building a bike from a frame, bad idea?

[lozza59]

i often think about buying a frame from ebay and building a bike myself how i want it, for example getting an rs 125 frame and putting the yzf r125 motor in it, or say a honda cg and putting an nsr 125 motor in it
i know whatever combination of frame and motor will have a lot of issues to get it to fit and wire up but winter is coming and i will have plenty of time, however i think this may be the expensive way of doing it, i know if i was to buy... say a complete rs with a dud engine i could probably save on the many little bits like fairings, seats, clocks, foot pegs, handlebars, forks , wheels, swingarm, shock, etc you get the idea.
but i have no way of collecting a complete bike so this is why im thinking of getting a frame and having it posted.... anyone else thought of such madness??

[DrDonnyBrago]

Frankly, it sounds like a fucking stupid idea.

There will be extensive modification to make a new engine fit along with difficult insurance and PITA paperwork. If you want a 125, get licensed and insured, buy one and RIDE it home. Alternatively, you can get complete bikes delivered by courier too, it isn't that expensive either, certainly considerably cheaper to get a complete bike bought and delivered than it is to get a frankenbike bought, delivered in bits and fabricated.

On the matter of RS125 - why get a bike with an interesting engine and change it for a limp 125 4 stroke? It is also riddled with expensive to sort difficulties, for a start the two engines have output sprockets on different sides. Buy a CG, do your test and be done with the over priced learner legals.

[Hardball]

[DrDonnyBrago]

[lozza59]

@DonnyBrago
rs is an example , the insurance and pita paperwork would be an issue. will look into bike couriers prices, maybe find a complete resto project instead. i have a couple of unused 125 motors outside so was thinking of alternatives to ebay but thats probably where they will end up.
still though. good to hear a second opinion so thanks.
oh yea the same old pass your test stuff.. predictable
i can ride a 125 by choice

[Pernig]

I think you need to keep realistic when you're embarking on missions like this. If you throw enough time and effort/money at something, you can do whatever you like, but what are you trying to achieve, though?

I own a Yamaha XJ750 and have owned it for nearly three years. I must have done 25,000 miles on it, and in that time I've learnt the machine's capabilities, good and bad. I am in the process of changing some things, but the things I have decided to change are the things that I feel could do with altering from what I have experienced when riding it, and they are all things I have researched and know will fit without TOO much hassle.

For instance, it's having a front end from another Yamaha with the same headstock dimensions, and I have seen at least two other bikes on a US forum that have had the same mod done. And the reason why is to reduce fork dive and bring the bars a lot further forward to aid comfort on longer journeys. This is stuff I've decided I want to do after riding the bike a fair bit and realising the things I don't like about it.

What I'm trying to say is if you do manage to put an R125 engine in an RS125 frame, that's great, but would it be worth the bother? If you have engines lying around, it might be more worthwhile finding the right frames for them and building them up how they were meant to be.
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Bru]

Be aware that recently(as of March this year in my case), the DVLA will not simply accept an engine change, even if it is correct for the model. They now demand proof of the engine type and number, by the use of:

letter-headed receipt by the garage which may have fitted it, or proof of sale from a dealer,

inspection report from AA, RAC, etc.,

inspection report from insurers,

written confirmation from the engine manufacturer.

So, if you have purchased an engine off eBay, and try to make the appropriate change to your logbook (which may be helpful when it comes to police checks), the DVLA will not do it without supporting paperwork.

[bacon]

[colin1]

The reason breakers make a lot of money, is that often bike bit are worth more sold bit by bit, than all together as a whole bike.

So assembling a bike from lots of bits bought separately, will end up being very expensive, and not as good as buying one that comes with everything included.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[rac3r]

There is a lot involved, you can't just bolt things together. An example would be forks changing the geometry of the bike of you use different ones to standard
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[MarJay]

[Clanger]

It's not a crazy idea...but it needs time and dedication and money. Go for it...I know plenty of people who have 'made' their own bikes.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Blau Zedong]

[steven_191]

get it couriered. it'll be cheap. escpecially if you use one of those website where people bid for your business.

chris-red had a ktm delivered for something like £70. it wouldve been a days adventure to sort it himself.

[virus]

[lozza59]

[rufusw]

I've always fancied the idea of building my own chopper, but what you're talking about is nothing short of bastardising a 125. CG125's are excellent commuters, if you feed a small family of mice cabbage and make them live in the fuel tank a CG125 will run on the gas from their farts..

But they're designed to be cheap, so they have 17th century forks and they're twinshock for a start! Putting an RS125 engine in this frame would be funny, but stupid, possibly even potentially dangerous.

The RS125 on the other hand, is a beautifully balanced 125 which is a work of art as far as 125's go. Why would you want to chop that up and put an engine in that closely resembled the power unit from a viatnamese fishing boat????

Custom bikes are for people who want to be different, I'm not sure if ruining a perfectly good bike falls into that category...

[Teflon-Mike]

[Nope.]

I have a GSXR400 frame in my garage next to a 600 SRAD engine. So far (And the engine isnt in the frame yet) its cost me near enough to £800. Its far FAR cheaper just to buy the bike you want. The modifications required will cost you a fortune and take a fair bit of skill.
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[mccluskeyd]

Well ; here's the correct answer...!

Everyones correct !!

I have just put together out of an old bantam frame that was donated to me , and an old scrapper of a CG125 . and boy was it painful at times ! (and I am not entirely finished ).

Yes, DVLA are now becoming less than lenient than shoving any old engine in your bike ; they need proof that your grandmothers cat has not had kittens in the last 8 years. Photograph of every person from the butchery trade you have ever met, and twelve receipts from Sainsburys that don't include the purchase of cheese.

Yes engine mounts, and frame sizes are a problem, so getting it all to line up is a pest if not nearly infuriating.....

Yes, you then spend all your hard earned money and time putting together something that anyone else would look at and think ; Yuk !
Yes, it will cost you hard in the pocket. and selling it will always be a problem.
Yes, you will probably put an engine in that you will never find spares for, and a frame that once altered will never be the same again.
Yes, it will take up your whole life trying to get it to run, steer, look right etc ; people will soon think you have run away and not paying then any attention ; as you have a new mistress !


But most of all it will give you plenty of laughs once built, be a great talking point.

Go for it is my attitude ; if you have plenty of time and a good budget. If not forget it and buy yourself something cheap and customize it witha silly paint job, or loud exhaust & "clip-ons" to amuse yourself.

I do these things all the time to bikes ; dont like standard stuff so everything is a special, or a rat, or a custom job to me ; it's an amusement thing, not just a riding thing....

All the best,

David.