Midi-buggy

[K-fab]

Originally Posted by hero_saku39

Most mini rails aren't going to weigh much more than the 800 lbs. bike.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sorry...
I see these sorts of numbers and have to laugh.
Unless you've built a single seat stadium style car, 800 would be a very light mini-rail.
In general, people are suprised to discover their car usually weighs closer to 1000 - 1100 lbs.
Not picking on you at all, so don't be offended. - I thought the same thing when I first started building cars.

[yoshi]

[quote=K-fab]

Originally Posted by "hero_saku39":lz1wjixl

Most mini rails aren't going to weigh much more than the 800 lbs. bike.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sorry...
I see these sorts of numbers and have to laugh.
Unless you've built a single seat stadium style car, 800 would be a very light mini-rail.
In general, people are suprised to discover their car usually weighs closer to 1000 - 1100 lbs.
Not picking on you at all, so don't be offended. - I thought the same thing when I first started building cars.[/quote:lz1wjixl]Same here. I built my first rail outta 83 wall and a small, lightweight 600 cc powerplant and I was still at 950 dry.....

[bdkw1]

Yeah, I'm hoping this will be around 1200# empty.

Here are some of the parts I have bought or made.

[bdkw1]

More.

[hero_saku39]

[quote=K-fab]

Originally Posted by "hero_saku39":1qxrdynp

Most mini rails aren't going to weigh much more than the 800 lbs. bike.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sorry...
I see these sorts of numbers and have to laugh.
Unless you've built a single seat stadium style car, 800 would be a very light mini-rail.
In general, people are suprised to discover their car usually weighs closer to 1000 - 1100 lbs.
Not picking on you at all, so don't be offended. - I thought the same thing when I first started building cars.[/quote:1qxrdynp]

Didn't mean to sound igorant....just trying to point out that its not a big deal if you consider 20-30% weight increase with a 20-30% final gear reduction.

Not like the hayabusa.......

175 HP
102 TQ
dry weight 480 lbs.

that's 150% increase in weight on the stock clutch with a 1200 lbs. car

[Bugpac]

hyabusa is a proven drivetrain in the minibuggy world, so doubtfull anyones opinion on clutch issues will mean much of anything to a builder etc... and consider gearing multiplying torque etc, 600 or 1200 doesnt even matter if geared correctly... 8)

[hero_saku39]

Originally Posted by bugpac

hyabusa is a proven drivetrain in the minibuggy world, so doubtfull anyones opinion on clutch issues will mean much of anything to a builder etc... and consider gearing multiplying torque etc, 600 or 1200 doesnt even matter if geared correctly... 8)

Not stating a negative opinion on hayabusa clutch strength nor am I denying that it is the most sought after engine in the minibuggy world (myself included). Just stating that the goldwing already hauls nearly twice as much weight. It is also not uncomon to see 150K miles on these bikes.

Compared to the hayabusa it may be heavier and slower but compared to most 600 sbk motors running 110 hp and 50-55 ft. lbs. of torque it matches up pretty well.

I am not claming to know much about mini buggys. I am only knowledgeable about motorcycles. In fact, all I know about mini buggys I have learned here in the last month and a half.

I am only stating a few facts that point to the goldwing engine potential to be a good reliable buggy engine.

In fact my origional Idea for the Goldwing engine was for drive-abillity (sp?). I am thinking with that longer heavier engine and a cab forward design will make it easier to aproach near perfect 50-50 weight distribution front to rear and left to right. Also that heavier weight means smooter ride.

Late model gldwings are powered, clutched, and geared to pull itself (800 lbs.) two riders (320-400?) crap stuffed into the lugage box and saddle bags (50-100?) and sometimes a trailer full of crap (150?) 1320-1450 lbs.
and they can take it all to 100 mph.

I know all of you have more knowledge on building these things than I (thank you....I am going to need the help) but from what I have read, no one on this forum has used one of these late model goldwing engines. I know everyone wants the hayabuse, that violent power is also what I want.

But for a high torque, driver friendly, well ballanced, smooth riding buggy that will go 100K miles, Is there any logical reason that this motor is a bad choice? :? :?: :idea:

Yoshi, have you put your cars on scales for balance? I would be curious to know.

[bdkw1]

Exactly, as stated I'm not building a sand car. This thing will have to go 1000+ miles off road in 3 days. Most of the sand buggys out there will break in the first 50 miles of a Baja race. first 10 if your in San Felipe.....

Wieght balance. On the 5 car we used to race we mounted the batterys up front next to the beam to make it turn. I know of several rear engine 1 cars running ballast in the front for this reason also. I'm hoping to come up about 45/55 fr to rr. The spool may not be staying in the rear. Since a limited slip diff is 450$ for this rearend the spool goes in for now!

[Bugpac]

i dont see nothing wrong with the goldy motor at all, i just dont think weight is gonna be that much of a factor when talking 900-1200 lbs, and i think hybusas are just overkill for a mini anyway, i would never spend that much for the few extra mph, if i were gonna drop some doe, i would goto the rx1 with fuely conversion and cvt, like kfabs car, i would be very curious too see his car next to a stock busa, dont know who would win, but i know wich would be more affordable and reliable..... 8)

[K-fab]

Originally Posted by bugpac

i would goto the rx1 with fuely conversion and cvt, like kfabs car, i would be very curious too see his car next to a stock busa, dont know who would win, but i know wich would be more affordable and reliable..... 8)

Jay Largo's Coyotes ([url=http://www.desertdogoffroad.com:cjd40gzx]Desert Dog Off Road[/url:cjd40gzx]) come with both the Busa and either a carb'd or injected RX1 - the Busa is quicker and faster, but in the dunes (Glamis) the RX powered car actually works better. The violent output the Busa produces, plus having to shift actually end up hurting performance versus a CVT setup. Weird, eh?

Jay has had one (and I think he's having customer number 2) switch to CVT setups over the Busa and shifting.

A Busa powered car will eat my current car for lunch. Suspension and chassis on my old beastie are just that - old... - and my clutching and engine aren't tuned quite yet.

Now the new car with the Honda VTEC and the new suspension versus a Busa? We'll see!

I am at a weight disadvantage compared to sand cars, though, as both my old Deztaz and the new Dez II are desert race cars, not sand cars. They have a lot more bracing and heavier sized & walled tubing than the sand versions.

BTW - I think the Goldwing powerplant's a great idea. We tossed it around a few years back when we started working on another [url=http://www.yellowdogracing.com/desertcar.htm:cjd40gzx]desert car[/url:cjd40gzx], prior to the Deztaz. The lack of reverse and the room we had available in the chassis we were working with ended up being why we didn't go with the Goldwing powerplant.

That car had a lot of potential, but the piece of crap Hymark Tranny was it's undoing... $3,500 boat anchor that lasted 45 minutes... (we won't talk about how well Hymark stands behind their products... - they DON'T!)

We build the car around the tranny, it failed, the Tazcar line came out and, well, the car was shelfed for five years.

It's now being revived with a TL1000 V twin Suzuki engine driving a Miata diff setup. No reverse, chain driven, shifter setup.