Honda HRC 450RR

[Louis Mielke]

Did you by chance think of using a heat gun to just heat the plastic up and let it droop inward some? Think this would work or not a good idea?

[250rfan]

Did you by chance think of using a heat gun to just heat the plastic up and let it droop inward some? Think this would work or not a good idea?

This possibly could work Louis, but i had to cut out the fuel cock to give me room round about the top of the engine. If you heat up the area then push it in as you suggest some areas of the tank will end up getting very stretched it may well work, but for me i think this is the way forward - the tank has been full of fuel for 4 weeks or more and NO LEAKS.

[SYKO]

this is a really enjoyable thread!! keep it up its awesome!

[tecat-z]

Yeah, this is a very enjoyable read. This project seems to be very much under control and well thought out. I love this kind of stuff, and can't wait to see completed pics and, the ride report!!!

[Billy Golightly]

I' m very impressed with the level of fab work your doing man. Not to mention the ingenuity with things like how you decided to make the tank work. Thats the kind of stuff I dig. Awesome job, keep it up.

[Jason Hall]

I'm Interested In that plastic welder. I modified a tecate4 tank a few years ago & nothing would work to seal It. The way plastic expands & contracts also the viberation from the engine. On a 3 wheeler If you ride It hard, you lean against the tank making It twist & bend. Please let us know how the tank holds up. I would be Interested In buying a different plastic welder. I bought mine from Snap-On & It would not hold.

[250rfan]

I'm Interested In that plastic welder. I modified a tecate4 tank a few years ago & nothing would work to seal It. The way plastic expands & contracts also the viberation from the engine. On a 3 wheeler If you ride It hard, you lean against the tank making It twist & bend. Please let us know how the tank holds up. I would be Interested In buying a different plastic welder. I bought mine from Snap-On & It would not hold.

No worries Jason - will do.

At the moment all i can tell you is that the tank does not leak, i preped the plastic as if it were metal ie - 60deg prep on the edge and left a 2-3mm gap all the way round so the plastic could penatrate. i will keep you updated when i have completed the final build and had some decent hrs on the bike. Here is the supply company - www.urethanesupply.com, and this is the welder i bought 5600HT Mini-Weld Model 6 Airless Plastic Welder.

[Jason Hall]

Thats the same welder I bought. It has one adaptor end that allows you to push the plastic rod straight through It. I could never keep the supplied plastic rod from breaking away from the origional tank plastic. It would hold for a couple weeks sometimes, but then other times It would leak after a long bumpy ride. After giving up on the plastic welder I tried fiberglass. That also broke loose. I did save a link that I think Sykolincoln posted up about a plastic tank repair kit. I think I will try that on the t4, or I will build a steel tank.

[250rfan]

Thats the same welder I bought. It has one adaptor end that allows you to push the plastic rod straight through It. I could never keep the supplied plastic rod from breaking away from the origional tank plastic. It would hold for a couple weeks sometimes, but then other times It would leak after a long bumpy ride. After giving up on the plastic welder I tried fiberglass. That also broke loose. I did save a link that I think Sykolincoln posted up about a plastic tank repair kit. I think I will try that on the t4, or I will build a steel tank.

Okay Jason, only time will tell i guess, i'll keep you posted.

As this is the first time i have done this or seen it done am quite interested to see how it stands up myself, as you have suggested my 2nd option if i could not weld the plastic tank was to get an aluminuim or steel tank made, but as this welding went okay, i've just put the aluminuim/steel tank on hold. At least i have a proper template for a steel or aluminium tank should i need it.

Like alot of this build and others like it, it's really "Trial & Error", i have'nt seen anyone else putting a 450eR engine, rear end onto a 85/86 250r frame, so am trying to use as much of the OEM parts as possible, that way it makes it easier for the people who want to modify there 85/86 250r with easily accessable parts.

There is some machining required on this build, but am trying to keep that to a minimum, really just a few spacers and the triples .

[250rfan]

Next issue was the exhaust, these pictures show the exhaust fitted without
any modification, it just shows how little the geometry has changed over 22 years

I could have left it as is, but i decided to pull the silencer forward slightly and at the same time, that pulled it in towards the frame, i simply cut a small piece out of the header pipe just at the end where the silencer slides over then re - welded it.

You will see the finished position on latter pics, when i post the upgrade of the rear brake system from 250r to 450r.

[Derrick Adams]

You will see the finished position on latter pics, when i post the upgrade of the rear brake system from 250r to 450r.

Sorry, but I have to say that I don't agree with this. I think the 250R rear brake caliper is far better than the 450R. Any time you can run a twin piston caliper over a single piston, why wouldn't you want too?

Other than that, this project is turning out sweet! I love the look of it already. I hope that your tank works out. Should be a hoot to ride!

[The Goat]

there are now two bikes on here that i would slay an infant for...derrick's yamaha...and your R...keep up the good work man. it's way beyond me, but i still appreciate how bad ass it is. lol.

[The Goat]

ps...i wouldn't really slay an infant...it's a phrase from eddie izzard and dane cook.

[250rfan]

Sorry, but I have to say that I don't agree with this. I think the 250R rear brake caliper is far better than the 450R. Any time you can run a twin piston caliper over a single piston, why wouldn't you want too?

Other than that, this project is turning out sweet! I love the look of it already. I hope that your tank works out. Should be a hoot to ride!

Derrick, thats a very good point, your totally correct, i never noticed the 450 rear caliper was only single piston, i'll give it a try and see how it goes.

However, i'm trying to use as much 2006/2007 450R OEM/AFTERMARKET parts as possible, Firstly because am trying to build a bike which i think would be todays equivalent of the 86 HRC bike which Honda raced back in the 80's. Secondly - the 450r parts are more accessable than some of the 250r parts, and as you are aware newer technology is USUALLY superior to old, however, this may not be the case as far as the rear brake caliper is concerned.

This bike will be IMHO, what i've allways wanted in a trike, and what I believe would be Honda's take on the trike if they still raced them.

Thanks for pointing out caliper issue,

G.

[250rfan]

there are now two bikes on here that i would slay an infant for...derrick's yamaha...and your R...keep up the good work man. it's way beyond me, but i still appreciate how bad ass it is. lol.

Thanks for the compliments,,,Eddie izzard?, is'nt he an ENGLISH CROSS DRESSER!!!!!!,