2004 Winter Service - Spirit Harley Davidson V-Rod

This is a brief article and gallery that covers the winter service for my 2002 Harley Davidson V-Rod following three years of riding and racing.  My sponsor, Spirit Harley-Davidson in Pittsburgh, does a complete tear down in the off-season to inspect the equipment and perform ay necessary service.  It is great to have a sponsor as dedicated to racing as Spirit, and as a result our racing program is successful because of the exceptional work and commitment of Spirit Harley-Davidson.  Terry and Donna Sanford the owners of Spirit have been a real blessing for us, and we have enjoyed the benefits of their commitment. They truly represent the best of the best in the business. Thank you Terry, Donna and the team at Spirit.

The bike has over 12,000 miles and 500 passes at the drag strip. In summary the machine has performed exceptionally well through this challenging service life and as for wear and tear, well besides routine clutch replacement the V-Rod as the old commercial states....:Takes a licking and keeps on ticking".  My mechanics were amazed at the condition of the engine saying that by and large everything looks brand new with the exception of the clutch with has some burnt plates - Note: About 25 passes of very aggressive launches as end of season reckless abandon had taken over. For those that are interested I have included a brief summary of the service and performance history of the bike. For those who are curious about the reliability of the V-Rod I believe that my experience should build confidence in the high standards that this machine was designed and built.

2002 Harley Davidson V-Rod – Performance History

Overview: This section provides an overview of the 2002 Harley Davidson V-Rod owned by Kevin Patterson, and Sponsored by Spirit Harley Davidson.  The bike currently has approximately 12,000 miles and 500 passes.  It has been raced (IHRA Bracket – Drag racing) continuously for the past 3 seasons and also ridden extensively on the street. The bike won 2003 Motorcycle Class and overall Track Championship. It has achieved 11 event wins and made 17 finals. Bike and rider weigh 860 lbs, best ET 11.35 @ 115.6 MPH. The bike has been over maintained since purchased with service intervals of approximately 30 to 45 days on average.  The bike has never missed a race or elimination as a result of mechanical problem. Experienced intermittent shifting problems in the second half of 2004 season – missed shifts or occasional popping out of gear.  Have not experienced any internal engine problems. The only parts that have been replaced is the clutch - 2 new and plus one set of plates. All work performed by authorized Harley Davidson shops.

Note – Engine is currently apart for inspections – my mechanics are very pleased with the condition of the components and very impressed with how the components have stood up to the service demands.  My comment after running this bike for the past three years among the best of the competition (i.e. primarily rice rockets and drag bikes) this is an exceptional machine – I believe the best bracket racing motorcycle available – extremely well built engine and power train, consistent and well engineered – perfectly balanced regarding power delivery and chassis – traction, control and consistency outstanding – reliability and durability – unmatched.

2002 season

• Purchased 2002 Harley Davidson V-Rod in June 2002 

• Began racing following the 500 Miles by the book break-in and service

• Generally raced every weekend

• 4,000 street miles mostly 2 up

• Bike is customized – lots of chrome accessories

• Bike and Rider @ 850 lbs

• Running stock 30/72 belt

• Trying to shift looking at tach – can’t see under acceleration so use speedometer shift at 60MPH and 90 MPH. – this method is marginal – frequently hit the rev limiter – loose .1 second per hit.

• Installed Shift Light – 8625 RPM shift point

• Gearing too tall to launch effectively

• Tried range of launch RPM points – eventually settle on 4,000 with roll on of throttle during launch.

• Limited burn out in early season – Start Burn out every pass in August

• Typically dry hop prior to staging – to rehearse launch

• Bike always bites – no noticeable spinning (Only broke tire loose 2 times on strip over past 3 years).

• Power Shift – i.e. full throttle and shift with clutch

• Three gear pass with tall gearing

• Best 2002 ET 11.96 @ 113 MPH – Best 60’ @ 1.88

• Engine serviced every 45 days – change oil, and provide most rigorous service routine.

• Eliminated first round for the first five events – just starting back into racing

• Go two rounds for the next three events

• Go 17 wins in 21 eliminations at end of season

• Experiment with Exhaust and tuning via power commander – tend to run rich to avoid risk of being lean – detonation. Run stock, SE 1 slip ons, D&D slip-ons, Stock V-Mod, and finally SE V-Mod.

• Approximately 125 passes

2003 Season

• Gained sponsorship December 2002 with Spirit Harley Davidson in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

• Spirit mechanics take over all maintenance and setup responsibility.

• Winter setup – primarily detailed maintenance and additional customizing – bike is custom chrome – multiple show winner – primarily HD accessories plus custom chroming.

• Began racing in April – run full season – weekly plus frequent test and tunes sessions.

• Generally raced every weekend

• 6,000 street miles mostly 2 up

• Began season with chain 22/58

• Mid season change back to belt – with 28/72 setup. Chain sprayed oil on the wheels and became a problem to maintain perfect appearance.

• Both functioned well – personally could not tell the difference from riding experience.

• Bike and Rider @ 850 lbs

• Power Shifting 1^st through 4^th – geared for 4 gear pass.

• Shift light – 8625 RPM shift point

• Gearing much better for launch – on the bogg threshold – will bog in bad air – i.e. hot and humid

• Consistently launched at 6,000 with roll on of throttle during launch.

• Consistently burn out every pass

• Replaced original clutch including basket mid season

• New tire beginning of season and near end of season.

• Tires work very good – except front tire cupping mid wear cycle – traction outstanding – competition knows there are never any surprises when VRod launches – reputation for tight on the tree,

• Typically dry hop prior to staging – 6,000 RPM and roll on 10 ‘ practice launch.

• Power Shift – i.e. full throttle while shifting fanning clutch

• Best 2003 ET 11.74 @ 114.8 MPH

• Engine serviced every 30 to 45 days – change oil, and provide most rigorous service routine – check/torque all bolts –

• Leak down test good.

• Wheels chromed mid season

• Win 2003 Motorcycle and Track Championship – Only HD to qualify for IHRA Division 3 Finals, Only Street Bike to qualify for Division 3 Motorcycle Race of Champions and only Motorcycle to Qualify for Race of Track Champions at Norwalk IHRA Classic (Finished 4^th) and only street bike past first round of motorcycle event (48 bike field - finished 4^th )

• Posted 4 event wins.

• Running  SE V-Mod, topless, Race Tuner – Dyno Tuned – begin using Syn 3 early beginning of season – oil changed at every service (30 to 45 days). Rev limiter set at 9,300 RPM with Race Tuner for headroom.

• Approximately 200 passes

2004 Season

• Retain  sponsorship for 2004 with Spirit Harley Davidson in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

• Spirit mechanics tear down for winter inspection – leak-down good – top end taken apart – heads diamond cut.

• Winter setup

• Pingel electric shift installed

• Began racing  in April – run full season – weekly plus frequent test and tunes sessions.

• Generally raced every weekend

• 2,000 street miles – no more passenger (bought an Ultra for street riding with my wife)

• Began season with belt 28/72

• Mid season switch to chain 22/66 – Top speed 117MPH @ 9,000

• Geared for 5 gear pass

• Replace clutch plates mid season – notice plates are slightly warped – could feel the bike jerking a bit when clutch begin to engage.

• Raise rev limiter to 9,800 – shifting at 8675 – higher rev limiter for more headroom – no longer occasional hit of rev limiter when sleeping on the shift light.

• Power shifting with clutch 1^st to second thorough most of season – electric shift 2^nd to 3^rd to 4^th to 5th

• Bike and Rider @ 860 lbs

• Occasionally jumps out of higher gear when shifting.

• Have Red light problems after changing to chain plus clutch replacement – rollout time about .03 faster than before. – lose critical races near end of season. During final races and at bracket final miss gear going from 1^st to 2nd four times in fifteen eliminations.

• After the bracket finals I have clutch replaced – and began to electric shift 1^st to 2^nd  to 3^rd to 4^th to 5^th. Replaced clutch seems to resolve rollout time. Win 14 eliminations in a row – no red-lights  – 3 event wins in a row and to the finals in the last four races of the year. One missed shift 3^rd to 4^th.in those 15 passes plus 10 additional time trials

• I originally was not using the electric shift 1^st to 2^nd because it would occasionally miss shift in the beginning of the season – I am not sure if this was related to my delay setup in the ignition kill or the warped clutch pates,  The electric shifter is a marginal set-up with the solenoid mounted inline with the linkage. I hit button and the foot shifter simultaneously to ensure that there is adequate pressure applied.

• Installed Shift light – 8625 RPM shift point

• 9,800 RPM with Race Tuner for headroom.

• Gearing solid for launch – well beyond the bogg threshold comes out of the hole hard

• Consistently launched at 6,000 with roll on of throttle during launch.

• Consistently burn out every pass

• Replaced clutch plates mid season and clutch including basket near end of season

• New tire beginning of season and near end of season.

• Typically dry hop prior to staging – 6,000 RPM and roll on 10 ‘ practice launch.

• Best 2004 ET 11.34 @ 115.8 MPH

• Engine serviced every 30 to 45 days – change oil, and provide most rigorous service routine – check/torque all bolts –

• Leak down test good.

• Finish 3^rd in points championship

• Posted 5 event wins and 8 finals.

• Running  SE V-Mod, topless, Race Tuner – Dyno Tuned, no air cleaner at end of season (track only) –  Syn 3 throughout season – oil changed at every service (30 to 45 days).

• Approximately 200 passes

 

 

 

Gallery: Winter Teardown for Inspection and Service.

.