Take a look at this, Cleetus McFarland TERRIFIED by 2-Wheeled Beast: 8 Seconds of Death!
In the high-octane world of YouTube motorsports, few personalities embody fearlessness quite like Cleetus McFarland. From six-second passes in his twin-turbo El Camino “Mullet” to monster trucks and jet boats, McFarland has built a reputation as a driver who rarely shows hesitation.
But in a recent viral moment, even Cleetus reached his limit — not inside a roll cage, but exposed on two wheels. What followed was one of the most intense crossover moments between car racing and motorcycle drag racing ever filmed.
This is the story of “8 Seconds of Death.”
Leaving the Roll Cage Behind
For most of his career, Cleetus McFarland has been protected by steel tubing, five-point harnesses, fire suppression systems, and thousands of pounds of chassis beneath him. Speed, for him, usually comes with layers of safety.
This time, all of that disappeared.
Instead of a steering wheel, he grabbed handlebars.
Instead of four contact patches, he balanced on two.
Instead of a roll cage, he faced open air at 150 mph.
The machine waiting for him was not a casual street bike. It was a fully built Suzuki GSXR1000 drag motorcycle, transformed by Chris Moore of Moore Mafia, one of the most respected names in high-performance Suzuki builds.
Weighing under 400 pounds and producing massive turbocharged power, this bike existed for only one purpose: going brutally fast in a straight line.
And there was one detail that made it truly terrifying.
No Wheelie Bar. No Safety Net.
Most serious drag bikes use a wheelie bar as insurance. If the front end lifts too high, the bar touches down and prevents a catastrophic backflip.
This bike had no wheelie bar.
If Cleetus launched too hard or released the clutch too aggressively, the bike would simply rotate backward and come over on top of him — at triple-digit speed.
Standing next to the bike, the usual bravado vanished. McFarland openly admitted he hadn’t been this nervous in a long time. Leather race gear offered abrasion resistance, but no real impact protection at 150 mph.
Unlike in a car, there would be no seat holding him in place.
On a bike, survival depends on grip.
Learning a Completely Different Launch Technique
In high-horsepower cars, launches are all about finesse — feathering the throttle, slipping the clutch, managing wheelspin.
On a drag bike, the instructions were the exact opposite.
Chris Moore looked at Cleetus and gave him the most counter-intuitive advice possible:
“Wide open throttle. Dump the clutch.”
No modulation. No easing into power.
The secret weapon was the slipper clutch, a sophisticated system designed to control torque delivery and keep the front end down during launch. In theory, it makes insane power manageable.
In practice, trusting that technology with your life is another matter.
Burnout, Balance, and Fear
The burnout alone was a challenge.
On four wheels, burnouts are simple.
On two wheels, they are a balancing act.
Cletus had to manage the front brake, throttle, clutch, and body position simultaneously — all while preventing the bike from tipping over. The GSXR screamed like a fighter jet as smoke engulfed his helmet.
For a moment, muscle memory kicked in.
Then the tire grabbed.
The bike lurched forward violently, reminding him what was waiting downtrack.
The Launch: Violence in Motion
As the staging lights dropped, Cleetus forced his left hand to disobey every instinct.
He released the clutch instantly.
He pinned the throttle wide open.
The bike didn’t accelerate.
It teleported.
The front wheel floated inches above the track.
The extended swing arm planted the rear tire.
The turbo sang.
The wind became a physical wall.
In just 1.39 seconds, he covered the first 60 feet — a time that rivals professional race cars.
By the eighth mile, he was already traveling 125 mph and still accelerating hard.
At full speed, sitting upright would have ripped him off the bike. He tucked in behind the tiny windscreen, transforming himself into a human projectile.
8.81 Seconds at 150.9 MPH
The finish line arrived in a blur.
The scoreboard lit up:
8.81 seconds at 150.9 mph
On his very first drag bike pass.
For perspective, many modern supercars struggle to break into the 10-second zone on prepared surfaces. Cleetus had just gone nearly two seconds faster than million-dollar hypercars — on a machine he had never ridden before.
When he finally shut the throttle and lifted his visor, the adrenaline told the whole story.
His hands were shaking.
His voice trembled.
Relief mixed with terror.
Even for a six-second car driver, this had been different.
Why Drag Bikes Are a Different Kind of Dangerous
Cleetus later explained the key difference between car racing and motorcycle drag racing:
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In a car, G-forces push you into the seat.
There is no harness.
No seat back.
No cage.
Only grip, balance, and courage.
At 150 mph, the asphalt rushes past inches from your boots. Heat from the engine cooks your leg. Wind tears at your leathers. One wobble, one throttle mistake, one misjudged shift — and survival becomes uncertain.
This is why drag bikes command such deep respect inside motorsports.
Respect Earned Between Two Worlds
For years, car racers and bike racers have jokingly mocked each other.
Car guys call bike racers “organ donors.”
Bike guys call car racers soft for needing cages and seat belts.
This run bridged that divide.
Cleetus McFarland walked away with a new reverence for two-wheel speed. Watching Chris Moore later rip off an effortless 8.76-second pass only reinforced how much skill hides behind those helmets.
In the end, McFarland joked he might never do it again — and there was truth behind the laughter. With kids, a business, and a career, risk suddenly carries more weight when there’s no steel around you.
Final Thoughts: 8 Seconds That Changed Everything
This wasn’t just a fast pass.
It was a lesson in vulnerability.
In respect.
In understanding what real exposure at speed feels like.
For 8.81 seconds, Cleetus McFarland left the safety of four wheels and entered the most unforgiving arena in drag racing.
And he survived.
