Wrong Bikes

Rob Williams on his H-D Road Glide

The Colorado weather is beautiful, if somewhat windy, and Rob and I have been out on our bikes, both with friends and just the two of us. It's lots of fun, but dang, things are standing still on the Bonneville bikes.

Of course, there's plenty of background work. Rob has been working on the electrics in the trailer and installing the little bike trailer in the big trailer. All know all this is necessary, but I wnat to see that Buell motor in a frame. I want to hear the growl of the nitro methane in the Hayabusa.

It's only three months away!
 I want to be ready for Bonneville!

Joining Glenn Vaad's race

Julianna, Rob and the Big Bad Nitro Daddy Aprilia recently appeared with Senate District 23 candidate Glenn Vaad. Glenn finds the small but efficient character of the 50cc Aprilia an apt parallel for his ideal of government.


We happily support Glenn and wish him the best in his quest to bring conservatism and fiscal restraint to the Colorado Legislature. 

Mapping the Aprilia

The first step on any map is to find "You Are Here."

That's what we did at Richard Bruckner's HighGain Tuning. Richard ran the BBND Aprilia on race gasoline on his DynoJet SD12 to establish a performance baseline. Once we know where we are, we can determine where we are going.

Although the bike has run well on gasoline, fuel starvation issues on alcohol have been difficult to overcome. By fuel injecting the motor, Richard believes performance will be improved with gas, and an alcohol/nitro methane/air mixture will be predictable from zero to top speed.

Rob and Richard load the Aprilia on the DynoJet

I am really eager to see how this evolves.

See you on the Salt

I spent the morning filling out entry forms for the 2012 BUB Speed Trials. At this time, we have four bikes entered: the Hayabusa on nitro methane, the Buell on gasoline, Randy Miller's nitrous oxide Buell, and the 40cc Aprilia which will run on both gasoline and an alcohol/nitro methane fuel mix.

We have exactly four months before opening day at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Lots of work to do.

More Power to the Aprilia

Carburation of the Aprilia has been an issue for Rob.

While little Pinocchio runs just fine on race gas, it seizes every time Rob runs it on alcohol. Regardless of the jet size, the carburetor can't deliver enough fuel to evenly cool the cylinder and piston. That has turned quite a few pistons into mantel pieces.

Enter Richard Bruckner of High Gain Tuning, who specializes in Aprilia bikes and scooters. Richard has the ability to build a fuel injector for the BBND Aprilia, thereby improving its fuel delivery and atomization throughout the range of performance.

We are excited about the prospect of working with High Gain Tuning as we look to breaking our own records in August.

                                                           www.highgaintuning.com

Just Add Air

Rob demonstrates the air movement through the can by adding compressed air at its base. Even with a small volume of air, enough of a vacuum is created at the holes to suspend a paper towel.









Mounted on the BBND Hayabusa, the vented exhausts will emit significantly cooler gases, while increasing the thrust generated at the end of the pipes.

Venting the Exhaust

Rob drills guide holes at the base of the cans

That's going to be extremely hot air being pushed out those Hayabusa pipes when they start venting nitro methane exhaust, so Rob is drilling holes to draw in cooler external air.

The actual exhaust pipe runs inside the cans to carry the hot gases from the engine. Just adding a dead air space between the pipe and the outside adds a layer of protection from the heat.

Each hole is three quarters of an inch in diameter

By opening vent holes, Rob is creating an active air exchange. As blazing hot exhaust rushes through the pipes, it will pull cooler air through the holes. That will lower the temperature of the exhaust, while creating extra force.

The area of the the holes is approximately equal to the area at the end of the can, making a vacuum that should make a dramatic effect.