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Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:06 pm

I was just imagine my next project, a nice short body manx, hayabuza engine, and new custom motorcycle 18" wheels....will there a weight problem if I use motorcycle wheels on a buggy for street? Just wandering if someone has seen or tried using this types of wheel son a buggy (remembered seeing someone using in the front)...anyway...any feedback is appreciated...

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:15 pm

I like different, and that would be different.

Special adapters or special drilled disc rotors would be required. The only question or concern is if the motorcycle rim is designed for an axial load (side loads). When a motorcycle goes into a turn, the rim is parallel to the centrifugal force, where as, on a car, the rim maintains close to a 90* respect to the road and creates a side load on the rim.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:26 pm

Cycle rims will snap like twigs... It would be better for you to use car rims.
Also - car tires are not designed to be mounted on cycle rims.

bryan

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:27 pm

That's very good insight Joe, I was thinkning about the tire options too, most of the larger 'fatty' tires are designed to roll the contact patch as the bike leans into corners as well. Might not perform well from that aspect either, but I like the idea. Lots of very cool rims for bikes out there...if you got $'s

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:29 pm

I'd be more concerned with the point about where and how the load is carried. While car tires are not meant for bikes - there are many motorcycles running car tires - it's called "Dark Sideing". Started by bike guys who were sick of replacing their very expensive motorcycle tires every 9-15,000 miles - they found many skinny car tires that work well with little to no adverse effects. Opions vary on Dark Siding but it does happen and you can mount car tires on bike rims

Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:29 pm

even if you could get the wheels built to stand the side loads and figuring out what tire your running, your going to need some really deep pockets
some of the custom wheels are costing 1500. to 2000. or more each !
http://www.viciouscycleworks.us/khxc/ccp0-catshow/wheels.html

Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:13 pm

Yessong wrote: I'd be more concerned with the point about where and how the load is carried. While car tires are not meant for bikes - there are many motorcycles running car tires - it's called "Dark Sideing". Started by bike guys who were sick of replacing their very expensive motorcycle tires every 9-15,000 miles - they found many skinny car tires that work well with little to no adverse effects. Opions vary on Dark Siding but it does happen and you can mount car tires on bike rims

You ARE correct in stating that there are lots of varying opinions on mounting car tires on bike rims.

I'll stick with the word from the Engineers at the car tire manufacturers/bike tire manufacturers... and corresponding wheel/rim manufacturers:

- bike tires go on bike rims
- car tires go on car rims

A lot of this has to do with bead seat angles & load requirements. You can make your own decisions as to what tire you opt to mount on what rim - I plan to be clear of the fan when the fecal matter hits.

I follow the old maxim: Just because you can do something doesn't mean that it's the safe/best/right thing to do. YMMV.

bryan

Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:37 pm

If you're a master machinist that sounds like a great way to show off your skills. But if not, those wheels won't fit any VW hubs and making custom adapters or hubs might cost hundreds and more, also motorcyle tires would wear out in about 100 miles. The Hayabusa engine is a really odd choice too. You know it won't go in a VW right? The junkyards are full of Japanese car engines with a lot more usable horsepower than a Hayabusa and they can be bolted to a VW transaxle with an adapter which a Hayabusa can't.

Even better would be a dual turbo Subaru 4 or 6 with a beefy 5 speed Subaru transaxle which will fit right into a VW chassis.

http://www.subarugears.com/

Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:00 am

A few people have skinned the 'Busa to Bug/Bus trans' cat in various fashions...

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=137662

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXmH0JnH4_8 - Kawasaki 1100 to VW transmission - Euro built buggy with Kawasaki 1100cc powerplant mated to VW transaxle... selected a ratio (usually 3rd or 4th) in VW trans, then shifted using bike 6-speed transmission.

- Hayabusa powerplant on T1 trans -styling by xzibit...

bryan

Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:27 am

The Buggy scene in PR is a little different than in the states. In fact the whole "Volky" scene is a little different but very cool.

If you have the fabrication skills and $$$ to pull it off, why not do this: Go with a full tube chassis, A-arm front suspension and Busa motor mounted mid-engine. Run a chain drive to a chain drive differential and fabricate your own rear suspension. It's be like a 4 wheel T-REX with the looks of a dune buggy. Add turbo and you can REALLY have some fun.

Check out http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=10&sid=b0e2154075eb9fe6f47796f5c9234694 for some ideas.

Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:31 am

could always do a mid mount and use a newer gold wing apposed 6 and mate it to a Nissan or Subaru independent rear dif and mate it to the vw rear axles
It has an electric reverse
Might be off the wall but it would be different
Ok power and it would sound cool

Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:34 am

All... thanks for the replies....motorcycle wheels are out of question...not for the adapter or price (GFGs are actually twice the cost per wheel)... but for the load capacity and the tire combination....like the idea of a mid buza rail with a modified shorter dune buggy body.... will be more fun to construct and probably less expensive that purchase a Polaris Razor for $22k.....

Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:29 am

While looking at my buddies bike, i remembered this thread.... Just a thought but would using motorcycle side car tires help make this work? They are designed more like car tires on the sides to handle the scrubbing going around turns, etc. just a thought.

Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:15 pm

Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:31 pm

Motorcycles with sidecars don't see the cornering side loads that cars achieve.
The rims are still the weak link.

bryan

Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:33 pm

If my motorcycles wheels cant stand the sideload of a Vw car I doubt it would be safe to ride period.

Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:33 am

SamT wrote: If my motorcycles wheels cant stand the sideload of a Vw car I doubt it would be safe to ride period.

If your motorcycle weighs 1900 lbs and can't lean in a turn, yeah its exactly the same.

Motorcycles have an automatic feature engineered into them which protects their wheels when they're subjected to excessive side load, its called falling over.

Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:42 am

BL3Manx wrote: SamT wrote: If my motorcycles wheels cant stand the sideload of a Vw car I doubt it would be safe to ride period.

If your motorcycle weighs 1900 lbs and can't lean in a turn, yeah its exactly the same.

YEP, way more stress on the hub of a car wheel than a motorcycle. If not we'd see car wheels designed like bike wheels by now wouldn't we??????

brad

Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:49 am

slalombuggy wrote: YEP, way more stress on the hub of a car wheel than a motorcycle. If not we'd see car wheels designed like bike wheels by now wouldn't we??????

Like this?

Actually that's a car wheel that just looks like a motorcycle spoke wheel. A real motorcycle wheel would be even weaker. If a person wants to run motorcycle wheels on their car I guess its their choice and the only people they need to deal with are their insurance company and maybe Darwin.

Here's the story http://www.clublexus.com/forums/the-tire-racks-tir...rumor.html

Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:34 am

There's a video on u-tube of a Corvette owner finding out his stock wheels won't take 750hp even in a straight line. Unfortunately he found this out at over 150mph at Maxon. Both rear wheels broke the spoke out like above^^^^. Luckily he walked away.

brad