Lifespan of Hayabusa engine

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bpimm · #1 Unread post by **bpimm** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:09 pm

I'm looking for a Hayabusa engine for a project and am wondering what the lifespan is for these engines. 10K, 20K, 50K miles? I know it depends on how it was ridden but what is a general rule for their life?

Thanks,

Brian

#2 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:01 pm

There isn't one.

bpimm · #3 Unread post by **bpimm** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:09 pm

So an engine with 9000 miles can be completely used up?

Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:28 pm

Depends how it's ridden. It may need to be rebuilt and that's not much fun.

#5 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:37 pm

Okay, so the thing about a sportbike, any modern sportbike is that it comes out of the box on almost the leading edge of tune. Tolerances are CRAZY close on all of them, compression levels, piston clearances everything it's all close.

That being said if the owner displayed "due diligence" the motor should be in good condition. I say SHOULD because this requires that he took care to break it in properly, that he didn't over-rev it, that he changed the oil and adjusted the valves. That and all the other maintenance that should be done to the bike.

However, with tolerances being what they are it's remarkably easy to "fudge" up an engine. We've got a guy here who destroyed an RMZ250 by holding the throttle open after the bike tipped over. Valves floated and slammed into the piston BANG, game over.

You've got to decide on a case by case basis. For what it's worth my bike has gone 24000km (17000miles aprox) and is still in nearly perfect running condition (according to the diagnostic tests). But I think I treated my bike pretty well.

You have to take a look at it, that's all we can tell you. Can't say it'll be good, can't say it'll be bad. Though on average a 9000mile engine is just starting to get broken in.

bpimm · #6 Unread post by **bpimm** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:47 am

Thanks, that is what I am looking for, At that age there is the potential of a good engine, depending on it's life story of course.

Okay, so the thing about a sportbike, any modern sportbike is that it comes out of the box on almost the leading edge of tune. Tolerances are CRAZY close on all of them, compression levels, piston clearances everything it's all close.

That is exactly why I'm looking at them,

Rebuilding is not out of the question but I would prefer to be able to wait until I get the car sorted out first.

Here is one of my problems in this application, there is only room for two pedals. so the clutch is an issue. I'm thinking of mounting the hand clutch for starting and stopping, then setting up clutchless shifting for when it's moving.

I know this will shorten the life of the tranny but the car will see very little use compared to a street bike, probably 1-2 Hours running per year, granted those hours will be running hard. If I remember right years ago the method of shifting without the clutch was to kill the ignition momentarily as the shift takes place for an up shift, but what about the downshift? is there a better way to do this? it will need to be electric or air driven or both as the actuator will be paddles on the steering wheel.

any thoughts or insights are welcome.

Thanks,
Brian

#7 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:14 am

I don't know of any automatic shifter for shifting down.

And only running an engine 1-2 hours a year is hella bad for it.

bpimm · #8 Unread post by **bpimm** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:10 am

That 1-2 Hours will be split over 10-20 events per year and might be more than that but it's not a car I can take for a Sunday drive.... Legally... could be fun.

Can the clutch master cylinder be set up with a remote reservoir for the fluid? that way I could mount the lever to the steering wheel for down shifts. the wheel only has about 200 Degrees of rotation so It wouldn't twist up the lines.

Here is a link to a pic of the car.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/ ... 500001.jpg

Brian

Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:58 am

on a side note these engines apparently rock when added to a smart car. I hope you do this and give us some good video

scca eh? Do you know bob tupper?

bpimm · #10 Unread post by **bpimm** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:15 am

storysunfolding wrote:on a side note these engines apparently rock when added to a smart car. I hope you do this and give us some good video

scca eh? Do you know bob tupper?

I already bought the car so I will be doing it, I was going to use the Yamaha RX1 snowmobile engine and CVT, but after watching one run I decided I didn't like the way the CVT worked; no compression breaking and it idles down when you get out of the throttle. not a good combination for getting into and out of corners. I have a lot of hurdles to get over but it should be a fun project. I may start out with a cockpit mounted shift lever and a wheel mounted clutch lever and see if I can make that work. I'll definitely have some video when I get it together.

No I don't know Bob, the car was a SCCA member I'm not. I run some of their Autocrosses and Rallies but have never done any road race.

Brian