I saw the RGB cars at Brands yesterday and was impressed, I used to race gearbox karts and these seen to be very near in cornering capabilities ,helped by the low weight I guess.

If I were to consider an engine swap to R1 or Blade for instance, what do I need to know?

Is it fairly straightforward?

Also as i'm already SVA'd what happens about emissions when its MOT time ?

Do you have to run a CAT on some engines?

Carbs or Injection?

Do I have to have reverse?

What is an average weight of a BE Locost?

Here's a list of parts I would suggest you need from a donor bike :

Engine!
Wiring harness (inc CDI, coils, rectifier)
Airbox
Fuel pump
Clocks
possibly manifold and end can
radiators can also be used

The trickier part is getting a cradle for the engine and getting your chassis modified to take said cradle. It may be worth getting a manufacturers cradle and modding the chassis yourself? Once installed you'll also need :

sprocket adaptor for propshaft
modify your or new propshaft
shear shift mechanism (cable/rod/actuator)
modify bonnet to accomodate airbox
modify side panel for exhaust.
you may need to alter you diff ratio

If you have a Q plate the for MOT you only get a visible smoke test, if age related then I guess it still goes based on the age. CAT's are required on all post Aug 95' engines for SVA, if you then get a Q plate it will still only need a visible smoke test I think.
A carb engine will be cheaper but the new injection ones have more power to begin with and can be tuned quite easily, although my 94' 893 blade is none too slow!!

Only wussies require a reverse (unless you're going to race it!) as the car should weigh in at less than 500kg, the blage engine and box weigh ~55kg so if your set-up weighs 170kg(?) you'll save yourself 115kg's!

Cheers...........Ben

No emmissions test on any Kit cars at MOT. regardless of age, according to my MOT chap.

John

Yup, no emissions tests on any self built kits at the moment although cars that get new 03/04 plates etc now do have emissions printed on their V5 so I wouldnt put it past the DoT to start testing those cars to the stated levels in future, although anything Q or age related pre 95 will be fine Im sure.
Average weight of a BEC Locost depends on what else youve got (screen, heaters etc) but mine's pretty stripped out with an aeroscreen and fairly light wheels etc, and it weighs around 420kgs wet with about 5-10L of fuel on board.

Chris

[Edited on 29/6/04 by ChrisGamlin]

http://biketransplant.tripod.com/

Cheers,

Alex