Ok, so I went with the Technigas Next R:
http://www.racingplanetusa.com/exhaust-tecnigas-nextr-kymco-horizontal-p-108-1.html?cPath=2_18_110&sessID=0b7a6bfa6ae6650a1fc6b723da4d6e62I opted for this because the price was right, $158, and it was in stock in the US, so I can actually have it by next week. I was going to spend more for the chrome versions and even for the RS2, but all were in Europe, and I am too impatient for now, I want to get to riding this thing before I run out of nice weather. The exhaust from my wife's 2005 sounded like the core was rattling around when I was carrying the system over to my 2001, so I am guessing that I will be buying another exhaust for her in the coming months... I'll try the Next R on my BBK scooter for now, then move it to hers, and see how the RS2 does on mine later on.
So, I am guessing that my main jet is going to be much higher.... in the order of 100 or so. I am guessing that it was stuttering so bad due to the fact that the muffler was so plugged. I guess I could have left the whole bike stock, and it probably would have run fine with the 125psi of compression, had I known that the exhaust was prone to plugging. Oh well, can always use more power
I called the local Kymco shop, and when I told him what I found, he was like, "Oh, you had the dreaded carboned up muffler, eh?", like it was a known thing amongst 2 stroke Kymco owners... how was it that this never came up in the 5 conversations I had with them. I've owned Banshee's, YZ250's and a bunch of other 2 stroke bikes, and have never had a pipe carbon up. I understand with the oil in the exhaust, how it could happen, but have never had it happen, or heard of friends that have had it happen. I mean even on old Banshee's from 1989 with stock pipes still.
Oh well, its these experiences that make us better techs... I still love the small wins like this, especially when they feel huge.
