Tri-Max Launch Mode. How to find and use it.

[Donald Stanfield]

I don't think there is a post on how to actuate the launch mode in the Tri Max, and I've seen a few people who didn't know for sure the Tri came with launch mode. Today, I figured out how to turn it on, so I'll be a dear and post about it.

First thing is you need to be in sport mode. Not sure if you need to be in lowest as well, because I already have lowest as the setting for sport mode in my R1. Then,

See the little flag my finger is hovering over? You press that. Assuming you are stopped, and in drive, the next screen looks like this.

You slide that little circle up and there's even a little animation Gary does when you slide it. Next thing that happens is a screen like this pops up.

The leftmost circle represents the brake. It turns green when the brake is depressed. The middle circle represents the steering wheel; you need to have the wheel centered for it to be green. If the wheel isn't centered, it will show a little dot on the outer rim of a white circle in the direction your wheel is turned. The right circle represents the accelerator pedal, which is put to the floor to turn this circle green. It takes a second or so with them all lit for the "getting ready" to be replaced with "ready". Then you just let off the brake like normal and launch. When you are done, it gives you the G force you experienced and how fast you got up to, including your 0-60 time. It's hard to say how much faster it launches than just putting the pedal down and brake down and doing it without the mode. I only figured this out today and launched it once. As you can see, these pictures were taken in my garage, so launching when I took them would have been bad.

Entering launch mode also pauses your music; at least, it did for me. I'll have to launch again when it's a little warmer out, I got wheel spin when I tried today as it's only in the 30's.

Sponsored

 

[portdirect]

Activating launch mode in inappropriate areas (like your garage) should be called ‘Rucking’ in honor of the great Alan Ruck and his noble research in the space.

Played with it a few times, def provides a greater kick off the line, but takes a long time to prepare for lift-off - it’s also required to get above 110 on the Tri motor R1s.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Activating launch mode in inappropriate areas (like your garage) should be called ‘Rucking’ in honor of the great Alan Ruck and his noble research in the space.

Played with it a few times, def provides a greater kick off the line, but takes a long time to prepare for lift-off - it’s also required to get above 110 on the Tri motor R1s.

Agree, it would be a Rucking had I sent it instead of just taking a picture in the ready state.

 

[ElGuano]

As you can see, these pictures were taken in my garage, so launching when I took them would have been bad.

I"ll be honest, getting to that point in a closed garage would be quite the anxiety-inducing event for me.

 

[squinn61853]

I don't think there is a post on how to actuate the launch mode in the Tri Max, and I've seen a few people who didn't know for sure the Tri came with launch mode. Today, I figured out how to turn it on, so I'll be a dear and post about it.

First thing is you need to be in sport mode. Not sure if you need to be in lowest as well, because I already have lowest as the setting for sport mode in my R1. Then,

See the little flag my finger is hovering over? You press that. Assuming you are stopped, and in drive, the next screen looks like this.

You slide that little circle up and there's even a little animation Gary does when you slide it. Next thing that happens is a screen like this pops up.

The leftmost circle represents the brake. It turns green when the brake is depressed. The middle circle represents the steering wheel; you need to have the wheel centered for it to be green. If the wheel isn't centered, it will show a little dot on the outer rim of a white circle in the direction your wheel is turned. The right circle represents the accelerator pedal, which is put to the floor to turn this circle green. It takes a second or so with them all lit for the "getting ready" to be replaced with "ready". Then you just let off the brake like normal and launch. When you are done, it gives you the G force you experienced and how fast you got up to, including your 0-60 time. It's hard to say how much faster it launches than just putting the pedal down and brake down and doing it without the mode. I only figured this out today and launched it once. As you can see, these pictures were taken in my garage, so launching when I took them would have been bad.

Entering launch mode also pauses your music; at least, it did for me. I'll have to launch again when it's a little warmer out, I got wheel spin when I tried today as it's only in the 30's.

I've done Launch Mode twice now on my new Tri (picked up week before Thanksgiving), and all I can say is "Jesus!". It really is impressive (to me at least).

However, I'm reluctant To do it too many more times, as I just can't believe it's in any way good for the truck!

Thoughts on Launch Mode and its (possible) deleterious effects?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I"ll be honest, getting to that point in a closed garage would be quite the anxiety-inducing event for me.

It's not something I'll make a habit of doing. I would have kept the door open, but it's cold outside, and this garage is heated. I made sure to let off the accelerator before the brake.

 

[portdirect]

I've done Launch Mode twice now on my new Tri (picked up week before Thanksgiving), and all I can say is "Jesus!". It really is impressive (to me at least).

However, I'm reluctant To do it too many more times, as I just can't believe it's in any way good for the truck!

Thoughts on Launch Mode and its (possible) deleterious effects?

deleterious is a great word: Other than greatly increased tire wear (the three times I’ve used it have all had some spin), I don’t think you should worry too much. Fisker had some weird thing that only let you launch 500 times during the life of an ocean - implying that they were running some things right up to their design limits and so had concerns about mtbf impacts. But with Rivian they seem more concerned about the occupants and other road users longevity than the R1 itself. On that note I find it funny that though Rivian themselves say it’s a track only thing - every video I’ve seen using it (including the recent Munro one with RJ getting sandy to try it) are on public roads with little regard for other traffic ?

 

[Dark-Fx]

Fisker had some weird thing that only let you launch 500 times during the life of an ocean - implying that they were running some things right up to their design limits and so had concerns about mtbf impacts.

What's ironic is I stopped even bothering with the boost mode on my Ocean. Traction control is garbage and it ends up being slower than if I don't use it, even on decent surfaces with good tires. Blows the front wheels right away and then pulls a significant amount of power. Even after they rebiased power to the rear, it still does it.

GM tells you with WTF mode in the Hummer that it can cause accelerated battery wear. In the Sierra they say not to use the Max Power mode regularly. I don't see anything from Rivian about limiting launch mode besides just "don't use it on public roads".

 

[portdirect]

GM tells you with WTF mode in the Hummer that it can cause accelerated battery wear.

I was originally going to mention battery wear, but based on recent articles it seems like a launch every now and again may even be good for it? That’s what I plan on telling my wife at least.

Seems like a similar situation to those reports a few years ago that some alcohol each week was actually good for you, but shots at breakfast and a liquid lunch every day may not have the same positive impact…

 

[defcon888]

Am I missing something here?. I have the Gen 1 R1T and I keep it in all purpose mode and when I floor it....I kid you not, the blood rushes from my head....seriously. Is this in addition to this or is it something only for Gen2?

I laugh at these hot rodded cars that blow past me on the freeway. I say to myself "ya know, I could whip your butt off the line and in the 1/4 mile"....but I just obey the speed limit.

 

[FamDocDon]

deleterious is a great word: Other than greatly increased tire wear (the three times I’ve used it have all had some spin), I don’t think you should worry too much. Fisker had some weird thing that only let you launch 500 times during the life of an ocean - implying that they were running some things right up to their design limits and so had concerns about mtbf impacts. But with Rivian they seem more concerned about the occupants and other road users longevity than the R1 itself. On that note I find it funny that though Rivian themselves say it’s a track only thing - every video I’ve seen using it (including the recent Munro one with RJ getting sandy to try it) are on public roads with little regard for other traffic ?

This report would seem to encourage the regular use of launch mode: https://www.theautopian.com/driving...elp-its-batteries-last-longer-stanford-study/
LOL!

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Am I missing something here?. I have the Gen 1 R1T and I keep it in all purpose mode and when I floor it....I kid you not, the blood rushes from my head....seriously. Is this in addition to this or is it something only for Gen2?

I laugh at these hot rodded cars that blow past me on the freeway. I say to myself "ya know, I could whip your butt off the line and in the 1/4 mile"....but I just obey the speed limit.

Only for gen 2 for now, but I believe it's coming to Gen 1. More specifically only for the Ascend models, the gen 2 duals will not get it.

 

[alpine_]

Battery wear is less of a concern for max pack on short durations, as R1* was one of the few BEVs that could do Pikes Peak without having to lift for battery management. Normally when a BEV manufacturer has their race driver set times they can't go full throttle through every straight or they'll damage the battery.

 

[squinn61853]

Battery wear is less of a concern for max pack on short durations, as R1* was one of the few BEVs that could do Pikes Peak without having to lift for battery management. Normally when a BEV manufacturer has their race driver set times they can't go full throttle through every straight or they'll damage the battery.

My concern with too many Launch Mode repetitions is not so much about the battery, but rather the drive train/connections/whatever... I.e., the physical points where all that force is being transferred (pardon my lack of the correct terms - half shafts?). I was just thinking (having experienced LM - and again, holy crap!), something important is gonna snap on me while I'm showing off.

 

[DayTripping]

For this very reason, some vehicles limit you to a certain number of launch modes in their lifetime.

You take a big, heavy R1, on some pretty sticky tires, and there is going to be a lot of force on everything when you launch hard. I would be worrying about it even more on the quad than the tri as it will have the super sticky tires.

I don't have a tri motor so I can't play with launch mode on my R1T but I have it on my S Plaid. I use it mostly at the track, and very rarely on the street. It does make a difference but 99% of the time it doesn't matter. In the 1/4 mile it is good for about a tenth quicker.

That might not seem like much to some but when you are already in the 9's, it really is something. Most of the time though for fun, it is immaterial. The car is still quick as heck, even without it.

My Gen1 quad launches pretty well without it, but still feels like a turtle by comparison to the Plaid. As my kid put it after a ride, it has organ rearranging acceleration. Based on the runs I've seen, a new tri motor is about a tenth quicker to 60 with launch mode enabled. That alone wouldn't be worth moving to a tri if had previously owned a quad. I would suspect that a Gen1 quad with launch mode would be very close to the new tri 0-60 if it has a similar impact as it does on my Plaid.

Sponsored