KOB Rules Change to Help H-D Compete
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 406
Likes: 181
From: xyzzy
KOB Rules Change to Help H-D Compete
With two races completed in the KOB race series, H-D has not been doing particularly well. To help close the performance gap between the H-D and Indian bikes, a rules change has been announced which will allow the H-D engine's max RPM to be raised from 7000 to 7200. Read more about it here:
https://www.motoamerica.com/may-day-...-championship/
Of course a 200 RPM bump isn't much but, in theory, I suppose every little bit helps. I just hope that that little RPM increase doesn't put the the H-D engines a bit too close to their kaboom zone. These races are pretty short no doubt due to the loads these heavy bikes put on their tires but I also wonder if the races are kept short because the engines have reliability issues. Lots of kabooms would be bad optics, that's for sure. Anyway, we'll find out if this helps or hurts H-D come the end of the month.
https://www.motoamerica.com/may-day-...-championship/
Of course a 200 RPM bump isn't much but, in theory, I suppose every little bit helps. I just hope that that little RPM increase doesn't put the the H-D engines a bit too close to their kaboom zone. These races are pretty short no doubt due to the loads these heavy bikes put on their tires but I also wonder if the races are kept short because the engines have reliability issues. Lots of kabooms would be bad optics, that's for sure. Anyway, we'll find out if this helps or hurts H-D come the end of the month.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 421
Likes: 218
From: Lowcountry
The current rules were the same last year and HD kicked ***, I think one Harley rider was DQ for exceeding the 7k rpm limit by 200 rpm's after tech inspection.
This year Indian is doing well and they’re gonna change the rules after two venues. I could go on but won’t.
This year Indian is doing well and they’re gonna change the rules after two venues. I could go on but won’t.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 824
Likes: 711
From: N/E Indiana
Harley pulled all their Money out of Flat Track and Drag Racing to put it in the KOB series. This was after Indian kicked them around for a couple years in Flat Track. In Drag Racing the former "Harley" bikes are now Buell's. (There's nothing Harley or Buell about these bikes except the name. They all run Vance and Hines Billet Motors.) Just like NASCAR and Indy Car, the Road Race venues don't appeal to me. So Harley, Good Luck on the KOB Deal.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 673
From: Rolla
Yeah, something NASCAR has been doing for years.
Rule changes just about every year (and sometimes during the season), to keep the playing field level.
Rule changes just about every year (and sometimes during the season), to keep the playing field level.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 406
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From: xyzzy
If I had my way I'd get rid of the engine RPM limits completely. Come on, wind those suckers up until they puke. The net result would mean the manufacturers would have to do some serious engineering development to keep their engines in one piece. Let the best set of engineers and the best design win. Yeah, I know the Indian has much higher RPM potential with a (short?) 96.5mm stroke and an OHC design (not to mention full liquid cooling) compared to H-D's 114.3mm stroke and a flexi flyer push rod operated valve train but hey, this is racing. It should be Darwinian. Survival of the fittest and all that. :-)
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Virginia
Indian runs a power plus 112 motor that allows them the 7700 rpm max. Harley runs the 131 that allows them the 7000 rpm now 7200 rpm limit due to the displacement difference. Indians have more peak hp and harleys have more low end torque. On tracks with longer straight aways and big sweeping banks, Indians run away from Harley due to their higher speed. If they really wanted this to be apples to apples competition, they would limit each bikes displacement and hence rpm to the same specs.
With two races completed in the KOB race series, H-D has not been doing particularly well. To help close the performance gap between the H-D and Indian bikes, a rules change has been announced which will allow the H-D engine's max RPM to be raised from 7000 to 7200. Read more about it here:
https://www.motoamerica.com/may-day-...-championship/
Of course a 200 RPM bump isn't much but, in theory, I suppose every little bit helps. I just hope that that little RPM increase doesn't put the the H-D engines a bit too close to their kaboom zone. These races are pretty short no doubt due to the loads these heavy bikes put on their tires but I also wonder if the races are kept short because the engines have reliability issues. Lots of kabooms would be bad optics, that's for sure. Anyway, we'll find out if this helps or hurts H-D come the end of the month.
https://www.motoamerica.com/may-day-...-championship/
Of course a 200 RPM bump isn't much but, in theory, I suppose every little bit helps. I just hope that that little RPM increase doesn't put the the H-D engines a bit too close to their kaboom zone. These races are pretty short no doubt due to the loads these heavy bikes put on their tires but I also wonder if the races are kept short because the engines have reliability issues. Lots of kabooms would be bad optics, that's for sure. Anyway, we'll find out if this helps or hurts H-D come the end of the month.