400cc Off Road Buggy.

[FUSION X16XE]

Ive been looking for a fun 'toy' for ages now. Looked at mini bikes, quads, crossers, jet ski's, go-karts etc

Weighed up all the pros and cons of all and decided im going to build a motor bike engined off road buggy!

I live in Eastbourne that backs onto the downs (big Funk off hills) so i thought this would get the most use, thought about a jet ski but its to cold most of the time and my bros got one anyways.

Soo... ive done a little bit of research and come up with a rough plan for it, this thread is going to be mainly focused at YOU helping ME come up with the best design and what the best comonents would be to use.....

Ive always wanted to learn to weld but i dont have a garage so i cant rebuild a car but i do have a garden and tarp lol

Anyways ill cut to the chase and post some pics of what i want it to look like....

Single swing arm rear?
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb121/beattyhoskins/CopyofJim-M_3small.jpg

Irs set up? (my fav)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb121/beattyhoskins/IMG_1476.jpg

And what i want it to roughly look like
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb121/beattyhoskins/Picture169.jpg

So get posting ideas people....

I need help with what c/v's to use and what shafts, can they be cut down? and welded back together to shorten them?

Hubs?

Steering set up?

Engine choice?

:thumb:

[FUSION X16XE]

Also what welder would you recommend? I will probaly use this to learn then buy a better one as my skills increase?

[greg1.4]

i had one very similar to what you have just posted (last pic)

was great fun at the time (was a small engine) i was only 12..thats where i got the rallying/speed bug!

i am sure you could cut and weld shafts..depends what hubs you are running for what cv joints you need..i would try build it out of nova stuff if it was me.

[FUSION X16XE]

Cool man you got any pics?

Im thinking if i cut the shaft down and then drill a 6mm hole down it say 50mm deep and the put a 6mm x 100mm lenth of rod in both then they would line up exactly and then weld back together and if necessary put a sleve over it and puddle weld that?

[kc_08]

yeah id say a 400cc engine would be quick enough, and solid, you could try and look on ebay for something like an old vfr 400 there v quick, and fairly old so sure you can pick one up cheap esspecially spairs or repairs.
i would have done chain driven with to sprockets and got the gearing right, so you get a good top end and good accleration, i wouldnt know about the cv's and shafts :P could probly use any small disc brake set up on the hubs, or if you chain drive it, just have A disc brake next to the sprocket which turns the wheels from the engine via chain.

[Welsh Dan]

I'd use a swing arm or fixed rear to make things easier. Use something like a go-kart axle cut down to length for the rear axle, and use the brake and chain sprocket off the donor bike if possible. The axle can be mounted using these (http://www.geminikarts.co.uk/shop/Product.asp?PID=1005&GID=8&SID=975048&SPIN=28712) and these (http://www.geminikarts.co.uk/shop/Product.asp?PID=1026&GID=8&SID=975048&SPIN=28712). A solid axle like this (http://www.geminikarts.co.uk/shop/Product.asp?PID=1023&GID=8&SID=975048&SPIN=28712) could be cut down to suit, but hollow ones are available.

[FUSION X16XE]

Cheers dan!! Good links.

I think ill go with the single swing arm rear, sounds much easier now lol

I plan on getting the whole rear end of a bike so i can use all the brakes and engine, sprockets and suspension.

[1.6 8v turbo nova]

Build one of these: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbZt9-xtuU

That guy knows how to drive that thing!

[FUSION X16XE]

Build one of these: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbZt9-xtuU

That guy knows how to drive that thing!

I knew it would be that!!!! :wtf:

I would but i have no where to drive it but i do have loads of hills and this will be pretty quick and probably safer.

Gixer karts are old news now! All about the gixer buggies lol

[1.6 8v turbo nova]

still imense tho :)!

[dutch_c20xe]

I need help with what c/v's to use and what shafts, can they be cut down? and welded back together to shorten them?

Hubs?


maybe use two short shafts (passenger side for you in the UK :D) from say, a nova? ;) this means you could also use any nova diff, hubs, front hubcarrier, make your own wishbones and voila! One strong drive system that is up to the punches of offroading. For the diff, i've seen a guy once using a sierra diff on a bike engined mini, he just sealed the open parts on the differential with some sheet metal, and put in a bike sprocket instead of the final drive sprocket, he added a grease nipple on it and just regularly put some grease in it. cheap and easy ;) bearing for the diff could be done with bearing blocks (use google for image), if you slot the mounting points for them you'll get some chain adjusting out of them too.

and i guess using two short driveshafts wouldn't give you a too wide wheelbase?

[rickie]

Our buggy......

2cv engine.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f398/dotmcwilly/STA50053.jpg

[FUSION X16XE]

Our buggy......

2cv engine.

Sorry but WHY??????? lol

Looks nice that! Whats the running gear? All 2CV stuff aswell? :thumb:

[rickie]

Sorry but WHY??????? lol

Looks nice that! Whats the running gear? All 2CV stuff aswell? :thumb:

mostly 2cv stuff, it was actually factory made in the early 80s using 2cv gear, we got it about 6 years ago after some one had tried to put a hillman imp engine in it, the only reason we put 2cv back in it was because thats what its meant to have, goes really well tho.

[FUSION X16XE]

Hmmm defenatly food for thought.

I dont want it to be as big as that tbh.

Think ill go with the single rear with a live axle and bearings in the middle with the drive sprocket on the right and the brake rotor on the left (looking from the rear)

With A quad front end and a 400cc motor bike engine on nos! lol (could i do that?)

Que RJ and his FF quote lol

[FUSION X16XE]

Is there any clutch less 400cc geared bikes?

I can see having a clutch as a problem and i dont want a little c90 engine lol

[matt_vaughan]

Why would a clutch be a problem?

I know I'd rather have one than not. One reason why go-carts do my nut in :P

[FUSION X16XE]

3 pedals? its quite limited in space

[Welsh Dan]

Hand clutch on the gear shifter :).

[maccas]

i'd be tempted to put a big four stroke single in it, like a yamaha wr426f lump, much more usable power than a superbike engine and much more compact, less exhausts to worry about etc. just might be tricky kicking it off lol

maccas

[Cle]

Is there any clutch less 400cc geared bikes?

I can see having a clutch as a problem and i dont want a little c90 engine lol

Theres a scooter with a 400cc automatic i think its a Yamaha Majestic.

[areofall]

This is the one to have:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-HONDA-PILOT-BUGGY-QUAD-STANDARD-SPEC_W0QQitemZ290281509940QQihZ019QQcategoryZ18449 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[bmw156]

there is a haynes manual to help build a buggy
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Build-Your-Own-Off-road-Buggy-Champion-Ron-NEW-BOOK_W0QQitemZ260328586484QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bo oks_NonFictionBooks_NonFictionBooks_SM?hash=item26 0328586484&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

i have this and plan to use it when i build a buggy
when i do lol

is a good guide tho. :) with set measurements etc to set up all the frame etc.

[Cle]

there is a haynes manual to help build a buggy
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Build-Your-Own-Off-road-Buggy-Champion-Ron-NEW-BOOK_W0QQitemZ260328586484QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bo oks_NonFictionBooks_NonFictionBooks_SM?hash=item26 0328586484&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

i have this and plan to use it when i build a buggy
when i do lol

is a good guide tho. :) with set measurements etc to set up all the frame etc.

That book reckomends (spelling:() you use a ty175 engine