Bike engined smarts

[300bhp/ton]

Hi, posted this on another forum, but it seemed a little quiet and someone recommended this forum.

I'm looking for some info please.

1. Are there any bike engined smart owners here? If so could you offer up some feedback on what they are like, in terms of use, performance, running costs and what parts you used?

2. I'm aware of Smartuki, but I've read some mixed views so far. So if anyone here has any direct experience of their kit, could you please share your insights?

3. Are there any other conversion kits available (easily attainable in the UK) for either a Roadster or City Coupe/ForTwo?


Thanks in advance.

Matt.

[Khalifa]

Re: Bike engined smarts

http://www.smartmaniacs.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=55129&page=3

[Ferrina]

Re: Bike engined smarts

Hello again!

[Evilution]

Re: Bike engined smarts

It goes quiet because we hear "I wanna make a bike engined smart" quite a lot because they think it's going to be some amazing fast car.
Luckily enough, the community grew out of it quickly and realised what a poor idea they are.

Below is a quote from a company that actually had one.

Don't do it...

Surprisingly enough bike engines are designed for use in......... bikes

Bike engined Smarts are utterly rubbish, very noisy, not very fast (in real world driving) and extremely unstable at speed.

And where does anyone get 0-60 in 4 seconds from???

A hyabusa engine kicks out 180bhp and a Smart weighs over 700kgs so you only have 250bhp per tonne. Couple that to chain drive and a weedy bike clutch and you can see how figures like this are urban myth.

Our stripped out GXR1000 engined Roadster was tested by EVO magazine and by the time David Yu had got a best time of 6.5 seconds 0-60mph (after about 10 runs) the new clutch was fried and the car had to be trailered home.

The MR2 engine makes slightly more sense (plenty of sense as a hill climb special) but again would you want to be travelling at high speed in a Smart with no stability control and ABS when you have to swerve out of the way of some moron that's just carved you up on the M1.

The 'ONLY' safe way to create a high speed Smart is to use a bored out Roadster cammed Smart block. The thick end of 120bhp and 110lb/ft of torque and your aircon, abs, traction control and stability control all still working.

Smarts are very dynamically challenged and stay on the road purely by virtue of their safety systems. We all like fun and tweaking cars but having been on two wheels in the original Z-cars Smart at no more than 80mph on an airfield I can assure you that had the same thing happened on a road the outcome would have been a very nasty accident.

The great debate rumbles ever onwards...

SRUS team

[davros7760]

Re: Bike engined smarts

. I'm aware of Smartuki, but I've read some mixed views so far.

Matt.

Are you sure they were 'mixed' views- I think you will find they were pretty much the same

My understanding was that Smartski are very professional but it doesn't matter how good you are - you can't polish a turd

Its an idea - just not a good one.....

[ZorroReturns]

Re: Bike engined smarts

I wonder if v4 bike engine would work better than a sreamer for revs? I think alternative car engines most prob work best.

[oldgit]

Re: Bike engined smarts

hi ,
regards bike engine smarts
a club member called tim , has fitted a kawasaki zx10
motorbike engine in his [ one photo below ]







he,s a member of kernowsmart in cornwall .
lots more photo,s of each stage on our site in members / photo gallery

tony [ oldgit ]

club site :- www.kernowsmart.co.uk

[300bhp/ton]

Re: Bike engined smarts

It goes quiet because we hear "I wanna make a bike engined smart" quite a lot because they think it's going to be some amazing fast car.
Luckily enough, the community grew out of it quickly and realised what a poor idea they are.

Below is a quote from a company that actually had one.

Cheers. I was actually going to PM them and ask direct as I read that comment earlier.

I do understand what people are saying - hence researching before spending any cash out on this

That said, I think for anyone to claim a 250bhp/tonne car isn't fast, evidently hangs about with far faster cars than I do. :wag:


My main aims where concerns over stability, actual performance and how well it all worked. I guess I'm starting to find some answers. Although, I must say, some of the YouTube vids do still look fairly impressive. And wasn't there a smart ForTwo circuit race recently? Are these racing smarts just as unstable?

Thanks.


PS - The reason the smart appealed was I was wanting a small lightweight nippy car with a small n/a displacement motor. A proper roof and doors is simply a bonus as it'll live outside/under a cover. It wouldn't be a daily, but for specific competition use and fun.

Fisher Fury (also bike powered) is also on my list. Less weight, but far less practical with no proper roof or boot area.

[300bhp/ton]

Re: Bike engined smarts

Hello again!

Cheers for your help on the other forum.

[300bhp/ton]

Re: Bike engined smarts

It goes quiet because we hear "I wanna make a bike engined smart" quite a lot because they think it's going to be some amazing fast car.
Luckily enough, the community grew out of it quickly and realised what a poor idea they are.

Below is a quote from a company that actually had one.

Thanks for the info (I did try replying yesterday, but for some reason the post is missing??).

Anyhow, cheers. I did actually read this comment yesterday and was thinking of PM'ing them and asking as this is exactly the sort of thing I'd like to know about.

Although I'm not sure I fully agree about a 250bhp/tonne vehicle being slow.

But yes, stability, performance and general ability where all things I wanted to find out about before spending any money on a project like this. Some of the YouTube vids are quite convincing though and isn't there a new smart ForTwo race series as well. Are these just as unstable?


BTW - the reason I was looking at ForTwo's is I'd like something lightweight with a small displacement n/a engine. Something nimble and peppy. I'd be using it for various types of club level competitions as well as a purely fun weekend vehicle. It wouldn't be a daily at all. But it would have to live outside and having a proper roof, doors and a boot would make it so much more usable too.

I've got the Fisher Fury kit car on my list too (typically R1 or ZX10 powered). Which is lighter than the ForTwo and has a longer wheelbase. But has no boot, no proper roof and some don't have doors.

Cheers.

[Evilution]

Re: Bike engined smarts

Although I'm not sure I fully agree about a 250bhp/tonne vehicle being slow.

And that's other myth that make people want a bike engined smart.

BHP has nothing to do with 0-60 times. BHP is your top end speed.
0-60 times (that determine fast cars) is all about torque.

Bike engines have sod all torque and they don't need it because they are usually propelling a small bike. Bike engines create quite high BHP mainly because of the high rev range but you'll lose a lot through the transmission.

If you want a smart that's not much faster than a well modified smart with the original engine, obnoxiously loud, nigh on unusable in real life, eats clutches weekly, far higher maintenance and expensive and time consuming to build, then you should consider one.

However, most people see sense.

The Mercedes A class engine is tipped over like the smart's is. If you want a quick car, use that.

[Ferrina]

Re: Bike engined smarts

Best way to go is V8 automatic. Oops, I've said too much!!

[nikb]

Re: Bike engined smarts

WELCOME ALONG

YAY someone else who things outside the tridion, id like to see what the bike/smart output is like against my N/A MR2 smart or my mates starlet turbo in a roadster

your bike/smart should be ok as once your moving the clutch should last a while, but getting off the lights without too much clutch slip is going to cause headaches, it will pull like a train once your in your powerband range

[300bhp/ton]

Re: Bike engined smarts

Best way to go is V8 automatic. Oops, I've said too much!!

Presume the lack of smiles means this was more of a dig than humour?

[nikb]

Re: Bike engined smarts

ferrina just want to let you know that he's building or going to build one with a V6 probably