Biland SA250 to the USA

[Bob Vehring]

Does anyone know if Margay will be bringing some of these motors to the NKN 12 hour race at Road America next weekend Bob

[Chris Parks]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chad Stapleton:
Read today that the US agent (Margay ? ) for the Swiss Biland SA250 twin, kart engine, has a shipment of 1500 units on route !
Expect a "series" proposal similar to the RMC set-up to be organised to help market this nice-but-expensive new motor.
Any sightings of pre-launch versions of this motor yet ??.

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Chad I drove one of these a couple of weeks ago and it is a good thing. It sounds just like a Ducatti and has a lot of torque right through the rev range. Initially it may seem very expensive but the first major rebuild is at 1000 hours minimum. I was told that there are motors being run on dynos in Europe for durability testing and they are at about 2500 hours and still going strong. There is going to be a race series in Australia next year to promote the class with some very worthwhile prizes.

[Chad Stapleton]

G'day Chris,
sure this is a neat motor, and will earn some respect from the "2-srtoke only" brigade. but i feel it will go the same way as "superkarts" or gearbox karts in Ozz, ie a minority class for the few who can afford them.
Karting is all about "affordable motorsport" for the average enthusiast, and this has just gone one step further than the Max did in pushing costs up. (how many "average" karters will work out the savings from reduced rebuilds vs initial cost ?? ) Karting does not need a twin cylinder motor - that just multiplies the manufacturing (and maintenance) costs. Any half decent 250 single could produce similar performance at a lower cost.
And i am not taken in by the exagerated claims of maintenance intervals - 1000 hrs would mean roughly 10 years run time for the average karter using it for 10 hrs per month !! - NOT GOING TO HAPPEN !
How many Rotax Max motors make it through their 50 hrs without a strip down ?? Some no doubt do, but i fear most dont for one reason or another..
Even the "industrial duty" 4-stroke Honda and Briggs motors used on basic rental karts have a much shorter life span than their design dictates normal, and the "untuned" versions used for pro-karts etc always seem to need rebuilding (freshening ?) at least once every season.
Anyway, as i said originally, Biland - "nice but expensive"..

[Chris Parks]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Valur Gudmundsson:
[QB]Hi,
Has anyone seen the biland run with the rotax engine on the same track? Do you know what difference there is in lap times?

We ran it against the max with two fairly inexperienced drivers. The performance was on par but I cannot comment on what would happen with quicker drivers. Also we made no attempt to gear the karts and they were two entirely different frames and just ran them as they came off the trailer. Not a good comparison I am afraid but in all we felt that they would be pretty close in lap times.

[Dennis Gur]

I read that the biland is 4 tenths faster with the same drivers engines and conditions.

[Joe Foss]

Wow, talk about reviving old post from the past. Or am I missing something that may be very interesting.

[Chad Stapleton]

[Paul Hutt]

I am new to karting and do not know amything about this chassis/motor.

Would appreciate any brief informatio like HP and mph.

Thanks,
Race Grandpa

[Frank Cire]

You may be a little late for the Biland.

However, the new four-strokes that are comparable can be found here:
http://www.engines4racing.com
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Topkart Evo, Rotax Sr.

[Mark Lange]

Whilst you should definitely purchase locally, I would also point out that the following URL also has some useful information about the SwissAuto 250.

http://www.swissauto250.eu/

I run a SA250 and Axiro where I reside. They are both great fun to drive.
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Affiliation with Karting Singapore & Shanghai International Kartworld Circuit. Blogging at http://www.marklange.typepad.com/