Standard Blackbird engine in an Indy. How would it compare with my standard ZX9R ST. I guess the Blackbird is about 160bhp compared to around 130 for
the ZX9R.
All knowledge imparted gratefully received, especially if you have one, had one and have compared to other (Blades/R1's etc)
P.S. Hope my new Avatar aint to sexy for you all.
I have a 'bird-powered Fury, which I crashed in 2003 and am still rebuilding, and a Striker with a ZX9R engine. The 'bird is a great engine
for a road car - it's certainly got the edge on the ZX9R for power, and the gearbox is much stronger. For a race car it's blown away by the
modern 1-litre engines or the ZX12R, but for a road car and track car it has a lot to commend it.
The only problem with the 'bird engines is that as soon as the oil pressure drops they blow up - usually the no. 3 mains pick up and they
detonate. If you dry sump them, they're fine. It is possible to keep one running with a wet sump, but I've tried it before, and I'm
not trying it again - that's how engine number 1 died...
Whats the "no 3 mains pickup"?
So if I could buy a seven with a Blackbird in it for road driving would it last as it is. I like to drive fast but country lane stuff.
What is it that makes a powerful engine like the blackbird good on the road but outclassed by a 900+cc engine on a track?
What would be the difference I would notice when driving?
quote:
Originally posted by FFTS
Whats the "no 3 mains pickup"?
quote:
So if I could buy a seven with a Blackbird in it for road driving would it last as it is. I like to drive fast but country lane stuff.
quote:
What is it that makes a powerful engine like the blackbird good on the road but outclassed by a 900+cc engine on a track?
quote:
What would be the difference I would notice when driving?
Dan has summed it all up pretty well.
I had a blackbird Fury. Blew it up in that same way. But it was very torquey and there is someone with one in a Caterham IIRC that's done 100k
miles or similar - but I don't think its tracked, only road miles (and 30k of those may have been in the bike).
I'd say pretty much all of what has been said above, but with a slight change.
Yes, the Bird engine is prone to oiling issues. I too blew one up this way. However, my current engine has lasted a long time and I trust it to not
blow up for fast road use. I don't hang about much on the quiet roads when I can and it's been fine. I have a sump baffle and I slightly
overfill the oil. Even if it does blow up, the current engine cost me £433, including a set of Dynojetted carbs, so I won't be too upset if it
does go. I consider the risk worth it for the more user friendly nature of the engine, with a fair bit of low down power and strong gearbox. You can
tootle around at low revs and it will pull cleanly from 2K all the way to the redline.
I would suggest you make sure you have the later clutch basket though, as both of the earlier ones that I have had have failed as they have 5 springs
rather than 6 like the later ones, and I have broken both of the outer spring plates too. Not sure why they went, but upgrading to the later ones
cured it.
Oh, also, the Bird engine sounds a lot better than some of the other BECs I've heard too. Whilst it is still clearly a bike engine, it's a
lot deeper than most others so less shrill.
I to can offer an informed opinion, absolutely nothing wrong with the Bird engine and will survive in a 7 provided oiling issues are addressed at a
cost.
Would I fit one in a 7 ? No, would I fit one transverse in a mid engined kit ? Yes.
They can be made to survive, but if the engine bay is currently empty why put something in there that is known to be temperamental on the oiling side
of things when there are plenty of other options available, with the mods required to make it work why not fit something like a ZX12 ? The overhaul
install price will be the same ?
just my humble opinion.
Jon makes a good point there. If you have the choice, I would go with what he suggests and look at something else that will be just as powerful, or probably more so, and much more reliable out of the box. Ok, it might cost a bit more, but it is one less thing to worry about.