Hi Guys, I would like to request some help with finding suitable bike engines - I am not familiar with the different models available and I don't know any bikers.

What are the narrowest (vtwin, V4, triple or even i4) bike engines that would be good enough to have some fun in a sub4000-500kg?

I don't want lots of power at this stage, perhaps something around 100+BHP.

Also, the engine cannot be wider than 400-450mm - this is the minimum width on my chassis and I would like to keep it original so no chopping/welding of the original chassis - I intend to make an entire new rear end from tubular steel which attaches to the existing pickup points.

My chassis is similar to this ->

What bikes should I be looking out for?

Thanks.

Have a look at an Aprillia RSV or a Suzuki TL1000.

not sure if anyone has used one but the Aprilia RSV4 engine is very small and powerful circa 180+ in the bikes.

or the older v twin from Aprilia as its a 60deg twin unlike the Ducati which is 90deg twin.

don't know about the Suzuki 1000 twin but might be worth a look.

the twins will have less bhp but good lowdown torque. the v4 has the best of both worlds, Honda do a v4 but its a 1200 so my be a bit to big, but its like a turbine as you wined it on.

also look into the Triumph they do a 1050 triple that may be interesting.

Thanks, (as daft as it sounds) I've just found MCN's website and was having a look through and some of the specifications.

I never realised that there were *so* many different bike models

What sort of minimum torque figure would you recommend?

I like the rsv Mille engine, they are cheap and dry sumped as standard very useful for a car, 128 stock with about 115 at wheels

I found a couple of pictures with dimensions on


Description


Description

Cheers
David

Don't forget the exhausts. V-twin has them coming out both sides, whereas inline only one side.
Obvious I know, but its all about the complete packaging challenge.

You should get below 500kg very easily, and with some effort below 400, should go nicely.

Go for a Triumph Triple (Daytona, T595 or 1050). They are compact and give 130-160bhp. Lovely sound and nice and torquey. Easy to remap too.

Thanks guys - The RSV Mille Engine sounds interesting (including sound-wise): thanks for the dimensions

as does the triple: best of british

Does anyone have any outline dimensions for other?

Also, are there such things a bike breaker yards where you can wander around (North West Area ideally)?

This sounds fun......

I'm rather fond of the the old TL1000 engine, having put one in the Westfield a while ago.

Cheap, cheerful, but now acquiring a 'classic' status which might detract from affordability at some point. The ngine itself is difficult to fault, very solid. Rods have roller bearings, etc., etc. The clutch isn't the strongest, but then it's a matter of slippage, not breakage, so not severe.

Only 'problem?' I had was the sump, it's integral to the crankcase. It took a lot of welding work to get what I wanted to do with it, but if an inch or two in engine height isn't an issue to you, the stock setup is pretty flat and car-friendly as is.

I guess the ultimate alternative (more popular) to the bike engine idea would be a pinto, a short prop and a sierra differential.

quote:

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Originally posted by motorcycle_mayhem
I'm rather fond of the the old TL1000 engine, having put one in the Westfield a while ago.

Cheap, cheerful, but now acquiring a 'classic' status which might detract from affordability at some point. The ngine itself is difficult to fault, very solid. Rods have roller bearings, etc., etc. The clutch isn't the strongest, but then it's a matter of slippage, not breakage, so not severe.

Only 'problem?' I had was the sump, it's integral to the crankcase. It took a lot of welding work to get what I wanted to do with it, but if an inch or two in engine height isn't an issue to you, the stock setup is pretty flat and car-friendly as is.

I guess the ultimate alternative (more popular) to the bike engine idea would be a pinto, a short prop and a sierra differential.

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380860967487 on the bay looks interesting. Honda v4

Or the triumph 321435588131

Thanks guys.

quote:

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Originally posted by matt5964
380860967487 on the bay looks interesting. Honda v4

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You would be better with a mid engined,chain driven setup if running a midi. If you want me to take some measurements of my radical then I will. The busa fits nicely and with the dry sump it also sits very very low

quote:

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Originally posted by motorcycle_mayhem
I'm rather fond of the the old TL1000 engine, having put one in the Westfield a while ago.

Cheap, cheerful, but now acquiring a 'classic' status which might detract from affordability at some point. The ngine itself is difficult to fault, very solid. Rods have roller bearings, etc., etc. The clutch isn't the strongest, but then it's a matter of slippage, not breakage, so not severe.

Only 'problem?' I had was the sump, it's integral to the crankcase. It took a lot of welding work to get what I wanted to do with it, but if an inch or two in engine height isn't an issue to you, the stock setup is pretty flat and car-friendly as is.

I guess the ultimate alternative (more popular) to the bike engine idea would be a pinto, a short prop and a sierra differential.

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I like the sound of the TL1000, could someone please measure how wide one is?

All these dims are approx., but not far out, cam cover to cam cover is 570mm, width is alternator cover to clutch cover is 380mm and height is about 660mm to the top of the air horns

quote:

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Originally posted by ian.stewart
All these dims are approx., but not far out, cam cover to cam cover is 570mm, width is alternator cover to clutch cover is 380mm and height is about 660mm to the top of the air horns

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I don't know much about the TL engine, but know a fair amount about bikes, in particular big V twins
Stay away from dukes, they're a little fragile and need a love [i've had 7]. The RSVR engine I have is a cracking engine
Don't underestimate the dry sump, it would be a great addition to a BEC where lots of trouble and grief is caused by oil surge requiring engines to need baffling etc. The RSVR engine in my Edwards makes 123 at the back wheel. they're reliable on the most part, chain driven cams, rarely need the valves clearances doing at the first 9k service and take the abuse. Issues really are the sprag clutch in the starter, which occurs if you're trying to turn it over on a low battery, starter solenoid's not the best and can cause the sprag issues and regulator/rectifer issues, which plague lots of bikes.
RSVR engine is cheap too
The R1 engine in the Phoenix I have is known to be reasonably good and reliable with a few mods including a baffle plate and breather mod. In reality you may say pay [for arguments sake- don't know current prices] £500 for a Mille/RSVR/Tuono engine and £750 for a R1 engine. So £250 buys you an extra 30 ish HP
RSVR's in stock trim have one exhaust on one side, here's the RSVR Edwards I have, no 63 of 451

That is one nice looking bike.

It's all about the noise with V twins... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOCTePKLJds

That's got to be worth the 30 horse power diference!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by philfingers
I don't know much about the TL engine, but know a fair amount about bikes, in particular big V twins
Stay away from dukes, they're a little fragile and need a love [i've had 7]. The RSVR engine I have is a cracking engine
Don't underestimate the dry sump, it would be a great addition to a BEC where lots of trouble and grief is caused by oil surge requiring engines to need baffling etc. The RSVR engine in my Edwards makes 123 at the back wheel. they're reliable on the most part, chain driven cams, rarely need the valves clearances doing at the first 9k service and take the abuse. Issues really are the sprag clutch in the starter, which occurs if you're trying to turn it over on a low battery, starter solenoid's not the best and can cause the sprag issues and regulator/rectifer issues, which plague lots of bikes.
RSVR engine is cheap too
The R1 engine in the Phoenix I have is known to be reasonably good and reliable with a few mods including a baffle plate and breather mod. In reality you may say pay [for arguments sake- don't know current prices] £500 for a Mille/RSVR/Tuono engine and £750 for a R1 engine. So £250 buys you an extra 30 ish HP
RSVR's in stock trim have one exhaust on one side, here's the RSVR Edwards I have, no 63 of 451

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Yep, RSV1000 is a twin, RSV4 is much newer and is a V4.

If the twin engine only just fits then you are unlikely to be able to get anything more than one cylinder wide in there. There was a late RSV1000R Factory that had 150hp I think. Check MCN for the variants. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikereviews/searchresults/Aprilia/RSV1000/_/N-153+2185+189


[Edited on 24/6/14 by ed1801]

At 400mm you are going to be limited to a V twin of some sort, if it's 450mm you might just get a triumph triple in there.

A quick measurement of a GSXR750 K1 and an R1 shows they are about 480mm ish.

The cylinder head on a GSXR750 is under 400mm so it may be possible depending on the style of the chassis rear end possible to get the R1 and likes in there.

David