Ok, I saw this video on youtube about a bike engine in a smart. And the smart was really fast.

Now I was wondering if would be a good idea for a company like lotus to put engines like these in there cars. It sounds pretty good, a bike engine is light, revs high and can have like 200hp. And I think bike engines are pretty fuel efficient. But I'm not sure, might just as well be because of the weight of the bike. And if it is possible to supercharge or turbocharge such an engine it would be even more powerful. (Don't know if thats possible)

I'm pretty sure it's impractical somehow because it hasn't been done. But I'd like to know why.

Google Radical SR3

sure, a bike engine is smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient yet more rev-hungry than your average car engine... so it sounds like a good idea.

but there's one bad point. unless the car in name is super light, then the lack of torque that the bike engine posesses would make the performance given less impressive than you'd expect.

however, that could be sorted out by using forced induction and bumping up the torque. yes, my friend, bike engines can be turbocharged or i'm sure even supercharged.

not ever heard of a Hayabusa Turbo? that engine would be a good one to shove in a small car.... lots of torque, too.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I doubt supercharging bike engines will be a good idea though. I believe it will be better turbo charging a bike engine since turbos are exhaust driven, while superchargers are belt driven. Therefore, a bike engine (which like you said) lacks the torque to spin the supercharger whatever the type of the SC was. (roots, Centrifugal, etc.)

Ok, then I have one last question: Why don't more car companies put Hayabusa Turbo engines or similar ones in cars? They might be loud but I'm sure most people who buy sports cars don't mind loud.

Ok, then I have one last question: Why don't car companies put Hayabusa Turbo engines or similar ones in cars. They might be loud but I'm sure most people who buy sports cars don't mind loud.
They have those engines in the Caterham.

They have those engines in the Caterham.
Thats cool, but I guess they don't put these in more everyday sporty cars. Which is a shame.

Not enough torque like Frewin1987 said.

Ok, I get it now. Thanks for the posts.

pretty nice thread...and yes, all of u guys are right, bike engines lack of enough torque to move a larger mass...and turbocharging it would be the answer for that, depending on the turbo setup you can get more torque than horsepower out of the turbo...i once heard of an N/A bike engine making 150 hp and more than 180 pounds per feet of torque...cant remember what bike it was, but im pretty sure it was a ducati...in the review i saw they said that you had to use the throttle easy because if you were too aggressive with the throttle, even if you were a professional driver, the bike would throw you backwards...

It might have alot of torque but you will have to push the revs up for it to make any torque.

180lb-ft from a 150bhp bike engine? sounds like a load of crap to me....... what size engine are we talking?

How's the reliability on bike engines?

^^ Generally speaking, high revving engines don't last as long as low revving engines. My friend has a 600cc for about a year now, uses it everyday and it seems pretty reliable. It doesn't have many miles on it though, so until it does stack up some miles, I can't say that his bike is a reliable one. :p

Ok, then I have one last question: Why don't more car companies put Hayabusa Turbo engines or similar ones in cars? They might be loud but I'm sure most people who buy sports cars don't mind loud.
I've seen that bike on youtube... it's insane. The tire can't stop spinning so unless you're already up to 150mph it wouldn't be much faster than a normal one... lol

180lb-ft from a 150bhp bike engine? sounds like a load of crap to me....... what size engine are we talking?
that kind of torque would be coming from a V-Twin of sorts. like Harley-Davidson, Beull, or KTM. all have torquey V-twins.

but we do have these.....

Radical SR3 (as pointed out before):
http://www.starsandstripesms.com/images/graphics/newsp2.jpg

the infamous T-Rex (this one is powered by the Kawasaki ZX14's 200hp 1400cc 4 banger):
http://trexuae.com/files/T-Rex.jpg

Cirbin V13R (powered by a Harley-Davidson 1250cc V-Twin):
http://www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/cirbin-v13r.jpg

EDIT: forgot a few badass ones.....

RoadRazor (powered by a stock 176hp Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc 4 banger and only weighing in at 660lbs):
http://smggermany.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/roadrazer.jpg

TwinTech V-Twin (powered by an S&S 124 that produces 125hp and 125ft.lbs. with a 200hp supercharged version. it also only weighs 1120lbs):
http://thekneeslider.com/images/twintech.jpg

The SR8 is better^ ;)

I've toyed with the idea being that Honda's bike engines are supremely supreme, and that Honda's cars are usually light and tight.

But.

You've got to imagine the day to day driving of a car that doesn't even get any gusto until 5000rpm's. The power band on most motorcycles is not suitable to moving one ton of anything around. It would be mighty tiring on your ears and your clutch if you had to spin the engine like crazy to get moving off of every stop light.

I have to admit, though, a stripped out Fit with a CBR1000RR engine and super short gearing would be unbelievably fun on a track. Just not on the road.

Here's a dyno chart for a CBR's engine, for example, and a Fit's also.

http://www.areapnolimits.com/images/product/cbr1000rr_08_dyno_big.gif
http://www.dragtimes.com/images_dyno/9171-2007-Honda-FIT-Dyno.gif

Look at the torque curves more than the horsepower. The Fit may be down on power, of course, but there is almost 90 pound feet available right from the get-go.

Well, the Civic Si's new motor is pretty racey. It redlines at 8,000 but will go to 8,300 without fuss. It has nearly 100hp/liter and is affordable plus it has reasonable torque above 3,000 rpm. It would be nice if the new Civic was lighter, but it's still fast.

The SR8 is better^ ;)
Hayabusa V8 FTMFW!

if this guy runs away I'm gonna hunt him... not enough torque, and those engines are used to light bikes, kinda dangerous to make 'em carry more than they already do, kinda lazy engines, aren't them?

http://www.magnacharger.net/

These guys started out in a little tiny shop about a half hour drive from my house. I have helped set up their displays at events when they were relatively unknown, and one of their old salesmen was a riding partner of mine (before cancer ate him up)
I don't think I should say too much about their harley Vrod engine, but I can say it is a monster. It can make busa riders go cry to their mommies

BTW...the engine in my harley is pushing about 160hp and 140lb ft of torque. I have a mild cam, and the carb and exhaust are too small for peak power
I keep it this way because it is smoother to cruise on, especially when I have a passenger

Ok, I saw this video on youtube about a bike engine in a smart. And the smart was really fast.

Now I was wondering if would be a good idea for a company like lotus to put engines like these in there cars. It sounds pretty good, a bike engine is light, revs high and can have like 200hp. And I think bike engines are pretty fuel efficient. But I'm not sure, might just as well be because of the weight of the bike. And if it is possible to supercharge or turbocharge such an engine it would be even more powerful. (Don't know if thats possible)

I'm pretty sure it's impractical somehow because it hasn't been done. But I'd like to know why.

Its not a new idea. There is some cars with bike engines. The point is that bike engines have less torque. And they are not very efficient. Sports bikes uses the same amount of gas as the little car. Thats not too good for a thing weighting 200kg. But thats not really an issue for a sport orientated car. I would really like to see cars engine made in a bike engines way. For example 6 cyl. 2.0l engine revving to 15 000 rpms built in a car :) mmm :D

Its been done along time ago with a V10 used in the Dodge Viper SRT-10

http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpapers/Motorcycles/Dodge-Tomahawk-007.jpg

Its not a new idea. There is some cars with bike engines. The point is that bike engines have less torque. And they are not very efficient. Sports bikes uses the same amount of gas as the little car. Thats not too good for a thing weighting 200kg. But thats not really an issue for a sport orientated car. I would really like to see cars engine made in a bike engines way. For example 6 cyl. 2.0l engine revving to 15 000 rpms built in a car :) mmm :D

Car engines CAN be made to run like bike engines. The problem is that they have the same shortcomings as bike engines. When they rev that high, there is no torque. then since you have to have high RPMs to take off, you fry clutches, and other things in the car......
That is just the way it will continue to work until cars use electric solenoid valves


The opposite can also be true....there are currently motorcycles in production, that run car engines
http://www.bosshoss.com/view_bike.asp?x=BHC3ZZ4SS

Car engines CAN be made to run like bike engines. The problem is that they have the same shortcomings as bike engines. When they rev that high, there is no torque. then since you have to have high RPMs to take off, you fry clutches, and other things in the car......
That is just the way it will continue to work until cars use electric solenoid valves


Thats true. But i think this problem could be solved using one gear before the cluch. It would lower the speed that cluch would need to handle :) I would explain it better if i knew how these details are in English, sorry.

Its been done along time ago with a V10 used in the Dodge Viper SRT-10

*snap*
bike engine in cars, not car engines in bikes. the Tomahawk wasn't the first either. Boss Hoss Cycles has been around since the early 90's with their 302, 350, and 502 powered bikes.

also Sabaka, how aren't bike engines efficient? they get good mpg as good as small fuel efficient cars like the Prius almost. my first bike, Suzuki GSXR600, got close to 45mpg.

bike engine in cars, not car engines in bikes. the Tomahawk wasn't the first either. Boss Hoss Cycles has been around since the early 90's with their 302, 350, and 502 powered bikes.

also Sabaka, how aren't bike engines efficient? they get good mpg as good as small fuel efficient cars like the Prius almost. my first bike, Suzuki GSXR600, got close to 45mpg.

It depends with who are you comparing. For example sport bikes are using the same amount of gas as usual European small car with 1.4 or 1.2l engine ;) and the car weights near a 1000kg, the bike weights only 200kg.

It depends with who are you comparing. For example sport bikes are using the same amount of gas as usual European small car with 1.4 or 1.2l engine ;) and the car weights near a 1000kg, the bike weights only 200kg.
my GSX-R600 had a 600cc engine and made as much power as those little Euro cars.

my GSX-R600 had a 600cc engine and made as much power as those little Euro cars.

Yup, but what it proves?

Yup, but what it proves?
And they are not very efficient.
end of story.

The opposite can also be true....there are currently motorcycles in production, that run car engines
http://www.bosshoss.com/view_bike.asp?x=BHC3ZZ4SS



HOLY CHEVY SMALL BLOCK!! :eek:, I'm no expert in motorbikes but that thing is amazing!! I know about the Viper V10 in the Tomahawk, but never really suprized me since it's 1) not mass produced and 2) won't probably be easy to live with. this is a proper bike and looks good IMO.

But this! I wonder how a 350Ci performs in a bike. Anyone got any ideas?

It will reach light speed! imagine a 3500lb car with this engine. probably run a little under 5 second 0-60's top speed around 160mph. not put that one a 800-1000 lb bike. that 2 second 0-60 and possibly 200mph+ if greared right. thats sick heretic!

bike engine in a small car,
you also have to consider modifying/changing engine mounts, custom fabrication, etc. It can be a difficult task.

Here's a twin Hayabusa powered 4WD Ultima.

http://www.zcars.org.uk/ultima/index.htm

And a Hayabusa powered Lotus Elise...

http://www.zcars.org.uk/lotus/index.htm

And a crazy Mini...

http://www.zcars.org.uk/montecarlo/index.htm

Anything is possible with 4 wheels & a chassis.

It will reach light speed! imagine a 3500lb car with this engine. probably run a little under 5 second 0-60's top speed around 160mph. not put that one a 800-1000 lb bike. that 2 second 0-60 and possibly 200mph+ if greared right. thats sick heretic!


Probably. But I'm guessing it's geared so it won't take you up to 200+mph. Remember it's a V8, the wheels will spin like crazy, probably non stop.

end of story.

no its not, because we were talking about fuel efficiency, not about how much power does it makes. And its no secret that bikes are very powerful according to the size of the engine.

no its not, because we were talking about fuel efficiency, not about how much power does it makes. And its no secret that bikes are very powerful according to the size of the engine.
WOW!

we both were talking about fuel efficiency. learn how to read a whole post instead of picking out parts of it.

you said they weren't efficient. i implied that they are considering they're smaller, but yet make the same power and same mpg as bigger engines.

The car would need to be really, really light because most motorcycle engines make no torque whatsoever.