| Author | Message | ||
     Gschuette |
Ok, I got a WR250R without a motor to start the project. The ad said it was without the tank, motor, and cradle. I got a cradle on eBay today. The bad news is that he never told me or put in the ad that the radiators are missing. No big deal I will first try and see if I can cram the Banshee radiators in there. If not I will order up some stockers but I am a LONG way from needing to cross that bridge. It is at the friends as I type and am finishing up details with the shipping company. Here are the first pics of it at his house. They get a little bigger if you click them.         Now I am on the lookout for a gently used Banshee quad, maybe an RZ350 but I doubt I could bring myself to cannibalize one of those even though the powervalve would be nice. The WR is a perfect candidate for the project. First, I get to keep it all in the Yamaha family. Second, the bolt together hybrid aluminum/steel chassis is a nice compromise because I should maintain good stiffness, yet frame cutting/welding/modifying of the lower half will be much easier and cheaper. Third, it will be a street legal Banshee powered Supermoto! Do I need another reason besides that? I definitely have my work cut out for me. I'll be honest. I haven't planned this out much which is very unlike me. I just want a banshee powered supermoto. I'll do my best and if it doesn't work out I'll just slap one of the four stroke singles in there. My main concern is the exhaust. Holy crap! Routing, fabbing, cutting, tacking, welding, cutting it back apart, tacking welding, and so on is going to suck! I don't care though! Welding put me through college and I miss it dearly so this should be a great project. Marchesini wheels, dual 4" HID Baja lights, Speed Triple style flyscreen are in the mental plans. Blue, White, and day-glo yellow will be the color scheme. Very Rossi-esque if you will. Obviously this is all subject to change. Long story short. I was lusting over the Aprilia SXV550 supermoto due to the twin and crazy power to weight ratio. Then I thought I could do that myself with a Banshee and a WR and have something far more rare. So that is the goal, a power to weight ratio that is better than or equal to the Aprilia 550. Let me know if you have any feedback, either positive of negative. I also appreciate any tips or tricks you may have regarding the WR or a Banshee. If you know of a Banshee near East Tennessee then let me know. That is next on the list to track down. I will keep everyone up to speed on the progress. It will be slow. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
banshee powered supermoto -....druwels ! but forgive my ignance.... would it not be simpler just to get the quad... and change the front suspension to single tire and fork ... and rework the rear suspension to swing arm and one tire fire ? ie the reverse process of the guy that took the S-1 and made a quad out of it. | ||
| Gschuette |
Perhaps but handling and weight are my highest priorities so it seems that working off the WR will achieve those better. Plus it will look better this way. Another big plus to start with the WR is that as far as the government is concerned, this is a fully street legal WR250R that I can put a tag on. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Oh geez......your gonna get yourself in trouble.  I'm working on a project bike looking in a similar direction. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/270 985/651102.html?1341492384 I think you have a great idea here. Great starting platform too!!!! Cram any engine in there you want. With the 350, it will scream. It will be a wheelie machine. What kind of weight are you looking for? So that is the goal, a power to weight ratio that is better than or equal to the Aprilia 550. Those Aprilias are the top of the heap in that department. It just takes forever to get parts here (well, where I'm at anyway), and they cost a ton. I'll be keeping an eye on this one. SWEET PROJECT!!!!  | ||
| Gunut75 |
Found this too. Might help ya. http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showthread.php?8009 8-Aprilia-SXRZ | ||
| Gschuette |
I've been watching that Aprilia build with interest as well. Good luck with your project. I haven't yet set a weight goal. I'm gonna wait for the bike to get here. See what stuff can come off and what my starting weight will be. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm not familiar with the banshee motor... is it a V? What are the weight and power? I'm guessing it's a 4 stroke. Does it have reverse? That'd be odd on a bike. I had a KLR-250, and it shared a similar motor with the Mojave quad. Different cases and bottom end though. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
YESSS! I always wanted to jam a banshee engine in a street bike! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Oh and to answer Reep's question... Banshees are 2-strokes. inline twin 350s. | ||
| Gschuette |
Yeah inline 350 two stroke no reverse. Yamaha also used the same motor with a power valve in the RZ350. HUGE AFTERMAKRKET! Big power is only limited by your finances. Should be fun. | ||
| Gschuette |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeJ5MgkZyDk&feature =youtube_gdata_player Reepi Listen to that noise! | ||
| Reepicheep |
OK. Now I get it. Carry on.  Kind of a modern Kawasaki H1 super motard. | ||
| 86129squids |
"Now I am on the lookout for a gently used Banshee quad"...  Snipe hunt much? I've never ridden one, but given its moniker and intended purpose, "gently used" will translate to "looped in epic fashion whilst staring into the face of God, afterward stored with owner whimpering under large rock". Many years ago I owned a modified RZ350- to this day I would give up a testicle to acquire another one, ideally a Kenny Roberts edition... mine was bored .30 over, with Spec II pipes, one tooth smaller front sprocket, Boyesen reeds, steering damper, and so on. It was like being launched from God's own hunting slingshot! Sold it due to not knowing about the black box problems plaguing that particular year ('84 IIRC), still miss it. That bike and another I once owned, an '87 FZ700, made Yamaha my favorite brand of rice. My $.02: I dunno, but it may be hard to find a donor Banshee, sacrilege to strip an RZ- are you totally bound to use that particular motor? I know, I know, the RZ/Banshee motor is UNBELIEVABLY strong, especially with the YPVS intact- if you can remain open to using other mutant motors, things may progress more quickly. Post up when things are moving forward! BTW, given that you're there and I'm in Mur-vil, have we ridden together? Holla! | ||
| Gschuette |
2 cylinders. 2 strokes. Radiators. All Yamaha or bust. I was kidding about gently used, but banshees are all over. Plus you can pretty much build a new motor from all aftermarket parts. Between eBay, Craigslist, yakaz, quad hunter, list alerts, and a banshee forum finding a used one shouldn't be a big deal. I have my eye on several right now. | ||
| 86129squids |
Well, good luck to ya then! Power to weight will be SIICCKK! Might need wheeliebars! I wanna ride it when it's done- you should get a tag made that sez "WACHDIS...  | ||
| Reepicheep |
FWIW, I saw a big bore two stroke KTM single (what, a 400 or something?) for sale in the Cincinnati area for $1500. That even included a Rekluse clutch. If I had the disposable money (I don't) and wanted to terrify myself (I don't) I would have bought it. A buddy has a KTM520, and that thing is a pretty stout motor as well... probably more than a stock banshee. Sounds and smells wrong though. | ||
| Gschuette |
The KTMs are nice. My fellow Buellers should be able to appreciate the Banshee motor because it is so short and it keeps the weight low. With the parallel pistons it should also keep a fair amount of weight on the front wheel. Unless I come across some screaming buy on an RZ ($250ish yeah right, I know) I can't see myself tearing one apart given the amount of Banshees out there. | ||
| Gschuette |
 The WR is now on its way! I'm thinking of doing a bit more play by play on the Twitter. Follow @CvlDobd if you want more updates with fewer details. Don't worry though. I'll use the forums to provide more detailed info. Thanks. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! I look forward to following the build. I spent 2 hours tonight cleaning gaskets circa 1978 off a KX400 case, jug, and head. And it's still not done. It's a parallel twin also. (ahem, with about 50 less horsepower ). | ||
| Gschuette |
Thanks Reepicheep. As you can see from the above pic, you are currently beating me by two cylinders! | ||
| Fast1075 |
A well built Banshee/RZ motor will make that a complete terror  . Be careful what pipes you use. Some of them are junk. And of course, the Banshee pipes most likely will not fit unless resectioned and welded back together. Lenghts and taper are very, very critical to performance on a 2 stroke. There is a TON of science with 2 stroke exhaust. When you are done, the front tire will last forever since it will only be on the ground when stopped  . | ||
| Gschuette |
I plan on having as much time in the exhaust as I will have in the rest of the bike. I'll put up some links for some routing and lengths I am thinking of making. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I hate this thread.... it has led me to many wasted hours of youtube video and CL / Ebay banshee hunts This thing will be killer when it hits the 'road' | ||
| Gschuette |
So you gonna buy a quad or something slicker?  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
it is at this point, pure moto porn | ||
| Gschuette |
 Lift The lift is in! | ||
| Gschuette |
Just ordered a 4mm stroker banshee motor. It is being built now. Totally refurbished motor with zero run time. Should be here on the 26th | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Oh yeah because normal stock banshee engines are wussy and boring. | ||
| Gschuette |
Lol Well most banshees within driving distance are going for about $2500 ish. Assuming all parts are in condition to be sold on eBay, the most I think I could realistically recoup is $900. $1600 for a stock engine is steep especially with the hassle of all those auctions. This like new stroker was less than that so why not? It's a project. | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow... that's gonna be a FUN motorbike! Although it's nice to have a fully assembled and pro-built motor just dropped at your door, it would also be fun to build it yourself with a full kit... I used to enjoy fiddling with 2smokers... Another tag idea: "LOOPY" You GOTTA plan on posting pics, dude! |
