Harley Davidson race tuner, a good long term
investment.
2. Next is the V-Rod exhaust system. The stock system delivers
great performance, but its very quiet - a problem at the track when all you can
hear is the open header drag bike next to you. A
V-Mod stock, SE or VMod SE all work quite well. There are few pipes that
will give you slightly better performance such as the Turbotec, Supertrapp or Joker
V-Rod exhaust systems. The major drawback with the stock derived exhaust
systems is weight. It is up to 20 lbs heavier than a light weight racing exhaust.
3. Remove the top of the air-cleaner cover. Its time to install a Power
Commander or Harley Davidson Race Tuner with an appropriate map to optimize the
set-up and maintains the right air/fuel ratio. Steps one through three should net a little more than 10 HP and .3
seconds ET.
4. Tuning - Dyno tune with race tuner or PC-USB. is good for
another 3.x HP and .1 second. 5. Drop the Air Cleaner altogether at the track -
another .1 second - be sure tuning is correct for this set-up.
6. Add an air or electric shifter and chain drive geared into the ground and
there is .3 seconds. At 800 lbs you are knocking on the door of the tens - diet,
new wheels, lighter exhaust, remove a few non-essential parts and get a tailwind
on a cool day
and bingo..... 7. Finally, my math predicts another potential .4 tenths of a
second if cams, larger throttle body, headwork, and a racing exhaust are
installed - not cheap, another trip to the dyno and adjust the final drive
to accommodate higher speed from the additional HP and there you are in the mid
tens..... assuming the best weather and track conditions - but definitely solid
in the tens under almost all conditions at the track.... I was working with Wes
at www.Cycle-rama.com on a very hot set-up. Give Wes a call if 135 HP sounds
like your ticket! Ultimately, we installed a Screaming eagle 1250 Kit that is
good for 10 to 12 HP or .3 to .4 in ET - and it is a rock solid set-up! |
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The V-Rod's
Ultimate Limits!
How fast can a stock displacement VRod go - not as
fast as the Vance & Hines NHRA ProStock V-Rod and 2004 Champion!!! which
runs in the low sevens flirting with 200MPH.... Eagle HD has traveled 1320 feet
in less than nine seconds at a local track with a very BIG-BORE/STROKER Tilley
low nines, Cycle Nuts and Bolts mid nines, Kaz ran low, low tens with nitrous, Rick
did it with 1320 bigbore and light rider i.e. Fast Pete... all throttle no
bottle.
Ten Second Pass!
Weight, horspower and the right gearing is all you need to get a stock engine
V-Rod in the tens! |
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