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Motorcyclist Seeking Advice


cbrian

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Hello All,

 

I have started the process of getting a new engine for motorcycling purposes. The bike will be used not for racing but for track days (see http://www.nolamotor.com/)

which is riding as fast as you can stand for 20 minute sessions, one session per hour, six sessions per day total.  I do three to four track days per year.  As an old two

stroke guy, I want my new engine based upon the yamaha rz350/yfz350 banshee and the research for information on this engine has led me to this forum.  I had no knowledge of the banshee world and what you guys are getting out of what is essentially a 30 year old design is really impressive.

 

My goal is to have an engine that can at the very least keep up with the current 600cc four stroke bikes which have about 50 lbs/ft of torque, 115 crankshaft horsepower

and weigh 400 lbs. The machine I use weighs about 330 lbs, so power to weight would be 42 lbs/ft and 108HP. I wouldn't mind power a bit in excess of these targets.

What I am asking for is recommendations and please be as specific as you can as to what components, manufacturers and suppliers I will need.

 

Crankcase - stock or ?
Crankshaft/bearings/rods
Transmission modifications (need close ratio 6 speed)
Clutch & drive ratio
Cylinders - bore & stroke
Power valve or not
Cylinder Heads & dome size
Pistons
Intake
Carburetion - filtration
Power generation
Ignition
Lubrication
Cooling
Exhaust - silencers
and anything else you see that I've missed

 

Main criteria for me is:
Reliability - (rebuilds too often makes for an unhappy wife)
Parts availability - especially pistons
Broad spread of power throughout the rev range - peaky power delivery upsets chassis too much
Serviceability
Fuel used will be non ethanol pump gas 93 octane

Bike run at sea level

 

Any recommendations for engine builders would also be appreciated.

Thanks

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Crankcase - stock or ?  ...  Stock, modified for bigger monoblock arrangement

Crankshaft/bearings/rods...Hot Rods 4 mill 115mm rod tz drive side brng

Transmission modifications (need close ratio 6 speed) ...Banshee or RZ. would need more info. for selection.

Clutch & drive ratio... 2.68 straight cut primary's 8 plate clutch and assorted hardware

Cylinders - bore & stroke...... 554cc CP DM monoblock 58 stroke 78 bore modified for targeted heat production in street use.

Power valve or not... not needed if pipes are designed specifically to port network and heat production is designed for this intended use.

Cylinder Heads & dome size..... CP Industries with domes spec matched  by builder to porting.

Pistons ...Wiseco forged CP format for DM-modified

Intake.... preferrably resonance matched custom , or billet aftermarket

Carburetion ....- filtration 39mm Keihin wiith K&N individual 8 inch min.

Power generation ...  factory Yamaha RZ or Banshee with DC conversion

Ignition ...factory Yamaha

Lubrication... 927 Maxima Racing Castor

Cooling... oversize radiator if possible on frame choice

Exhaust - silencers.....Sniper custom cone set for unlimited frame fit and resonance & BMEP match

Moto Tassanari reed set.

Several sets of extra underwear.

The ability not to gloat and smirk too much after making 600's look really slow.

 

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Jim Smart @ Passion Racing

Rodger @ Wicked Motorsports

Nate McCoy at McCoy Motorsports.

John Stallworth @ JSR (several pikes peak titles)

Kevin Gigot

Stephen Rothwell @ Two Stroke Shop (Wayne "wobbly" wright is no longer a partner)

 

You don't need much more then 80 HP in a light weight chassis to compete with 600's. There have been a few fellas in the sport bike scene to pop up on BHQ from time to time that took to the banshee platform and really did well.

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Whats your chassis that weighs 330lbs?

 

Bone stock RD400s weigh 350ish.  330 lbs with modern stuff is easily doable.

 

I actually think his requirements are pretty easy to attain, his budget, however...may not allow it.

I guess start out there.  There are plenty of aftermarket cylinder setups that can be made to run well.

 

Remember, he said these 600cc 4 strokes are putting out 116HP at the crank.  Which means 90 to 100 at the rear tire, give or take.

That's not that tough to attain IMO.

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A properly prepped and cut trans (NO, not an override) should shift fine on that bike. Lack of traction is normally the problem on a banshee, std., cut or override tranny.

Traction should not be an issue on a road race bike.

Agreed on the on the tranny. Mine is like friggin butter. I ran it all last weekend without a missed shift and if I do it right under power I can shift it like an override.

On the traction though...,, have to dissagree. Remember there will only be one tire and it's half as wide and only partially in contact with the pavement. Lotta guys out there with modern banshee cylinders(ie. Cub) and traction is the first issue most of them deal with.

So, OP. If you do go that big on the motor, remember your chassis has to be just as up to par. Wider swinger conversion for a fat Michelin, custom shock, etc.

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That's where the right builder chimes into play. Smooth power delivery... NOT cub type delivery is where he can maintain traction. Smooth power and torque curve. You should know that... You have a 12 port setup... It's not violent power, just usable power. The tires I've seen used, sticky track tires, will allow wheelies in the rain...

From there its rider control.

 

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

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I'm more worried about the chassis versus more modern bikes - Which is why I am asking about the chassis.

 

I honestly don't know but hows the suspension, handling, and braking of an old RD is compared to modern bikes. I think that will slow you down unless you address those with some chassis mods and new components. Its not that hard to modify new forks, just make sure they got a nice set of brakes that can take racing

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Not being a smartass, but if you want a 554cc or larger banshee engine, your gonna need a lot of $$$$'s. Good luck with your project

 

 

 

The main criteria I was looking at when I voiced my proposal was 20 minute solid run times on the throttle. Yes, HP goals could be met on smaller displacement engines, but with power curve requirements, smaller engine sizes would require higher piston speeds(sustained) in order to produce the power delivery styles and top-end speeds needed to be competitive.

By over-shooting required displacement slightly, this would allow for HP goals to be met with safe port area margins, lower piston speeds, and increased reliability. Not to mention faster release rates of heat due to larger ex. flanges and lower velocity feeding the expansion chamber.

In this manner we can build the power we need, keep piston speeds down ,and outrun the competition with gear ratio instead of rpm....Jim

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