Wheelie bars

4227 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by mikeinatlanta, May 25, 2018

mikeinatlanta

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2018

I'm researching wheelie bars. Have never used them on a bike. This isn't for my VRSCR but for my Motus. I can't give my Motus full throttle in the first three gears and might mount up a set for the strip, but do not want to extend my swingarm. Have a few questions for those running them.

Are the wheels height adjusted left side right side to help keep the bike straight like a car? Seeing some bike bars on the market that don't appear to have this adjustability.

Depending on answer above: Don't see any one wheel bars on bikes. Any reason?

Also tying into above. I'll spend three gears on the bar. What type of adjustability do I need to keep the bike straight?

How much difference will bars with springs make on a bike? On a car the softer hit helps keep from unloading the tire.

Anyone ever run bars but keep the rear suspension functional?

Thanks in advance.

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streetrodracer

· #2 · May 21, 2018

Wheelie Bar Guys pick up the white courtesy phone please -

And this is the under powered bike that you want to put twin turbo's on ? You my friend are an official wild man ! :notworth: Once you get that bike thru the quarter and get bored lets take one of the small new jet engines by Honda, Williams, P&WC and build a jet powered bike. Now THAT would be fun ! ( No silly wheelie bar needed ) Guy in Orlando Chris Larson & his wife quit A&P Mechanic work and went full time racing his jet dragsters - he wrenches, she drives- told him about my jet bike idea he offered to build it if I'd "ride" it, I stood down on that one. Anyway looks like V&H bikes your are right no adjustment on the wheel end so it must be where it attaches to the bike - even with a big fat square tire they still need two wheels, looks like left rear wheel is lower. I don't think the combo of a rounded profile rear street tire and a single wheeled bar would do anything but put the bike in the guardrail when the bike tries to fall to either side under power on the bar. My old chief pilot put his nitro dual engine Harley into the ABC wide world of sports camera crew behind the guardrail back in the day when it came up on the edge of the kinda narrow square rear tire. I saw it on TV when I was a kid and ended up working for him 15 years later - That's all I got on wheelie bars - I'm sure Noel and the Destroyer guys have something really helpful to say - :blahblah:

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TaxmanHog

· #3 · May 22, 2018

mikeinatlanta said:
I'm researching wheelie bars. Have never used them on a bike. This isn't for my VRSCR but for my Motus. I can't give my Motus full throttle in the first three gears and might mount up a set for the strip, but do not want to extend my swingarm. Have a few questions for those running them.

Are the wheels height adjusted left side right side to help keep the bike straight like a car? Seeing some bike bars on the market that don't appear to have this adjustability.

The Destroyer bars have gross & fine adjustment points
The gross height is done near the far end there are several points where the lower rail can be bolted to the upper rail

The fine height adjustments are done at the threaded hymes that can be lengthened or shortened where it threads into the forward point of the lower rail, then bolted to the lower part of the rigid struts.

Depending on answer above: Don't see any one wheel bars on bikes. Any reason?

Rare, talked about this with few old timers, who did not like the concept, as it provided only one leverage point, just as easily get out of shape heading for the tree or a wall as would you with poorly set-up traditional two wheel bars.

Also tying into above. I'll spend three gears on the bar. What type of adjustability do I need to keep the bike straight?

Set yourself up for a good square to the track launch and that the fine adjustment of your bars are set to touch even to the track on a good square launch, all that said you will find yourself seldom in a perfect setup/launch, so be ready to adjust or get out of it.

How much difference will bars with springs make on a bike? On a car the softer hit helps keep from unloading the tire.

Never tried it myself and old timers opinion, "So you wanna ride a pogo-stick?" NO I DON'T! "Stick with a rigid struts"

Anyone ever run bars but keep the rear suspension functional?

See above....

These are my limited experiences and hoping to get more seat time later this year when I come out of racing retirement now that I am 36 days from WORK retirement.

:kaz:

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mikeinatlanta

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 24, 2018

Thanks for the feedback.
I'm thinking I'll try standard two wheeled bars, no springs, but keep the rear suspension working. That rear "pogo" has quite a damping adjustment range so I'll give the easy approach a go first. May also strap the front to help hold the front down and allow the bar to be adjusted a bit closer to the track. Just strapping the front may be enough to stay off the bar in third. Other option on the front is to just crank the rebound damping all the way up.

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streetrodracer

· #5 · May 24, 2018

Bouncing's a Drag when you're Dragging.

I would think increasing the rear spring preload close to max ( O" sag )and adjusting compression and rebound damping to max would be required to slow rear suspension movement and the chassis pivoting up / down in relation to rear wheel and the bar. Strapping the front down will help also along with your rebound adjustment but not too much - you want the front wheel to fall to the pavement not wheelie out of contact too long after launch. You may end up making a metal rear suspension shock lock-out bar to effectively make a temporary rigid rear end, but let us know how it goes Mike! Yes, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Select ( out by the dragstrip ) last nite. :blahblah:

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swampboogiedoug

· #6 · May 24, 2018

George Bryce ( Star Cycle) has a youtube video on suspension setup for bikes, or better yet just call him. Super good guy. Oh by the way, he & George Smith developed the current NHRA Pro Stock V twin, the one you can actually buy.

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mikeinatlanta

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 25, 2018

swampboogiedoug said:
George Bryce ( Star Cycle) has a youtube video on suspension setup for bikes, or better yet just call him. Super good guy. Oh by the way, he & George Smith developed the current NHRA Pro Stock V twin, the one you can actually buy.

Does he sell bars and such?

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streetrodracer

· #8 · May 25, 2018

Sounds like Swampboogiedoug got you hooked up with the Guru Mike, you outta watch the video get the inside line on wheelie bars and setup then call him - I'm sure he can lead you to where you need to go with the Motus.

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mikeinatlanta

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 25, 2018

Didn't find the setup video but did learn that his shop is about a two hour ride from my house. I'll be visiting when I get home.

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