BS 200 Ice Racer

[scrambler]

Did some more racing again yesterday. Once again I was the only one in my class. 

I think I pretty much have the old 175 at its limit. On this 1/2 mile track I was in 4th on the turns and 5th in the straights. Earlier I had said that once you get into a gear you stick with it. Well I have become a little more comfortable with the bike and the ice and can now add in some shifting. I'm still running the throttle wide open the entire time, even going into the turns. I just can't wring any more speed out of the little 175.

One more race left.

Maybe next year I will end up moving on to something else.

[rocketman]

  By moving on Kevin, I hope you mean to another type of racing with the Bridgestone, like dirt track or mini gp? I would miss your posts and it looks like your having an awful lot of fun. Is your 175 geared high enough? Sounds like you may be running out.  Mark.

[scrambler]

If anything my bike might be geared just a bit to high yet. Not much though. I'm still a turtle off the line though. I may have mentioned it before but my wheels weigh 40 pounds each. If I were to do it again I would probably try and use some narrower tires to cut down on the weight. The narrower tires would also mean less screws so less weight there also. I have more than enough traction with my current setup. I wouldn't mind having a little less traction to get the bike to drift in the corners a bit. The tires are overkill for the power of the bike and I know that now.

I think it would be a lot more fun if I was actually racing against someone instead of just buzzing around the track by myself.

In the beginning of the season there was probably a butt clench mark in the seat. Those first few laps were quite a rush. I just want to go faster now. Actually the 175 is still quite a bit of fun on the 1/4 mile short track. Its much tighter and I have to get leaned in quite a bit. On the longer track not so much.

I guess it all depends on if I can round up a few more people to run in this class. It would actually be fun to try and have a vintage class and have a few bikes as old as the 175.

I wouldn't mind trying another form of racing also but nothing is as easy for me to attend as these ice races. There is some dirt track racing but no one seems to have a class where I could ride the little BS in, at least nothing somewhat local.

Who knows, I may end up riding the 175 again next year, or maybe it will be a Honda CR250.

[scrambler]

Last of the season last weekend. It was a cold one. Lots of people had problems getting their machines started. The BS started up just fine though.

The last race was a bit different for me. I actually had other racers in my class. The BS still came through for me though and I was able to come in first in both races. But, but , there is a bit more to the story. Almost hate to say it but the other bikes were 90cc mini cycles. They were all studded up and ready to race. I wish I had pictures. There were 4 of these little cycles. 2 of them actually beat me off the line but I was able to overtake them after the first turn. It was fun to actually have someone else out there.

So that's about it for this year. I guess I'll see what I end up doing next year.

[scrambler]

One last picture form a different race.

[OldSwartout]

Kevin, are you going ice racing again this year?  If so, are you going to use the Bridgestone or something else?

[scrambler]

Yep I plan to race again this year. For the summer I switched out to a different set of wheels/tires and have been running it up and down the road a bit. I also switched out the 175 cylinders and pistons for 200 cylinders and pistons. I had 175's in a 200 bottom end before I figured out that that was not a good idea. There is a gap between the case and the cylinder and probably doesn't match up all that well. I remember looking at the parts diagram but I must not have looked good enough. It ran well enough though. I really don't notice much of a change except it does have a bit more snap to it. I had used the 175 pistons and cylinders because I had a set of pistons that were modified but I don't think they made that much difference.

I think I will run the BS. Maybe switch it up a bit. I also picked up a 250 Bultaco that already had a set of ice tires on it. Alternate weekends on them or set one up for the long track and one for the short track. Maybe use one as a loaner if someone wants to try racing. Winter is coming fast here in Wisconsin and I have to start thinking about racing....

[old smokey]

Come on Kevin, don't jinx us here in WI. I know some leaves are already turning colors, but I got a few more rides to do!

[scrambler]

Well if the fall goes as fast as this past summer did then winter is just around the corner for me.

[motzingg]

are you hooked up with Mil'vin'moto and the folks down here that run on camp lake or lilly lake? A lot of people are running vintage stuff, old CB's, a lot of old thumpers.

Make a trek down here sometime and you'll have people that should be ideal competition.

[scrambler]

I am not. That's at least a 5 hour drive for me.

I switched gears this year and I am running a Bultaco. I still have the BS though.

[coxy]

hey Kevin is that a home made font bracket with a bridgestone fender attached

[scrambler]

Which bike?

Both of them have brackets for full coverage fenders front and rear to cover up the ice screws. You need them covered in case you end up getting close to someone's leg. The fenders on the Bultaco are a swap meet find on the rear and the stock Bultaco fenderon the front. I have no idea what is on the BS. Just found those hanging around.

[drtracr]

I know this is an old post, but Kevin was hunting sprockets. I had some made by Rebel Gear in Tenn. cost $45.00 each, any teeth you want.

[scrambler]

I ended up using a Yamaha sprocket.

[moonpup]

Hey guys, the sprocket that came with my GTO is much larger than the one that is original and on the parts bike. Is it one that anyone here could use/need? Here are pics of both....(you can't even see the brake hub on the larger one.)

[scrambler]

this is a sprocket!!!!

[moonpup]

That looks about the same size as the one in my first picture. I'll take a pic from the other side so you'll see better how much it extends past the hub. I'll put in my earlier post in place of the "original sprocket" pic.

Edit: Just went and looked from the other side and decided it wouldn't help much. The teeth are just past the edge of the hub by maybe 1/4 inch.

[srpackrat49]

The nice thing about raceing on ice is   there are no rocks or trees to hit.....  WFO and turn left   nice job on the bike...  are those yamaha fenders???