Well, I finally made it to the drag-strip and I found out that I'm no Rickey Gadson-- LOL! I also found out that you guys are right about our speedometers being off by several miles per/hour.

I only had a chance to make 2 runs because my check engine light came on after the first run and then it would not crank -- like if the battery was dead. It cranked after about 20 minutes. When I got home, however, the check engine light was off and she fired right up. Maybe the bike just got too hot? The track temperature was 84 degrees with a heat index of 94. I know I was about to pass out in the leathers.

Also, there was a 10 mph head-wind which would not effect the 60' time very much but would effect the top speed and ET, at least that is what I believe.

Here is the video and of course I made newbie mistakes such as hitting the rev-limiter in first and I did not have the clutch all the way out by the tree, but this was my 2nd run on a first trip EVER to a drag-strip and as mentioned, I only made 2 runs

Here is my time-slip:

* Last updated by: skewedTotheLeft on 11/10/2015 @ 4:42 PM *

I'm thinking anything less than 10 seconds is an awesome first time run, congrats! Very informative camera placement, too. I noticed that when you left, the revs went up to about 11 grand... was that clutch slippage or wheel spin?

Looks like a blast!

Aw come on man. Drag racing is so easy that anybody can go 8s on a 14! Ha ha Now you can appreciate what it takes to be quick. Keep at it and PM me if you need any advice. Ride safe Skewed.

BigBloke asked,

I'm thinking anything less than 10 seconds is an awesome first time run, congrats! Very informative camera placement, too. I noticed that when you left, the revs went up to about 11 grand... was that clutch slippage or wheel spin?

That was wheel spin. When the guys directing the track found out I had never been on a drag-strip they told me not to do a burn out and just get a feel for the track and not worry about reaction time. They said all of that will come later. I had a blast but now I need to retreat to the top a mountain somewhere to clear all of the smoke from all the burn-outs everyone was doing. There were 71 vehicles at the track rental, but only a few bikes. It was also my first time as a spectator at a drag event and thus I had a good time watching the cars pop wheelies. Once guy ran a 7.9 something in a 1200 hp Vette.

Seriously, Mav...

Way ta go Skewed!Ya did good.Main thing is...ya had fun.And didn't break anything.

When the guys directing the track found out I had never been on a drag-strip they told me not to do a burn out and just get a feel for the track and not worry about reaction time.

Bad advice. Always do at least a quick burnout so you clear any debris off the tire that you may have accumulated on the return road and staging lane. Dip the bike left and right during the burnout to clear all of the tire. Left one second, right one second, stand it up, and rolling burnout to the line.

Thanks Mav, that makes good sense.

Wow.. I work at it for yrs and finnally get into the nines and your first time to the strip ?? LOL Great job!! And maybe Mav can repost his intructions 1 and 2 for here, that I saw elsewhere??

**At our local tracks here in Northern California, you have to have a competition license to run under ten seconds..All teh tracks are NHRA..**

* Last updated by: chrly on 11/9/2015 @ 10:18 AM *

Good job bud!

9.92 on your first run ever, thats impressive. Great job skewed!

Nice work. I practice at every stoplight I come across.

Did you run without the traction control on? I'm assuming you did.
I got my ZZR1200 in the 10s the one time I got it to the track. I tried it once with my '06 ZX14, but couldn't keep the front end down. I went slower on a faster bike.

JimmyMac asked

Did you run without the traction control on?

They shut down the track in my city. Pretty pissed about it too.

I left it in traction control level 1.

I was wondering why your MPH was so low. That's likely the culprit.

JimmyMac said,

They shut down the track in my city. Pretty pissed about it too.

* Last updated by: skewedTotheLeft on 11/10/2015 @ 4:57 PM *

Mav, do you think since the check engine light was on after the first run, that it could have went into that safety mode?

No. Your not leaving nearly aggressive enough to be in safety mode territory and even if you were it wouldn't produce a code. The fault code will be stored in the ECU. Pull it and let us know what it is. It could be as simple as a misfire.