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chewbaca
10-18-2007, 05:32 PM
chewbaca here.
im a long time motorcyclist getting into minis and midbikes. i had a 50cc panda funrider (honda z50 copy) that i bought in 2000 that i almost never drove then this summer i bought a Lifan 138cc engine and pryed it into the frame. the engine brought the top speed from 30 to about 55 or 60. the nice part about the panda is that it is street legal. look on hooperimports.com and look for the pit bull thats a Lifan version. I havent had the best of luck with Lifan though. first engine an o-ring prevented oil from getting to the head. second engine the kick starter gear stripped and the guy i bought the engine from wont reply my emails. call me a glutten for punishment but my third engine is on its way. hopefully third time is a charm. my brother and i will be getting x18s this comming monday. even if quality is lacking its a good place to start. i figured if i didnt like it i could use the engine and suspension on another stock panda i bought.
I was thinking for a good mod for the x18 would be a 138cc engine with ram air. maybe make an extra horsepower. if nothing else it would be getting cooler denser air than the air inside the fairing.
I will also try to licence my x18 too. i dont see why not since my panda is the same basic honda copy engine from the 60s and its legal. it just came with an mso i paid my tax and i got a title in the mail a month later. plus my panda with the 50cc engine was getting 156mpg and with the 138cc 114mpg. and i was breaking it in. (well then it broke....twice.)
there would be a way for Bravo getting around most of the hassle. heres how. they need to sell them... with a 49cc engine that makes under 2 hp. why? then its classified as a motorized bicycle. not a motorcycle. yank the engine and put your own in. silly but it would work. or they could sell them as kits like a J&P chopper in a box or a kit car. regulations of those builds are more.....lax.
if enough people got together and wrote congressmen and legislators things could change too. better than bitching about how stupid laws are. right?
I was looking to be, well.. am looking to become, a lifan dealer. if this engine holds up anyway. i dont want to be dealing junk around. anybody here have good or bad luck with lifan?
i am a machinest too so if anybody has a great idea i can make it!

The Nutty Professor
10-18-2007, 06:19 PM
Welcome to the madness chewy thumbsup2

schofell84
10-18-2007, 06:46 PM
welcome. im gonna give you a huge hint for engine building. planetmini.

chewbaca
10-19-2007, 12:49 PM
i have a small shop so i could make prototypes or small scale production runs.
whats needed or wanted for the bravo x series motorcycles?
i have a tubing bender with 1, 1.25 and 1.5 dies. custom pipes? swingarm braces? frame strengthening bars?

redryderaus
10-19-2007, 01:28 PM
G'day and welcome, chewbaca. You'll certainly have fun here. It's a young forum but is growing and we're all mad keen midbikers.

Cheers,

red ausflag

swheels
10-19-2007, 02:04 PM
Welcome to the madness.stirthepot I've got a great idea for yah.adjustable rearsets made out of billet aluminum.That would be the way togo for these little bikes.thinking_smiliethumbsup2
I've got them on my to do list along with a whole bunch of other things.I'll get around to it someday.rolleye0010

schofell84
10-19-2007, 02:18 PM
ok heres your challenge: wheels, inverted forks, dohc head / liquid cooled conversion, 5 speed transmission ... yeah thats a good starting point. rock2

Blitz$M.Inc.$
10-19-2007, 02:28 PM
ill take a extended swing arm, and design a crash cage

swheels
10-19-2007, 03:24 PM
Hey chewbaca are taking any preorders on this stuff?j_k

rene13
10-19-2007, 04:34 PM
Chewbaca: How much would charge to machine a snout for the gas tank(what the gas cap screws on to) I'm trying to make an alluminum gas tank and I need a snout.

The Nutty Professor
10-19-2007, 07:55 PM
For a top for your tank look at Vortex. Hey Chewy how's about a slipper clutch? OK I always shoot for the moon so when I just hit a mountain I'm somewhat satisfied crazy_smilie

redryderaus
10-19-2007, 10:27 PM
I'll go simple. Aluminium roller rockers so I can run a wild cam grind. thumbsup2

Cheers,

red

The Nutty Professor
10-20-2007, 05:54 AM
I'll go simple. Aluminium roller rockers so I can run a wild cam grind. thumbsup2

Cheers,

red

LOLOLOLOL What the hecks simple about that one bluelaugh ??????

X7rocks
10-20-2007, 06:04 AM
hey chewy
can you make me a duel exhuast system styled like the new GSXR 1000
or even a Aprilia RSV1000

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:16 AM
if you want a pipe that has a muffler on the bottom of the engine and exits like a gsxr 1000 it shouldnt be hard. what does the rsv Aprilia pipe look like?

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:20 AM
Chewbaca: How much would charge to machine a snout for the gas tank(what the gas cap screws on to) I'm trying to make an alluminum gas tank and I need a snout.

it would be the eaziest to use one for a custom chopper. some are aluminum and even flush mount. google it. aluminum chopper-filler, bung, gas cap.....it would be much less expensive way to go.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:22 AM
For a top for your tank look at Vortex. Hey Chewy how's about a slipper clutch? OK I always shoot for the moon so when I just hit a mountain I'm somewhat satisfied crazy_smilie

Ill leave the slipper clutch to takegawa. too much r and d and would end up costing as much as a new x18.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:24 AM
LOLOLOLOL What the hecks simple about that one bluelaugh ??????

possible ye$$$$$$$$. Takegawa probably already makes them.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:25 AM
Welcome to the madness.stirthepot I've got a great idea for yah.adjustable rearsets made out of billet aluminum.That would be the way togo for these little bikes.thinking_smiliethumbsup2
I've got them on my to do list along with a whole bunch of other things.I'll get around to it someday.rolleye0010

thats doable. the stock ones are a little......toyish.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:32 AM
how about preload adjusters for the forks?
frame stiffening bars?
lower swingarm brace?
cool air intake/ram air?
oil cooler bracket?
reserve tank?
under the engine muffler/pipe?
decent rear shock?
race stands?
engne tools? like the clutch basket nut tool?
i can make all this suff except for the shock. ill do some diggin on that one.

Is there any interest in any of this? Remember i dont own a machining center.
keep the ideas comming though.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:43 AM
ok heres your challenge: wheels, inverted forks, dohc head / liquid cooled conversion, 5 speed transmission ... yeah thats a good starting point. rock2

liquid cooled would be great! got an extra 50g for r and d? a kit would probably cost about $1200. supply and demand thing.

wheels. where would i find blanks? out of billet would be about $1400 a set. i have a friend that makes a wide tire kit for VTXs (SumoX) so i have the ability. how many people would really want them? good idea. depends on the demand.

inverted forks. im sure they can be found.

5 speed....Takegawa. $$$$$$$

dohc....Takegawa. i think they are around $1500.

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:48 AM
ill take a extended swing arm, and design a crash cage

the swingarm. how about alulminum extensions like the ones made for hayabusas?
crash cage. sounds good. ill look into that. how much would people pay for one?

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 11:51 AM
welcome. im gonna give you a huge hint for engine building. planetmini.

Ill leave the engine building to someone else. i like to make things.

Blitz$M.Inc.$
10-20-2007, 01:05 PM
150 for the cage, 200 for the swing

55IsABigLie
10-20-2007, 02:28 PM
Welcome to the madness chewy thumbsup2

Chewey- it only gets more crazy with a bunch of like-minded peeps like us..Welcome! cowboy

chewbaca
10-20-2007, 02:40 PM
150 for the cage, 200 for the swing

ill start taking measurements monday. when things get slow this winter ill get crackin.

Blitz$M.Inc.$
10-20-2007, 04:36 PM
i have a x15, first edition
id like bolt up with slight cutting/modding for the cage
like the one on the big bike is cool and the mid is a x15 like mine
must be bling and strong

rene13
10-21-2007, 12:49 AM
I would have some interest in the adjustable rearsets and stands.
If you see my bike money hasn't been an issue.smokin_pimp

X7rocks
10-21-2007, 06:08 AM
if you want a pipe that has a muffler on the bottom of the engine and exits like a gsxr 1000 it shouldnt be hard. what does the rsv Aprilia pipe look like?

heres a pic duel exhuast side to side