Pretty soon I am going to try my hand... and my bike... at one of the local strips. It will be my first time on a drag strip (other than hanging out in the staging lanes). My 2007 is bone stock with aftermarket slip ones. All I'm trying to do right now is get from the tree to the return road in one piece. My initial goal is just to roll the throttle to the stop. I will work on the other intricacies as time goes on.

So here's my question: given my goal, can I skip the burnout and just roll around the water box and head straight to the lights? Will my performance suffer drastically with a cold tire?

Yea you can skip the burnout until your leaving hard enough to get into the 9s. You will eventually need to practice it though as there is much more to it than meets the eye.

* Last updated by: maverick1441 on 5/14/2015 @ 6:27 PM *

Thanks maverick. Yeah, I know I'm going to have to do it at some point, but I haven't found a good place to practice them... yet.

I have never done a burnout yet but I was asking about how to learn. I think the only safe way would be to do it the same way you would in the water box. grab the brake and slip the clutch out on a wet surface. I'd think having your ass just touching the seat but no real weight on it would be a good idea until you get the hang of this...just in case it shoots forward it doesn't fly out from under you. I think butting the front tire up to a curb or a building is NOT a good way to get the feel of this. If it fails, you're going to wreck the bike for a burnout.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/14/2015 @ 8:08 PM *

So here's my question: given my goal, can I skip the burnout and just roll around the water box and head straight to the lights? Will my performance suffer drastically with a cold tire?

the burn out is not for you but to keep the trash thats on the tire off the track. I think you need to learn how to clean your tire

Yeah if your at a shit track with pebbles and dirt all over the place you'll want to do a quick left right sweep. Otherwise have a buddy hand swipe the tire off as you roll toward the box.

Hmm, good point guys. Yeah, I was checking out the water box last week, and it's pretty crappy. It's an old, very well used track. They have the tools; they had some Pro Mods do some exhibition runs, and they spent a good 15 minutes cleaning off the pad before they let them roll up. But for the rest of the Friday night regulars, there seemed to be a lot of crap on the ground, lol.

Okay, I'll learn to do a burnout.

I go around the box and back the rear tire into the water. Keep the front tire dry. Spin the rear tire a little. Pull out of the box and do like Mav's picture.

To add to what these guys have said, when you go to do a burnout. Have a good grip on your front brake and don't be gentle or "slip" your clutch. Its a lot easier to get your tire spinning without trying to push your if you release your clutch quick. If you gently try to slip your clutch it will want to push your front tire. Also, if you go out somewhere and try to practice doing burnouts remember one thing, by the time you get out there, your back tire will already be warm and it will not want to spin. SO, if you do go somewhere outside of the track to practice doing a burnout, make sure you get your tire wet first.

Can't believe I forgot it but like Jetfixer said, NEVER ride through the box and get your front tire wet. Your front tire should never touch water PERIOD.

* Last updated by: maverick1441 on 5/15/2015 @ 5:13 PM *

Your front tire should never touch water PERIOD.

at the track neither should your back tire unless your not making no power .

this is a quote directly from the Mickey Thompson website

"Burnouts

The tread compound used in the ET Street Radials (drag radial)is designed to heat quickly and does not require a heavy burnout. Continue the burnout until the engine starts to pull down. We do not recommend a dry hop after the burnout

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 5/16/2015 @ 7:31 AM *

I've never used the water but some guys do. I have seen a lot of guys over heat the Shinko Hook Up and cause it to "roll" the rubber up in spots. Some claimed that it was the tires fault but the simple fact is that it was rider error. I do one second on the left, one second on the right, stand it up and do a rolling burnout up to the line. Total time is 4 seconds or less.

Total time is 4 seconds or less.

me 2 I don't do all the edge stuff I put my ass on the seat and press it into the track to get as much foot print cleaned and then burn roll it out. looks cool in pics with a trail of smoke

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 5/16/2015 @ 9:07 PM *