Here's what the experts say:
"A lighter scooter roller weight will require higher RPMs (and create more rapid acceleration) but will cut down the top speed. This may be preferable for urban stop and go riding where acceleration speed is of more concern than overall highway speed.
A heavier scooter roller weight will do the the exact opposite; the lower engine RPMs needed to push the weights means a smoother, if less rapid acceleration. However the same physics involved will generate a higher highway speed. Think of the lighter weights for the city streets and the heavier ones for the open road; helping to make it sort of a 'town or county' decision that is best suited to the rider's personal requirements.
Or in short:
Lighter roller weights = faster take-off acceleration, lower top speed.
Heavier roller weights = slower take-off acceleration, higher top speed."
Me:
The stock roller weights in my LIKE200i were weighed and came in at 14 grams.
I was advised that the cheapest and most dramatic improvement I could make to my scooter was to add Dr Pulley sliders to the variator. As advised by several folks to go one size lighter - I therefore put in a set of six 13 gram Dr Pulley sliders and the 3 Dr Pulley slide pieces. I was advised that my scooter would be quicker and smoother off the line.
I have ridden about 400 miles with the Dr Pulleys.
I must add that during this same service, I also installed a new OEM Kymco belt, cleaned the variator pulleys and buffed the glaze from the 3 clutch pad surfaces and installed a new Kymco air filter and a new Denso Iridium spark plug.
The scoot continues to run perfectly - the one difference which I think I notice is a slightly pronounced howl from the exhaust on take off.
"QUICKER" I think I am pulling more RPMs to get moving with the Dr Pulleys.
It is nothing too striking - just sounds like the engine is spinning faster. I am not one to apply max throttle on anything I drive, or ride, so I cannot say that my 0>30MPH times have improved. This scooter was quick off the line with stock rollers - and maybe it's a bit quicker now with the Dr Pulleys.
"Smoother" I do not notice any difference in the smoothness of my take off when comparing the sliders to the stock rollers. My scoot was always smooth.
Perhaps if I rode my scoot with more gusto vis a vis the throttle - I would have more performance improvements to offer here.
I am not going to do that - but I have ordered a set of 14 gram Dr Pulleys to install - since I have to go back in there and glue that blasted main gasket properly in place. My thinking is I'd like to see if the RPMs will go back down to normal - and smoother take offs are experienced.
I cannot talk to max MPH with the Dr Pulleys - I never go there, with rollers or sliders.
And since I'm filling from a gas can during the spotty weather here, I cannot report on MPGs.
As I mentioned elsewhere- everything I replaced during this service was in pretty good shape - and could have continued in service for who knows how long. Maybe the folks getting very dramatic improvements with Dr Pulleys were replacing worn out rollers. ?
I'm going to give them one more try, by going up a gram.
Stig
