Getting off the line..... #72
 

I NEED HELP!

I need help, getting off the line (and possibly other things as well) I am the worst, rubbishest (is that a real word?) starter in the history of motorsport!

race 1, missed the lights, massive wheely lost 8 places before the first corner!

race 2, Pulled away like an O.A.P (no offence intended if your a fast o.a.p.) and lost 11 places before the first corner,

as only 3 class b riders put in a sub 2min lap and I was one of them I feel that I am let down by my inability to pull away,

how do you practice this kind of thing?

any advice greatfully received (and probably completely cocked up at Anglesey)

I promise* not to overtake you if you help


*have been known to break promises now and then, sorry


Matt #72

For me its a case of feeding in the clutch and the power at the same time with the right amount of each.
I'm one of those that is constantly blipping the throttle while I wait for the lights to change, then as they go out pull back the throttle and start slipping the clutch lever and feel for the bite, as it bites its a matter of feeding in the power as you engage the clutch being careful not to bog the engine by applying to little power and to much clutch

I use to be a lot better at it when drag racing at Santa Pod and Avon park back in the early 80s but racing the 916 in SoT with its hoppy dry clutch ruined my starting technique.
There is a nice set of traffic lights just up the road that are great for practicing your starts, just be carefull Bradders isn't next to you :o

Hold the revs at 8000 and let the clutch out until the bike is trying to creap forward, then anticipate the lights going out and roll on the gas and feed out the clutch smoothly.

Works for me anyway and I've led the odd race or two, waaaaaaay back ;)

thanks guys,
 

Thanks, two very different techniques there? But both sound good, I'll have to try to have a practise, but where do you test a race bike?

going to try to have a go this weekend.. matt


p.s. didn't meet many people this weekend really, come and say hello next time.

heres Dom demonstrating -sorry couldnt resist


(that wasnt the real start just warm up) but it was well controlled!

Or in front:o :lol: :eek:

don't stress about it or it will get to you.

I am gonna bet I am worse at starting (I didn't actually start 4 times last year after stalling on the grid).

More important to get away smoothly then have confidence in the first corner.

I know nufink, I'm just a retired old has-been.

Whatever you do, DON'T STALL!
Stalling off the lights is imho the single most dangerous thing you can do in bike racing... I know, I've done it, I filled my pants!

Smooth throttle, smooth clutch. Do not dump the clutch, wheelies or stall will result. Antonye was the best starter I saw.?? Ask him for the secret?!
Nick, your post above is class:LOL:

You're too kind Christopher ;)

There is no magic; I always used to hold the bike on the biting point then feed in the power as you let the clutch go out. None of this "rev it to 10,000 and dump the clutch" nonsense.

Just get out there and practise to find what's best for you.

Once you've done that you can then work on watching the lights and blanking out everything else that is going on around you to get a perfect start.

I blame a misspent youth at the Traffic Light Grand Prix :D

throttle to the stop and dump the clutch - easy ;)


and when the bike veers left, right, up and down and your feet come off the pegs keep it pinned!! :lol:

I must say, Dom is the best starter I've seen bar Troy Bayliss. Always has the holeshot. I FINALLY managed to copy his technique, after a lengthy conversation at Snetterton, and got two BLINDING starts and I think I was second into Riches each race. Amazing the difference and you can really feel the bike hook up and drive instead of wheelie or bog.

I'm loving my starts now, I can't wait to race again :D

london north circular death race traffic light grand prix.... ;)

i reckon my starts aint too shabby. treat it like a 2 stroke, 7-8000rpm, biting point, slow feed ride the clutch aiming to have it fully released by the time you need to get 2nd. ALWAYS use the clutch on your first 3 gear changes - missing a gear here will lose you more places than at any other time on track.

Trouty, your starts aint too shabby cos you go when the red light comes on!

I was never a great starter when I first started racing 4 years ago, it comes with time and feel for the bike. I ride modern and classic bikes and both are different and the same!!!!! Feed in the throttle as you let out the clutch, try a little more revs each time you start to you find where is best for you.

As for Donnington, think the lightness of the bike helped a lot too, No 44, as I was able to get off the line well and then gradually work my way backwards with gear selection problems.

Do a search, this was covered in detail once. I think it was JPM asking the question. I'm usually pretty good compared to others, but bottle it at the first turn nowadays :(

WeeJohnyB

Thanks guys,,
 

I think practice is the key, it seems everyone has there own way, I've always been pretty good at the traffic lights, but my road bike is a bit different. I'll try harder next time

Matt

I revved the B@ll@cks off it, twisted and pulled at everything, put both feet out as far as i could to try and stop people passing, then, when lights come on, I shut my eyes and zig zagged as fast as i could!!!!!:lol:

Hey i started off just kidding but its not far off what happened:o
:lol: :lol:

We'll all get there I'm sure when we get a few more races under our belt.

My starts were quite a lot different to most peoples and there weren't many races i didn't lead into the first corner last year.

I only rev the bike to about 3.5 - 4k and hold it on the bite point, then when the lights change just get it off the clutch and driving away as quickly as possible, i worked on the theory that they dont make much horse power but the torque is pretty good so it was better for me to have it driving away from the line using the torque than reving it silly and slipping the clutch like mad, the other side of this is that i never had to change any clutch plates in the 2 years in DD.

Hope this is of use to someone.

thanks matt, i like the sound of that, I tried reving my suzuki to 6k and slipping the clutch at the traffic lights this afternoon, but it never stopped slipping, even when the clutch was right out! It didn't bite until i throttled off, its an 06 gs500 a bit **** really but I thought I could practise on it. I also melted the clutch on my honda sp2 a couple of years ago, at a track day, I am not the clutches best friend!