Pistons?
We use Forged Wiseco pistons in our race motors. When we are biulding an all out race motor the most important design criteria is all out power.
In the forging process the aluminum is heated to a softened, but not molten state. A ram punches out the shape of the piston and from there several machine processes finish the dimensions on the piston. The advantage of a forged piston is that it is really tough and resistant to cracking or breaking. This allows the skirts to be thinner and the piston to be lighter. Our race motor pistons are 90 grams lighter than there cast, stock counterpart.
The pistons in our race motors are so different and so heavily modified to make extra power that we need to start with the toughest forged pistons available!!
In our trail motors we prefer Cast twin ring pistons. When biulding a trail motor Reliability and Durability are paramount.
The casting process heats the aluminum to a molten state and it is then poured into a mold and allowed to coll and harden. This process allows a higher silicon content aluminum which stays more dimensionally stable and harder at higher temperatures.
A cast piston is heavier but will be the most durable option for thousands of miles on the trail.
