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RC45's Project-NS500 Replica - RS500 mudguard/screen found

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:23 am
by RC45
And just like that a wannabe NS500 is born. I am not sure what direction to take this build. It will be as light as possible (aiming for 290lb fueled up), 475cc big bore (target 95rwhp) and track only - but not sure if it should be period looking with 16"/17"(18"?) Comstars and conventional forks or sport mags and USD forks, 17" wheels, giant brakes and be a modern interpretation of the classic 3 cylinder GP bike.

From paper...
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To metal.
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Anyone need a swingarm? 99 alloy swingarms on the wall, if one alloy swingarm should accidently fall... hehe
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:33 am
by Ronnie
WOW! Well done with the bodywork. Hve you got the front fairing?

Looking forward to seeing how you get the 2 pipes at the top :grin:

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:40 am
by RC45
Front fairing is going to be kitbashed from an 1985 RS250 fairing.

And I am totally obsessed with having 2 upper and 1 lower pipes on this bike. I will consider the build a complete failure if I don't managed to accomplish that task :)

What ever wheels I choose I think staying narrower and using a 160 width tyre is going to help keep the weight down. The F3 MC18 kit swing arm I managed to source is 11lbs with axle, pivot bolt and shock linkage.

So I think I am leaning towards some conventional RS250 or similar late 80's early 90's forks to try keep the weight down with excellent performance capabilities.

I have learned a lot during the YZR build. Weight creeps up very quickly.

Wider swinger adds a lb or 2, wider wheel adds a lb or 2, bigger brake rotors, stouter forks etc etc. It is easy to pack the weight on, very hard to keep it off.

I now see why Ti axles are such big deal, it is an easy albeit very expensive way to get rid of some decent weight.

Alloy tanks are a must, as is getting bodywork redone in carbon where ever possible.

Since we are stuck with great big iron sleeved lumps for engines, Ti bolts are again the only easy weight loss - but the cost can add up quickly.

At $10+ a bolt those 18 rotor bolts, 12 caliper bolts, 5 or 6 sprocket bolts are now very dear items.

But I am really enjoying the challenge of trying to build silk purses with a sows ear budget :)

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:51 am
by Ronnie
You have to have 2 pipes at the top. A huge task when taking tuned length into consideration.

Every pound saved will make a difference. It's down to how much you want to spend. Like everything. It would be cheaper for me to lose weight by drinking less beer and eating less food! :grin:

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:00 pm
by RC45
Yes, tuned length will play a part, but looking at how loose and free Honda and others have played with stinger length over the years, sometimes having as much as 2 to 3 feet of stinger to locate the silencer up out of the way, as long as we stick close to the old school length of 20 x diameter we should be ok.

Not using ATAC valves allowing the exaust assemblies to tuck closer to the engine - and feeding the bottom 2 pipes to the top while feeding the upper to the bottom will hopefully do the trick.

Scale models, CAD and lots of trial and error lay ahead. As ugly as the V-Due pipes are they are inspiration as to what can be done. :)

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:17 am
by RC45
It is time ot get serious about chassis layout. Hopefully I can secure a set of '87 RS250R forks/triples I have my eye on. Nothing like some ex-works spec kit to get a build going :)

In the mean time, my dimensional chart against which the NS400 frame rebuild is being matched.

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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:10 pm
by RC45
VF1000R front wheel setup is here and assembled.

The only 16" front tyre I could get my hands on was a 7 year old dry rotted Avon AM22 - finding decent rubber for the front wheel is gonna be a challenge for sure.

As much as we like to think the old school stuff ic heavt junk, the wheel/bearing/rotor/tyre combo weighs in at 26.6lbs. By comparison a 2006 R6 front wheel/tyre/rotors and bearings weighs in at 25.8lbs.

This being said though, the VF1000R rear wheel/cushdrive assembly is HUGE - may not be able to fit the MC18 F3 kit swingarm. So off to find an NS400 rear hub/spokes to lace up to the VF1000R rear wheel hoop.

The Comstars really has the look :)

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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:18 pm
by gpaddict
Just as a question, are you wanted in multiple states for routine bank robberies to pay for all of your projects?!

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:23 am
by RC45
gpaddict wrote:Just as a question, are you wanted in multiple states for routine bank robberies to pay for all of your projects?!
Hell bike projects are dirt cheap compared to cars.

I am used to an intake costing $1500 and a throttlebody $700 - so anytime an entire motor is $2000 or a frame and set of forks is $1000 its a bargain.

I think when I am done with these replicas I will try chase down some real bikes next year. I have my eye on an RS500 and if those YZR bits in the UK are still up for grabs - who knows ;)

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:55 am
by Ronnie
Hi Paul,

Forgot I had these pics. Thought you might like to see them for the exhaust routing and other detail.

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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:15 pm
by RC45
Fantastic shots - "right click - save" :)

Thanks much.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:22 pm
by Ronnie
:grin:

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:35 pm
by Dubsey
Nice pics Ronnie, I remember the 4cyl with the pipes over the top, didn't that burn Freddie Spencer, and he still finished the race ?

Paul been at Gibsons today they have just finished a NSR400,and starting a second, I took some pics, my mate thinks you may have issues getting two pipes over the top, he thinks the 'fat part' will be where there is little room, the frame in the pic is a NC30 he believes this is very similar to the NSR250 frame if you have any questions I'll pass them on, but I do agree the pipes need to be correct for the model you are replicating

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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:50 pm
by RC45
Dubsey wrote:Nice pics Ronnie, I remember the 4cyl with the pipes over the top, didn't that burn Freddie Spencer, and he still finished the race ?

Paul been at Gibsons today they have just finished a NSR400,and starting a second, I took some pics, my mate thinks you may have issues getting two pipes over the top, he thinks the 'fat part' will be where there is little room, the frame in the pic is a NC30 he believes this is very similar to the NSR250 frame if you have any questions I'll pass them on, but I do agree the pipes need to be correct for the model you are replicating
Yeah - I see from the pics the NSR and VFR chassis is pretty tight out back at the top. I am going to try exploit the sparse NS400 chassis and chop off the subframe to make room.

On another tack I have been making drawings for a new set of cases that put 2 cylinders on top And 1 at the bottom hehe.

Now to find a high school shop class willing to use their CNC class time to mill the cases for me :)

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:54 am
by w3a51l
WOW! Looking at the NSR500/84 with the spannies over the top and wondering what it would be like on a typical Aussie summers day.... cooked goolies for sure!