Wickedfinger
05-15-2003, 04:34 PM
While I've rebuilt and restored quite a number of ATV's in my past, I never had the urge to build a "custom" type ride. Well, the time may have come for this to happen ... maybe. I have sitting in my lap, the chance to buy two different quad projects and combine them as one. This being said, many on this board know of my affinity for air-cooled two-strokes, especially the early R motors. I really am in love with their simple design and reliable nature. Now for the deals - The first quad is an interesting one: Its a 1988 Yamaha Warrior that in itself was a custom bike. It was a friend of a friends project involving a 750cc, 4 cyl streetbike engine that its owners called "The Ultimate Warrior". They actually got it to run for a while but abandoned it due to lack of interest (from all accounts it was fast as a raped ape). Now it sits as a rolling chassis, with newer rear "Viper" tires, minus the 750, plastic, and seat. Also, the rear shock is blown. The second bike is the remains of a 1995 Yamaha Blaster that was wrecked in the garage fire of a kid I know at work. While most of the bike was destroyed, the engine was left virtually untouched. Now heres where it gets interesting - I was toying around with the idea of combining the Warrior chassis with the Blaster motor, Pumping up the 200's displacement by buying a 240cc kit from Vito's, and calling it the "Damn Blasted Warrior" or "Project Balster". Now I have a couple of things going my way with this. The first thing is the out-put shaft is on the same side of these motors. The second is the blaster motor is a 1/3 smaller than the warriors and unlike most projects, getting it to fit will be a breeze. The third is the fact that this warrior will be ALOT lighter than a stock one - no battery, no starter,no reverse gear or rigging, and an engine that might be as much as 1/2 the weight of the stock warriors. Finally the fourth is initial price - I'm pretty sure I can get the Warrior chassis for nothing and the Blaster motor for less than 2 bills. Now for some of the problems I can foresee: The first is the fact that the Blasters airbox is not detachable from the rear fender and I will have to try and rig up a system using the warriors - using a clamp-on is out of the question due to my riding conditions. The second will be getting some custom mounting brackets made. The third problem will be overall cost involved - Some of the things needed just to get it somewhat finished are: a good, used rear warrior shock, $250 - full set of Maier plastics, $300 - new seatcover, $45 for a ceet, $100 for a Hi-flite - an aftermarket twist throttle because I know I'll never get the T.O.R.S. working right, $45 for a Motion pro - custom parts for the airbox, $30? - new clutch cable, $25, handle-bars, grips, $50 - maybe $50 -$100 for the mounts, and perhaps $100 extra for misc. stuff. Now all that is just what I'll need to get it running - theres no way I'm shelling out $500+ bucks for the 240 kit before its a complete project. Well thats about it, please respond and let me know what you all think. I probably won't do this without any imput from the peanut gallery here at my second home, TWW. :clap