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| Mailing List info |
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| Mailing List info |
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How
Good is the New Kiwi Engine?
| From:
"Luis F. Rives"
This question is directed to the riders
who took part in the CRH from its departure point in CA: I would like to
hear any news on the performance of the new Kiwi engine,from what I understand
on of the Chiefs from Kiwi Indian Parts was fitted with the new engine.
Did it suffer any major breakdowns? Any minor bugs? Could it outrun
Chiefs with the original engine? Rather than ask Kiwi I figured I
would get the real scoop from the people that were there.
-------------- From: Stan Jessup Well, I'll jump in. The engine was in the bike ridden by Steve Adams. It's set up as an 84" stroker, with the piston travel stopping at the top of the cylinder deck (like a 74" motor). This produces a slightly lower compression ratio, and keeps it's manners in check. While I didn't ride the bike, one rider thought he was feeling pretty spunky and pulled up next to steve. He then proceeded to do a 3rd gear roll on, and thought he was going to smoke Kiwi's new design. That was about the time Steve shifted into 3rd gear, and left Mr Spunky in the dust. Yes, it performs well. The only work I'm aware of on the bike were chain adjustments and normal maintenance items. The question and answer really don't tell you much. The cases are the primary component to the new engine, as the rest of the parts are their standard shelf products. Did the cases blow apart? Of course not. They're well designed and nicely finish. The price is very fair at $999, but then I don't know the cost with the bushings/pins/guides installed. Would I buy a set if I needed them? You bet. Steve had trouble kicking the bike over because of a knee injury the day before the ride (Ok, he kicks it like a girl too), but I started it twice for him, and it wasn't as hard to kick as my 80". I also witnessed others start it right up for him. Steve had to ride the bike on the trip instead of Kiwi because it's set up for the ladies (right throttle) and HD test riders. Just kidding Steve. There you have it. If anyone knows of any problems with the Kiwi engine fire away, but I watched it for 15 days and never saw a problem with the product. Hope that helps. Stan -------------- From: "Greg & Kelley Johnson" I WOULD BE MR. SPUNKY. THOUGHT MY 47 WAS REALLY HOT STUFF UP A MAJOR HILL SOMEWHERE IN WEST VIRGINIA AND I WAS READY TO POUND ON OL' STEVO. WITH BARELY A FLICKER OF A SMILE UNDER THAT FACE SHEILD HE TOOK MOST OF MY TESTOSTERONE AND DUMPED IT ON THE ROAD AS HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD AND WALKED AWAY. THE MOTOR TOLERATED THE HEAT AND LONG DAYS EXTREMELY WELL. IT WAS GEARED VERY TALL AND HAD A HARD TIME RIDING WITH THE POKEY POSSE. WHILE WE WERE RIDING AT 50 HE WAS IN AND OUT OF SECOND GEAR TO KEEP THE MOTOR FROM LUGGING. LOOKED LIKE A ROUSING SUCCESS FROM THE BACK END. GREG -------------- From: "david hinshaw" As a Member of the Pokey Posse I only saw the tailights of Steve Adams on Kiwi's bike with the new motor, And I though it preformed well and I was there when Mr Spunkie tryed to see if he could pull on Steve. Steve just run not walk away from him. It make great conversation that night at the wenching session, that turned in to a parking lot party. Miles and Smiles Hacksaw -------------- From: Stan Jessup Jeez Greg, I was protecting you from the humiliation! You go and confess just when I'm sure Luis figured I was joking...... Actually, I wasn't joking. Greg got his Marlin Perkins, Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, big red monkey butt, KICKED! No two ways about it. Sorry Greg, but you let the cat out of the bag. Stan :) -------------- From: Steve Adams Sorry Greg, Didn't mean to stomp on your testosterone supply, but it did feel good. After being admonished for exceeding my "recommended" speed limit (50 mph) on a few occasions on the first day, Kiwi thought it would be best to hang with Pokey Central (later to be renamed Pokey Posse). It was tough though, second gear, third gear, second gear.....so I needed that "release" in WV. Thanks Greg! And Stan, "kicks like a girl", well I would have a few choice words in rebuttal, but I don't have a leg to stand on. The bike did run all the way with no motor problems, just a leaking petcock, stretched chain (the bike was bought from a Gilroy dealer, and we used it for the motor, till Kiwi's hot rod Chief is finished) and a stuck float. It did start to behave badly after Tulsa, til I realized that you have to adjust the carburetor for different elevations (duh!, that is what you get for putting a rookie on one of these....). I know my recommendations don't carry a lot of weight, but the motor, with Kiwi's flywheel and rod set up made a lot of HP/torque and was a pleasure to ride. Later, Steve
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