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Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:46 pm
by Bilko
If you had a standard 200 barrel. What could you do to it to give it a bit of torque for a trailer/luggage and touring?

Does this set up exist? I know there has to be a compromise somewhere, but I've yet to find the right one.

It gets costly going through England and France.

I don't want to fork out for another kit. I have TS1230, RT230 and GT193 engines. The TS1 gave me the best fuel economy at approximately 40-ish MPG.

So, I want to see what a standard barrel could do with steroids.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 5:00 pm
by Scooterdude
I know Harry Barlow was offering a touring tune using an indian 200 barrel bored out to 70mm, 60 or 61 stroke crank think MB offers similar.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:22 pm
by Solid Air
I loved my old MB Honda 205 conversion with a 26mm carb which I think would be along the lines of what you're asking for Bilko. Perfect timing too as MBD have been pushing their new Honda-type pistons over the last few days ;)

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 7:14 pm
by Adam_Winstone
Straight 70mm reborn 4.8 4th, clubman, clubman.

Job done.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:38 pm
by MickYork
Would a longer conrod (116) and a base packer give a bit more torque ?

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:31 pm
by duncan1958
Anyone used the ally cylinder steel liner bored out to 225 kit that comes with head and studs gaskets etc ?
Bit of a high jack of thread but on topic ;)
( 183489442176 ) ebay number

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 10:00 pm
by rossclark
MB has just released a new Honda 205 a-like piston...

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:43 am
by ULC Soulagent
duncan1958 wrote:Anyone used the ally cylinder steel liner bored out to 225 kit that comes with head and studs gaskets etc ?
Bit of a high jack of thread but on topic ;)
( 183489442176 ) ebay number

They are shite, avoid at all costs unless you like having seizures for fun ;)

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:44 am
by duncan1958
ULC Soulagent wrote:
duncan1958 wrote:Anyone used the ally cylinder steel liner bored out to 225 kit that comes with head and studs gaskets etc ?
Bit of a high jack of thread but on topic ;)
( 183489442176 ) ebay number

They are shite, avoid at all costs unless you like having seizures for fun ;)

Will give it a body swerve on your recommendation.
Thanks for the advice

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:25 pm
by Knowledge
Superhooper on here has a standard 200 Indian barrel with a couple of minor port tweaks and a bolt-on LTH reed valve. It also has a boost port opposite the exhaust.

It runs on a BGM box pipe and 26mm Dell'orto and runs really well. All day, every day.

I used it for the Italian job in 2017, and it was only when I got it home that I discovered it wasn't a 225 Rapido.

It strikes me as great value of money.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:46 pm
by Bofs
Darrell Taylor did a Scootering guide on GP200 Bang for Bucks tuning, might be worth getting a hold of that, very enlightening.

Actually it`s all on the website for free :D

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:40 pm
by dickie
Bofs wrote:Darrell Taylor did a Scootering guide on GP200 Bang for Bucks tuning, might be worth getting a hold of that, very enlightening.

Actually it`s all on the website for free :D


Yes, I used that guide along with mb advice on port timings to tune a small block for very little money.

Went really well. .....for 40 miles when I melted a piston :lol:

On a new piston now and I'm running in a bit more sympathetically.

Apart from rebore to 175 and head machine work, I could have done the whole thing for about 20 quid.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 10:32 pm
by Bilko
Thanks for the replies.

Easiest option Adam Winstone.

Trickiest Dickie.

I'm definitely not up to DIY porting. So I either go standard with a bigger carb and my Avanti Ex Box or get someone to do the Voodoo work on the ports.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 8:03 am
by Mark ULC
Robert I have a MB modified Indian barrel that I considered getting a tickle for good touring. It would need a new piston as the old Racetour one was done.I asked both Harry B and MB about it. Both said the cost would equal a new kit. So I bought the RT 225. If you can port yourself then it maybe a cheaper option.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 9:33 am
by NorthernJordan
I used stage 4 barrels for a long time but the mahle pistons kept snagging rings. But at 100 quid you could do 4 for the price of a kit. However. After the second time of the rings letting go I bored out to 225 and used one of the avanti pistons. Always used with a NK rally road and a 30mm. This made a great all round set up for rallying, even two up.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 9:42 am
by dickie
Mick abbey is very good and very reasonable if you don't fancy porting yourself

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:08 am
by Bilko
NorthernJordan wrote:I used stage 4 barrels for a long time but the mahle pistons kept snagging rings. But at 100 quid you could do 4 for the price of a kit. However. After the second time of the rings letting go I bored out to 225 and used one of the avanti pistons. Always used with a NK rally road and a 30mm. This made a great all round set up for rallying, even two up.


What return are you getting fuel wise?

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:25 am
by steveg
Malc Andreson (mechanic at MSC) used to get fantastic results with the Honda 205 conversion, but scarcity of pistons means it's not viable these days

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:52 am
by NorthernJordan
Bilko wrote:
NorthernJordan wrote:I used stage 4 barrels for a long time but the mahle pistons kept snagging rings. But at 100 quid you could do 4 for the price of a kit. However. After the second time of the rings letting go I bored out to 225 and used one of the avanti pistons. Always used with a NK rally road and a 30mm. This made a great all round set up for rallying, even two up.


What return are you getting fuel wise?


I'll be honest I can't really remember. It liked a big main jet compared to my RT as I guess the cast iron runs hotter. I wanna say about 40 to 45mpg two up. It gave good performance for a nice simple set up, with lots of people asking if it was a TS1 :D

MB have recently redone the honda205 piston but by the time you buy that have the tuning work done you're not thst far off the cost of an RT kit.

A 200 barrel with a quality piston paired with a decent exhaust and carb for what you want can give decent performance. It just won't be earth shattering or give much bragging rights in the pub.

Re: Standard with Steroids

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:18 am
by Bilko
A 200 barrel with a quality piston paired with a decent exhaust and carb for what you want can give decent performance. It just won't be earth shattering or give much bragging rights in the pub.



To be honest, priority is fuel consumption and as long as it can pull the trailer.