Iīve been calling for same scrapyards today and found a Kawasaki ZX7R.
The guy told me it has 122 bhp.
I can get it for 1100 euro.
Thatīs with speedo,tacho, carbs, wiring etc. Is a 750 cc engine also suitable enough for an MK indy. There are races in the GB with this kind of engines i thought.
Can someone please tell me more about the engine and is it a good buy ?
I thought itīs a good deal and nice price.

Personally I'd say no. I dont know if the power claim is genuine or not, but even if it is, there will be next to no power at the bottom of the rev band, which will mean loads of clutch slip to get the car rolling, with a clutch that is likely to be smaller than 900cc+ engines.
Some of the 'bigger' bike engines can be 'finicky' at lower speeds, this will only be compounded by less cc.
This is only my opinion of course......Stu.

I agree with Stu, a 900 is about as small as you want to go for a regular Locost BEC. If you are building a super light hillclimb single seater, then the engine would be fine, and its true that it would fundamentally work in a 420kg Locost. However, it wouldnt be that fast as there is so little torque compared to a bigger engine, and you are asking for gearbox / clutch problems trying to lug around all that weight with a gearbox that is going to be less strong than a larger capacity engine.

Chris

I know someone with a CBR600 engine in his car (17 year old, low insurance) and he has no problems. They put out 100 bhp. The Global Lights GT cars run with 600cc engines and they go well. Autograss has just introduced a category for 600cc bike engined single seaters - and in that sport you need a bit of grunt to pull through the loose.

I'd have thought that a ZX7R would be fine in a Locost, but again that's just IMO. I'd sooner have one than my X'Flow.

As I said, it would work, but just not as well, having less power, less torque, and more importantly, less strength in gearbox, clutch etc. The Global Lights and Autograss cars are lighter than a road going Locost, so wouldnt suffer as much with these issues.
If the engine was free then it might be worth considering, but its 1100 euro, which is about Ģ700, so not exactly bargain basement. For that money you could get a vastly more suitable ZX9 or blade engine if you hunted around, or CBR1000 engine for less (about Ģ500)

cheers

Chris

At the scrapyards they all told me that the ZX9R isnīt very reliable.
Itīs also a bit moreexpensive because they are so much asked.
I havenīt heard much about the CBR 1000 only that itīs to heavy for a BEC.

A 400cc motor would work too, but why bother?
I agree, you're working against the benefits of a BEC the smaller the engine you fit.
CBR100s were relatively sluggish bikes, but their motors are brilliant in a BEC. They have good reliable horsepower, good box and clutch, and the gearing is good also.

ZX9 less reliable? Rubbish, he's just trying to sell u an engine. For the sake of another few quid, get yourself a ZX9, your gonna be spending plenty on the car, don't get mean with the engine, get the best u can afford.

Agreed, the ZX9 is a hell of a lot more proven in BEC applications than a ZX7 is, so I don't know what he bases his "ZX9 engines are unreliable" on.
The CBR1000 engine is a little heavier, about 85-90kgs compared to about 60-65kgs for a blade/ZX9, but its a brilliant engine and far better than a ZX7. The extra weight won't really be a factor in the real world, a friend of mine on the Yahoo BEC list had a CBR1000 Striker, and it went like sh1t off a shovel, certainly no slower round a circuit than mine.

Chris

[Edited on 9/4/03 by ChrisGamlin]

Yep, Whilst posting the reply to the effect that the ZX7R would be OK, I have to agree that at Ģ700 it's over the top on price. In fact I agree with everybody (on this rare occassion!), there are better ways to spend your money.

The CBR 1000 is heavy but a solid and nearly unburstable motor. 125 bhp in std form and fairly tunable. When people are fitting Pintos, RV8s and even Cologne V6's to their Locosts, how can a CBR be too heavy?

Having driven BECs' and owning a conventional Locost I know which I would sooner have! This winter I'm converting to BEC but will probably use a Fireblade.

Oke, thanks for your opinions.
I can now look more specific what type of engine i'm gonna buy.