Ottomatic
04-12-2010, 02:40 AM
I was in a near death crash last may on my 1987 magna 750 (truck pulled out in front of me at an intersection).
I almost feel up to the task of riding a 2wheeler again, but these spyders have caught my interest DEPENDING on what i can do to them.
When i see the Spyder RS i just want to tear into it and start doing all the stuff i used to do to my cars or bike, (sound/communication/nav systems, cosmetic lighting, fiberglass, paint, etc) i think in that area of mods should be reasonably forgiving to work on(correct me if i am wrong) but do to the nature of the spyder i am not sure if i would be happy with just that. i admit i have to test one before i make that call but judging from the reviews from many sources i am under the impression that the way it corners is not what i wanting from a bike, which would be ok IF the power is there which in most reviews is not spectacular. i am sure they are peppy for what they are, but i dont know if i would be happy with it.
What i do know is I would love to make this thing as quick as it looks. and i have read the basic's of what has and can be done, where my question start is: How Simple is it to work on, and how easy it is to get to the core of it.
I have worked on my now dead magna for quite a while, its not too bad to work on but it was a tight fit, but still if needed i could do just about anything maintenance wise to the motor/carbs/etc i have been trying to find pictures of people working on the motor and there isn't much and it looks quite complicated in comparison. So i am not sure if i am biting off too much when i say i want to do a bunch of higher grade motor mods.
I have considered that the Aprilia rvs1000r uses the same motor, and there are some mods that are compatible?
A big bore kit seems like the best value upgrade how ever i am not confident with my skills when it comes to making the electronic systems match. I am trying to find what is involved with such an upgrade and how much they cost(2k ish i think?).
The Aerocharger turbo kit "looks" simple enough for some one like me to install, however i am worried about the electronics/fuel delivery systems that may need to also be modded. and of course the cost of such a kit may not be in the budget for me.
The other option i considered was the RVS1000R motor(identical to the spyder) with 143hp and 74.5 ft.lbs of torque, If the access to the motor is simple enough the RVS motor can be had for 1.2k-2k and if its just a matter of switch the two it may be a good way of going. but the torque is really effected by this option, and guessing from the nature of the bikes size/weight it seems that torque be more important in the long run compared to top speed.
I have also read any of the major motor upgrades may be too much for the clutch to handle? If so is there a way to address this... with out braking the bank?
Feel free to dumb it down a bit when it comes to motor talk, im a diy electronics/cosmetics guy foremost my automotive ability are not bad, but my experience with motors are limited to fixing/cleaning appose to actually changing the mechanics as to how it runs. (rebuilding the v45 carb bank is about my limit to what i have done, and some smaller motor work with Briggs & Stratton motors) Compression ratios/valve timings/fuel mixtures/etc are not what i am used to but am willing to try.
What i would like to end up with is something that will keep up with an average sport bike (600cc/750cc) or at least close to it, my 87 magna was quick enough to surprise many sport bikes (considering the style of it) and i have tried my friends modern sports bikes, i was never planing on trading my magna in at the time, but at the time was always considering picking up a cheap used Hayabusa for a 2nd ride.
Thank you for your time, i will be testing a spyder in the next week or 2, pending on how i enjoy the ride-ability of the Spyder and if the Comments are in favor of some one like me working on it, i hopefully will be the next owner. one other question, which would be better to work on/proformance the SM or SE?
Ps. If any one knows of a Spyder needing TLC i may be interested in a project.
I almost feel up to the task of riding a 2wheeler again, but these spyders have caught my interest DEPENDING on what i can do to them.
When i see the Spyder RS i just want to tear into it and start doing all the stuff i used to do to my cars or bike, (sound/communication/nav systems, cosmetic lighting, fiberglass, paint, etc) i think in that area of mods should be reasonably forgiving to work on(correct me if i am wrong) but do to the nature of the spyder i am not sure if i would be happy with just that. i admit i have to test one before i make that call but judging from the reviews from many sources i am under the impression that the way it corners is not what i wanting from a bike, which would be ok IF the power is there which in most reviews is not spectacular. i am sure they are peppy for what they are, but i dont know if i would be happy with it.
What i do know is I would love to make this thing as quick as it looks. and i have read the basic's of what has and can be done, where my question start is: How Simple is it to work on, and how easy it is to get to the core of it.
I have worked on my now dead magna for quite a while, its not too bad to work on but it was a tight fit, but still if needed i could do just about anything maintenance wise to the motor/carbs/etc i have been trying to find pictures of people working on the motor and there isn't much and it looks quite complicated in comparison. So i am not sure if i am biting off too much when i say i want to do a bunch of higher grade motor mods.
I have considered that the Aprilia rvs1000r uses the same motor, and there are some mods that are compatible?
A big bore kit seems like the best value upgrade how ever i am not confident with my skills when it comes to making the electronic systems match. I am trying to find what is involved with such an upgrade and how much they cost(2k ish i think?).
The Aerocharger turbo kit "looks" simple enough for some one like me to install, however i am worried about the electronics/fuel delivery systems that may need to also be modded. and of course the cost of such a kit may not be in the budget for me.
The other option i considered was the RVS1000R motor(identical to the spyder) with 143hp and 74.5 ft.lbs of torque, If the access to the motor is simple enough the RVS motor can be had for 1.2k-2k and if its just a matter of switch the two it may be a good way of going. but the torque is really effected by this option, and guessing from the nature of the bikes size/weight it seems that torque be more important in the long run compared to top speed.
I have also read any of the major motor upgrades may be too much for the clutch to handle? If so is there a way to address this... with out braking the bank?
Feel free to dumb it down a bit when it comes to motor talk, im a diy electronics/cosmetics guy foremost my automotive ability are not bad, but my experience with motors are limited to fixing/cleaning appose to actually changing the mechanics as to how it runs. (rebuilding the v45 carb bank is about my limit to what i have done, and some smaller motor work with Briggs & Stratton motors) Compression ratios/valve timings/fuel mixtures/etc are not what i am used to but am willing to try.
What i would like to end up with is something that will keep up with an average sport bike (600cc/750cc) or at least close to it, my 87 magna was quick enough to surprise many sport bikes (considering the style of it) and i have tried my friends modern sports bikes, i was never planing on trading my magna in at the time, but at the time was always considering picking up a cheap used Hayabusa for a 2nd ride.
Thank you for your time, i will be testing a spyder in the next week or 2, pending on how i enjoy the ride-ability of the Spyder and if the Comments are in favor of some one like me working on it, i hopefully will be the next owner. one other question, which would be better to work on/proformance the SM or SE?
Ps. If any one knows of a Spyder needing TLC i may be interested in a project.