Why don't they put bike engines in cars?

Originally Posted by Baph

So lets change the question a little, why not put a huge engine, built to a similar design of that in as a bike engine in a car.

3ltr "busa" engine with turbos in a car... revving just as high as a stock 'busa can...

I'm not sure I'd like to be anywhere near mass produced pistons of that size going that fast, surely the engine would need to be made out of something very strong??

Originally Posted by rigor

I'm not sure I'd like to be anywhere near mass produced pistons of that size going that fast, surely the engine would need to be made out of something very strong??

It'd be a damn good giggle though whilst it worked.

Originally Posted by Baph

So lets change the question a little, why not put a huge engine, built to a similar design of that in as a bike engine in a car.

3ltr "busa" engine with turbos in a car... revving just as high as a stock 'busa can...

...and you'd have an F1 esque engine. I belive their service intervals and costs are outrageous though

[Stu]

Why does no one put a car engine in a bike?
Small cars can get 60-70 mpg, imagine what that would be in a bike. If the car can still do 100mph (more or less) it's going to be better performance than a 125cc that I imagine would be the only hope of similar economy presently.

Originally Posted by Stu

Why does no one put a car engine in a bike?
Small cars can get 60-70 mpg, imagine what that would be in a bike. If the car can still do 100mph (more or less) it's going to be better performance than a 125cc that I imagine would be the only hope of similar economy presently.

'cause they're huge and messy

Things like the smart roadster. A turbo charged tripple 699cc making ~70hp. Put an R1 engine in that and it would be mad.

[yorkie_chris]

Car engines tend to have longer stroke and milder cams for torque. Also helps economy.

Originally Posted by thor

Things like the smart roadster. A turbo charged tripple 699cc making ~70hp. Put an R1 engine in that and it would be mad.

Or even a 'busa engine

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQIizRp9ck

It's all been done. You can put (vitually) any engine in (virtually) anything (as long as you have a big enough hammer )

But if you're looking at more than a one off special that can live with compromises, then you have to take things like driveability, service expectations and packaging into account. That's why "they" don't do it

how about two bike engines in one car 4 wheel drive and a screaming redline beautifull.

Originally Posted by zsv650

how about two bike engines in one car 4 wheel drive and a screaming redline beautifull.

Add a second gearbox, so the car can go just as fast backwards as it can forwards too...