Building a Motard

[Naked Twin]

Has anyone taken a standard trail bike and built it into a Motard?

I have been thinking about building up a motard as a track bike, possibly getting a wreck or write off and starting from there. I assume the front and rear suspension will need to go or can it be rebuilt?

The next question would be which trail bike. Personally thinking to go a four stroke for durability and servicing. Something like Honda XR or Suzuki DR, min 400cc. Not keen on rebuilding a 2 stroke a couple of times a year.

Opinions appreciated, preferably on the topic.

Nick

[j-rad]

I have not, but seen it done and know a little.....

Rims (RGV or anything with a cush drive), suspension (much stiffer) and brakes are the main components.
I've seen some RGV rims being used with success.

Other smaller things:
Guards (motard fenders or simply chop em down if you're not going to ride it in the dirt at all, ever)

Must have a cush drive in the rim.......otherwise you'll screw the gearbox..

[zenodamper]

Hmm, rebuilding a stroker is way easier and cheaper than rebuilding a 4 stroke which has not been maintained correctly....

I would go a WR400/450 though - quite widespread and popular...

Suspension can be rebuilt - common sizes, so lots of bits and choices available if needed.... Usually on the WRs I re-spring and change the bike's tilt some too, as well as the valving modifications...

[jcp]

Over the last 2 years I've had two different supermoto bikes. The first was a Husqvarna SMR450 which came already set up for supermoto with 17 inch wheels, four piston front caliper,320mm front disc, radial master cylinder, braided brake lines, lowered suspension, heavier springs and short front guard. The second was YZ 450f which I converted myself by buying a supermoto kit from Yamaha and having the suspension set up by Biketek.The first bike was a lot less trouble and cheaper because as soon as I bought it it was ready to go once I stripped of all the road gear and fitted axle sliders , handguards and decent tyres but it wasnt competive as it was a trailbike and down on power. If you intend on just doing track days and no supermoto I would go for an Aprilla 550 as they come set up ready to go and are alot faster than a converted trailbike or mxer. I've done only one track day on the big track at Oran Park on my YZ 450 and that was enough for me as it just hasn't got the legs down the front straight as any sort of road bike just flies past you. I hope I've given you some info you can use.

[Turtle]

Has anyone taken a standard trail bike and built it into a Motard?

I have been thinking about building up a motard as a track bike, possibly getting a wreck or write off and starting from there. I assume the front and rear suspension will need to go or can it be rebuilt?

The next question would be which trail bike. Personally thinking to go a four stroke for durability and servicing. Something like Honda XR or Suzuki DR, min 400cc. Not keen on rebuilding a 2 stroke a couple of times a year.

Opinions appreciated, preferably on the topic.

Nick

Buy one already done..

[WET4URacing]

heres 1 already done 4 u & its 4 sale. details on my site www.wet4uracing.com.au i built this in 05 did a few races when i was here in OZ in 06 and then got a SXV550 and have raced that all 07.

[lilninja]

buy a KTM 525 and convert that! On this kind of project Ebay is definately your friend!

[seals]

my 2c

The old cliche - Anything can be done. Depends on either $$'s or equipment you have available. My DRZ400E has been converted to motard using a ZX9R front wheel and a ZZR600 rear wheel. Both have been heavily machined to fit properly. If you want a fun bike (not a pretty bike) there are many wheel options available.

The total cost of my conversion = $150 plus tyres.

On the model to choose. I chose the DRZ400 as it has the biggest oil tank of the current bikes (WR's or CRF's etc) as I was told better for prolonging life of the motor, and the engine is know to be very understreesed (but less powerful that the others in class). So far 20,000km's of dirt, commuting and track days and hasnt missed a beat with only oil and filter changes being done.

[lilninja]

when you say oil tank do you mean fuel?

[seals]

when you say oil tank do you mean fuel?

no no..the oil tank. Not by much about half a liter give or take.

[lilninja]

do they have a dry sump?

[seals]

do they have a dry sump?

yup (well the DRZ doz). I dont know y - but as this is the first off-roader i've owned I dont know much about them.

[lilninja]

fair enough, its probably so when used/dropped at angles it doesn't damage the motor? either way Im sure the mechanical engineers have a fairly good reason for it!

[blackzook]

I converted a stock trailie late last year doing most of the work myself below are details

KTM 525EXC 03 model 2200klm perfect nick purchased for $5,300.00
RGV 250 17" rims $280.00 from wrecker.
Bearings and machining to rims $350.00 (think I was overcharged for machining)

2 Cans of orange spray paint and one of etch primer

KTM hard parts disc and caliper spacer $200.00

Racetec service of front and rear suspension including rear spacer to lower and setup to my 95kg weight $350.00

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/blackzook/100_0497.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/blackzook/DSC00740.jpg

Awsome thing and a hooligan machine in traffic - my daily commuter.

Down side is KTM oil change every 10 hours and valve clearances every 20. So thats oil and filters once a week and valves once a fortnight for me.

About 30 minutes to convert back to a chook chaser.

[blackzook]

Its now fitted with a 45ltr Givi topbox, Ascerbis 17ltr tank and new sticker kit.

New number plate on order is MOTRD. LOL

[Naked Twin]

I do not have a huge budget, well rather I do not want to spend a huge amount on something that I plan on having as a second track bike. I already have a ZX7R as a trackie, so spending a fortune seems pointless. Thus why I do not want to buy a motard specific bike. I would love to but I like my current living arrangements.

Why do I want one? why not, they look like hell fun (I had an XR400 with nobbies as my first road bike and did quite well on the Old road keeping up with sports bikes), they are super light so you can out brake everything else and if set up correctly will out handle my zx7r. Also any wet track days would be a lot more fun then trying to run round on BT002's. I have done this but not a lot grip.

My thinking process was to buy something cheap, possibly a write off and go from there. In summary from what I can gather need to change the rims (obvious), a lot of people change the front brakes. Stock suspension can be stiffened enough?

As it would mostly used at EC I was thinking to gear it or rather run taller gearing so I would not be flogging the motor out. Does that seem sensible?

I plan on talking to some of the guys on motards at future track days as well.

Nick

[WET4URacing]

champ your in dreamland. no retard will ever out handle a 7. i know i have a 7RR and many more toys . there is no retard that will even get to 220kmh and retards hit the dirt a 1/3 of each lap . stick to your 7 and your living arrangements . if you want to talk such waffle try the VSMR site. they seem to wank off

[Turtle]

You must really love the colour ORANGE.............

[Naked Twin]

champ your in dreamland. no retard will ever out handle a 7. i know i have a 7RR and many more toys . there is no retard that will even get to 220kmh and retards hit the dirt a 1/3 of each lap . stick to your 7 and your living arrangements . if you want to talk such waffle try the VSMR site. they seem to wank off

Settle there tiger, if this is how you promote your business inferring I am a wanker then you might want to look at changing your marketing strategy. I checked your website and was going to ask about race glass for my 7, options and opinons. Not sure about that now.

Back on topic
Never said it would do 220, not planning on having a motard that will hit the dirt, as mentioned in previous posts I want to set it up for two tracks primarily. It will be set up for road only. A bike that weighs 50kg less with the suspension set up will clearly out brake and out handle the heavier bike (case in point is the current Moto GP bikes).

Thank you for you input though

Nick

[WET4URacing]

Settle there tiger, if this is how you promote your business inferring I am a wanker then you might want to look at changing your marketing strategy. I checked your website and was going to ask about race glass for my 7, options and opinons. Not sure about that now.

Back on topic
Never said it would do 220, not planning on having a motard that will hit the dirt, as mentioned in previous posts I want to set it up for two tracks primarily. It will be set up for road only. A bike that weighs 50kg less with the suspension set up will clearly out brake and out handle the heavier bike (case in point is the current Moto GP bikes).

Thank you for you input though

Nick

nick i'll save you the phone call, i dont do ZX7r race fairings.
now you dont want to build a motard you want to build a trail bike that has road race suspension and 17in wheels. motard bikes have a comprimise when it comes to valving and spring rates coz we hit jumps in the dirt , right? so what you are asking is how to build a cheap tralie for the the tar.
now that mite help you on your quest . my CRF was all in $16,000 all in to build with no labour. 69hp. my SXV550 is now well over $20k worth if i had to buy the bike and fruit it up. is that a help?