Big Engine Swap Project

[CorriganJ]

Hi all. About to pass my A2 test and considering swapping a newer engine into an old Ducati. Love the looks of the ducati, don't love the desmo services, lack of parts availability, and can't ride the Ducati on an A2 license anyway.

My two options at this point are a 2015 Yamaha XJ6 or a 2020 Honda CB650R. Both nice inline 4 engines that are useable for the street but fun if I want to push it. I know it will be a HUGE engineering job but anything is doable if you are crazy enough.

Any thoughts on which would be better? Having examined the engine mounts and frame of both bikes it appears the CB650R might be easier to work with. Plan is to buy two working bikes, and swap over everything necessary, rather than buying one part at a time.
____________________
1991 RD04

[Fisty]

https://acegif.com/wp-content/uploads/gif-eating-popcorn.gif

TL1000 engines have been swapped into ducatis.

EDIT:-

Oh A2.

https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/583/267/e8a.gif
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[redeem ouzzer]

I'll take things that will never happen for $500 please...

Also "fun if i want to push it"...
____________________
Be a REAL MAN!

[Nobby the Bastard]

How the hell are you going to fit a IL 4 in a space that a V twin fits in?
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[MarJay]

https://media2.giphy.com/media/xkSJ2jLGVaE4E/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47xxk2cnccgpdr1fvgen7f5a2loe9k3spuvkj7wuhd&rid=giphy.gif
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[c_dug]

What Ducati is it that you like so much you'd want to ruin? Something like a 900SS only makes around 80bhp, so perfectly restrictable.

Or are you going full retard and actually want to strip the engine out of a proper bit of exotica like a 916 or 999 and replace it with a dull 600cc il4 from a UJM?
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Ste]

[rpsmith79]

Even if you do pull it off, and that is a BIG "IF"

Have you thought about how you would insure such a highly modified bike on your fresh A2 licence, at what i assume would be a very young age too

[ThatDippyTwat]

Buy something restricable, "restrict" it, enjoy until you pass your full A, Buy a TL thou, spaz youreslf into hedge.
____________________
'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[virus]

let me get this right; you think Desmo valve servicing is hard yet you think you can drop an IL4 into a ducati frame and get it to both work and be legal?


good luck with that...
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[martin734]

[CorriganJ]

[Easy-X]

Well yes, people tend to go out and drop a 300cc engine into a Grom or rebarrel their turd scooter to 80cc (not that I'd know anything about that!) but by all means take a step backwards...

Episode 1. We put a $99.00 Predator engine in our Honda Insight.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Shaft]

I had to check the date, but nope, it was only posted on the 6th, so it's not an April fool, but it has to be a wind up, surely nobody could be that stupid...................
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[jeffyjeff]

CorriganJ,
Nobby (and others) make a pretty good point. The frame modifications required to fit an I4 into the Duc frame will be extensive. Why not consider a V twin or even a V4 for your project? I'm thinking SV1000 or VTR, or maybe a VFR1200 engine. Surely frame modification will be necessary, but at least you won't have to butcher the Ducati frame quite so much. I'm thinking along the lines of bending, balancing, trying to maintain center of gravity, etc. so that handling won't be adversely affected.

Whatever you do, please document your project and keep us informed on how you're going. The Show and Tell gallery might be a more appropriate place to post your project. BCF member Nope has posted an excellent photo log of his R1 rebuild. IMO, he has achieved the gold standard of project documentation. Good luck to you.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=310292
____________________
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[buddy]

Sv650 lump lol!?

Ya know, cheap reliable engine/bike... Might have some chance of making it fit.
____________________
When this baby hits 88 miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.

[Islander]

[virus]

[Easy-X]

[Islander]