Im having a 12 x 18 "shed" built so I can keep messing with all my toys, I have a 2 car garage thats for... well cars. Ive always wanted a workshop anyways, going up and down the stairs with engines to my dungeon to work on them out of the elements has put a crick in my back something fierce this past year.
I too have never seen damage like that before, it would seem there would be equal damage to the variator as well.
I have the Polini, Malossi, PG, prodigy, Keli, naraku, ruckus, zx50, and "dio" variators and Ill have to say the polini has best top speed but all around the Malossi is best and very nice for using high way gearing. If you have a stock set up Polini is best for top speed and some good take off, Keli is the best for cheap ones (sub 40$) for all around performance, phongear and naraku seemed like barely upgrade from stock, the ruckus had poor low end but once you got going it was great for a great top speed(may have been the belt was angry after so many test runs), Zx50 and dio had different angle inclines but both seemed the same at top speed and take off, the dio seemed to shift faster back to low gear.
The ramp plate really matters a lot as well, The Malossi ramp plate is the best plate to use on any of them in my opinion, S.E.F. is my second favorite, Polini 3rd, prodigy 4th, stage 6 5th.