Banshee motor in streetbike?

[KustomKaw]

Hey, Banshee people!

I've been building a custom cafe racer based on a late 70's Kawasaki KZ400 and am looking for a suitable engine. The Banshee motor came to mind because of its relatively light weight, small dimensions, and aftermarket support. I have ridden Bansees in the past, and can just imagine that powerband in a lightweight streetbike.

What I ask of you, experts, are some basic figures. What are the dimensions - weight, height, width, and length front-to-back? What is a reasonable price for a used stock engine? where can i find HP figures or even a dyno graph? what can I expect from a "built" engine; price/HP? Should I trust the local salvage yard, or are there banshee-specific shops that I should deal with? Finally, have you heard of someone doing this before?

 

The bike is a '79 KZ400, with the suspension/wheels/brakes transplanted from a '94 Suzuki Katana. I think the banshee engine would be better suited to the bike than a big four-stroke.

 

Thanks for your help, and don't forget to post links!

 

The pic is not my bike, but it is also a '79 kz400 with later-model suspension, I'm going for a similar result.

[LiftdT4R]

It would probably be a lot easier to put a shee engine in an RZ350 frame. The RZ has the same engine as the banshee with minor differences, so it would be a perfect fit.

 

You can score a used engine for around $800 or so, and performance parts can be had cheap also.

 

Your biggest problem is going to be pipes, your gonna have to find someone to make them for you. You may be able to mod a set of RZ pipes, but the flanegs are different.

 

Also, this bike is never going to be street legal if you do the swap, I don't know if you care about that or not though.

[locogato11283]

im all for engine transplants..i say go for it!

[KustomKaw]

Well, I already have the KZ frame, and I happen to have more fabrication skills than I do money, so buying an RZ frame is out. And besides, my suspension swap is already done on the kaw. I'm not worried about fabbing motor mounts or modifying exhausts, I'm just looking for a some facts about the motor itself.

I'm also not worried about registering the bike, as pretty much anything goes for a bike over 25 years old in NY. What is different about the RZ engine that makes it legal and the banshee engine illegal? I doubt there was much concession towards EPA compliance on a late 70's sportbike.

[FireHead]

im all for engine transplants..i say go for it!

 

I think they call the bike and RZ/RD350 when you put a Banshee motor in a street bike frame.

[locogato11283]

I think they call the bike and RZ/RD350 when you put a Banshee motor in a street bike frame.

 

yep they sure do, but he doesnt have one of those layin around does he? hes got a kz400 frame and a banshee motor.. so im guessin it would be called a KZ350??

[KustomKaw]

Actually, fellas, I dont have ANY motor. All I'm looking to do here is find out what I can expect from a banshee vs. a conventional 4-stroke bike motor. Either way, I'm going to have to buy something, and I thought the 2-stroke would be interesting.

 

I guess nobody knows the size/weight/HP of a typical banshee mill?

[yfzdunejumper]

I don't have exact measurements or weight but I can take a tape measure out today and give you close measurements. I will guess the motor weights about 60-70 pounds I can pick it up without to much effort. You can pick up a used stock motor for $600-$1000. You can expect about 35 HP out of a stock banshee motor and you can go way up from there. You could purchase a used 10mill cub motor for $2500-$3500+ and get 130+ hp. There are a lot of performance part you can pick up here and on eBay that will help the stock motor wake up. Good luck keep us updated

[Trick2stroke]

Just do alittle searching on the site, there's tons and tons of information about everything you could want to know about the banshee and what to do to it ect.

 

With just a few mods to your intake, exuast, and porting you can push the 60 hp mark pretty easily, then when you get into BB's and strokers the numbers just go up from there. If you've got the fabrication skills to fab mounts and pipe adapters I'd say it's a pretty bad ass idea and to go for it. :thumbsup:

[Crazy05]

I dont know if a banshee motor would suit your needs for road racing. They dont have a power valve and if you want a lot of power you will experience a bakflip when the pipe comes on. You might want to look into the RZ 350 motor. Very similar to the banshee with better steetable gears in the trans and they have power valves. Powervalves raise and lower the exaust port depending on the rpm you are at. A banshee that makes a lot of power has the exaust port ported and raised. This makes for a very instant power band. Kind of like hitting Nitrous. But before that happens all you have is bog. This is fine with paddles in the dirt but on the street its not. The powervalve motor will give you a good controllable powerband for coming out of corners smooth with out spinning the rear tire out from under you or ending up on your back. You may be able to find someone to stroke it and port it for your needs. Even with the powervalves it takes a special talent to ride a fast one as they are still very powerbandy. You can tame them at the expense of top end power. Also they dont make a lot of tq like the big 4 strokes and really need a lighter chasis to shine. They are a HP motor which is great for drag racing but a handfull to finese. No you could also opt for a bigger banshee motor like the Cheetah with powervalves to get mor torque but it would need to be setup for smooth power band and still make 80 to 100 hp. You will not like roadracing a 150hp banshee if you want to win. A R6 will kill you just because of the driveability. But you will definately have more fun. I'm no expert and there may be people who know how to make a 2 stroke work well for your needs but you might want to visit some RZ forums and see what they are doing.

Edit: They weigh about 90 lbs

Edited March 23, 2007 by Crazy05

[Crazy05]

Look what I found for you on ebay

Click here for RZ motor cheap