Top Fuel Nitro Motorcycle Racing Explained by Legendary Racer Sam Wills

[@luckymuse9590]

I loved watching my uncle, Jim Chandler; ride his top fuel bike. None of the fancy fairings, just plain frame and motor!! Big balls

[@cycledrag]

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[@wyattfortune5494]

Probably one of the scariest things in existence. Saw one in Norwalk at Summit and one of the bikes did something like 238 mph in a quarter mile under within that 5 to 6 second timeframe but was on one wheel the ENTIRE time! Absolutely nuts!

[@cycledrag]

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[@kawythowy867]

Top fuel Motorcycle drag racing is awesome! Bad ass stuff here! Wish more people knew about it or was fans. I know Ive been a lifelong fan and always will be. Keep it up fellas and be safe.

[@cycledrag]

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[@urankjj]

Very cool, thanks for the inside look at a Top-Fuel bike. A very much underrated motorsport here in the U.S. .

[@urankjj]

p.s. What kind of gas mileage could I expect to get ? :)

[@ronstractortrailerrepairll6253]

About 30 gallons per mile. And fuel is about $35 / gallon.

[@cycledrag]

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[@Foxxtrott1100]

I love when he says " It gets real serious at the other end. That's where it's scary cause it's still accelerating". I know that's right. I've been 180 on a bike so I bet it's pretty sureal at 2 Fitty..!

[@terryallen9546]

Nice video. It would be interesting to listen to him talk about what is going on...the process...of the human machine...from start up to stop, at the track. The Inner Rider, so to speak. I attended a few All Harley Drag events in the past and really enjoyed being able to walk around the pits, talk to drivers and crew, and watch and listen as they worked.

[@cycledrag]

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[@swede910]

Computers!? - Nah, the closest I would ever position myself is electronic ignition.

[@MrAli171]

What a awesome machine, and he must have balls of titanium

[@cycledrag]

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[@gregspace2]

I got the privilege of watching Sam wills and Kenny annsley ride, single and double engine kawasakis built by big Carl @motorcycles unlimited, it was awesome, top fuel is the shit, it was the late 70s

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

6:17 I'd never spotted the chain before. Great way to stop chain stretch. I wonder if these are custom made, or an off the shelf item.

[@ronstractortrailerrepairll6253]

95% is custom made in shop on lathes and mills.

[@cycledrag]

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[@chig9357]

always nice to watch sam run!!!

[@cycledrag]

Sure is. Where did you see him race?

[@cycledrag]

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[@southjerseysound7340]

Funny thing is if you saw him in the store somewhere you'd never think he rode something like this.

[@kai-el7868]

My balls ARE NOT big enough to ride one of these top fuel bikes! I had the pleasure of seeing Larry (Spiderman) McBride several yrs ago at Cecil, GA. Wow!!!

[@michaelfritsche4023]

Had the privilege of meeting ans watching him smash the record in Houston back in 99 i think. We ran TF/D same lane next pair.

[@cycledrag]

lol Thank you for your comment. Please subscribe and also please get some of your motorcycle friends to subscribe with you and I'll keep it coming! Thanks!

[@happydays8171]

I was at Garlits museum in '88, and swore I saw a Sam Wills bike, blue and white. Being a huge fan of top fuel rice burners, it was a joy to see. Thanks for posting this video. Was that bike on loan from Sam to the museum?

[@cycledrag]

You are correct sir! Thank you for your comment. Please subscribe and also please get some of your motorcycle friends to subscribe with you and I'll keep it coming! Thanks!

[@lucascady4992]

My old boss had one of these from the 90's, we went to a bike show in Michigan, been around bike's and car's my whole life! Started in on 110 octane then switched on the Nitro Methane, 1200rpm to 12,000 in a second!! First bike I was Scared of and would not ride!

[@cycledrag]

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[@grimeyhonkyracing3938]

Is this streetable? I need a daily commuter

[@chrismoody1342]

I wish you devoted a little more time to how the supercharger was driven. Whether the crank drives a jack shaft to transmit power to the chain. I notice the double drive chain setup. Is it single speed or something else. I don’t need his trade secrets just more of the science and mechanics of it all. 😎

[@cycledrag]

I will do that for you in a future video.

[@cycledrag]

Stay tuned, that will be a future video!

[@cycledrag]

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[@southjerseysound7340]

@@cycledrag An in depth tech segment would be an awesome addition to the channel for sure.

[@phildanh621]

Great videos,. Thanks

[@cycledrag]

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[@Mrlegodj]

Would like to know more about the engine setup etc, That's what make it do those times..

[@samcoon6699]

Absolutely! That's what I thought was going to be covered. That's why I clicked.

[@cycledrag]

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[@Hitech82]

Our progas Harley ran .889 60ft and only 7.79 at 162mph

[@robbyking8756]

It's not all about the bike, 1/2 is the driver

[@matterhorn1975]

You mean rider 😊

[@cycledrag]

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[@brucekirk5386]

I'm looking for a ride been looking for awhile but not many good teams around anymore,are y'all looking for a teammate and all around great rider willing to work hard and win.

[@cycledrag]

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[@patrickhatrick6215]

I was surprised to hear how heavy bike and rider is! I know horse power is crazy on this bike but damn all that aluminum and plastic seems like it would be little lighter.

[@jamesebatchelor]

That is heavy but how heavy is the price on this bike????

[@patrickhatrick6215]

@@jamesebatchelor Brother you'd probably need a forklift to move the pile of money invested in that bike! LOL

[@ronstractortrailerrepairll6253]

$250,000.00 is a good start when building a new one. When you consider a crankshaft is $6000 and you need 5 or 6 of them.

[@happydays8171]

Terry Vance had steel casings that Suzuki made for his brief time on the top fueler. Aluminium wouldn't hold together. Plus that frame has to hold the flex of that engine and not break, all that adds up. With the weight of the supercharger, 1,000 + lbs seems very reasonable.

[@cycledrag]

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[@homefront3162]

Great Canyon racer!

[@cycledrag]

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[@southjerseysound7340]

More like canyon creator as in it'd destroy a mountain with all that power.

[@gregorytimmons4777]

I wonder how many sponsorship dollars Harley has to spend with NHRA each year to keep all the other bike brands out of T/F Drag bike and keep it exclusively Harley? Such a shame we can't see the fastest the sport has to offer.

[@cycledrag]

You nailed it. These machines should 100% be on display at at least a couple NHRA races. They are the best of the sport and that's what NHRA should showcase.

[@cycledrag]

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[@suntzuwarsword1964]

Very cool

[@rinin16]

I'd give anything just for the chance to pilot a top fuel bike. I race against dealerships and millionaires, it gets discouraging.

[@decarli4280]

@2:45 I see a plug with a broken insulator YIKES!! AT THOSE SPEEDS THAT PIECE CAN DESTROY YOUR MOTOR!!!!

[@michaelfritsche4023]

Blown Nitro eat plugs all the time

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Also note lack of bullshit marketing spark plugs with 18 electrodes like e3, etc..... if they don’t need em, you don’t need em.

[@cycledrag]

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[@RevitupPhil]

Money wise the bike is 250k plus? What does it cost to run it a season?

[@cycledrag]

It depends on what you break, how far you travel and how big your crew is. Sam said he spent $300K in three seasons.

[@RevitupPhil]

@@cycledrag Ask Sam what's the path to get to top fuel Harley. This info is hard to find thru NHRA.

[@cycledrag]

Depends on Travel, Nitro, Broken Parts etc. I'd say 10K a race at least. Thank you for your comment. Please subscribe and also please get some of your motorcycle friends to subscribe with you and I'll keep it coming! Thanks!

[@bigblocklawyer]

Well done. More videos need to figure the viewer knows nothing about the subject.

[@cycledrag]

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[@scootergeorge9576]

I remember reading many years ago that NHRA did not allow traction control technology. true? If so, still true? Why?

[@cycledrag]

Some think it takes the human element out...but as another expert said we already opened Pandora's Box. Thank you for your comment. Please subscribe and also please get some of your motorcycle friends to subscribe with you and I'll keep it coming! Thanks!

[@onestepbeyond7240]

I'm too young to die. .....guess you have to update your will before every run.

[@cycledrag]

Amen

[@cycledrag]

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[@seanb5664]

Asked a questioned n just tribbled about something else like did u even listen

[@cycledrag]

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[@nakaiklx250f]

髭が渋いなぁ。

[@cycledrag]

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[@sidecarbod1441]

All that but it still has cheap, nasty steering dampers that use rubber bushes!

[@cycledrag]

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[@harrybobb6927]

Why not make a nitro harley or Indian cheif

[@ronstractortrailerrepairll6253]

There are several dozen top fuel twins

[@cycledrag]

I like the way you think. Thank you for your comment. Please subscribe and also please get some of your motorcycle friends to subscribe with you and I'll keep it coming! Thanks!

[@johnallison7779]

One reason and one reason only why he will not be as fast as Larry is because of lack of dedication and Larry has knowledge that he does not.

[@ddotdonrock1783]

These are an embarrassment to NHRA.

[@stevewelborn8744]

Don Howell how come.

[@ronstractortrailerrepairll6253]

Because Don Howell is an incompetent douche, cant afford 1 and is jealous.

[@llewvirtue861]

In what way

[@carbonconnection2480]

Don, you are a complete embarrassment to the human race... stupid fucking people I swear

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

Please explain