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long distance driving?
elf83 - 11/4/11 at 08:18 PM

Are bec's ok with long distance driving? Reliability etc stress on the engine? Was thinking of doing a trip to the nurburgring.

Major Stare - 11/4/11 at 08:28 PM

Keep your eye on your temps and pressure's, carry a can of engine oil (not everywhere carries decent bike oil) and a cussion for your bum......... you will be fine

johny p - 11/4/11 at 08:33 PM

as above mate.. bec"s do use alot of oil.. mine does anyway.. check it often mate

elf83 - 11/4/11 at 08:42 PM

Im checking it like mad now... i had the joy of my oil cooler pipe blowing off 2 nights ago, lucky for me i noticed very quickly and was only doing about 35mph, still lots a good 2.5 - 3 litres of oil. Re attached pipe re filled and trailered to gt motorcycles, engine given all clear! lol i was NOT happy at the time though. But yeah, 1st thing i do now is check the oil and have a spare 1 litre with me at all times.

Im getting a hydraulic company to make me some high pressure pipes and screw end fittings tomorrow to give me a bit of piece of mind too. Another thing... car is an mk indy, im running 15 inch trip 8's, what should my tire pressures be?

Oh and long trip... did anyone take a spare wheel just incase?

[Edited on 11/4/11 by elf83]

johny p - 11/4/11 at 08:53 PM

i keep mine at 25 psi mate.. should state it on the tyre wall.. keep mine on the softer side for better grip...

elf83 - 11/4/11 at 08:57 PM

Yeah it states max etc i believe but was wondering about an optimum someone more experienced may have, such as 25psi.. thanks

adithorp - 11/4/11 at 09:27 PM

Yes, they do distance fine provided everythings in order, but thats the same whatever the engine. I've clocked over 500miles in a day several times and 3000 in a week. Ear plugs are worth using, for the wind buffeting as much as engine noise.
Tyres presures are best found with a little trial and error, but for a BEC somewhere between 16-22psi. I like mine aroung 20psi hot and vary the cold presure depending on use and abiant temp to get that. So for a long run I'd be at say, 18psi but at a track day start at 16 and recheck after the first session.

Major Stare - 11/4/11 at 11:03 PM

Whilst mentioning loosing oil........ I have heard about oil caps working loose.

I am planning on fitting a spring to mine

coyoteboy - 12/4/11 at 02:15 AM

not much different to doing the same distance on a bike, surely?

DRC INDY 7 - 12/4/11 at 05:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
not much different to doing the same distance on a bike, surely?



There is a little bit of a difference in that the car is at least twice the weight of the bike it came from other than that just check round the engine levels and don't go daft cos it has to get you there and back as well as trips round the ring

ps were going to the ring in july 5 of us



Ps make sure the oil filter is on tight it came undone twice on a zx12 bike engined mk indy

[Edited on 4/12/2011 by DRC INDY 7]

coyoteboy - 12/4/11 at 10:14 AM

quote:
There is a little bit of a difference in that the car is at least twice the weight of the bike it came from


Yeah, but the length of trip isn't affected by that really - anything that the weight can affect is nothing to do with the length of trip. Weight affects things like how much you slip the clutch as you start off. Weight doesn't affect the loads in the gearbox. Weight affects the the length of time spent at open throttle if accelerating a lot, so cooling needs to be watched if you under-designed it for the job, if not it shouldn't be an issue?

James - 12/4/11 at 10:34 AM

Remember, you can't (or shouldn't!) engine brake with a BEC! The gearboxes cant handle it I'm told.

Enjoy The ring! Would love to go there myself.

Cheers,
James

elf83 - 12/4/11 at 04:17 PM

Good advice there James thanks something i wasnt aware of. Also thanks for stealing my user name... lol

Benzo - 12/4/11 at 04:46 PM

18Psi i ran in my Megabusa on 15" 888's.

Benzo - 12/4/11 at 04:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by James
Remember, you can't (or shouldn't!) engine brake with a BEC! The gearboxes cant handle it I'm told.

Enjoy The ring! Would love to go there myself.

Cheers,
James


Jez.. you not going hard enough if you dont need the engine brake! but yes it is sore on the box.

Wells - 12/4/11 at 09:54 PM

Ive done 4000 hard miles with my Hayabusa and never topped up the oil once. I have also use engine braking and have never had any issues.

Benzo - 12/4/11 at 10:23 PM

You should really have changed the oil a few times never mind topping it up in 4000miles!

Or do you mean between changes it hasnt used any?

James - 12/4/11 at 10:41 PM

Am pretty sure Jasper is just one of many who destroyed their gearbox so definately worth being careful!

James

coyoteboy - 12/4/11 at 11:54 PM

quote:
You should really have changed the oil a few times never mind topping it up in 4000miles!


Really? That seems nuts? Most of the bike intervals are 3K?

Bare - 13/4/11 at 01:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Wells
Ive done 4000 hard miles with my Hayabusa and never topped up the oil once. I have also use engine braking and have never had any issues.


Not to worry.. You will :0-)

Benzo - 13/4/11 at 07:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
quote:
You should really have changed the oil a few times never mind topping it up in 4000miles!


Really? That seems nuts? Most of the bike intervals are 3K?


Well if your driving it hard then you should... i change mine every 3 race days.. but im seeing oil temps of 160/70 degrees

A race day is about 54miles.. of driving hard.. so im changing it around every 200miles lol

It just seems mental to think that my car has done 8k miles in 10years, does that mean that it only needed changed every 3years/3k miles..? i wouldnt have thought so.

[Edited on 13/4/11 by Benzo]

[Edited on 13/4/11 by Benzo]

Wells - 13/4/11 at 09:29 PM

I change the oil every 1000 miles. Its never used a drop in between.