bike engined kit cars

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2004
Posts
12,781
Location
Leicestershire
i've seen a couple and i like the nutter element about them i really do but the question is:

how reliable are they? do you constantly have to tinker and tweak them as things wear etc?

i get that they are in no way a 'normal car' so i should expect to tinker and things break etc but i'm just wondering. the bike engines are very strong and reliable - in a bike. But the extra weight of a car has me wondering if it overstrains the engine?
 
That program on Discovery channnel. Kit car crisis i think. He built one of those bike engined kit cars. A Hyabusa is it. When like ..... off a shovel.

errmm thats my full knowledge used up...
 
I dont think the engine will have many issues, it will be the gearbox and clutch. Maybe a really low first gear to get it moving should do the trick.
 
I remember from my time reading kit car magazines that a lot of them tended to suffer from oil surge issues as bike engines aren't designed to take the lateral g forces that a car will generate.
 
That's true but a baffled deep sump or dry sump setup is often specced for a bike engined kit car anyway so not a huge problem.

As said I would have thought gearbox and clutch may suffer, although this can be mitigated through gearing the car much lower than you would a bike and with regular clutch plate checks/replacement. Regular oil changes would also be top of the list as the increased clutch/gearbox wear would be mitigated by fresh oil on a shorter service interval.

Aside from that there should be very little to go wrong with it. Try sticking a turbo on it too . . . . . :D
 
They have to have reverse to pass the IVA test now, but there are probably more of them of them on the road without a reverse than with.

Clutches and gearboxes are the main weak point, but it's fairly engine specific.
 
Theres a couple of nice conversions on youtube

main two that come to mind are

EscortRR - mk2 escort/cbr900
Hayabusa Golf - mk2 golf van/turbo hayabusa
 
Dogbreath said:
They have to have reverse to pass the IVA test now, but there are probably more of them of them on the road without a reverse than with.

Clutches and gearboxes are the main weak point, but it's fairly engine specific.
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Thanks for all the replies. I think this issue could be sorted ala my friends goldwing sidecar as that has a reverse - its runs off the starter motor so technically you can only use it very infrequesntly but it works. :)
 
I have a Megabusa,finished building it last year.

Its covered 1400 miles so far (wish it was more :( work gets in the way)

It depends on which engine you choose as regards sumps. Some you can get away with using a baffle plate. I personally wouldn't run a Busa without a dry sump lots of £££ but then the original engine cost was even more £££'s.

I am always tinkering with my car but I think that's the nature of the beast especially as I built it myself they are never quite finished (in your head at least)

Since getting it on the road I have replaced the standard exhaust can which had a cat in it.
I have recently fitted a flatshifter :D which then meant having to fabricate new bracketry for the paddle shifter.

As has been mentioned if you are building now you do need a reverse for IVA but there are off the shelf solutions available now anyway.

I personally do not have a reverse gear and as long as you think ahead when parking its a not an issue.

I did put up some pictures of the build a while ago have a search under my username.

Email in trust if you have any questions

Steve
 
just to reignite this...

westfield and caterham seem to be the biggest players but what about:

Locust seven
Fisher fury
Tiger Avon (every tiger avon i've looked at i've really liked the look of but never heard of them!)
 
I did look into putting a GSXR1000 turbo engine into a smart car..... as you do.... in terms of a daily driver its not really an option. The main problem is the car is heavy compared to a bike so when your in traffic you have to give it a fair amount of revs to pull away. obvoiusly the clutch wont last very long, plus even if your driving along at a legal speed it sounds like your doing 100 and can attract the police.
 
Had the option of having a V8 given to me for a small fee. it works and runs etc. From a chrysler though and i know very little about them. all i know is the car ia from late 70s early 80s i guess.:confused:
 
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