1978 Kawasaki with a Yanmar knockoff

[HondaJohn]

I posted one or two pics of this bike when I joined this forum, and think its finally time to put up a build thread. Improvements since the summer:

- new wiring harness
- solenoid kill switch
-better clutch lubrication
- new exhaust system

I made the exhaust from pre-bent wiring conduit that I bought from Home Depot. Stripped the zinc and found a guy to weld it up for me. There's no baffles, and its definetley given me more power (and an awesome exhaust note).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Zfyyb_Lkg

I also made some adjustments to the clutch, and it now locks up strong enough that I can climb fairly steep hills (very slowly)

[Sphere]

Nice Did you engine come with a solenoid, or did you fit one later?

[HondaJohn]

I found a Yanmar supplier in Michigan (http://stores.ebay.com/Auto-Express-Parts) who has them in stock. He pretty much has all the spares for the Chinese Yanmar clones.

[Dougy]

I love the style of your bike mate, its very much what I'm going for with mine, Whats the take off like with that HUGE sprocket and whats your top speed ? Also what size is your engine ? All ???'s but I love

[balboa_71]

Hondajohn,
Being a single speed drive, it looks like you've got a pretty good top end speed...what is the reduction ratio? Nice build!

Cris

[HondaJohn]

The bike has decent acceleration but it would be better with a CVT. I was actually looking at the same CVT that dougy used on his build but I wasn't sure whether it would work. Seeing his conversion, I think I will take the plunge and buy one. With the large sprocket (6.85:1) I get about 38-40 mph top speed, and it pulls fairly well up hills.

As a side note, I've just come back from the Loring Timing Association in Maine, USA. This bike now holds the speed record for its class (350 cc, alternate fuel). I was able to hit 56.5 mph with a lower gear ratio and a few dozen improvements. I will post images of it as soon as i get them ( was too busy fixing and racing to take photos, my friend who came needs to give me copies)

[HondaJohn]

These are the only pictures I have so far.

[hzoltaan]

The bike has decent acceleration but it would be better....

Hi,

I can see this is a long unused topic, but I guess it's better if I resurrect this than if I start a new one.

So, I'd like to figure out, how this single gear transmission works out.
Would this give me a more-or-less acceptable acceleration?
Would it give me a more or less acceptable top speed?

The idea:

I have a Jawa frame which has 350 2 smoker engine. the frame is simply too small for accommodating a diesel engine + a transmission, but this 1 gear-clutch version might just fit...
Using it as a commuter bike, the top speed I'd require is maybe 60-65km. So..... If I put in an engine which is able to give me more or less 5HP continuously, would that be able to give me acceleration? I mean acceptable...

How bad the fuel economy would be missing a top gear and revving the engine at 3000-3300 at cruise?

[coachgeo]

The bike has decent acceleration but it would be better....

Hi,

I can see this is a long unused topic, but I guess it's better if I resurrect this than if I start a new one....

Yes,often it is better to resurrect than start a new one. One hint though when ressurecting is to quote a post of whom your trying to reach. Though not allways..... but sometimes folk have their membership settings arranged to get emailed when they are quoted in a thread..... Sooooo.. by quoting them..... odds are greater your resurection will actually reach the right people instead of floating in limbo land.

Already threw a quote into your thread for you. Hope it helps ya get a responce.

[hzoltaan]

Thanks, for the advice, I'll keep in mind.

[HondaJohn]

Sorry for the delayed response, I was busy prepping the machine for its second land speed race and fell off the earth for a bit there

If used on flat ground, the single speed works okay, but acceleration is a bit low, and you will throw up a cloud of smoke trying to get up to speed. A 10 hp motor and stronger clutch might help, as long as you keep it geared to a top speed around 40, but multiple gears is probably the way to go for keeping up with modern traffic. I spent most of the year developing a two-speed automatic to help with acceleration, and I detailed most of the build in this topic:

https://www.dieselbikeforum.com/view ... =31&t=1891

Good luck with your build!