Has anyone attempted to road race a Savage?

Yeah, random off the wall question, I know.  I'm a nutter with a predilection for doing things the wrong way, and after mentioning the idea as a joke, it started some gears turning and now I can't drop the concept.

Basic theory would be drop the front with shorter forks off a modernish 600, picking up a 17" wheel and modern caliper/rotor setup.  Jack the back end up with a 17" wheel and longer shocks, aiming for a 10 deg swingarm angle, and ideally something resembling 26 degrees of rake in the front.  Rig some rear sets, chop the frame off behind the shock mounts, and put a cafe/race tail on, clipons, etc.

My initial back of a napkin plan makes it look like the geometry could actually work.  Plus starting with a bike that only weighs 340lbs dry means it's going to be nice and light to finish.

Question now is weather or not the motor is up for the task.  30hp at the rear wheel just isn't going to get the job done in either modern (CCS ULSB) or vintage (USCRA F1 / F2) classes even at a technical track like Loudon.  For it's size that engine needs to be making 45hp minimum, I'd be happier with 55hp+.

I know the bike's are choked at both ends with a tiny carb and poor exhaust out of the crate, and see people have done mods to both, but I haven't seen much for numbers showing what people have gotten out of those changes?

The engines appear to be DR600 derived, is that true?  Anyone know what size valves they run?

Someone has a build going on now.   Should be multiple pages back.

He was using a different frame and fab'ing the engine mounts.

Hrmm... the swingarm angle looks really flat in that build, might be a stumbling block.

Otherwise that is one hell of a custom build! : )

That is a gorgeous build!

Im building one with sportbike suspension but its a bobber.  My father and I are also building a cafe version, frame and all.

Put in a DR 650 engine.  It will start out wih as much HP as you can get from a modified Savage.  Then there is much hop up stuff available for the DR if you want more.

Phelonius

Kurlon wrote on 04/16/10 at 15:30:17:


With this much displacement from a low reving single you are pretty much dealing with a torque monster instead of shear HP.  On the street I expect mine to be a couple of pounds one side or the other of 300 lbs which should still scoot pretty well.  

(if I want HP I just grab Bad Attitude    (check out my site if you want to see a 135 hp asphalt shreder    )

LANCER wrote on 04/17/10 at 16:31:14:


Those numbers make this a viable project.

Do you know the valve diameters in the stock head?  Based on the pics it seems like the exhausts are awfully small for the displacement.

I also noticed the DR650 heads are already setup for dual spark, might not be a bad thing seeing as the bore is approaching 100mm.