LocostUSA.com

Just got my Haynes manual and will probably start on it in the spring using a donor Miata. Right now I've just been brainstorming powerplants.

First thing I thought of was a 302 Ford, but that's boring.

Then I thought of a LS1, but that would get me killed in a hurry.

Then I thought of a 2.3 Duratec but the cost was too much.

Next I thought of motorcycle power (Keep in mind that I am a die-hard Honda fanatic and no other bike engine would power anything I own).

Thought of an 1800 Goldwing. 140 hp, EFI, reverse, but they redline at 5,500 rpm so no deal.

Thought of a CBR954 or 1000, but it doesn't have the torque I want.

Finally got my sights set on a VFR800 EFI powerplant. Great torque, over 100 hp, 100K mile reliability, and the best sound out of any bike.

I've looked and looked but nobody seems to have made a Locost using a V4 Honda.

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You had me at "meat tornado"

Check the British Locost Builders site. There may be some on there. They are the experts on BEC'S. Russ

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

linky: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=14452

I'm not building a Locost, but I am using a 98 VFR in my Honda N600 repower project in the non-traditional builds section.. the build log is WAY behind , but I should have it up to 'real time' by June 2013.. PM with any q's if you'd like- my car is on the road and singing that VFR song right now

-ccrunner

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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com

What a thread. My buddy's dad has one of those 600's here in NC that he was wanting to swap in a GL1500 mid-mounted.

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You had me at "meat tornado"

The 800 has more torque than the 1000?

Or is the 800's, though less, at a more usable lower rpm...

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Noah

Less and more usable, my mistake. 59 lb-ft in the VFR @ 8,700 rpm, 77 lb-ft in the 954 at 9,500 rpm. The V4 is going to be more torquey throughout the rev range. That's just in its design.

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You had me at "meat tornado"

The RC51 also makes 77 lb-ft. Hmm.....

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You had me at "meat tornado"

While they do sound cool, I just don't see how this is the case. The VFR is at a displacement disadvantage, plus the modern liter bikes are not nearly as peaky as their predecessors.

At no useable rpm does the VFR800 have more torque than the i4s.

Someone had taken this plot and sketched in the VFR1200 - with its newer design and +200cc it does have a nice large flat torque band over the lower rpm range compared to the inlines. I added in the 800 from a similar published plot: it is not in the same class.

I agree,less tq/hp is less regardless of how you slice it.Go litre bike at a minimum unless your one of those tards obsessed with hypermiling.