Drag Racing Drag Race your bike?

I was thinking about a timer system for my project speed fzr (the only thing I've done to this bike so far is try to fit a knobby for a dirt drag I never did and order a tappet gasket). I was going to use mirrors and maybe a laser (restricted item nowadays, I believe) but a high-speed camera rifle scope and mirrors might be the cheapest option. You could try jaycar or ebay for sensors and laboratory suppliers for lasers?

On the topic of drag times, I might try to get the fzr to the calliope drags on Aug 5, but that day is quite booked already. Maybe I could offer it to someone else to ride...
And for a quick 250 4-stroke bike, I'd get a single cylinder motor, in a minimalist frame and a jockey. Other tricks to beware of include not using all your revs (maximum torque is about 10,000rpm and max power about 14-15,000, after max power you might be getting less acceleration then if you change gears, there's maths on that), or changing spark timing as revs increase, more preload on suspension and hardening the dampening settings to reduce wheelies, cam timing and/or profile can be varied for higher revs, provided the valves close quick enough. Well there's a lot of things one COULD do, but cost and time and such are common limitations.

 

Here's a Jaycar one... There are 3 wires to the laser unit, which sends the beam to the reflector and reads it back... I would say the 3 connections would be: 1) supply voltage, 2) negative and 3) sensor wire... this could be used to trigger something.... an electronic stop watch?

https://www.jaycar.com.au/commercial-grade-doorway-beam/p/LA5193

 

I'll get my hands on one so we can test

 

For those interested in Mick Hands "Little David" it is being rebuilt by Justin Newell. Look on facebook British Drag Bike History. https://www.facebook.com/groups/145825962198991/?ref=group_header

 

250's pre 1980 include 250 Villiers Starmaker, 250 Honda plus Shorrock and Nitro, Suzuki and Yamaha twins.

Des Heckle Topcliffe 250 starmaker 1966