Hang on, as we ramble into this report after feeling stuck on a Pacific island reef. Our frame team fell apart, and I was forced to pick up the phone, calling my longtime friend, Bob Clark and Ron Paugh from Paughco, around the middle of February. Remember, we wanted to have the frame, wheels and front end completed before the end of 2006. We’re burnin’ daylight quick. Within 24 hours the Paughco frame was a go. We shipped the most recent Chris Kallas illustrations to Carson City, Nevada so the Paughco team had a guide. That made Chris Kallas nervous. “Wait,” he said. “I’m not a frame designer.” We’ll get into that later, but his concerns were noteworthy and we investigated.

While we bit out nails and waited for word from the Paughco Headquarters, Bikernet readers continued to poor in their speed notes.

Bandit, I see you got your wheels for the Pan. You might want to consider a set of ceramic wheel bearings. Check with Dave at World Wide Bearings, 1-800-575- 3220. They are used in pro stock drag bikes and many LSR bikes. I have heard of four horsepower gains at the rear wheel because of less parasitic loss through the drivetrain. I installed a set on my bike and didn't do any dyno testing but the bike is much easier to roll around. Might be worth a look. Good luck in September.

We’ve also been told not to run O-Ring chains Eric and his dad, Bob, from Bennett’s Performance on Signal Hill, in Long Beach, California threw-out the following speedy notions (562) 498-1819.

“We run 30 weight oil to minimize drag,” Don said. “We were also told not to run O-ring chains for the same reason and even run 520 chain, to reduce the weight turned by the engine in the drivetrain.”

We also told the Bennetts about our new All American wheels machined by Renegade, and they asked about our tires. “Are you planning on shaving the tires?” Eric asked. Many tires are shaved to alter or enhance their speed category. If a tire is shaved, it moves into the next higher speed category.

”We have a local performance expert who claims an additional 15 mph on shaved wheels,” Bob said and I was sold. “He shaves and balances the wheels.”

We will look into shaving the wheels as we also consider our ground clearance. “Nascars run virtually next to the ground,” Eric pointed out.” We hope to fly out to the University of Austin to work with Dave Rash, the president of D&D on their Bonneville V-Bike. I want to understand how ground clearance may differ between Nascar handling and running a bike on the salt. I recently watched a German speed trial with a 253 mph Bogati Sportscar. At speeds, the car automatically lowers itself to enhance its ground clearance and speed. More to come on that. For now the American/Renegade wheels were fitted and balanced with Azaro Avon W-rated (appropriate to our class) tires mounted by Settle's Motorcycle Shop. Larry Settle guaranteed that they are round...

Another reader spoke up: It sounds like you are planning to run the Pan in altered and run without a fairing, but you might consider a fairing and bodywork to run APS too. A few years ago Scott Guthrie ran several back to back runs on a 200 mph Suzuki Hayabusa with and without the faring and body work at the Maxton mile. They discovered the bodywork was worth 14 mph at Maxton, so it should be worth even more at Bonneville.

Airtech built a sharp body for Wink Eller's 200 mph Bonneville Harley. It's on the Airtech website www.airtech-streamlining.com under the Harley tab. Might be worth a look.

--Rick

Neck Correction--

We received several necks during our initial frame design effort. Leo DiOrio sent the following regarding his offering to make sure Joey Perse received the proper credit: If you do something, article wise about the neck here’s the scoop. Joey Perse, of Perse Performance, made it, and I found it in his special projects room.

I work with Joey on special projects and I am able to move around the facility without an escort (the place is a missile plant for motorcycles).

The idea behind the neck included using bearing cups to take advantage of the industry standard in fork-stops without any extra welding or pinning of the cups to the neck, which in turn means that the neck is still serviceable and reliable without special tools or increased labor, and it opens the end-user up to many triple-tree options without bump style frame stops.

When I told him I needed this for your project since frame maker, U.S. choppers is working on the frame and I'm in Colorado working on the front end, he said for me to take it and let him know what I think.

Don’t state that I built this. It is very important to me that accuracy is applied when talking about innovation.

--Leo DiOrio

On to Page 2...