Engine swaps are a time-honored tradition in the gearhead world, often resulting in bizarre yet fascinating machines. From shoehorning a Hayabusa engine into a tiny car to strapping a Fireblade motor to a scooter, the internet is overflowing with videos of backyard engineers pushing the boundaries of absurdity. The YouTube channel BUM has recently added another contender to this wild arena, taking a humble Coleman Pit Bike and injecting it with superbike DNA.
The victim, or perhaps beneficiary, of this mad experiment is the Coleman CT200U, a mini bike that holds a special place in the hearts of many budding riders as their first taste of motorized two-wheeled freedom. With its reliable 199cc engine and robust, all-terrain tires, the CT200U – often referred to as a Coleman pit bike – is a source of fun for riders of all skill levels. But what happens when you decide to throw practicality out the window and transform this playful mini bike into a fire-breathing, 200-horsepower monster?
This is precisely the question the mad scientists at BUM sought to answer. Their solution? Transplanting the ferocious heart of a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade directly into the frame of the unsuspecting Coleman pit bike. As anyone with a wrench knows, this wasn’t a plug-and-play operation. Integrating the high-performance superbike engine into the compact frame of the Coleman CT200U demanded significant fabrication expertise and a healthy disregard for conventional wisdom. Safety considerations seemed to take a backseat to the sheer thrill of the build.
The transformation began with reinforcing the Coleman pit bike’s steel frame, originally designed for a fraction of the power it was about to endure. Engine mounts had to be custom-fabricated to cradle the CBR1000RR engine securely. The team started by stretching and widening the mini bike’s cradle frame using a floor jack, a testament to the improvisational nature of the build. Custom mounts were then meticulously welded into place, creating a new home for the superbike powerplant.
With the engine nestled within its new confines, the team quickly realized the stock frame was exhibiting alarming levels of flex under the weight and power of the CBR1000RR. To combat this, they constructed and welded in robust support struts along the top of the frame, essentially encasing the engine within a steel cage of their own making. This cage-like structure dramatically increased the frame’s rigidity, crucial for containing the immense forces at play.
The next phase involved wrestling with the intricate mechanical and electronic systems of the CBR1000RR engine. The challenge was to coax the high-strung superbike motor to life within the Frankensteinian creation. After a period of intense troubleshooting, fueled by what they jokingly called “liquid encouragement,” the CBR1000RR engine erupted into a thunderous roar. The monstrous Coleman pit bike was alive, seemingly ready to unleash its unholy fury upon the unsuspecting asphalt.
It’s undeniable that piloting this machine would be an exercise in controlled terror for any rational individual. Harnessing 200 horsepower within the confines of a rigid-framed, short-wheelbase vehicle – originally conceived as a child’s plaything – is inherently precarious. In the hands of an inexperienced or overconfident rider, this CBR1000RR-swapped Coleman pit bike is undoubtedly a recipe for disaster.
This project brings to mind other audacious engine swaps, such as Grind Hard Plumbing Co’s infamous Fireblade-powered Honda Ruckus. This CBR1000RR Coleman pit bike build undoubtedly deserves a place among the most outrageous superbike engine swaps ever conceived. One can only dream of a future showdown between BUM’s creation and the Grind Hard Plumbing Co Ruckus – a head-to-head battle of Fireblade-powered monstrosities.
Source: BUM via YouTube
