these are the pictures of the xs450 that was on german ebay a couple of years ago i have used google translator and changed the obvious pidgen english remarks;

fzr disk and GXR 4 pot caliper

contactless CDI ignition system from the Suzuki GSX 400 E was reworked, which is taken directly from the crankshaft end.

a new CNC milled housing/cover

Yoshimura pistons with 73 mm bore

new Yoshimura liners pressed in

cylinder head: complete revised with shortened valve stems, worked on and polished , new valves (inlet 36 mm, exhaust 30mm) and with the 38 HP cam shaft

it's quite sad really ,

all that work and then having to let it go as a project

That is neat. I wish I had the tools and was a bit more mechanically inclined.

it's just all the drilling on the alloy wheels that scares me

it's just all the drilling on the alloy wheels that scares me

I didn't even notice that. I wonder how much lighter it actually makes the wheels.

much lighter but much weaker ??

much lighter but much weaker ??

I think there was a discussion on aircooled rd site and the consensus was they were too fragile.

Don't forget that these were one of the first production "alloy" wheel and Yam were still learninig their craft.

That's why I spent over £400 on flanged ally spoked wheels, much lighter (and sexxy!)

I think there was a discussion on aircooled rd site and the consensus was they were too fragile.

Don't forget that these were one of the first production "alloy" wheel and Yam were still learninig their craft.

That's why I spent over £400 on flanged ally spoked wheels, much lighter (and sexxy!)

It would take a proper engineer, but I would think you could drill out at least some. I am a rock climber and some of the gear has this done, now by the manufacturer, to lighten the gear. It doesn't reduce the soundness of the structure. You would just have to really do some hard core engineering.

ive seen em drilled but never quit like that! theve taken a lot of support out of em. & dang those are huge ass valves!