#DragRacing

Do you want a 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX for just $12,500? Really, it can be yours for a steal. Few bikes out there today provide the kind of thrill that the supercharged H2 series from Kawasaki can. So, why's it so cheap, you ask? Well, therein lies the rub. This particular bike, which comes to us from our sister site Ninjah2.org, has a blown engine. Specifically, the number 2 cylinder dropped a valve. The seller doesn't say how it dropped the valve, but the pictures and the seller's listing provide us with a glimpse into the bike's short 6200-mile life.

Kawasaki’s answer to the Suzuki Hayabusa, the ZX-14R was all about straight-line speed – up to 186 mph, or 300 kph – the speed all the Japanese manufacturers had a gentleman’s agreement on for a speed cap. Legendary in drag racing thanks to the likes of Ricky Gadson, the ZX-14 carved quite a niche for itself alongside the ‘Busa for being fast. Like the ‘Busa, the ZX-14 was also an underrated sport-touring bike, too. With some luggage on the back, many found the large ride to be comfortable, and even quite good, at chewing up big miles.

How does 208 hp strike you? Well, if you add the non-homologated exhaust and updated ECU, you can bump that to 212 hp. That’s what the MV Agusta Rush 1000 is about. Excessive power delivered in the quarter-mile bursts of the drag racing scene. Don’t believe us? Take a gander at the enclosed rear wheel and its in forged aluminum construction concealed by a carbon fiber cover, designed to obtain the best aerodynamic performance. The spoked front wheel adds to the purposeful look.

Rickey Gadson is the most famous motorcycle dragracer of our generation, earning 11 national championships and remaining highly visible over the past couple of decades. The Philadelphia native is also well known to Motorcycle.com, as his long association with Kawasaki has brought him to every ZX-14 media launch since the bike’s introduction in 2006. Gadson also rode with us when I chased 200 mph on a Kawi H2R.

If you’re a motorcyclist, you’ve heard of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. With Sturgis being one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the world, people think they know what there is to do when attending the event. However, when questioned, they mostly mention shenanigans that take place on Main Street – activities that are so numerous that they’ve long since spilled onto and taken over nearby Lazelle Street. Or perhaps newbies express their desire to attend the events at the famous campground, concert venue, and all around party central, the Buffalo Chip. While these two locations are essential to the Sturgis experience, so much more is available to riders who attend the rally.

A few weeks ago a drag bike race in Perth, Australia ended in a foot race (see  If You Ain’t First, You’re Last). This week, a drag race in Perth begins and ends in the same millisecond as drag racer Brett Ghedina flipped his turbocharged Honda, Saturday night at the opening round of Comp Bike eliminations at the Perth Motoplex. Ghedian, via social media, explains what went wrong.

The thrill of drag racing is unlike any other in motorsport. In the pursuit of getting down the quarter-mile as quickly as possible, a mixture of skill and bravery are required. Of course machinery plays an important part as well. For former MOron Pete Brissette, he got the chance to rocket Harley-Davidson’s  VRXSE Screamin’ Eagle Destroyer down the drag strip en route to his NHRA license, which is required if you achieve a sub 10-second pass. However, the path to his NHRA license wasn’t a straight shot. He had to work his way up the ranks and progress through different stages of performance. Read his tale below about what it’s like to rocket oneself down the drag strip on a purpose-built drag racing motorcycle. And for more photos of Pete (and Sean) in all his glory, be sure to check out the photo gallery.

Anyone who’s been paying attention lately knows that electricity ain’t just for golf carts anymore – e-bikes can be seriously fast! But how quick can a podium-finishing Isle of Man TT e-bike get down a quarter-mile dragstrip?

Picture this: you’ve packed up the RV and the family, and you decide to travel to Northern Ontario for a weekend of relaxation. Instead of heading to your regular campground, you decide to mix things up a bit and head to the dragway. Yep – you read right, the dragway. Camping, family togetherness and motorcycle racing are all available at King of the North Dragway and Event Park, located 15 minutes east of North Bay, Ontario.

Who doesn’t love a little raw horsepower on a Sunday? On this week’s Church of MO, we dial the clock back to 2002 and a special ride Brent Avis got to sample at Los Angeles County Raceway. The bike? A Yamaha Roadstar Warrior. Maybe not the first thing one might think of when imagining a drag racer, but with 150 hp and 150 ft-lbs blasting from that thumping V-Twin and through the rear wheel, the Warrior monikor seems appropriate this time around. How did Avis fare at this foray into drag racing? Read on to find out.