KAWASAKI PSB WOES
Thu, 2007-08-02 13:04
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Ryan Schnitz has been MIA since the start
of the season, as has his bike owner Rob Muzzy, but not for the usual
reasons. Muzzy has been developing the new ZX-14 Kawasaki for
competition as the Team Green manufacturer returns to the NHRA POWERade
wars after a four-year absence.
Muzzy's bike didn't even exist seven months ago. The Trim-Tex-sponsored machine made its debut at Bandimere Speedway near Denver earlier this month. After the motorcycle passed technical inspection in its premier appearance, Schnitz took it down the Denver track twice. The first time he didn't make weight and on the second occasion there was a miscommunication on lights. The third try, Schnitz didn't even leave the line and there was no fourth try.
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Ryan Schnitz has been MIA since the start
of the season, as has his bike owner Rob Muzzy, but not for the usual
reasons. Muzzy has been developing the new ZX-14 Kawasaki for
competition as the Team Green manufacturer returns to the NHRA POWERade
wars after a four-year absence.
Muzzy's bike didn't even exist seven months ago. The Trim-Tex-sponsored machine made its debut at Bandimere Speedway near Denver earlier this month. After the motorcycle passed technical inspection in its premier appearance, Schnitz took it down the Denver track twice. The first time he didn't make weight and on the second occasion there was a miscommunication on lights. The third try, Schnitz didn't even leave the line and there was no fourth try.
"There is no substitute for taking it on the racetrack," Muzzy said. "We remade the clutch after Denver and yesterday had a mechanical failure (in the third qualifying run). A thrust bearing between the inner and outer hubs just wasn't strong enough, according to Muzzy. It was bending, which made the clutch slip.
Muzzy has been trying to figure out why this is their big problem and not anything else that's new on the bike, which, of course, is everything! "We narrowed it down and in Denver, we thought we'd fixed the problem. We are trying something to confirm that we've fixed it here. This is, you could say, revision number six!"
Muzzy's bike didn't even exist seven months ago. The Trim-Tex-sponsored machine made its debut at Bandimere Speedway near Denver earlier this month. After the motorcycle passed technical inspection in its premier appearance, Schnitz took it down the Denver track twice. The first time he didn't make weight and on the second occasion there was a miscommunication on lights. The third try, Schnitz didn't even leave the line and there was no fourth try.
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Ryan Schnitz has been MIA since the start
of the season, as has his bike owner Rob Muzzy, but not for the usual
reasons. Muzzy has been developing the new ZX-14 Kawasaki for
competition as the Team Green manufacturer returns to the NHRA POWERade
wars after a four-year absence. Muzzy's bike didn't even exist seven months ago. The Trim-Tex-sponsored machine made its debut at Bandimere Speedway near Denver earlier this month. After the motorcycle passed technical inspection in its premier appearance, Schnitz took it down the Denver track twice. The first time he didn't make weight and on the second occasion there was a miscommunication on lights. The third try, Schnitz didn't even leave the line and there was no fourth try.
"There is no substitute for taking it on the racetrack," Muzzy said. "We remade the clutch after Denver and yesterday had a mechanical failure (in the third qualifying run). A thrust bearing between the inner and outer hubs just wasn't strong enough, according to Muzzy. It was bending, which made the clutch slip.
Muzzy has been trying to figure out why this is their big problem and not anything else that's new on the bike, which, of course, is everything! "We narrowed it down and in Denver, we thought we'd fixed the problem. We are trying something to confirm that we've fixed it here. This is, you could say, revision number six!"
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