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Took the Predator to Little Sahara Sunday. Before we went I put the 13 tooth on the front, 38 in the back. This put the ratio @ 2.92 (stock is 2.64). I felt the lower ratio would be beneficial in the sand. Plus the Sand Skate II's are taller than the stock tires.
Also, put a 160 main jet in, put the clip in the 3rd position removed the snorkel. W/B slipon - 6 discs.
This all from information I've been told from the "experts" and from some trial & error on my part. I have repeated most of this in this forum too....... and that's the part that bothers me the most, as I would not want to give bad info. And as they say "heres the rest of the story".
Arrived at Little Sahara 8:00 am, a little cool (45 deg) but otherwise nice. Unload, put the whips on, start the engines so everything can warm up (Predator, 400ex, Two banshees, 2 LT500's), everyone looking forward to the day. Start out into the dunes, mash the throttle a little, engine stumbles, pops, I think "well, its not warmed up". Ride about 15 minutes as this thing stumbles and spits everytime the engine is under load. Getting pretty annoyed at this point. Trade rides with Zillarider02 as he wants to jump the Predator and I just want to rip on the Zilla. After the jumping we head over to the drag strip area, immediately run into a group of three Predators. Two with sand tires, and one of those with the WB pipe. Zillarider02 proceeds to race and loose to the STOCK Predator (it had paddles,stock silencer), the race really wasn't even close. I knew at this point I was going to be very unhappy if things didn't change....
Back to the trailer, put the 2 discs back in (total of eight). Back out for a test run, no better.
Back to the trailer, put the clip in the second position, better, but popping up top of the RPM range in every gear.
Back to the trailer, put a 155 main in, instant improvement but still popping, feels a little weak when running thru the gears with the throttle pinned.
Back to the trailer, put the stock 150 main in (by this time its 70 degrees out), the Predator has come to life! mashing the throttle in second or third results in the front end climbing for the sky!
During this test run a guy over by the dragstrip waves me over, I end up lining up with a 440ex, two Raptors, one DS650, one Kawasaki z400. Had a GOOD time. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] After three runs (two by me, and one by Zillarider02) we went to play in the larger dunes. I noticed more heat from the exhaust pipes on my leg but nothing uncomfortable and the engine did not seem hot. This thing really ripped, easy to ride thru the loose sand up the trails. Instant throttle response, just fun!.
My point is...... Is my bike so different that the "recommendations" made by others just doesn't work? Or, is everyone screwing up the performance by jacking with the carbs?
I can say this, the gearing change is absolutely wonderful for the sand.</FONT><FONT size=2></FONT>

 

What type of air filter are you running, I am running the exact set up you mentioned. (160 main, 6 disc, no snorkle. Run at the drag strip this weekend, 70 degree temp @ about 600 ft above sea level. ran perfect, crisp throttle, no popping all the way to the rev limiter.

 

Stock paper element filter. Elevation is about 1000ft.


Have you moved your needle clip position?

 

Truckracer, I am running a K&N filter in the air box, my needle clip is in the second position from the top. one notch leaner than factory. also when you change the needle clip make sure you get the washers back in the correct order. The service manual is incorrect. both metal washers do not go below the clip, just the nylon washer and thin metal, the thick metal goes above the clip under the spring.

 

Do you have any times?

 

It ran 9.20 @ 70.2 mph in the 1/8 mile. could not get a good launch of the line, I am putting some old tires on it this week, so it will spin a little off the line and not stand up. I tried leaving on rev limiter to get some tire spin and it dead hooked and stood strait up. but just for comparison stock banshee's were running 9.60's and raptors in the 9.50's stock. I had to unmodify the airbox, put tape over the 2x3 hole to improve et. for somereason it didn't like the extra air. the plug looked good but it just slowed down to open up the air box. something in the jetting somewhere. I raced a piped, jetted, ported head, banshee with some other mods. we were dead even to about 450' then he pulled away at the end. (8.91) the six speed tranny takes over on the top.

 

Nothing to be ashamed of there, any idea what a 300ft time would be?

 

No, the 330' clocks were not working, hopefully they will be fixed this week, The pred is going to be hard to beat in a 300 ft drag, we were in the field playing, I could outrun everything to 300' mark, this thing hooks hard in the dirt.

 

Let me know if you get a 330 time, just wondering how fast they are. So far reallly haven't seen anybody with #'s only talking noise.

 

Ok, I just really wanted to get some good base numbers while stock, now i can tell what mods really work. hope gary @ superbikeshop gets his new airbox mod and jet kit out this week. look foward to seeing what kind of difference it makes.