13 replies to this topic

[Ferrina1275]

The Suzuki TL 1000R was an awesome machine and just wondered if anyone has thought about fitting one in their Mini? Small enough to fit in the front with a propshaft to a rear diff and axle. 135bhp of V-twin power and loads of torque.

PS. It was called the "Widow Maker" Speaks for itself!!!

[Purtsi]

I have thought the same idea in the past but with HD engine. Just because of the sound and torque Anyhow, what I've heard, the workload that the conversions takes is awesome not to mention the one off parts that are needed to make for the whole thing work. There was once in a Miniworld mag a story about a yankee who decided to put small block V8 in a mini pick-up instead of two (2) HD V2 because it would be much easier =). I actually have that magazine somewhere...

[Dog]

I asked a simular question last year I think... do a search, I think the title was "Bike Engines"...

[lchris21]

Some people have succesfully fitted Vee bike engines in Seven type cars. They have plenty of low down torque and rumoured to be a comprimise between bike & car engines.
Here's a Honda Pan European V4 fitted to a Stuart Taylor Lotus 7 chassis.

Attached Files

•  139_3961_img.jpg   162.53K   64 downloads

[scrapveiw]

go for it , but it would have to be rear engined for me its not much more work to put the lot in the back and you could use the complete subframe from a sierra ,bolt a sprocket onto the diff ,buy a couple of housed diff bearings . these minis with front engine and rear drive have never appealed to me , I invisage much wheelspin and going backwards through hedges and mad things like that LOL, there are a few tl 1000 rear engined cars on the autograss scene , they do quite well on the track due to oudles of low down torque and they sound gorgeous

[fwdr1mini]

we have intensions (and have had for sometime now) of trying a fwd v twin conversion with the view to adding it to our kit options, just waiting for a quite time to make a start on it.

if we know people are interested in these then we'll have to make some time to get on with it.

so watch this space

Darren (Pro-motive)

[roofless]

we have intensions (and have had for sometime now) of trying a fwd v twin conversion with the view to adding it to our kit options, just waiting for a quite time to make a start on it.

if we know people are interested in these then we'll have to make some time to get on with it.

so watch this space

Darren (Pro-motive)

which engine are you thinking of darren? and would this be considered a pro-motive lite, or diet pro-mo

[Ferrina1275]

What about a Smart R1 conversion? I have asked a few times?? Not on the cards?

[johnnie]

PS. It was called the "Widow Maker" Speaks for itself!!!

That "nickname" was really aimed at the origional TL1000S and was more a comment on its handling than the power output. Suzuki released the first batch with lighting (for that time) steering and no damper. This was corrected in quick time after a few well documented fatalities with a recall for a steering damper kit.

The truth of the matter was it was more a case of people thinking they could have racebike turning without sacrificing straight line stability!!

The TL motor is a fair thing though. It will never have the "kick you in the nuts" all out power of a comparable jap four, but, the lack of top end is more than made up for in mid range grunt, which maybe more useable in a car anyway.Its not indestructable by any means (I've had plenty of experiance of blown examples) but its as good as any on the market and plentyfull. There were problems with the ECU on early models that caused poor running (staggering) due to overfueling at around 3000rpm. Suzuki were slow to respond and at best sparadic when it came to replacement (there are at least 3 types of ECU and they all have the same part number so the only way to be really sure is to ride it! which maybe a problem when buying a motor to fit to your car) This could be a ball ache because that 3000rpm point is going to be right on the "normal driving" area and the glutch is bound to be magnified by the extra weight. Just something to be aware of and certainly cured by the TLR release. They can also wash their bores and suffer from blow-by of the rings. Lastly, they are very much on the edge when it comes to "lowspeed" cooling. The percived wisedom is that it works fine when the motors at high speed but can be marginal "around town". Again not a real problem as such but worth bearing in mind when considering wrapping it in a car. I sound overcritical but to be fair years in the bike industry makes you this way. It is a good basic jap twin but, forwarned is forarmed if you're buying one! In conclusion, I'd say get as late a model as posible and see it running before parting with your cash.

It was used in a de-tuned form in the DL1000 V-Strom as well as Cagivas Navigator, Kawasaki put it in a DL copy and even Bimota used it.

The VTR or SP1-2 Honda motor is compariable if a little more rev happy and the Aprillia 1000 is a sweet unit but built by Aprillia (nuf said)

But, if as Pro-Motive you are considering a V-Twin just do yourself a favour and repeat 10 times, morning and night, NOT DUCATI NOT DUCATI NOT DUCATI!!!!!

[supermotolee]

sound advice johnnie. was it also not in the later sv1000 also de tuned like the v stroms? if you could get it in sideways maybe a prop arrangment could be used instead of a chain?

i think there is a reliant kitten kicking about with a tl engine in it...

[johnnie]

was it also not in the later sv1000

Yes it was. Probley the motor to buy to be fair because everything was very much sorted by that point

[supermotolee]

was thinking about the tl thou in a day dream at work the other day it does have that stigma of a 'mans bike' lol wasnt the poor handling down to the poor design and placment of the rear shock running right next to the exhaust and overheating ?

although i would dearly love an sp1/2 as they look awesome (to me) i think the tl would be the engine to use in a car as the hondas hold their money well.

[johnnie]

was thinking about the tl thou in a day dream at work the other day it does have that stigma of a 'mans bike' lol wasnt the poor handling down to the poor design and placment of the rear shock running right next to the exhaust and overheating ?

They never replaced the shock and it all seemed sorted after the recall for a steering damper. I agree that the rear end is often the cause of "front end" problems but I think the TL was just unfortunate to be the first of the "ultra quick" turning bikes with a decent steering geometry and was released without enough road testing. Virtually all the sports bikes that followed with the same on more radical head angles were released with a standard damper of some sort.
Just a case of Suzuki rushing a bike to market (again)

My dreams of my old TL fall more into the nightmare department

[IWANAR1MINI]

What about a Rotax V990RP (Aprilia RSV1000 donk)
Theres one on a local auction site for rather cheap, any one with any experience with one of these motors? was thinking maybe mid mount sideways and using a D/Shaft and Diff......