Want to faster...bearings

griff851

Just been doing some poking around the need for speed subject for the 250 single, and ended up at ceramic hybrid bearings. Claims of 5% increase in hp attracted my attention. Ok so , the balls are ceramic, harder, smoother, tougher, so less friction. I'm sold. But wait, what does the world think. Push bike riders loved them for a bit. Machinists think they're cool in lathes and mills, and rc model guys cant live without them. The issue, the cost. Once the price was poison, now its not too badish. 6202 C3 is $ US39 ea. A 6202 C3 range from $AU10-15.
Any way some how ended up talking with the engineer (Guy Caputo at Tiger racing) behind Larry McBrides worlds fastest hyabusa drag bike. The thing is stupid, punches out 1000hp doing 5 sec quarters. 5 seasons no bearing failures, previously a couple of failures per season.
Well worth investgating if your doing a rebuild or just wheel bearings. For the single the 5% equates to around 1.25Hp from the engine. 😁

Be wary, there are some nasty chinese bearings out there. Seems to be a couple of trusted suppliers in the US. World wide bearings (Dave) and CBR bearings Charlie. Timkin is into them but quality seems to be an issue according to some.

Mr.R

Hi Griff,

My mate Swampy the KTM tuner has a special Ceramic conrod, it runs straight on a plain bigend pin without any shells. They're very lightweight and strong but apparently the costs are shy high for them though. I think the KTM Moto3 guys are using them...

On another note (I stumbled on these when recently buying some new pistons etc for my Bevel twin) have you seen Nigel Lacey's "Misano" head for 250/350 the singles?
http://www.laceyducati.com/ducati-parts/misano-cylinder-head-p-1121.html

I'm sure that you're aware that Nigel built the fastest ever Ducati Bevel single to lap the IOM TT course?
I saw that bike for sale and asked Nigel about it, we were both at the Bristol Classic Bike show...
He asked how much the owner was asking for it? Which was £15K to which he replied... "He's taking a loss on that, we spent £5K on the cylinder head alone!"
Now you can buy one of that spec heads for less than 1/2 the developlment cost of the original...Bargain!

Steve R

griff851

Hi Steve, I've had many a chat via email with Nigel. Top Bloke. Funnily enough the Missano head is the same cost ratio per hp as the bearings for us. $1000 per hp with postage. 😁
Even stranger is at the Phillip Island classic, Pete on Trevs 350 found him self living Nigels TT situation, chasing the Norton. History seems set in its ways sometimes.
By the way, the Hyabusa has everything that can be coated with ceramics done. A lot to be said for the stuff.