How difficult would it be to convert a CBR1000 powered MK Indy to R1 power?

What are the major jobs/pitfalls?

Cheers.

Not that difficult, depending on your engineering ability. You'd need a complete engine and all the gubbins (se Marc N of MNR fame - he has several at good money!), an exhaust manifold, engine mounts, carbs rejetting (unless done already), a sump baffle plate (see JB7 - he advertises them on ebay for about £50. Highly recommended by me....), maybe some prop shaft mods depending on where you mount your motor. That should cover most major jobs, with the little detail bits to complete.

It won't be as simple as taking out one motor and bolting the other in place - in fact, it's not much less of a chew on than taking our a car engine and replacing it with an R1!

I hope I haven't scared you....

Ive just done blade to R1. I did make it slightly more complicated by going injection (more complex loom) but either way its a worthwhile conversion IMHO. I would certainly leave it until the winter though unless you can devote a lot of time to it, because it will still take a fair amount of time to do and you'll be off the road for a couple of months at least. Coose has outlined most of it, but a few other things I can think of -

Will your existing dash etc will work with the R1, otherwise you might need new gauges etc.

Fuelling - if going fuel injection you need to think whether your current fuel tank etc is suitable to allow return feeds etc.

It will probably need a new gear shift linkage as the R1 selector shaft is a lot higher on the engine than most other bikes.

You might need new side panels if the engine ends up in a different place and the exhaust hole cant match up to your existing hole. Also will any bonnet holes line up?

Does your current car wiring use the CBR1000 loom for lights etc? If so then it might make the wiring a fair bit more complicated having to either chop all that out and put in the R1 loom in its place, or seperately wire the lights etc from scratch.

What radiator are you using currently, and is it suitable for the R1?

The R1 is a higher overall engine than the blade (not sure compared to the CBR1000). My blade engine just fitted under book locost bodywork but the R1 needs a hole in the bonnet.

Is the CBR1000 a cable or hydraulic clutch? If hydraulic, you need to work out how you're going to work the R1 (cable operated) clutch.

Chris

Why have people changed from another bike engine to an R1? Is it the power? blade to R1 not much in it? Does the R1 run ok without sump mods? The price for a carb'd model is very good compared to other options (incl car engines).
Tim

You hit the nail on the head. More power and torque. Typically you will see an additional 25hp over a blade. The engine runs fine without modifying the sump, all you need is a baffle plate to help limit oil surge.

I don't know if I would bother changing from a blade/cbr1000 just for the sake of it (i've just had a great trackday sharing a firends megablade) but if you knacker an engine its defintinely a good swap to do.

Cheers

Paul

I did it partly for extra power / torque, but also I feel that the R1 has a more suitable (ie stronger) clutch and gearbox than the blade, just compare the size of the clutch plates for example.. I also did it because I wanted a bit of a winter project and the car needed a strip down / tidy up anyway, it is certainly quicker now, especially above 80mph but I probably wouldnt do it again as its a fair amount of work.

Chris