Classic bike, modern engine?
Discussion
Hey all!
I know nothing about motorbikes, other than they have a couple too few wheels ;-) But i'd like to build something for my other half to ride around on. I'm thinking of some classic (ish) frame with a modern engine and decent suspension / brakes. A resto mod but without much nod to originality. Main criteria is for it to be 100% reliable so as to be useable everyday.
Any ideas from our more knowledgable two wheeled guru's??
Frame? Engine?
Ideas appreciated :-)
I know nothing about motorbikes, other than they have a couple too few wheels ;-) But i'd like to build something for my other half to ride around on. I'm thinking of some classic (ish) frame with a modern engine and decent suspension / brakes. A resto mod but without much nod to originality. Main criteria is for it to be 100% reliable so as to be useable everyday.
Any ideas from our more knowledgable two wheeled guru's??
Frame? Engine?
Ideas appreciated :-)
What they said!
To be honest it’s not usually the older engine that makes a bike feel old, it’s the suspension and brakes.
A 20 year old fireblade is still fast for instance. If you want to build something restoring something nice would be good, old bikes don’t need new engines really. They do need new wiring, working suspension and better brakes.
Look at bmwR9t, any triumph bonneville, Royal Enfield, or loads of others. Classic looks are currently cool, just buy a newish one and ride it. I’ve got old modified bikes in the garage, for my main bike I have a modern one that always works
To be honest it’s not usually the older engine that makes a bike feel old, it’s the suspension and brakes.
A 20 year old fireblade is still fast for instance. If you want to build something restoring something nice would be good, old bikes don’t need new engines really. They do need new wiring, working suspension and better brakes.
Look at bmwR9t, any triumph bonneville, Royal Enfield, or loads of others. Classic looks are currently cool, just buy a newish one and ride it. I’ve got old modified bikes in the garage, for my main bike I have a modern one that always works
Max_Torque said:
Whats the regs on putting a newer engine in an older frame? Is there a points system like for cars IVA tests etc?
Don’t think there’s any issue with it, insurance is usually the biggest hassle. Frame mods make things awkward to insure so I’d imagine engine swaps may be similar.If it was my partner I'd probably choose the Honda Hawk and drop in a late injected nt700 lump.
https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/galle...
https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/1M2YW/s1/kaspeed...
A super reliable ,economical ,shaft drive that you could style to suit .
Edited by freddytin on Wednesday 4th May 09:53
If you want 'classic Brit', then the obvious choice is a Norton Featherbed, virtually every engine you can think of has been stuffed into some poor Featherbed at some point in the last 60 years or so. You can even buy a completely new frame now I think. There's quite a lot of space in there so whatever engine you choose will very likely fit.
I'm assuming you're taking this on because you love doing it, it won't be a money maker, and it will be a long, involved, complicated and frustrating process. My father built himself a JAP engined Featherbed special, it took him 20 years (after about 40 years of it being at the back of his mind: he'd seen one on the race circuits in the 50s when he was racing and fancied making his own).
If you're looking for a 'quick' project then I'd suggest taking something modern and retro and making it 'even more' retro with customisation - that way you're taking something that already works (suspension, brakes, etc) and just changing the way it looks, rather than having to do a lot of work to make it even rideable, let alone work well.
Not trying to 'put you off', just trying to get across that a good special is a lot of work and requires a lot of dedication.
I'm assuming you're taking this on because you love doing it, it won't be a money maker, and it will be a long, involved, complicated and frustrating process. My father built himself a JAP engined Featherbed special, it took him 20 years (after about 40 years of it being at the back of his mind: he'd seen one on the race circuits in the 50s when he was racing and fancied making his own).
If you're looking for a 'quick' project then I'd suggest taking something modern and retro and making it 'even more' retro with customisation - that way you're taking something that already works (suspension, brakes, etc) and just changing the way it looks, rather than having to do a lot of work to make it even rideable, let alone work well.
Not trying to 'put you off', just trying to get across that a good special is a lot of work and requires a lot of dedication.
rodericb said:
I think a Ducati Pantah might take a modern Ducati L twin engine due to same engine mounts and sizing. I've never seen it attempted. I do wish to build myself a Ducati 888 with an 1198 engine in it.
Nice idea. I had a TL600 in the mid-90s, lovely handling bike, and quick. Now I'm trying to think where all the extra plumbing would go.....
Max_Torque said:
Whats the regs on putting a newer engine in an older frame? Is there a points system like for cars IVA tests etc?
I think (in the UK) you'd need to go though SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) which is like a glorified MOT test, and will also register the bike with the DVLA.RockBurner said:
I think (in the UK) you'd need to go though SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) which is like a glorified MOT test, and will also register the bike with the DVLA.
No, you don't. But it's a pointless exercise, when a bike is designed ,its frame and engine are designed together. Swapping them is so much work you may as well build your own frame from scratch. What would be the point of a new engine, with a wobbly old frame? .
Edited by fred bloggs on Wednesday 4th May 11:30
RockBurner said:
rodericb said:
I think a Ducati Pantah might take a modern Ducati L twin engine due to same engine mounts and sizing. I've never seen it attempted. I do wish to build myself a Ducati 888 with an 1198 engine in it.
Nice idea. I had a TL600 in the mid-90s, lovely handling bike, and quick. Now I'm trying to think where all the extra plumbing would go.....
RockBurner said:
If you want 'classic Brit', then the obvious choice is a Norton Featherbed, virtually every engine you can think of has been stuffed into some poor Featherbed at some point in the last 60 years or so. You can even buy a completely new frame now I think. There's quite a lot of space in there so whatever engine you choose will very likely fit.
Triton! 
I'm currently looking at some sort of scrambler/ cafe racer mod to a BMW G310 or even an RnineT..... yes, yes, i know ;-)
And yes, i fully understand the amount of work and time required (have full workshop with TIG/Mill/lathe surface table etc)
This basically:
Low seat, big comfy and stable.. Not for any motorway crusing, just messing around and short commute on nice days
And yes, i fully understand the amount of work and time required (have full workshop with TIG/Mill/lathe surface table etc)
This basically:
Low seat, big comfy and stable.. Not for any motorway crusing, just messing around and short commute on nice days
rodericb said:
RockBurner said:
rodericb said:
I think a Ducati Pantah might take a modern Ducati L twin engine due to same engine mounts and sizing. I've never seen it attempted. I do wish to build myself a Ducati 888 with an 1198 engine in it.
Nice idea. I had a TL600 in the mid-90s, lovely handling bike, and quick. Now I'm trying to think where all the extra plumbing would go.....
In fact, if anything the later 'larger' engines are actually smaller (physically) and lighter than the older units and so fit nicely.
Though whilst an 888 might be fine with an 1198 engine, it might not be such a good idea in a Pantah...?
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