I am planning a Bike engine build.

And was hoping anyone could give advise, or has gone through the same pains.

What engine best engine to use (doesn't have to be the most hp)

After market mods, what choices are there?

What mods would have to be done to the engine, i.e clutch, power commander, sump.

Are the spares expensive?

It is easy to maintain yourself?

Are there different regs for a motorbike as for a car, i.e cat, silencer etc.

Many thanks for reading, and i look forward to reading comments.

have you tried one to see if you like it?

plenty folk on here with them, I'd try and wangle a ride before deciding

not that I have anything against them...

could be wrong but I think the only thing normally changed on the engine is stronger clutch springs. Mind the lack of a reverse issue. As for the exhaust so long as you pass the SVA noise test you could have made them yourself, no restrictions like bikes do. Cat should be fitted if it had one on origially as the engine has to meet the emission limit as per engine age rather than what its from.

[Edited on 7/10/08 by Mr Whippy]

Heres your engine:

now thats just so biased

haven't laughed so much since... I don't know when

r1 all the way...

ive not done anything to mine except get some rather snazzy k&n air filters instead of the airbox...

quote:

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Originally posted by donut
Heres your engine:

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Hi

Things you may need.

Reverse
Quaife (£670+Vat) , electric or push.

Some engines benefit from a sump baffle or dry sump.

Sprocket drive / Prop shaft.

Custom exhaust system.
Cat for '95 onwards. (CEC's need these)

Clutch upgrade, stronger springs are usually enough. cheap as well.

You engine will need re-jetting/mapping.

Engine choices:-

Pre 94/5 (No cat required)
Kawazaki ZZR1100 ZX9R
Suzuki GSXR1100W RF900
Honda CBR900 / CBR1000
Yamaha FZR1000

Post 95
Kawazaki ZZR1100/1200/1400, ZX9R, ZX12R
Suzuki GSXR1000, HAYABUSA
Honda CBR900 CBR1000RR Blackbird.
Yamaha R1
What out with later bike's, some have immobilisers built in.

The route I took.
One RF900 bike Tax/mot'd for £600 then sold of the remains.
Then found 2nd gear jumped under power.
£250 for a worse replacement!
last resort 3 new gears / 2 selector forks £200 (DIY)
Plus now Megsquirted.

What I would do if I was to start all over again.
Cheapest Pre 95 I could find. SVA, then goto someone like yorkshire engings and get the best I could afford.

What would I wan't? Hayabusa.
What sounds sensible Yamaha R1.

Plus you will need A BIG MAGNIFYING rear view mirror


to see the CEC's

quote:

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Originally posted by donut
Heres your engine:

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Any hairdrier unit is fantastic, so just about anything will do, whatever you find.

Emissions for SVA will be your only concern (really) so might be best to go for the old Blade 893 if you're paranoid about the hassles, though these are getting hard to find.
That said, a power commander, a catalyst can and a patient examiner will solve most later injection models. Just do it.
Even the lowest wattage of hairdrier can be good.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h4-p58KlDYY
The R1 has got to be the best bet for cost/durability/smiles. Any Blade is good. The GSXR's are all good, so is the ZX9 (really cheap)/10. Basically, like.... errr... anything.
Buy chassis, place engine in desired position, weld in frame to support, drive.

I also hesitated a lot which unit to buy, but finally went for the Yamaha R1 (2005 in my case).
The R1 only needs a sump baffle plate, not a full dry sump kit (like the Hayabusa for example - as far as I understood).
It has fairly good power (around 150-180 bhp depending on the year).
It doesn't need any modification other than fitting the baffle plate. You can leave the clutch well alone, too. Fit stronger springs when it goes after a few years...
It is widely used, so people have experience with it and can offer help if /when you are stuck.
Ours is not running yet (just! It might this weekend!), but I am sure we made the right choice.
If you want the most of a lightweight fun car, bike engines are the best (light, fast, noisy, paddle shift an easy thing to do).
Go on, if this won't be your only car, you know you want a BEC...
Gergely

i thought BECs were a bit silly....till i drove one!!

ive got a 954 blade engine in mine, its fantastic and i wouldnt change it for the world (although i could have my arm twisted into turboing it!) LOL

Mine is stock with standard velocity stacks and piperx filter, along with the power commander (you will HAVE to get this tbh)

to get "around" the sva emmissions, a very very weak map was put onto the power commander which did the job.

Love the whole BEC thing now, i woudlnt be without it