LS 650 is basically the same lump prettied up I think.Years ago there was a shop in Atlanta that built custom cafe bikes using Suzuki engines. One of their best selling builds used the LS650 engine in a BSA A7/A10 frame. I think a DR powered cafe bike would look good.
unfortunately, the LS 650 and DR 650 share almost nothing, neither in design or parts. It never made sense to me.LS 650 is basically the same lump prettied up I think.
Modern Japanese engines are so compact, front-to-back, that they usually don't look good in pre-unit Britbike frames. There's so much extra space that they end up swimming around in it like a kid wearing Dad's suit.Years ago there was a shop in Atlanta that built custom cafe bikes using Suzuki engines. One of their best selling builds used the LS650 engine in a BSA A7/A10 frame. I think a DR powered cafe bike would look good.
Huh, I thought they were similar for some reason. Oh well.unfortunately, the LS 650 and DR 650 share almost nothing, neither in design or parts. It never made sense to me.
This was a big challenge and a large part of why I ended up building a frame from scratch. The DR frame doesn't lend itself well to a hardtail, and most other frames have far too long of a cradle. If I had to do it over again, I would have actually made the down tube from behind the motor to the spine about 1.5" closer to the back of the engine. It ended up giving me a bit of space to mount the cdi and solenoid though so all's well that ends well.Modern Japanese engines are so compact, front-to-back, that they usually don't look good in pre-unit Britbike frames. There's so much extra space that they end up swimming around in it like a kid wearing Dad's suit.
DR800 in BSA A10 frame:
View attachment 236549
That paste-up was the original visualization for the Manki, an LS650 in a Norton Featherbed frame. The guy who built it did a great job of disguising the engine's length with a faux "primary case" enclosure on the left and strategic battery box placement on the right. Unfortunately, that's not a great solution from an engineering point of view, because the countershaft sprocket ends up so far from the swingarm pivot that maintaining proper chain tension with any sizable amount of rear suspension movement becomes rather problematic.The LS powered A7/A10 bikes looked a bit like this LS in a Norton frame. If I remember correctly they sold for over $10K in 1990 dollars. Too rich for me but I kind of like these freaky swaps.
...agreed! It seems like ANYthing dirt-bike related is over-the-top over-priced. I was even looking for any sort of thumpers, and even the LS650s (with their goofy belt drive) are pricey hard to find. I even searched for Buell Blasts.... nope. ATCs...? Not so easy. I AM in a very "rare" place for decent two-wheelers, though. That's why I think those Shineray engines on E-bay might be a Thing- especially if they branch out.Thanks man, and I wish the same. Unfortunately, after having to put this one good motor together out of 4 different 96+ dr650 engines, I'm a bit unsure of it being a cheap lump to build a project around haha. I think these bikes are just so bullet proof from the get go that once the motors end up out of the bike and sold, they are just pretty much guaranteed to be used up at that point. I have had half a mind to build a cafe racer from scratch, frame and all around one of these motors, but the scarcity of the motors alone makes me pause, and if I bought a complete bike to start, I would be a bit reserved to tear it apart as they are such great dual sports as is.
I have said a few times that if I were to do it all over again, I'd make it a bit shorter. I wanted to take out an inch or so between the engine and down tube and about the same between the down tube and rear axle. That said, this thing really does handle well. I know that sounds like a cliche that everyone that builds their own bike would say, but having run it up to 80 mph or so (not sure I have plans to go much over than that) with no shakes or wobbles of any kind, and when you let go of the bars it tracks dead straight, I'm happy as a horse. Somewhere half way through this project, I did take 1.25" or so out of the wheel base by drilling new holes in the axle plate and trimming them down. I am glad that I shortened it up at least that much.Proportion is important. Back in the 70s most of the rigid aftermarket frames were based on the Harley rigid frame proportions. Too much stretch for a Honda 350 or 450 twin made for a large open area where the HD transmission and oil tank resides. Some creative builders solved this in various unique ways to produce stunning motorcycles. The average garage folks just lived with it. Levi be glad you added the extra at the down tube behind the engine. The frame proportions look great and it allowed for necessary mounting points. Years ago a friend built a rigid frame for a Honda XL350. He wanted it tight and he did a great job of building the frame but the overall frame length was short and it rode like crap. He coupled this was a short rake which made the bike handle like crap too. Shortly after he finished it, he broke it down and cut up the frame. Kind of a shame as it was a good looking bike and would have made a great display in someone's office.
@irk miller has said that "there is no machine abused worse than a dual sport that is treated like a dirbike". I think that has much to do with the lack of ability to find big singles lumps in good shape. Once they are used up to the point that the engine comes out, they are done for....agreed! It seems like ANYthing dirt-bike related is over-the-top over-priced. I was even looking for any sort of thumpers, and even the LS650s (with their goofy belt drive) are pricey hard to find. I even searched for Buell Blasts.... nope. ATCs...? Not so easy. I AM in a very "rare" place for decent two-wheelers, though. That's why I think those Shineray engines on E-bay might be a Thing- especially if they branch out.
I'm just glad its lighter than a certain 350cc Yamaha I know of....Looks amazing. It's just heavy.