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Author: Subject: Bike Engine Size Help - narrowest/most powerful type to look for
onenastyviper

posted on 21/6/14 at 08:42 AM Reply With Quote
Bike Engine Size Help - narrowest/most powerful type to look for

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.





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fesycresy

posted on 21/6/14 at 08:48 AM Reply With Quote
Have a look at an Aprillia RSV or a Suzuki TL1000.





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matt5964

posted on 21/6/14 at 08:50 AM Reply With Quote
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.

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onenastyviper

posted on 21/6/14 at 09:20 AM Reply With Quote
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?





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Minicooper

posted on 21/6/14 at 10:33 AM Reply With Quote
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


Description
Description


Cheers
David

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matt_gsxr

posted on 21/6/14 at 02:19 PM Reply With Quote
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.





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twybrow

posted on 21/6/14 at 10:00 PM Reply With Quote
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.
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onenastyviper

posted on 22/6/14 at 07:57 AM Reply With Quote
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......





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motorcycle_mayhem

posted on 22/6/14 at 09:00 AM Reply With Quote
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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onenastyviper

posted on 22/6/14 at 03:24 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
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.


A very short prop-shaft

Do you have any pictures of the TL1000 engine sump issue?





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matt5964

posted on 22/6/14 at 04:05 PM Reply With Quote
380860967487 on the bay looks interesting. Honda v4
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matt5964

posted on 22/6/14 at 04:13 PM Reply With Quote
Or the triumph 321435588131
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onenastyviper

posted on 22/6/14 at 05:10 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks guys.





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hkp57

posted on 22/6/14 at 08:13 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by matt5964
380860967487 on the bay looks interesting. Honda v4



These V4 engines are great, this one looks like it is out of the crosstourer as it has a shaft drive output shaft. The sports tourer version is chain drive so would need to sit across the chassis while this one would go inline,

Crosstourer has less horsepower but more torque than the chain drive version which has 170bhp as standard

Both come in the DCT (dual clutch transmission) which makes it a dual clutch 6 speed auto box with a manual option built in for a button shift, has traction control and down shift auto blip built in.

My crosstourer is the DCT version so would be perfect for your narrow chassis, as standard it has 130BHP and 126 Nm torque

[Edited on 22/6/14 by hkp57]





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daniel mason

posted on 22/6/14 at 08:30 PM Reply With Quote
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






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ian.stewart

posted on 23/6/14 at 04:17 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
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.


Another TL user on here, I thought I was the only one, Mine is a bit different to the average kit car, being built into an Austin 7 box saloon, I too would be interested in pictures of the sump


http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/152938/austin-7-box-saloon#.U6hRGekg_IU

[Edited on 23/6/14 by ian.stewart]





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onenastyviper

posted on 23/6/14 at 05:51 PM Reply With Quote
I like the sound of the TL1000, could someone please measure how wide one is?





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ian.stewart

posted on 23/6/14 at 06:08 PM Reply With Quote
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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onenastyviper

posted on 23/6/14 at 06:32 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
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


Thanks





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philfingers

posted on 24/6/14 at 09:56 AM Reply With Quote
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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ed1801

posted on 24/6/14 at 10:42 AM Reply With Quote
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!!!

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onenastyviper

posted on 24/6/14 at 12:17 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
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



I don't have an issue between the V2 & V4 - I do have an issue with space on my chassis and I want to fit the most powerful engine I can in the space I have.

I have ~400mm between the rails so would fit whatever fits (and is recommended ), that said, I don't think an i4 engine would fit - they appear to be ~100mm too wide (on average).

Keep the suggestions coming (and any dimenions/drawings if anyone has any please)

EDIT: OK, I've confused myself now, are Aprila RSV bikes available with Vtwins & V4s?

[Edited on 24/6/14 by onenastyviper]





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ed1801

posted on 24/6/14 at 12:39 PM Reply With Quote
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]

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Minicooper

posted on 24/6/14 at 12:39 PM Reply With Quote
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

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