Building a hybrid in the US - advice needed

[TZ750D]

Hi all - been enjoying following some great builds on here. I'm from the UK but living in the US. I have a restored RD350 which I am doing some finishing/improvements to, and a low mileage original RZ350. Now I'm planning to do a hybrid.

I can find a reasonable RZ350 donor bike here, but hybrid parts are hard to come by here since RGV/3MA were not sold in the US and the few RS250s are not being broken. 

I can get R1 forks so that is what I am thinking for the front end. R6 forks are available too, although most I have seen have a tapered stem, not sure if I would be able to use that with the required spacer under the lower bearing.

What I have in mind is the N2 look with R1/R6 front end, RS swinger if I can get one, and an engine with Wicked parts, built by me or may even send it to them. And maybe some UK pipes.


So some questions: 

1. Anyone used R6 forks - if so what year? I weigh 215lbs (just over 15st), so heavier springs preferable, but I can always change them
2. Are used N2 clocks readily available in the UK for sale? Or like rocking horse xxxx?
3. What spacers/link needed to fit RS250 swinger and what shock options are there?
4. I know it depends on how much $$$$, but what do you recommend as far as motor mods - Banshee or Athena barrels? I like the look of Wickeds billet heads and those big carbs they sell. Be interested in a fairly hot motor power wise.
5. Seems like the best pipe manufacturers are in the UK. Is Kenny still making pipes, or is Mark Dent the best option? Jim Lomas look pretty good for off the shelf, though I don't know if they make specials for bigger cc engines.
6. What wheel options do i have with the above (thinking used Yamaha R6 wheels will be the best option?)
7. I know a good local painter (custom cars), but he is not a bike guy and always needs the PPG paint code. Are these available for standard YPVS colors and are all decals available the UK? Thinking of doing one of the white/red/black versions. How much could I expect to pay for a set of painted bodywork in the UK? (tank/seat - no fairing) - that may be an easier option.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance,

Don  




 

[Yogi]

I hate to say it mate but I think you should break this down a bit

N2 clocks are getting hard to come by and commanding good money

NKracing do a kit for the Rs swinger,it's the same kit as an Rgv banana arm.Approx £125
The swinger will still need reducing at the pivot end

I've used the Rs wheels too,R6 rear may be too big,you can't get bigger than a 160 on the back without spreading the frame

Here's a pic of mine with Rs running gear


Matt

[Tobyjugs]

Hi Ted Here are my views on your quetions.

1) i have fitted R6 conventional forks (1999) to my LC I did this by swapping LC stem into the R6 yokes. Rides very nice on road but seems a bit soft on a track but i did not try to adjust them whilst on the track will do that next time. Only bad thing is the steering lock is smaller. Getting some special yokes made now by a forum member on here. I have heard that the R1 forks are heavy and is too much overkill

2) Don't know

3) Don't know, i used a TZ swing arm with R6 shock mounted upside down. TZ swing arm keeps it the same wheel base and the shock is also set up a bit soft for the track

4) Don't know, I have a tuned power valve engine with pinned power valves.

5) I have got a pair of TSA's and a pair of PS Tuning pipes and i love both of them they have shown the same hp back to back with slightly different characteristics on the dyno graph. On the road not really noticable. The only good thing i can say about JL pipes is they look nice and because they are Stainless steel i use them in the winter. Performance wise i prefer my old battered allspeeds!!! If you can't get some TSA's i would go for PS Tuning.

6) I am currently running an R6 front wheel and a SZR (Brembo) back wheel. My bike handles better with 110 on the front and 140 on the back my first setup was 120 front and 150 rear. The brakes on the front are very powerfull and i am considering going to a one disc set up as it will be lighter and hopefully still be enough stopping power.

7) Don't know

If you have a look around on one of my threads you will find a picture of the mungrel

[TZ750D]

Many thanks both for the info. Sorry for all the random questions in same post - I thought that would be easier that filling up the forum with a lot of posts. You have given me some good info to go on, and digest and decide what direction to take. The best route may be to get an RS250 Cup track bike here and take the running gear off it and sell the rest. Just looking now in eBay sold items, one just sold recently close to me for $2700. I could probably get $1500 or more for the parts I didn't want.

Cheers,

Don

[yazza54]

Don

I would personally plumb for CPI cylinders every time over Athena.

I would also steer more towards the 68mm cylinder setups.

A 421, 443 or 465 serval would make a good engine for road use. A serval is basically a cheetah cub cylinder with lower port timing, The banshee guys tend to use these for duning, whereas the cub is more of a drag/high HP setup.

That said you can get a cub working well and to me a 2 stroke is supposed to have that mega hit of power. Depends what exactly you want??

Pipe wise I'm sure Roger at wicked could sort you out.

Ignition I would go for ignitech, carbs keihin PWK or mikuni TMX, but TMX are less commonly used and the literature isn't as good on the needles etc. so you're probably best with the keihins.

[TZ750D]

Hi Matt - have come across some RS250 parts a friend of mine in the US has and will sell me;

Wheels, swingarm are from a 2000 cup challenge bike (this was a US series and RS250 were built specially for it - basically just not road registered and with no lights etc.)

Forks, axles, triples, mudguard, and shock are from a 1996 RS250 street bike

Looking at your build you used a Nitron shock. Is the stock shock no good for length etc? All the other parts above should work right?

I'll send you a PM so as not to fill up the Forum

[Tobyjugs]

Apr 13, 2017 16:24:43 GMT 1 TZ750D said:

Hi Matt - have come across some RS250 parts a friend of mine in the US has and will sell me;

Wheels, swingarm are from a 2000 cup challenge bike (this was a US series and RS250 were built specially for it - basically just not road registered and with no lights etc.)

Forks, axles, triples, mudguard, and shock are from a 1996 RS250 street bike

Looking at your build you used a Nitron shock. Is the stock shock no good for length etc? All the other parts above should work right?

I'll send you a PM so as not to fill up the Forum

No fill the forum up then we can all learn 👍

[Yogi]

Hi Don

I won my nitron off eBay,it was unused and from a Suzuki 750 but I can't remember which model

If you buy the Nk kit you can use either Rgv or Rs standard shock

Sorry I can't be more help but I just can't remember

Matt

[TZ750D]

Thanks all for great info. My friend just bought a job lot of RS250s here in n California. A late street bike, a track bike and a bike in bits. He'll sell me the parts whenever to recoup some of his outlay - they are just in storage. When i find a good RZ350 donor I'll be back pestering you all again. RZ350s are going up in price here - even the shabby ones. RDLC was never sold officially in the US, so only YPVS available and that limits the supply.

Cheers,

Don

[plumma]

Motor wise I would just go down to Roger at Wicked Motorsports and tell him what you want. I'm sure he would supply or build to suit needs/budget. This would be my option