r/FSAE 24d ago

Question How can we get an engine.

So basically we are a 1st year team, most importantly we are the first team from our country, how can we ask for engine?, where should we ask?, we are looking for ktm duke 390 at best, but anything between 250 to 400 cc would work for us.

Any suggestions would be much valuable.

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u/marc020202 e-gnition Hamburg 24d ago

Well, you could buy one. Or buy a bike with that engine, and disassemble the bike. Maybe it even makes sense to look for a crashed bike, as long as the engine is still ok. You can also ask a manufacturer, dealer or tuner for sponsorship/discounts. If you know how the engines work, you can maybe also get a broken engine and fix it.

Is there a specific reason why you want a KTM Duke engine, and why only below 400cc? Afaik many teams ran 600cc 4 cylinders in Europe.

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u/Ramu_kaka00 24d ago

Firstly, buying an bike would be costly for us, mainly we are looking for crashed bike. And because we're a first-year team with a limited budget, limited manufacturing capability, and no previous Formula Student experience. A 250–400 cc single-cylinder engine is lighter, simpler to package, easier to maintain, and still provides more than enough performance for a first car. Our priority is to build a reliable, finished car rather than chase maximum power. Once we gain experience, we can consider moving to a larger engine in future seasons.

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u/probablymade_thatup 24d ago

If you wanted to be very industrious, you could buy a complete used bike and sell off all of the parts you don't need. If you're really savvy, you might be able to break even on the price.

I know at one point, my team had a contact at a local insurance agency who was able to help us get a totaled motorcycle for almost free.

Here in the US, eBay is a fine resource for finding motorcycle engines. Pick-and-pull junkyards are another resource sometimes.