Cbr 1000 ?

[Shadowrider]

Not saying it would not work, but you would be reinventing the wheel. If your not a fan of the rotax, then go with the yamaha apex or the Edge performance EPEX. Gear box and wire harness, motor mounts have already been figured out. You would have a lot of obstacles to overcome running CBR engine. Wire harness, exhaust, motor mount, gear box, transmission, cowling, ect. Also don't base your options of rotax based on the "videos" you see. They are very reliable engines in the stock form.

[Delta Whisky]

I don't think it is a bad idea. The question only you can answer is: is it a good idea? Kit building means building before you fly. Kit building and putting in an engine no one else has installed means building AND engineering before you fly.

Possible? It's up to you to decide.

If it was easy lots, if not hundreds, of folks would be flying behind engines of their personal choice. (OBTW - a considerable number have tried and they aren't flying.)

There are numerous opportunities during an "ordinary" build to make decisions regarding changes or additions to make it your plane. Those choices and the work required to successfully implement them will add lots of time compared to a "look alike" build. For example: I wanted an instrument panel that tilts - without removing the instruments. Cost: maybe a week, maybe a little less. I needed to find and design the installation of an oil cooler. Cost: about 2 weeks if you count locating the "best" oil cooler - and I still don't know if it will work. I designed my own pitot tube installation. Cost: a day, maybe 1.5 days. And, the list goes on.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[4Hummer]

The BMW motorcycle engines have been used in many aircraft. your biggest obstacle is the reduction drive, with the BMW engine that is already taken care of.

airtrikes.net sells the reduction drive for the the BMW R1200 GS motors. (R1100 R1150 and R1200 series engines) there are other vendors as well just can't think of there names right now.

This engine combination is very popular in Europe. and I know a couple trike guys using this engine already. and one guy with a 701 (that thing RIPS)

Plus I'd trust a BMW motor over a Honda.. especially since BMW originally made airplane engines prior to cars and bikes

[Shawshaw]

Not saying it would not work, but you would be reinventing the wheel. If your not a fan of the rotax, then go with the yamaha apex or the Edge performance EPEX. Gear box and wire harness, motor mounts have already been figured out. You would have a lot of obstacles to overcome running CBR engine. Wire harness, exhaust, motor mount, gear box, transmission, cowling, ect. Also don't base your options of rotax based on the "videos" you see. They are very reliable engines in the stock form.

Thanks for your post. I really wanted to take advantage of the modern improvements in motorcycle engines, but ultimately your suggestion of using a snowmobile engine (like Yamaha’s) makes much more sense. And they do perform well enough.