HillclimbingHillclimbing
Publication Date: December 1999
Pro motorcycle racing returned to Southern Indiana on Sunday, October 3, when Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson and ScooterMania Productions, Inc. presented an exciting AMA Pro Hillclimb in Nashville, Indiana. This outstanding family event was hosted by beautiful Brown County Indiana's Ski World and featured racers from all over the U. S.
So, You Want To Hillclimb?
It doesn't take a wheelbarrow full of money to get started hillclimbing. You'll need either a 2 or 4 stroke 500cc motocross bike, or a 500cc street bike. Some guys use old BSA's and Triumph street machines. None of these choices is an automatic winner or loser - many different types of machines, setups, and riders win these events. Various types of hills and conditions make it difficult for any one setup to win all the time.
These are the basic changes you'll need to do to convert your bike to a hillclimber:
· A long swingarm and chain-guide.
· Perhaps a stronger rear shock.
· Wristband kill-switch.
That's it to get started. In the past, you could do a few exhibition
runs and be granted an AMA Pro license. However, the rules have changed,
and require riders to come up through the amateur ranks. If you find that
hillclimbing is your thing, to become competitive you may consider further
modifications to your bike.
These modifications can include:
· Bulletproof chain guide. Riders come up with different setups for keeping the chain on track - large disks on the rear sprocket, tensioners, dual chains with idler gears.
· Free flowing exhaust system.
· Adjustable length swingarm.
· Paddle tire or chains to increase traction.
· Drop the front forks down in the triple clamp. Many riders cut the forks shorter.
· A selection of sprockets to gear differently for various hills. Most guys DON'T SHIFT.
· Weight saving measures like removing the front fender, smaller gas tank, chopped seat, shaving metal parts, removing the cooling system. Some riders use air cooled head.
· High performance engine modifications. Porting, polishing, racing pistons/rod/crank, carburetion, reeds/valves, etc. Stock a selection of jets, it's a long season.
· Run race gas, then methanol (alcohol), then if you're
experienced enough, NITRO. The 800 class is pushing 200HP running nitro-methane
(and lots of mods).
On big bikes, you should put a trestle frame under the original frame to support the weight of the bike when you extend the swing arm, because the weight can snap the swing arm when jumping. NEVER put more gas in the tank than you will need for that run. It only adds to the weight of the bike. If you crash and puncture the tank, you don't want gas all over you that might ignite from a hot motor or exhaust.
For more information on hillclimbing contact:
American Motorcyle Association Hillclimb
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