fran9r wroteI love the look of the 888, but the price tag is more than a little high for me to be able to add yet another bike to my collection. Anyway, I NEED an 888 styled bike, but I also need it to be comparatively cheap.
A monster frame looks to be a good start, into which I would use a 900 monster swingarm, with possibly a 748/916/749 engine -I'm really hoping to ape the 888 power output, then dress it all up in 888 clothes. I'm happy to use race fairings and fit different lights.
So...does anyone have pointers? I appreciate the ST's are perhaps a better base, but they are a bit to expensive for me.
I guess you've got to ask yourself how original you want the bike to look once its got its bodywork on. The later Monsters and all STs have a different swingarm and rear suspension arrangement to the 851/888 - fine if you're not bothered but if an original look is what you're looking for then an early Monster frame is the place to start.
851 and 888 frames do turn up for sale occasionally but they tend to be pricey. I've got hold of 2 off eBay but could not get a registration document for either.
At one point I toyed with the idea of buying a Monster frame and stamping my 851 frame with the Monster number - not stricly legal but I've seen it done many times on many bikes, for example lots of choppers are registered this way.
Another option is having a headstock swapped over from another frame so that the number is genuine, again this is a trick employed by custom bike builders, although usually they do it to avoid having to put a bike with a custom built frame through an SVA test. Obviously if this is not something you can do yourself it could be pricey.
I have an early 851 frame and an ST4 frame available, PM me if you're interested.
As far as engines go, none of the Superbike engines will work without modification to the crankcases as none of them have bearings in the swingarm pivot like the 851/888/Monster/Supersport/ST ranges do. You could strip a 748/916 engine and rebuild it in Monster/Supersport crankcases but all this modification would probably end up costing you a lot more in the long run than starting with a complete engine.
In my experience with a project like this it always costs more in the long run to build a bike from bits and pieces. If it's just "the look" you're after I would get hold of an early Monster and just fit 851 or 888 bodywork.
Good luck whatever you decide!
