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Introduction to Top Fuel
Bikes
King Racing campaigns a
motorcycle in the Premier Class of motorcycle
dragracing
- Top Fuel Motorcycle.
The performance of these machines is astounding:
▪
1000 Horsepower (approximately 25% more
than a
Formula One Car)
▪
0 - 60 mph in 0.7 seconds
▪
0 - 100 mph in 1.1 seconds
▪
0 - 230 mph in under 6.5 seconds
Top Fuel Motorcycle facts:
They are the fastest accelerating machines on two
wheels on the planet and will out accelerate all
vehicles from a standing start (except for Top Fuel
Cars) including Formula One Cars and even Thrust SSC
and F14 Jet Fighters.
These machines cost in excess of $80,000 to build.
They have four cylinder purpose built engines, are
supercharged, fuel injected, and consume over 15
gallons of the explosive fuel Nitromethane every
mile.
They run sophisticated clutches with multiple stages
of pressure controlled by electronic, hydraulic and
pneumatic control systems.
They have a gearbox with two ratios. Gearchanges are
made by pushing a handlebar mounted button.
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It is hard to
describe the awesome spectacle of a Top Fuel machine
in competition. The sight and sounds of these
machines as they reach speeds of over 230 mph (320
for the cars) in around five seconds has to be seen
to be believed.
Engines are
pushed to the brink of destruction as the vehicles
fight for grip as they try to apply their awesome
power to the ground. With only one tyre through
which the motorcycles grip the ground, the task of
controlling the awesome power is immense.
The machines pull over 3g of acceleration
(more than an astronaut experiences at take off)
from the startline and lift the front wheel
off the ground. Struts with small wheels at the back
are employed (wheelie bars) to prevent the machines
flipping over. The only way to steer the bike with
it's front wheel off the ground is for the rider to
hang his body off the side to alter the balance. The
skill and bravery of the motorcycle riders is
paramount in attaining competence in this, the most
powerful sport on earth.
These huge motorcycles are an astounding spectacle,
even standing still they look fast.
It takes a special breed of person to ride them
-
there is absolutely nothing in the world of
motorcycles to compare with them.
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