New Reverse Trike Project (Suzuki Bandit GSR 650 engine?)

[Mike_Foyle]

New Reverse Trike Project (Suzuki Bandit GSF 650 engine?)

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and new to go karts! But I fancied my hand at taking on a project! I found this old reverse trike frame (obviously needs alot of work).

I'm wondering about mounting a Suzuki Bandit GSF 650 engine in it seeing as I have access to one. I don't know much about bikes (more about cars)... But in order to get an engine like this running, would I just need the engine, carbs, battery, loom, ecu/ignitor box and exhaust? Also presumably I'd have to fabricate some kind of radiator / cooling system as well? Obviously there's brakes and other bits to think about but I'm just interested in what I need to get the engine running at the moment. Would I be better off getting a simpler, smaller engine or is a bike engine fairly do-able? Pic of the engine :

So far the frame is a total mess but as soon as I get my hands on it I'll be cleaning it up and reinforcing it:

Any advice would be great! Thanks

Mike

 

[truesprocket]

Go electric! looks like a worthy project to me, nice find!

 

[Mike_Foyle]

The whole point in the project for me is so that I can learn a bit more about engines and get the experience of creating my own machine Electric would not really fulfill that desire I don't think. I build and fly model aircraft as well and it was the same story... Electric made more sense and was cleaner and easier to maintain, but the nitro and petrol ones just excited me alot more!

Glad you like the look of the frame. I can't wait to get started on it. Do you think that engine is overkill for a frame like that?

Mike

 

[mike75925]

if i remember right the early gsf, gsxf and gsxr's were air cooled. i can't tell when this one was made. some things that are missing for sure are the alternator, shifter, drive sprocket, carbs. the alternator is $800 on my gsxr, so figure around 300 for this one, carbs at least 250 for used, stock exhaust can be had pretty cheap. i would look to a more complete donor bike/engine for this build. nice chassis though.

 

[truesprocket]

if it's really heavy you could see about a 250 up to a 450 from a dirt bike, or a skidoo engine be a good idea if that one's going to cost a small fortune to get running , & hey check out electric gocarts on youtube it defanatelly gets the blood pumping "UNREAL" did you see my beater cart? going electric! wish me luck

 

[Mike_Foyle]

The engine I've got access to is a mk1 GSF 650. All I've got is what you see in the picture. But I did find some mk1 GSF bits quite cheap on ebay. I think you're probably right about looking for a complete donor bike to be honest. I'll see what I can find on ebay in terms of the GSR bits but I'll also keep an eye out for a donor.

As I said before I have very little experience with karts / buggies / bikes... What do you guys think would be a suitable sized engine to go for? I'd ideally like something quite gutsy in there but obviously I don't really fancy killing myself!

A few people have recommended I find a honda CR 500 seeing as it's a relatively simple 2-stroke... but I've got a feeling that might also be quite expensive having looked briefly.

Any recommendations at all for this project would be hugely appreciated. I'd like to get cracking putting some guts and intestines in her!

Mike

 

[Mike_Foyle]

if it's really heavy you could see about a 250 up to a 450 from a dirt bike, or a skidoo engine be a good idea if that one's going to cost a small fortune to get running , & hey check out electric gocarts on youtube it defanatelly gets the blood pumping "UNREAL" did you see my beater cart? going electric! wish me luck

I think a 250 - 450 2-stroke might be the way forward yeah. As long as I can find something suitable within a reasonable budget. Would a 15 hp kart engine be much good in a frame like that or would it be a little under powered?

Ps. just looked up some electric karts on youtube, they do indeed look fun! But it's all about the rawness of a gas motor for me For the noise if nothing else

 

[mike75925]

the early cr500s had a major problem with the cooling system, the coolant eats the case. there aren't many around, so they go for premium. i would say a 125cc 2 stroke would be enough to start with. a 15hp kart motor may be ok, it all depends on the motor. are you sure it is a GSR? here the bandits are GSF, katanas gsxf, and the gixxer or gsxr.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Anything 125 liquid cooled or 250 air cooled(these are two stroke figures, double for four stroke engines) and up will be plenty.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

WOW!!! You pull that thang out of a bog? It oughta clean up good, though.
Whether you NEED a smaller engine likely depends on how heavy you think your foot will be. You probably SHOULD go smaller.

 

[Mike_Foyle]

WOW!!! You pull that thang out of a bog? It oughta clean up good, though.
Whether you NEED a smaller engine likely depends on how heavy you think your foot will be. You probably SHOULD go smaller.

Haha, it was found by a guy at the bottom of his yard when he moved into a new house. I got the frame very cheap from him and decided it would make a nice project. It should indeed clean up nicely and I'm going to check all the joints etc for corrosion and damage. I think I'm a sensible enough guy to handle a big engine in there as I would be far too scared to put my foot to the floor in something like that. Round a corner it probably won't be too stable.

Oh yeah and my bad, it's a Suzuki Bandit GSF 650 engine, not GSR!!!

But yeah, I'm steering away from that idea as I think it would be unnecesarily complicated. A 2-stroke would be perfect, I'm just struggling to find one anywhere! Will take a trip down to the local breakers yard later in the week and see what kind of bikes they've got. Maybe I can scavange a whole donor bike from there.

Sorry for the novice question, but does anyone know if the bandit 650 gsf engine is air cooled or water cooled? I literally only have the engine, no carbs or anything and due to my lack of knowledge about bike engines I can't work it out.

 

[mike75925]

air/oil cooled. i do not know if they ever made a watercooled one.

 

[truesprocket]

if it's liquid cooled there'll be rad hose connecting nipples/spouts in the cylindar cap & , air cooled doesn't have them, look in up, see reviews

Haha, it was found by a guy at the bottom of his yard when he moved into a new house. I got the frame very cheap from him and decided it would make a nice project. It should indeed clean up nicely and I'm going to check all the joints etc for corrosion and damage. I think I'm a sensible enough guy to handle a big engine in there as I would be far too scared to put my foot to the floor in something like that. Round a corner it probably won't be too stable.

Oh yeah and my bad, it's a Suzuki Bandit GSF 650 engine, not GSR!!!

But yeah, I'm steering away from that idea as I think it would be unnecesarily complicated. A 2-stroke would be perfect, I'm just struggling to find one anywhere! Will take a trip down to the local breakers yard later in the week and see what kind of bikes they've got. Maybe I can scavange a whole donor bike from there.

Sorry for the novice question, but does anyone know if the bandit 650 gsf engine is air cooled or water cooled? I literally only have the engine, no carbs or anything and due to my lack of knowledge about bike engines I can't work it out.

 

[Mike_Foyle]

if it's liquid cooled there'll be rad hose connecting nipples/spouts in the cylindar cap & , air cooled doesn't have them, look in up, see reviews

I'll have a closer look a bit later, thanks

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Definitely air cooled. Liquid engines dont have cooling fins.

 

[Mike_Foyle]

Definitely air cooled. Liquid engines dont have cooling fins.

Is that a reliable rule to go by? I did wonder about that but I wasnt sure. If that's the case I might start thinking about using this engine again. The main thing that was putting me off was the hassle of having a radiator and cooling system! From what I can tell, the earlier bandit engines were air cooled, but they later started to use water-cooled engines. Anyway I'll double check later =)

Mike

 

[mike75925]

no it is not reliable. some watercooled have fins, though they do not have as many usually. mike, finding and purchasing carbs, exhaust, alternator etc can cost quite a bit.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I would love to see one of those l/c engines with cooling fins on the jug/head...

 

[Mike_Foyle]

no it is not reliable. some watercooled have fins, though they do not have as many usually. mike, finding and purchasing carbs, exhaust, alternator etc can cost quite bit.

Yeah I've checked out a few second hand bits on ebay. I'm happy to spend a decent amount on making this project work. Found the carbs and a suitable exhaust but not even thought about an alternator.

As I said, if anyone can think of cheaper alternatives please do send your suggestions because I don't have much experience with bike engines...

Mike

 

[mike75925]

i believe the katana is one, but am having trouble finding a reliable spec sheet. one i clicked on showed a gsxr instead of a gsxf.