On a Scale of 1 to 10, how Crazy is This Idea?

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
12/21/2018 at 14:52 • Filed to: unnecessary motorcycle shopping with mercedes, unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

No worries, I’m not buying any bikes/cars/donors/major parts until the situation with my 453 is resolved. But I can still window shop, right? Anyway, I’ve not been able to sell the Gambler Ruckus. I guess it’s a little too rough looking and too late in the year to get anywhere near a reasonable price.

I’ve recently been having thoughts (and they may or may not have been sober thoughts) of engine swapping the beast. I’d end up learning how to weld and cut, dip my feet into a truly advanced project, and get a very unique bike in the end.

This idea came to me after seeing a Helix swapped Ruckus on YouTube. Apparently the engines of the Helix/Reflex use mounting points perfect for swapping into a Ruckus. Sure, you could get a big bore kit or a turbo, but a whole freaking bigger engine? :D

Broken Reflex clones show up on CL all the time. Usually they’re missing most of their panels, “ran when parked a few years ago”, and going for $100-$250.

What you’ll need to do is swap in the engine (leave the rear wheel and springs attached to the donor engine ) , relocate the wiring harness, and relocate the cooling bits. Some welding required!

And although kinda rare, I do keep seeing broken Linhai Aeolus 260 (260cc is such a weird displacement, but you do you Linhai) popping up. Or maybe it’s the same one and the seller can’t seem to sell it because idk...non-working Chinese scooter for $800? Pfft.

Unfortunately, the Aeolus uses an engine Linhai got from Yamaha and cheapened, so I doubt it’ll be as easy of a fit as a Reflex clone engine.

And if I’m feeling really insane, I could do something like this, but maybe with a two stroke? This DEFINITELY looks beyond my skill level, so probably not. lol

What say you Oppo?

In other news, I did check out the crankcase vent on the CF Moto this morning. Sure enough, the overflow tube is filled to the brim. I opened up the overflow and will probably just keep it open.

DISCUSSION (14)

benjrblant > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 14:55

It’s like Miss Merc and Jake have become one.

just-a-scratch > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:04

If you aren’t worried about how long it will take, go for it. You’re starting with vehicles and parts that aren’t too spendy. That way your project will probably only cost you a modest fortune and silly amount of time, rather than a large fortune and more time than you can manage to spend .

I’m in the middle of an ill-advised project myself, though it’s of much more limited scope. It’s fine as long as I don’t have a strict time line when it has to be back on the road.

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:08

I fully support your first idea. Are we talking learning to weld with important structural bits, or will you be welding on mounting hardware for the cooling system relocation?

If the former I would be worried about learning to weld on structural bits. If the latter I see no issue and think that would be a good project to learn with.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:16

What you’ll need to do is swap in the engine (leave the rear wheel and springs attached to the donor engine), relocate the wiring harness, and relocate the cooling bits. Some welding required!

translation... custom frame jobbie.....

hell... if you can do the work i’d say have at it

but if you cant or plan to use the frame as a learning curve.... dont

fuck up n die kinda thing

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:28

Problem with the stock ruckus motor is that you cannot do ANYTHING to them. Since the jug is integrated int the block, you can’t simply bolt on more displacement. That’s why the GY6 is such a popular swap. For me personally, I’d look at doing either a PCX150 or a Zuma 125 swap on a ruckus so I could get the benefits of fuel injection.

On a related note... I might buy this...

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/mcd/d/2006-suzuki-burgman-650/6775822468.html

Mercedes Streeter > Kiltedpadre
12/21/2018 at 15:33

It’s a bit half and half. Assuming my welds will suck, my alternate plan is to volunteer my certified welding friend to help with the structural bits.

Mercedes Streeter > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
12/21/2018 at 15:34

Not much custom stuff! The only structural welds I can see so far are where you would mount the springs from the donor engine. For that I’d probably employ my welding/tradesman friend who knows what he’s doing. lol

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:38

fair dos then :)

have at it

im just making sure we wont be mis s mercless soon.... that’d suck :)

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
12/21/2018 at 15:43

My ruck clone is already a 150cc! It’s pretty fast for a scoot with a 50cc sized body.

This is not at all a logical project lol. I’ve been having the itch to engine swap something for years but the barrier for me has always been the skill level required to pull off a car engine swap . A s cooter engine swap seems like something I could totally pull off given enough time and help from a friend on the more difficult bits (welding the suspension from the donor scoot).

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
12/21/2018 at 15:45

And wait, a Burgman for like $900???? What the heck? I remember when you also found a CBX for $3k. What’s with the bike market out there? lol

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:52

Yep! Definitely about as easy an engine swap as you can do!

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 15:54

Bike market out here is great, since we (for most people) only have a 4 month riding season, with 8-9 months of steady rain, stuff gets cheap in the winter. The burgman is a little high miles, and has a few scratches on the side from a down, but otherwise runs and rides.

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
12/21/2018 at 16:09

Jesus...well if you happen to run into a cheap CBX again I so wanna hear about it! I need to fly out there for a cheap bike one day. lol

Hell, I’d say give in and get the Burgman. That thing’s easily $3k out here!

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
12/21/2018 at 16:15

Will do! And yeah, only thing preventing me from buying the 650, is that I really want to pick up a Tiger 800 for some adventuring next summer and don’t realistically have space for both.