Board logo

Which BEC would you build?
jonabonospen - 12/9/12 at 11:54 PM

Took a trip to Mac#1 yesterday to have a look around their place and see some of their cars. What a great bunch of guys they were. Couldn't ask for anything more from them. They gave me their time, their advice, showed me pics on the PC, let me sit in a car.......... I really couldn't have asked for more.

So after a chat with them, and some reading of build blogs, and looking around on the net, I am now leaning towards having a go at building my own kit rather than buying a completed car. And I very much like the look of the Mac#1 Worx ZX10R, especially so as I am a Kawasaki lover.

But....... given a requirement of meeting a similar budget to the Worx car (perhaps around £12k total build cost) and with a requirement for a decent powered engine (i.e. ZX10R, ZX12R, Busa, that sort of thing), what kit would you choose to buy and build and why?


NigeEss - 13/9/12 at 12:10 AM

Money no object I'd go for an Indy with a Busa but reallity dictates much lower expectations


daniel mason - 13/9/12 at 06:28 AM

on a budget an aries motorsport with blade or R1 probably.
if not the a striker or mnr with more modern busa,zzr1400 or blade. all imho obviously.


TimC - 13/9/12 at 07:09 AM

For a 7-shape for the road, probably Aries with an R1.

Otherwise, click below.


adithorp - 13/9/12 at 07:34 AM

If it had to be a 7, then Raw Stiker with '06 R1. Alternative to R1 would be either ZX10R or the CBR1000RR'08 blade as being used by a lot of the RGB racers. Only problem with the '08CBR is the height of the engine with secondary injectors

Personaly think the BUSA is too heavy, too expensive and too complex (with dry sump) and the ZZR1400 too expensive and heavy for the extra power for either to be worth it. The ZX12 isn't much better than the ZX10R.

Bare in mind if you go for a new build, the cost of IVA and registrtion... and you won't be driving it for 12months (pos' even 2014 onward). If doing it again, I'd be looking for a registered car and rebuilding to my own spec'... and I'd gp for a FuryR1... again!


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 07:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp

If doing it again, I'd be looking for a registered car and rebuilding to my own spec'... and I'd gp for a FuryR1... again!


That comment has interested me. Is that really a viable way; to buy a completed car, then strip it all down and basically rebuild it the way YOU want it (i.e. changing the engine and clocks, the dash, brakes etc)?


matt_gsxr - 13/9/12 at 07:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
quote:
Originally posted by adithorp

If doing it again, I'd be looking for a registered car and rebuilding to my own spec'... and I'd gp for a FuryR1... again!


That comment has interested me. Is that really a viable way; to buy a completed car, then strip it all down and basically rebuild it the way YOU want it (i.e. changing the engine and clocks, the dash, brakes etc)?


If the car is relatively recent then it is probably not sensible to replace the engine owing to the cost of all the bits you would need to swap (engine, ECU, exhaust manifold, engine mounts, prop-shaft length, bodywork where exhaust exits, diff-ratio) which would add a lot of cost. But all the other stuff would be easy.

Adi's idea is a good one, and now is about the right time of year to be looking around. There are a few folk who like building but aren't interested in owning, so they sell their cars at a considerable loss over the component costs.

Matt


adithorp - 13/9/12 at 08:03 AM

Yes.

A new build always costs (a) more than you budget for and (b) more than the resale value. By wisely and you can save quite a lot of £'s and even more hassle; you can probably do it including all the shiney bit's that cause (a) and all the ones you couldn't aford.


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 08:08 AM

Bloody hell!! Yesterday I was all set for buying a kit to build. Now you guys have got me questioning that again now


wylliezx9r - 13/9/12 at 08:14 AM

When choosing a supplier make sure you know their customer service history, a quick search on here would do it. Just because they sell a good product doesn't mean they will be good to deal with.
I would be looking at Aries, MNR, Road runner and as all ready mentioned mac1. But that's just my opinion of course.


Jon Ison - 13/9/12 at 08:19 AM

Winter approaching, prices will fall, buy a completed registered car as close to your spec on the basics as possible then sort it over the winter.

If I was doing it again probably fury or the likes, defo full bodied if going BEC.

There was a ZX12 engine for sale on here last week, cant remember exact price but it was more than reasonable £500 ish maybe less.


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 08:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison

If I was doing it again probably fury or the likes, defo full bodied if going BEC.



Why go full bodied?


adithorp - 13/9/12 at 09:19 AM

More comfort especially if you missjudge the weather (no rooster tail of water in your face off the front wheel) and better aero. A 7 hits an aero brick wall at about 120 were my Fury goes through 145, still pulling.


twybrow - 13/9/12 at 09:22 AM

My humble opinion!

MNR - Personally I have not had great service from them, and their cars recieve mixed reviews. They seem to bolt together well, but are possibly not the most well engineered car.
MK - I personally wouldn't touch them. The service in recent times has been dreadful, and I dont think the car itself is that great.
Aries - great service, and a very well sorted chassis. There is a reason the racers love them!
Westfield - pricey to start with, but very well sorted chassis and they hold their value better than other kits
Raw - I would be very tempted by a Raw. The service is reportedly good, and the car has a proven race/track pedigree.
Mac#1 - I cant comment - I have never had anything to do with them.
Dax - too expensive for what they are and the looks don't do it for me. But there is no denying they are well engineered.

Engines are a whole different kettle of fish! Figure out a few basics: cost, power/torque requirements, ease on install, upgradability, gearing (axle requirements) etc. Anything is possible so it is very much a case of going after what you want. If you are a Kwak fan, ZZR1100, ZX10 (old or new), ZX12 and ZX14 are all well trodden paths, so you shouldn't have major issues with any of them....


Dangle_kt - 13/9/12 at 09:28 AM

If I was doing it again, I'd go fury - probably with a screen and doors, and a nice CEC engine.

Just being honest. The BEC was great 10% of the time, and a pain 90% of the time. Unless you live 2 minutes from amazing country roads of course!

But whatever engine, I'd go Fury - just so it was more useable.

I bought part built, and it really helped keep the price down. But mine was a real budget build (about half your build budget) - which led to compromises.

If I was in your shoes I;d ask a simple question, do you want a kit car to drive or to build? If you are PASSIONATE about the build then build - if you are anything less than PASSIONATE about the build bit, then BUY it complete (turn key or 2nd hand). It can be a long old road, and if you are like me you will stall - I ended up getting a lot of the work done by a fellow builder at my cost, which worked for me - it still took two years from being part built!

There are plenty of part builts for sale because people give up - its common.

There are also lots of people who are still build 4 and 5 years in.

So think carefully, £12k is A LOT of money to tie up in a lengthy build unless you will really get a lot out of that part of the process.


hicost blade - 13/9/12 at 09:50 AM

Westfield megabusa or megablade every day of the week, and when you get board of it you can easily sell it!!!! Unlike every other make of car mentioned above. Also they are usually better made and look better in my opinion (which doesn't count for much)

I have owned a few and they appeal to a much wider audience when it comes to selling, unlike the locost I almost gave away!!
Dave


welderman - 13/9/12 at 10:25 AM

I've had two 7 type cars a fury and I'm building another 7 type car (mainly track)

I though if I had the choice would have another fury with the new honda1000 rr. Had good reports about the engine and the fury is an excellent car. You just feel that bit more safer with a full bodied car


adithorp - 13/9/12 at 11:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by welderman
just feel that bit more safer with a full bodied car


Odd that, Joe... 'cos "safe" isn't the first word that comes to mind when I think of your driving.

[Edited on 13/9/12 by adithorp]


imp paul - 13/9/12 at 12:10 PM

i was told by paul at spire sports that the blade 1000rr engines new type suffer the gear on the end of the crank breaking up and its part of the crank so new crank every time not good but a fast engine so it seems


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 12:33 PM

Forgetting the customer service, which models do you consider to be technically the best. So for example the Mac#1 Worx against MK Indy R, which is technically the best car?


Hellfire - 13/9/12 at 12:56 PM

If we were to build another kit, it would be the Indy R and most definitely BEC. The only difficulty would be choosing the engine. It'd have to be either ZX10R or ZX12R. Personally, I'm not too keen on full bodied cars and I still think the MK Indy R is aesthetically the best looking budget 7 on the market. I'd also choose the MK over a MAC#1 for reasons we've already discussed.

Phil


sdh2903 - 13/9/12 at 01:25 PM

If you're after technical ability go for a westy or a caterham. They hold their value too.

It depends on you personally with respect to build vs buying. I thoroughly enjoyed building and feel very proud but now it's finished I feel a bit lost and will be building something else before long.

For the 12k budget you would get a well sorted megablade with change left over to make it exactly how you want it. You would probably get a nice megabusa for that money too.


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 02:20 PM

I only mentioned the £12k budget in respect of building a car, as the costs would be spread out over some time. If I was however to just go buy a car then that budget is likely to come down to more like £7,000-7,500 for an outright purchase.

I have now been to see MK's factory too. Although there were more people there, and the chassis for the Indy R does look nice, I wasn't overcome with a will to buy one. What did interest me more though was that Danny was saying I could probably have an Indy R with a Busa in it, for what I was looking at spending on a Mac#1 Worx with a ZX10R engine in it. I also found the pricing at MK to be a little vague as only you get is the price for the 'Indy R Deluxe starter kit' but then you have to guess yourself how much EVERYTHING else is going to be. The Mac#1 pricing of selling you everything apart from an engine, in packages, seems much easier for the budgeting.

There just seems to be soooo many things to consider that it is hard to decide what to do for the best. Manufacturer, chassis, the looks, the engine, the build / after sales support, price.


welderman - 13/9/12 at 02:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
quote:
Originally posted by welderman
just feel that bit more safer with a full bodied car


Odd that, Joe... 'cos "safe" isn't the first word that comes to mind when I think of your driving.

[Edited on 13/9/12 by adithorp]



hmm i fell into the trap lol

mind you Tom and i were only just talking the other day about my driving in the very very wet at a considerable speed on the way home from a kit car show with yourself. I was dry as a bone when i got home, speed = rain goes right over the head lol.


welderman - 13/9/12 at 02:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
I only mentioned the £12k budget in respect of building a car, as the costs would be spread out over some time. If I was however to just go buy a car then that budget is likely to come down to more like £7,000-7,500 for an outright purchase.

I have now been to see MK's factory too. Although there were more people there, and the chassis for the Indy R does look nice, I wasn't overcome with a will to buy one. What did interest me more though was that Danny was saying I could probably have an Indy R with a Busa in it, for what I was looking at spending on a Mac#1 Worx with a ZX10R engine in it. I also found the pricing at MK to be a little vague as only you get is the price for the 'Indy R Deluxe starter kit' but then you have to guess yourself how much EVERYTHING else is going to be. The Mac#1 pricing of selling you everything apart from an engine, in packages, seems much easier for the budgeting.

There just seems to be soooo many things to consider that it is hard to decide what to do for the best. Manufacturer, chassis, the looks, the engine, the build / after sales support, price.


they might seem a little vauge, but they are a great bunch of lads and there electrical genius is a wiring god


sdh2903 - 13/9/12 at 02:42 PM

The easiest question is do you want to build or do you want to drive? Answer that and it solves your dilemma. And don't forget it's not just the build, you have got iva (£475 if you pass first time) plus registration and tax etc.

Also a modern zx10 engine is as powerful if not more powerful than a busa lump and won't require dry sump or accusump. I'm guessing that the price quoted from mk won't include dry sump. The zx10 engine is lighter too.

[Edited on 13/9/12 by sdh2903]


adithorp - 13/9/12 at 02:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by welderman

hmm i fell into the trap lol

mind you Tom and i were only just talking the other day about my driving in the very very wet at a considerable speed on the way home from a kit car show with yourself. I was dry as a bone when i got home, speed = rain goes right over the head lol.


Hmm, remember it well. It wasn't the rain wetting me I was worried about. Felt like I was in danger of finding out if the water still went over your head when travelling backwards at 90!... and if it did, there was still the damger of wetting myself. A cup of coffee in Costa untill it stopped was more inviting.

OP. If you feel like seeing what a FuryR1 feels like, I'll be at BlytonPark for a track day on the 29th. You're welcome to a few passenger laps.


jonabonospen - 13/9/12 at 03:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sdh2903
The easiest question is do you want to build or do you want to drive? Answer that and it solves your dilemma.



That's where the problems start, as I want to do both


sdh2903 - 13/9/12 at 03:08 PM

You need to build then! If you get one ordered and your reasonably competent on the tools you could be built ready for iva next summer (if we get one) my build took 3 years but in that time I changed jobs, house, New garage, New baby and changed my mind from cec to bec halfway through and I painted my car. I reckon I could easy do a build in 6 months now, especially if you get a complete kit.


sdh2903 - 13/9/12 at 03:12 PM

seeing as your in Yorkshireland go and have a look at Mnr. I've only dealt with them buying parts but they have always been very helpful, they do a nice looking car too.


motorcycle_mayhem - 13/9/12 at 04:48 PM

I've built three Mega(Whatevers) Westfield over the past 10 years. Engines have been varied (GSXR750/1000/1300), TL1000R, Blades 893,919,929 and Yamaha R1 (5JJ and 5VY). Cars have all been destroyed on the circuit, with only a broken collarbone, two ribs and an arm on me. The crash strength is very good, particularly the Euro chassis. I'm building my 2nd Euro at the moment (S1000RR).

I've looked at others, but really, Westfield quality and parts availability does it everytime.


sdh2903 - 13/9/12 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by motorcycle_mayhem
I've built three Mega(Whatevers) Westfield over the past 10 years. Engines have been varied (GSXR750/1000/1300), TL1000R, Blades 893,919,929 and Yamaha R1 (5JJ and 5VY). Cars have all been destroyed on the circuit, with only a broken collarbone, two ribs and an arm on me. The crash strength is very good, particularly the Euro chassis. I'm building my 2nd Euro at the moment (S1000RR).

I've looked at others, but really, Westfield quality and parts availability does it everytime.


Ooh how you doing the engine management on the s1000r? Are you doing a build diary?


jonabonospen - 3/10/12 at 02:39 PM

Just to update, I have now placed my order with the great guys at Mac#1 for a ZX10R Worx so will be starting my build in December all being well.