Hi guys,
What is the secret to getting a good start off the line when drag racing in the dirt.
I raced a few times yesterday for the first time and let me tell ya it wasn’t pretty!

1st time I reved her up and popped the clutch on take off.... and I stood her straight up and I rolled off the back.
6 other riders around Pride took a beating! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] lined up again.

2nd time on take off I feathered the clutch through 1st, hit second and raised her up again. ( Scared me and I let off).Lost again. Pride squashed again.... lined up again.

3rd time Leaned forward on take off, 1st gear feathered clutch to keep front down, hit 2nd still leaning forward, hit 3rd and bye bye I pulled ahead, bounced off rev limiter, hit 4th and won. Lined up again.

4th time good take off in 1st, hit second and bounced off rev limiter and lost lead, hit 3rd, and 4th ok. But lost.

The competition was a Blaster with lots of mods.
Should have been no competition, but there is no substitute for rider practice.
And I need a lot more practice. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

After everyone was gone I went back to the old air strip and practiced just 1st gear take offs trying to keep her front end down and manageable. I’m getting better. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

To say the least I let the DS Group down. It was a sad day for the DS riders. But I will be ready next time. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Practice, Practice and more practice.

 

Try launching in 2nd gear.

 

If you were going to be scared of the bike then why did u get a 650? Try starting off in 2nd and if you can't do that then just keep trying to do take offs. You will get better sometime

 

Thanks for all the feed back!
I will give it my all.

 

I went to a 15t front. I was trying the second gear starts the other day. (wish I had a tach!) Anyway with the right technique it feels great!
The thing is either my tires are uneven pressure wise or it was the ground. My quad would spin, then catch traction & pull the wheels but usually to the left! I need to try on a flatter surface I guess.

 

Practice makes perfect, definatley 15 tooth frt. sproket, the other thing not mentioned is the rear brake will help you if you dump the clutch too hard. It only takes a little rear brake to settle down the front end,I won many a holeshot dirttrack racing and the rear brake can save your whole race.

 

I'm not that cordinated!

 

Dingo2,
I was wondering the same thing, If you could do the 2nd gear dump with out softening all the shocks. 95% of my riding is trail and small jumps and woops, and I like doing wheelies any other time but when i drag.

 

glad to hear you went back and practiced, that was the difference.

 

i've been draging my ds for a little bit and i find that starting in 2nd w/ out the air box lid(machine stock) and reving as high as possible as soon as the lights come on then dumping the clutch works the best. just don't let it ride out too long so you don't hit the rev limiter. also lean forward just a tad.