Low cost racing. Scooter style.

[evoboy]

So, as I wont be having a great deal of money for the next few years after opening my own business and am soon to be moving into new premises, I decided to have a go at a form of low cost racing I haven't tried yet.

As I dont fit on pitbikes too well, being 6'4 with 2 damaged knee's, I thought id give scooter racing a try.

So here we start with a Piaggio NRG 50cc ( yeah boi ) with an aircooled lump. Purchased for the sum of £70 with a plate and V5.

Its not in brilliant condition as you'd expect. But, most of it will be stripped and changed anyway.


https://s17.postimg.org/rokq9658f/DSC_0335.jpg

All the panels stripped off. Predictably, most of these were held on with self tappers, but thankfully, all were intact. Even if they are in a nasty shade of blue!

https://s9.postimg.org/bkjtfd1gv/DSC_0336.jpg

Engine bolt ( yes, just one bolt ) removed and frame put to one side.

https://s16.postimg.org/xm4hxmzf9/DSC_0337.jpg

Lots of stripped screw heads to contend with, but then engine is coming apart. The splines on the crank that drive the variator are ruined. Luckily, the crank is pretty useless for the setup thats planned for it.....just got to try to remove the drive half of the variator off the shaft.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[_Iain_]

Polini extracted 30bhp from the liquid cooled Piaggio engine, plenty of performance parts out there for the air cooled one though.

https://www.adrenalin-pedstop.co.uk/upload/images/490cc-050.0938_-_1.jpg

What sort of spec are you planning on running?
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[garth]

What series are you racing it in? Or is this for RAF?

I might do the next RAF one.

[MattWadz]

Where are you based?

and yep, the liquid cooled ones are actually quite powerful for a moped!

in a previous life when i was a chav with my Aerox 70cc big bore racing exhaust mushhhh and all that crap, one of the boys had a piaggio nrg LC dd extreme, had a digital speedo that read 67, so realistic speed of about 55-60mph with a standard barrel, just a different exhaust and an upjet!
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Pitbike x2, Mini Moto x4, China Quad, 02' Suzuki AP50 > 03' MBK Nitro > 86' Suzuki GP100 > 02' Yamaha Jog R > 57' Honda Lead 100 > 95' Piaggio ZIP Rst 50 > 51' Suzuki TS50x > 83' Honda CB125TDE Twin > 51' Yamaha Aerox > 98' Kawasaki KX60 > 89' Yamaha DT50MX > 80's Honda QR50 > 05' CG clone > 125cc China Pitbike > 91' Honda MTX125 RW-L > 09' Peugeot Speedfight 2 LC LR > Lucky MX 140cc > Apache Tomahawk 50 Quad (current = 2010 Yamaha WR125R

[stevo as b4]

The liquid cooled NRG's were claimed to have close to 8bhp de-restricted. I had a tuned Speedfight 100 10years ago, and got 11.8bhp r/w from it. I ended up chased round town once by ped Boi's wanting to ask about my scooter.

One kid had an MC3 NRG with a Leovinci ZX pipe, different roller's and a re-jet, and we were neck and neck until 30-35mph. My tuned 100 would only do a genuine (bicycle speed) verified 68mph on the flat, and as std did 54mph according to said speedo.

I can't prove anything, but I bet the LC NRG's would do a genuine 50mph just de-restricted, which is excellent for 49cc.

[Matt94]

Had an aircooled NRG (New shape) Had a Gianelli exhaust, rollers upjet etc, and a Malossi belt, was terrible- the acceleration was terrible, knew 2 other lads with aircooled NRG's which were the same.. as was a lad who had an aircooled speedfight which was dogshite. The most I ever had was an indicated 54mph, but would barely top 40 normally. However I sold mine for an old shape liquid cooled runner, put the same gianelli exhaust on and the difference in acceleration (for my 16 year old self) was mindblowing! Did an indicated 60 and was easy getting there.

Edit - Had friends who had LC NRG's who regularly reported indicated speeds of 65mph, Also had a go on my friends 11 plate runner (Brand new at the time) with a PM Tuning 360 exhaust and was shocked at how quick it was and reached an indicated 55 in no time, before I ran out of road.

[binge]

[evoboy]

I dont quite have the budget for the full Polini kit.

Itll be alot better than standard, but no where near that setup.

https://s7.postimg.org/ugpa190wr/DSC_0339.jpg

Engine is now stripped and ready for cleaning.

https://s24.postimg.org/63ni8pbkl/DSC_0340.jpg

The crank is dead. It will be changed for a full mass crank anyway.

https://s22.postimg.org/6n9gfwayp/DSC_0341.jpg

Frame stripped and cleaned of all road grime.

I can get a genuine 60mph out of my NEOS with just an unknown brand pipe and a bored out 50cc cylinder. Even with my 18st kitted mass on it.

I have been looking at some of the Italkit 70cc kits as i quite like the port work in the barrel. Now i just need to get hold of one! It also could do with another set of forks, but i may try to change them for some off a Zip or a Runner as the 13' wheels are useless when it comes to sourcing tyres.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[Clutchy]

Mine could do 66mph standard other than de-restriction.

Never had any reliability problems, looked good and mpg was great.

Miss it strangely
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Matt94]

[Clutchy]

[evoboy]

https://s8.postimg.org/ejq7vk22t/DSC_0353.jpg

Zip front end is in. Did require some grinding to the lock stops but it fits up nicely.

I have a front wheel from a Zip on the way and a set of Conti race tyres ( the main reason for going for 10'' wheels was so race tyres can be used!).
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[evoboy]

So i made an order to get some of the engine built back up.

Ended up going for an Athena HPR kit, which should give in the ballpark of 15-17bhp matched to the correct exhaust.

Started by checking how much needed to be taken off the cases to match the ports to the new barrel.

https://s29.postimg.org/h2jdz50nb/DSC_0355.jpg

The aftermath....not the most pretty, but itll do the job. Looked alot better after smoothing it all out.

https://s17.postimg.org/b8ux5opzj/DSC_0356.jpg

Full mass crank installed with new crank bearings and seals...

https://s4.postimg.org/hq4v1izxp/DSC_0357.jpg

Barrel and head installed. Set the 'squish band' to 0.70mm. Piston is a single ring and the barrel is nikasil plated.

https://s12.postimg.org/oy287yy4d/DSC_0358.jpg

Rebuilt the Zip forks and installed them with new head race bearings.

https://s14.postimg.org/hl3ruir9d/DSC_0359.jpg

Also mounted up one of the Conti race tyres onto the Zip wheel.

https://s29.postimg.org/ma9j0pnk7/DSC_0360.jpg


Just waiting for the rest of the gearbox bearings to turn up and the rear wheel and front spindle, then more progress can be made.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[MattWadz]

looks fun! 16bhp in something that small/light will be so much fun! what carb you going for? 21mm?
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Pitbike x2, Mini Moto x4, China Quad, 02' Suzuki AP50 > 03' MBK Nitro > 86' Suzuki GP100 > 02' Yamaha Jog R > 57' Honda Lead 100 > 95' Piaggio ZIP Rst 50 > 51' Suzuki TS50x > 83' Honda CB125TDE Twin > 51' Yamaha Aerox > 98' Kawasaki KX60 > 89' Yamaha DT50MX > 80's Honda QR50 > 05' CG clone > 125cc China Pitbike > 91' Honda MTX125 RW-L > 09' Peugeot Speedfight 2 LC LR > Lucky MX 140cc > Apache Tomahawk 50 Quad (current = 2010 Yamaha WR125R

[evoboy]

[MattWadz]

sounds excellent!
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Pitbike x2, Mini Moto x4, China Quad, 02' Suzuki AP50 > 03' MBK Nitro > 86' Suzuki GP100 > 02' Yamaha Jog R > 57' Honda Lead 100 > 95' Piaggio ZIP Rst 50 > 51' Suzuki TS50x > 83' Honda CB125TDE Twin > 51' Yamaha Aerox > 98' Kawasaki KX60 > 89' Yamaha DT50MX > 80's Honda QR50 > 05' CG clone > 125cc China Pitbike > 91' Honda MTX125 RW-L > 09' Peugeot Speedfight 2 LC LR > Lucky MX 140cc > Apache Tomahawk 50 Quad (current = 2010 Yamaha WR125R

[evoboy]

The engine is now bolted up to the frame. This is as it will look underneath the bodywork. Very basic with just 3 wires for the ignition.

https://s17.postimg.org/l95y3ckbz/DSC_0367.jpg

The exhaust is a Gianelli, but is just temporary so i can get it fired up. The pipe wont match the cylinder too well as it works best at around 10k rpm, while the engine will be making peak power at around 12k rpm. I also went with a 21mm carb in the end.

https://s17.postimg.org/aiibho6pb/DSC_0368.jpg
https://s17.postimg.org/v5712zq3z/DSC_0369.jpg
https://s17.postimg.org/uicpr7ilr/DSC_0370.jpg

I am yet to buy a 1/4 turn throttle from a pitbike as I wont be using the oil pump anymore, so have no need for the split cable. It also needs fuel lines and then it will be ready for its first run.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[lihp]

Where do you race these? As it looks epic fun
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[evoboy]

[lihp]

Interest

ACU license etc required?
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[evoboy]

[evoboy]

So.

After its first test day at Stretton in Leicester there are a few things that need sorting!

The riding position is all wrong. Bars are too low and pegs too high. Obviously its not meant for a 6'4 person to be hanging off of. But to carry any speed, changes are needed!

I decided to buy an adapter so i could run normal bars on it. Lobbed a set of low renthals on it for a test. Yes they look silly wide, but it does feel far better! It means I can also run some MX style hand guards. But these low bars will be replaced with some MX style bars as they have less rake back to them.

https://s27.postimg.org/knwpypiv7/DSC_0389.jpg

Also had problems with getting full throttle, only managing to get about half with some tweaking. The 'splitter' in the standard cable restricts the movement of the cable so its unable to pull the slide all the way up. It didnt perform too badly at half throttle mind and was able to 'keep up' with the 140cc pitbikes on the straights! A cable without splitter has been ordered...

The standard jetting was far too lean and the jets i took with me did not go big enough. So another pack has been ordered.

The Gianelli pipe that came with the bike does not work too well with the cylinder kit. A PM tuning exhaust was bagged on ebay for £20 which will do till the exhaust to properly match the characteristics of the cylinder is made.

Handling wise it feels pretty good and was far less twitchy than I thought it would be!
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[evoboy]

https://s28.postimg.org/zdla1s75p/10001118_807470465933945_1669323282_o.jpg

Only picture I found of the scoot on track.

I had been having some problems with the spark breaking down. So after pricing up how much it would be to buy all the new standard bits, I decided to go for somthing a bit more up to the job!

https://s28.postimg.org/762qch7i5/DSC_0397.jpg

Old setup.

https://s28.postimg.org/bmqhxewcd/DSC_0398.jpg

New rotor on the left, old on the right. Obviously theres quite alot of difference in weight and diameter!

https://s28.postimg.org/cazcgcv25/DSC_0399.jpg

New setup installed and timed up. Seems to make a big difference to how the engine performs.

Pulls wheelies off the throttle. Its bloody quick!!
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[qarka]

Very cool! Get a video up?
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