On a cold, dry day in Budds Creek, Maryland, Ryan Schnitz piloted the HTP Performance Pro Street Hayabusa to a record setting quarter-mile pass that many didn’t think was possible. His blistering 6.90 @ 203.06 MPH pass makes Schnitz and the HTP Hayabusa the world’s first streetbike in the 6s.
This monumental achievement comes a decade after Brock Davidson was the first to crack into the 7s on a streetbike in 2000 (a nitrous Bandit 1200 that clocked a 7.97 at 179 MPH).
In the subsequent years, motorcycle technology has come a long way, and in an interesting turn of events—where turbo bikes were once considered the weapon of choice—nitrous has quickly become the go-to power adder.
“If you would have asked me what bike would have broken into the 6s a year ago I would have told you a turbo bike for sure,” Schnitz explained. “But nitrous controllers and solenoids, along with modern fuel injection units, have really allowed the nitrous bikes to shine.”
Along with complex standalone fueling computers and precise nitrous distribution, Schnitz also went on to explain that chassis and clutch adjustments are critical to putting the power to the pavement.
“It’s really the culmination of everything, as the chassis, clutch and progressive nitrous controller must be perfectly set to work with one another.”
Schnitz revealed that the big displacement motor makes north of 250 HP at the wheel on motor alone and was fortified with a dry shot of 220 HP. How’s that for a big smack in the rear?
As for the fabled pass, Schnitz ran 7.09, 7.06 and 7.00 passes prior to the event and was certain with better weather he’d break into the 6s. With dry, cold air in his favor and a track that was biting hard, Schnitz staged at the tree and came out on the green. The bike hooked hard in first gear with slight wheel spin on the 1-2 shift. Fighting to stay in the groove, it wasn’t until the 1/8th mile mark that Schnitz realized he was on the cusp of a record run.
“When the bike carried the front tire longer than I expected and it just kept pulling I was pretty sure we were in for a record. In fourth gear at the 1/8th the bike was still driving hard with a time of 4.53 seconds at 171.03 MPH.”
When the scoreboard ignited, the team couldn’t have been more surprised along with Schnitz: “We expected a 6.98 or maybe a 6.97, but never a 6.90—that was just awesome.”
If the 6-second, 200+ MPH pass doesn’t seem amazing enough, consider the fact that Pro Street bikes aren’t all-out drag machines, but rather self starting street bikes with DOT tires, working lights and limited wheelbases sans the added luxuries of a drag slick or wheelie bar. This is the pinnacle of streetbike drag racing and we take our hats off to Schnitz and his crew because quite frankly, this might have been the last milestone in motorcycle drag racing. Will we ever see a 5-second streetbike pass? Most don’t think so, but then again, a decade ago nobody thought a 6-second streetbike pass was possible. SSB