Hellgate
Wizard
The AF1 Racing guys broke 200 mph this weekend with their supercharged RSV. This has been a four year project to get to this point. Here's some of the changes that were made to get the bike past 200. Remember that as you go faster the power required to do so goes up almost exponentially. Many people get close to 200, but break that barrier is a huge accomplishment.
October 2011 Texas Mile - Page 15 - ApriliaForum sponsored by AF1 Racing, inc.
199.9 mph is only 0.45% less than 200.8 mph. There were dozens of engineering and tuning decisions (and just plain luck) that was part of the overall equation.
Consider how the results could have been tears instead of cheers if any of these choices or conditions had been different:
0.9 mph more headwind
Standard wheel bearings instead of ceramic/Microblue wheel bearings
Bare metal engine internals instead of Microblue treated engine internals
113 degree cam lobe centers vs. 115 degree lobe centers
Old thickwall supercharger pipe vs. new fabricated thinwall pipe
No pre-inlet water/methanol nozzle vs. pre-inlet nozzle
Size 28 nitrous fuel jet vs. size 29 fuel jet
Size 24 nitrous jet vs. size 26 nitrous jet
950 psi nitrous bottle pressure vs. 1050 psi nitrous bottle pressure
6 degrees of spark retard (on nitrous) vs. 8 degrees spark retard
Heat range 11 race spark plugs vs. standard heat range 9 plugs
Air filter not serviced vs air filter serviced
28 psi rear tire pressure vs. 36 psi rear tire pressure
Standard tail section vs full aero tail section
No radiator shrouding vs custom fabricated shrouds
Supercharger oil cooler opening vs. taped shut
8 turns front spring preload vs 6 turns spring preload
17/37 gearing vs 17/38 gearing
Not wrapping engine sensors with aluminum foil vs wrapping (to eliminate electromagnetic interference)
Using estimated CD and Frontal area values, the RSR Aero-horsepower calculator showed that 27 additional horsepower was required to get from 192.8 mph to 200.8mph. Whatever combination of horsepower/aerodynamics/friction performance initiatives were, the results speak for themselves.
October 2011 Texas Mile - Page 15 - ApriliaForum sponsored by AF1 Racing, inc.
199.9 mph is only 0.45% less than 200.8 mph. There were dozens of engineering and tuning decisions (and just plain luck) that was part of the overall equation.
Consider how the results could have been tears instead of cheers if any of these choices or conditions had been different:
0.9 mph more headwind
Standard wheel bearings instead of ceramic/Microblue wheel bearings
Bare metal engine internals instead of Microblue treated engine internals
113 degree cam lobe centers vs. 115 degree lobe centers
Old thickwall supercharger pipe vs. new fabricated thinwall pipe
No pre-inlet water/methanol nozzle vs. pre-inlet nozzle
Size 28 nitrous fuel jet vs. size 29 fuel jet
Size 24 nitrous jet vs. size 26 nitrous jet
950 psi nitrous bottle pressure vs. 1050 psi nitrous bottle pressure
6 degrees of spark retard (on nitrous) vs. 8 degrees spark retard
Heat range 11 race spark plugs vs. standard heat range 9 plugs
Air filter not serviced vs air filter serviced
28 psi rear tire pressure vs. 36 psi rear tire pressure
Standard tail section vs full aero tail section
No radiator shrouding vs custom fabricated shrouds
Supercharger oil cooler opening vs. taped shut
8 turns front spring preload vs 6 turns spring preload
17/37 gearing vs 17/38 gearing
Not wrapping engine sensors with aluminum foil vs wrapping (to eliminate electromagnetic interference)
Using estimated CD and Frontal area values, the RSR Aero-horsepower calculator showed that 27 additional horsepower was required to get from 192.8 mph to 200.8mph. Whatever combination of horsepower/aerodynamics/friction performance initiatives were, the results speak for themselves.