Yamaha Banshee + Kawasaki Ninja 250 = Rz350 clone?

[Adam Lewis-4]

I'm considering starting another project this winter, but I'd like to
run the concept past the list members for opinions, comments, and advice.

The goal is to build a twin cylinder two stroke road bike using the
yamaha Banshee ATV engine. The 350cc twin was derived from the RZ350,
but has no powervalves (they are available on the aftermarket, but are
not cheap). the bike of choice to receive the engine is currently an
early to mid 90's Kawasaki Ninja EX250. It is a small and lightweight
bike, is available at a reasonable price (they only cost ~$3000 new),
and handles well.

The engine will likely recieve some mild massaging to open up the
factory restrictions, and will make between 50 and 70hp. custom pipes
are mandatory.

In talking to some other enthusiasts, one suggested the EX250 is a bad
choice and would suffer from headshake problems. My '87 ex500 does
this under deceleration, but only if the bars are let go of for more
than 10 seconds or so. I suspect this is partially due to the 16"
front wheel, and partially due to Ohios poorly maintained roads. I
would use the Ninja 500 I already have, but I've never been
comfortable with the way it handles and brakes- it only has drum
brakes on the rear.

so the question is- Would reducing the mass of the engine cause
headshake problems, and if you think so, can you explain yourself?

The goal here is simple: I want a modern looking bike with the sound
and rush of a 2 stroke, but I dont want to spend more than a few
thousand dollars on the project total. The bike will be ridden around
town and on local country roads, for no more than a few hours at a
time, and always fueled from home. It will not be raced, or even
ridden at illegally high speeds for more than a few short stretches
(1/4 mile dragstrip).

Also, I can fabricate.

thanks for your thoughts,
-A.J.






 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:mc-engine-digest@...
    mailto:mc-engine-fullfeatured@...

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    mc-engine-unsubscribe@...

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

[Michael Kasimirsky]

Just buy an RZ350.  Really.  
 
There are plenty of ways to waste your winter.  This isn't a good one.
 


  _____  

From: mc-engine@... [mailto:mc-engine@...] On Behalf
Of enderthespeaker1
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:06 PM
To: mc-engine@...
Subject: Yamaha Banshee + Kawasaki Ninja 250 = Rz350 clone?



I'm considering starting another project this winter, but I'd like to
run the concept past the list members for opinions, comments, and advice.

The goal is to build a twin cylinder two stroke road bike using the
yamaha Banshee ATV engine. The 350cc twin was derived from the RZ350,
but has no powervalves (they are available on the aftermarket, but are
not cheap). the bike of choice to receive the engine is currently an
early to mid 90's Kawasaki Ninja EX250. It is a small and lightweight
bike, is available at a reasonable price (they only cost ~$3000 new),
and handles well.

The engine will likely recieve some mild massaging to open up the
factory restrictions, and will make between 50 and 70hp. custom pipes
are mandatory.

In talking to some other enthusiasts, one suggested the EX250 is a bad
choice and would suffer from headshake problems. My '87 ex500 does
this under deceleration, but only if the bars are let go of for more
than 10 seconds or so. I suspect this is partially due to the 16"
front wheel, and partially due to Ohios poorly maintained roads. I
would use the Ninja 500 I already have, but I've never been
comfortable with the way it handles and brakes- it only has drum
brakes on the rear.

so the question is- Would reducing the mass of the engine cause
headshake problems, and if you think so, can you explain yourself?

The goal here is simple: I want a modern looking bike with the sound
and rush of a 2 stroke, but I dont want to spend more than a few
thousand dollars on the project total. The bike will be ridden around
town and on local country roads, for no more than a few hours at a
time, and always fueled from home. It will not be raced, or even
ridden at illegally high speeds for more than a few short stretches
(1/4 mile dragstrip).

Also, I can fabricate.

thanks for your thoughts,
-A.J.



 

[Brent Prindle]

If you want, I have several sets of cylinders with powervalves and even
the ignition/valve actuator boxes.  They were spared out when I went
with a T-Rex cylinder setup.

But I would recommend not putting it into a 250 chassis.  I don't think
the 500 frame would be able to cope, let alone the 250.  Mine was in an
Aprilia 250 chassis, and it did quite well.

You may be better off getting an RZ, and spending the time reinforcing
the frame and upgrading swingarm/forks.  Or maybe an AND chassis?

Personally, I am thinking of putting my RZ motor into a TigCraft chassis
I have...


-oo
Brent Prindle
BrentP@...
----- Original Message -----
From: "enderthespeaker1" <enderthespeaker1@...>
To: <mc-engine@...>
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 3:05 PM
Subject: Yamaha Banshee + Kawasaki Ninja 250 = Rz350 clone?

> I'm considering starting another project this winter, but I'd like to
> run the concept past the list members for opinions, comments, and
> advice.
>
> The goal is to build a twin cylinder two stroke road bike using the
> yamaha Banshee ATV engine. The 350cc twin was derived from the RZ350,
> but has no powervalves (they are available on the aftermarket, but are
> not cheap). the bike of choice to receive the engine is currently an
> early to mid 90's Kawasaki Ninja EX250. It is a small and lightweight
> bike, is available at a reasonable price (they only cost ~$3000 new),
> and handles well.
>
> The engine will likely recieve some mild massaging to open up the
> factory restrictions, and will make between 50 and 70hp. custom pipes
> are mandatory.
>
> In talking to some other enthusiasts, one suggested the EX250 is a bad
> choice and would suffer from headshake problems. My '87 ex500 does
> this under deceleration, but only if the bars are let go of for more
> than 10 seconds or so. I suspect this is partially due to the 16"
> front wheel, and partially due to Ohios poorly maintained roads. I
> would use the Ninja 500 I already have, but I've never been
> comfortable with the way it handles and brakes- it only has drum
> brakes on the rear.
>
> so the question is- Would reducing the mass of the engine cause
> headshake problems, and if you think so, can you explain yourself?
>
> The goal here is simple: I want a modern looking bike with the sound
> and rush of a 2 stroke, but I dont want to spend more than a few
> thousand dollars on the project total. The bike will be ridden around
> town and on local country roads, for no more than a few hours at a
> time, and always fueled from home. It will not be raced, or even
> ridden at illegally high speeds for more than a few short stretches
> (1/4 mile dragstrip).
>
> Also, I can fabricate.
>
> thanks for your thoughts,
> -A.J.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:mc-engine-digest@...
    mailto:mc-engine-fullfeatured@...

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    mc-engine-unsubscribe@...

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

[Otto Nikolaus]

As an aside, someone local to me (Northampton UK) has put a Suzuki
RG500 motor in an Aprilia 250 frame. It's a really nice job. Shame I
don't have any pics.

Otto

On 06/10/06, Brent Prindle <brentp@...> wrote:

> If you want, I have several sets of cylinders with powervalves and even
> the ignition/valve actuator boxes.  They were spared out when I went
> with a T-Rex cylinder setup.
>
> But I would recommend not putting it into a 250 chassis.  I don't think
> the 500 frame would be able to cope, let alone the 250.  Mine was in an
> Aprilia 250 chassis, and it did quite well.
>
> You may be better off getting an RZ, and spending the time reinforcing
> the frame and upgrading swingarm/forks.  Or maybe an AND chassis?
>
> Personally, I am thinking of putting my RZ motor into a TigCraft chassis
> I have...

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:mc-engine-digest@...
    mailto:mc-engine-fullfeatured@...

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    mc-engine-unsubscribe@...

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

[Julian Bond]

In the mid 80s at the height of the "Cult of Elsie", I always wanted a
road going TZ350 or 250 chassis with a tuned LC350YPVS engine[1]. The
ultimate, when TZ700s could still be found cheap was a TZ LC hybrid with
LC barrels. The lower rev limit of the road cylinders would mean that
the cranks would probably survive a reasonable time.

What else could you do with an LC350 engine? People used to put them in
early RG250 chassis. I've seen a pic of one in a DT125 chassis.

Not sure why you'd replace a perfectly good Suzuki 250 engine with an
LC350 in an Aprilia RS125. Note here that Stan Stevens can still supply
300cc big cylinder kits for the RGV250/RS250.

[1]The modern equivalent is probably a Cagiva Mito, Yamaha YZF450
hybrid. Another thing I lust after and will probably never build.

Brent Prindle <brentp@...> Fri, 6 Oct 2006 08:38:31

>If you want, I have several sets of cylinders with powervalves and even
>the ignition/valve actuator boxes.  They were spared out when I went
>with a T-Rex cylinder setup.
>
>But I would recommend not putting it into a 250 chassis.  I don't think
>the 500 frame would be able to cope, let alone the 250.  Mine was in an
>Aprilia 250 chassis, and it did quite well.
>
>You may be better off getting an RZ, and spending the time reinforcing
>the frame and upgrading swingarm/forks.  Or maybe an AND chassis?
>
>Personally, I am thinking of putting my RZ motor into a TigCraft chassis
>I have...

--
Julian Bond  E&MSN: julian_bond at voidstar.com  M: [phone]
Webmaster:           http://www.ecademy.com/     T: [phone]
Personal WebLog:     http://www.voidstar.com/    skype:julian.bond?chat
                     *** Just Say No To DRM ***


 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:mc-engine-digest@...
    mailto:mc-engine-fullfeatured@...

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    mc-engine-unsubscribe@...

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

[Josh Fowler]

Not sure of exact reasons, but an RZ350/Banshee with TRex cylinders is
capable of over 500cc.

Josh

On 10/6/06, Julian Bond <julian_bond@...> wrote:

> Not sure why you'd replace a perfectly good Suzuki 250 engine with an
> LC350 in an Aprilia RS125. Note here that Stan Stevens can still supply
> 300cc big cylinder kits for the RGV250/RS250.


 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mc-engine/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:mc-engine-digest@...
    mailto:mc-engine-fullfeatured@...

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    mc-engine-unsubscribe@...

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/