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Quickshifter

7K views 31 replies 12 participants last post by  pablo.gyds03 
#1 ·
Has anyone seen a quickshifter for the gen1 bikes or know of a way to make one? My bike that I want it on is strictly for the drag strip and I need to get my times down.
 
#6 ·
Dragstrip

Sorry Paden. We're just playin. If someone has information for him please help him out.

Actually, several of the crew that I used to ride with in NC took their bikes to a strip a few years ago. I wasnt able to get there but they had a ball. Someone cheated, brought a KTM ###EXC. Ate all their lunches.
 
#9 ·
Right now I’m doing heads up. I’m still working on the bike to get my times down and get more power. I’m trying to get enough money to stretch my swing arm right now and when I was taking off the rear shock it started leaking oil so now I have to fix that or get a new one.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I'll bet that the Titan driver didn't chuckle near as much as I did!!

A usable used ebay rear shock might be 50 - 200 dollars. Gen 2 2014.5 "New Edition" would have a stiffer spring to resist wheelie. Gen 2 shock needs a shorter lower bolt.
 
#12 ·
While I've never entertained the thought about drag racing my KLR, I very rarely use the clutch on up shifts after 2nd gear. Same with my road race Ducati Sport Classic and track day toy, Honda SuperHawk.
 
#17 ·
I did read something about "Universal Harnesses" & Dirt bikes. Aren't most dirt bikes still using CDI ignitions like the Gen 1 KLR's?

Have you sent an e-mail to HealTech to inquire about Universal Harness & CDI wiring?
 
#19 · (Edited)
It looks like this thing shuts the ignition down by acting just like the Gen 2 kill switch, interrupting power to the coil. That's not adaptable to the Gen 1 because there is no real analog to the B+ in the Gen 1 CDI. There is the wire from the exciter coil, but that's excited AC and that dog won't hunt.

I think the path of least resistance (aside from finding a unit that works on a CDI as Paul suggests) would be to put a TCBI on the Gen 1. It's pretty simple. You'll need to get an igniter, a coil, a Gen 2 harness to take a connector or two off of, a Gen 2 rotor and stator and a 100-ohm resistor to convince the Ignitor that you're not trying to steal the bike. You'll need some sort of battery, too, but it could be 12v dry cell, probably. Never tried that, but it ought to be enough to work.

If you have done anything to your Gen 1 rotor to change the timing or advance you'll have to do it again on the Gen 2 rotor. If you are running stock timing and advance then just put the Gen 2 rotor on. The reason for the rotor swap is in the way the two ignitions pick-up the ignition signal. The Gen 2 has a much longer signal bar.

I put a Gen 1 CDI ignition on my Gen 2. This is just going in the opposite direction. If this is something you're interested in doing or discussing, we can delve further into it. All of this doesn't have to be expensive. Keep an eye on e-bay, set up some saved searches, and pick the stuff up. I just looked on e-bay and you could pick the stuff up right now for $125. You can do better than that with some patience.
 
#20 ·
No hijack intended here, but waaaaay back when, I used to take my Datsun pickup to the drag strip.
Got serious about shaving time off, built up the engine, tranny, changed out gears in the rear end, etc.

Cost me over $2,000 in parts (1981) for 2.7 seconds. Thanks for the memories that just popped up.

They still have street (run what ya brung) drags here at Sears Point. Sounds like fun, might take my KLR over just to enjoy again.
 
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#26 ·
Granted, I've only run a bike down a drag strip maybe a couple doz times but seems to me the largest area to 'gain time' is the first 30ft. Probably 90% of that is controlled by the knucklehead holding the handle bars. Difference between a clutchless upshift and a modern quick shifter would be minor compared to what can be gained those first 30ft by the average Joe. Regardless, sounds like fun!
 
#29 · (Edited)
Fun is where you find it.

I've had impromptu drag races against several buddies on various bikes that one would normally think should have devoured the lowly KLR, but didn't, at least not in the short half.

It is kinda' funny to look in the rear view mirror as say a Suzuki 600 Bandit bogs 3 times off the line or a Kawasaki ZRX1200 headlight comes back down from the moon or a Kawasaki 650 Prairie 4x4 atv is having to eat dust on a hard packed dirt road.
 
#32 ·
OP, I think the easiest way to get a quickshifter on your bike would be to modify the sidestand switch to work with the shift lever somehow to cut ignition.
If you do get it rigged up, the ignition cut times would depend on how fast you can physically modulate the shifter.
 
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