Can an inline 4 engined bike be made to behave more like a V-twin engined bike?

[pritch]

The real advice: Stop obsessing about making a 250 better and wait for your license to mature. Then go and buy something that fits the bill.

ANY attempted modification process entered into to get the performance you are talking about will require so much money that you may as well go out and burn a couple of thousand dollars. It will be less expensive in the long run. Including making other engines fit the Hornet 250's chassis.

Wot he said, unless the op can knock up a new crankshaft in his shed. Better to save the sheckels for the next bike.

[Tigadee]

Well, I got a Yamaha XJ400 [thanks to my exemption from the NZTA] and it seems to be a pretty mild beast, perfect for me. Also perfect size-wise too, lot more comfortable for my 6' 1" and 110kgs.

It's pretty smooth and gentle [yet fairly responsive] power-wise, and even the seats and suspension are soft. I feel like I'm floating over bumps and potholes! Definitely a touring set-up! No hard cornering for me, I reckon, especially since the rear tyre's a newish cruiser tyre from Kenda - Anyone heard of them? Seems they are a bicycle tyre maker and now make motorcycle tyres too for cruisers and sports bikes. Front is a nice new Lasertec from Metzler.

Need to send the bike for a cut and polish like NZspokes's GPZ400, paint is looking rather dull. Photos once that's done.

Rims are powder-coated, and sadly have a lot of chips. Should I have them painted? If so, will the powder coating need to be removed or can I paint over it?

[Drew]

Well, I got a Yamaha XJ400 [thanks to my exemption from the NZTA] and it seems to be a pretty mild beast, perfect for me. Also perfect size-wise too, lot more comfortable for my 6' 1" and 110kgs.

It's pretty smooth and gentle [yet fairly responsive] power-wise, and even the seats and suspension are soft. I feel like I'm floating over bumps and potholes! Definitely a touring set-up! No hard cornering for me, I reckon, especially since the rear tyre's a newish cruiser tyre from Kenda - Anyone heard of them? Seems they are a bicycle tyre maker and now make motorcycle tyres too for cruisers and sports bikes. Front is a nice new Lasertec from Metzler.

Need to send the bike for a cut and polish like NZspokes's GPZ400, paint is looking rather dull. Photos once that's done.

Rims are powder-coated, and sadly have a lot of chips. Should I have them painted? If so, will the powder coating need to be removed or can I paint over it?

Kenda have made bike tyres for a long time, but they're not overly good. You will be waiting a long time for it wear out, since I think they get the rubber from Lego.

I've never bothered having the powder coating removed before painting wheels, just smooth out the chipped area and paint. Make sure you use 'etch' primer, or nothing will stick to the ally/mag composit that wheels are made of.

Sounds like the bike is ideal for you though, enjoy.

[Tigadee]

Thanks, Drew, I'm enjoying being on two wheels!

[The Pastor]

mate what you want to do, is get a new sprocket and chain set (all up probs around $2-300) and go -1 tooth on the front, and +3 on the rear. You will need a new chain.

This will reduce your top end speed, but make it quicker to accelerate. I'm sure someone on here will have the gearing chart for a hornet 250.

Do it, but keep the original, if you don't like it you can put it back to stock, and at any rate you will of learned something and had fun.

[The Pastor]

I *THINK* this is a hornet 250,

http://www.jtsprockets.com/catalogue/model/216

maybe you cant put on a smaller front, not sure its usually pretty common to do, but go on stick that massive rear sprocket on

[Drew]

You will notice if you read the last page or two, the thread starter now owns a 400cc machine.

[Jerry74]

Well, I got a Yamaha XJ400 [thanks to my exemption from the NZTA] and it seems to be a pretty mild beast, perfect for me. Also perfect size-wise too, lot more comfortable for my 6' 1" and 110kgs.

It's pretty smooth and gentle [yet fairly responsive] power-wise, and even the seats and suspension are soft. I feel like I'm floating over bumps and potholes! Definitely a touring set-up! No hard cornering for me, I reckon, especially since the rear tyre's a newish cruiser tyre from Kenda - Anyone heard of them? Seems they are a bicycle tyre maker and now make motorcycle tyres too for cruisers and sports bikes. Front is a nice new Lasertec from Metzler.

Need to send the bike for a cut and polish like NZspokes's GPZ400, paint is looking rather dull. Photos once that's done.

Rims are powder-coated, and sadly have a lot of chips. Should I have them painted? If so, will the powder coating need to be removed or can I paint over it?

All good to see you on something a wee bit bigger mate, I would personally be looking at running the same brand tyres front and rear though for even handling and cornering etc..
Pirelli, Metzlers, Michelins

The sport demon can be had for about $200 fitted and is a nice tyre.

[Drew]

All good to see you on something a wee bit bigger mate, I would personally be looking at running the same brand tyres front and rear though for even handling and cornering etc..
Pirelli, Metzlers, Michelins

The sport demon can be had for about $200 fitted and is a nice tyre.

When you don't know what you're talking about...you shouldn't be talking.


Mixing tyre brands is absolutely fine. I mix them to get the ideal performance, Racetech front and supercorser rear is the best I've had on the road. But a Shinko front and Bridgestone rear is good for touring with a few bags on the bag.

If you don't know what tyres are like, then matching pairs is a good way to keep grip levels close to each other, but it's certainly not a requirement.

[pete-blen]

been there...
If yer want a 4 cyclinder to put out the low end punch of a Vee

cut the cams in half turn them 180* and weld back togeather
put the plug leads to 1 & 3 off one coil / 2 & 4 of the other..
the motor will run as a twin.. fireing on 2 cyclinders at the same time.

DON"T try to pull the same red line as it did .. drop 2000 rpm off the red line..

I done it to a GSX750 for a TQ midget...

Gavin Sendal / Craig Webby won the NZ speedway side chair champs with a GSXR1100
running as a twin..

[ducatilover]

been there...
If yer want a 4 cyclinder to put out the low end punch of a Vee

cut the cams in half turn them 180* and weld back togeather
put the plug leads to 1 & 3 off one coil / 2 & 4 of the other..
the motor will run as a twin.. fireing on 2 cyclinders at the same time.

DON"T try to pull the same red line as it did .. drop 2000 rpm off the red line..

I done it to a GSX750 for a TQ midget...

Gavin Sendal / Craig Webby won the NZ speedway side chair champs with a GSXR1100
running as a twin..

I thought you'd have 1-2 and 2-3 together as they rods are on the same plane/pin? so 1/4 fire at the same time and 2/3 fire at the same time?

[pete-blen]

I thought you'd have 1-2 and 2-3 together as they rods are on the same plane/pin? so 1/4 fire at the same time and 2/3 fire at the same time?

LOL.....Yer prob right..was 20 odd years ago. mid 80s.. sport...

PS..the GSX750 has a pin for each rod with a main berring between...
To be totaly correct.. the GSX750 is a one peice crank... The GSX1100
has a componet /roller berring crank... Thats why the 1100 is such a good
motor.. the rollor berrrings are so forgiving...

[ducatilover]

LOL.....Yer prob right..was 20 years ago sport...

I still really want to do it to a small motor, goodness knows why

[pete-blen]

I still really want to do it to a small motor, goodness knows why

Do it...
pretty easy to do the cams... tig welder/vee blocks/dial gauges
& a lot of time setting up.. I used the bed on a mill to set up on as its a true surface..

[ducatilover]

Do it...
pretty easy to do the cams... tig welder/vee blocks/dial gauges
& a lot of time setting up.. I used the bed on a mill to set up on as its a true surface..

If I found another two motors for my bike I'd big bang one. The other will have a turbo, so that'll go bang too