Piston brand preference
- Alabaster
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Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 06:42
Hi all,
I know that Wiseco is the leader in motorcycle pistons, however, I'm thinking of a big bore piston kit for my '79 KZ1000. There is a company out of Florida called MTC that makes a 1075cc big bore kit that is similar to the Wiseco kit for less $$. I cant find any good reviews about Wiseco vs MTC. Has anyone used both or does anyone have a preference? Thanks in advance!
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0033558871&viewitem=
I know that Wiseco is the leader in motorcycle pistons, however, I'm thinking of a big bore piston kit for my '79 KZ1000. There is a company out of Florida called MTC that makes a 1075cc big bore kit that is similar to the Wiseco kit for less $$. I cant find any good reviews about Wiseco vs MTC. Has anyone used both or does anyone have a preference? Thanks in advance!
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0033558871&viewitem=
'07 Ducati SC1000S
'79 KZ1000
'79 KZ1000
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- Tyler
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 06:51
Wiseco is good stuff, I used them in snowcats and a YZ before. I am currently building a 650 with an overbore kit from them. I can't speek for MTC, but lots of people use them and I haven't heard any serious problems. Also that kit on ebay gives you a copper head gasket, Wiseco gives you fiber, and no base gasket. For $99 I would take the offer to bore your cylinders, that would be a pretty good deal IMO. I am not affiliated with this auction in anay way.
If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
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- Alabaster
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 06:55
Thanks for your input. I will certainly take it into thought when I'm making my decision.
'07 Ducati SC1000S
'79 KZ1000
'79 KZ1000
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- PLUMMEN
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:17
i actually prefer mtc for some reason,but theyre getting harder to find.
Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- timebomb33
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:19
i have a few sets of both wiseco and m.t.c pistons i have m.t.c piston's i both of my drag bikes right now and have no problems with them at all in fact they are both set's that have been used before by someone else. i also have a set of 1197 pistons from mtc as well they measure up ezactly the same as when i first ran them years ago.the thing to remember with them is they use a lot tighter piston to wall clearances then wiseco does. i have a set of 1075 wiseco pistons in my street bike and they have worked well for me as well i have 19,000 hard street miles on that engine as well as quite a few dragstrip passes. they have given me no problems as well so i don't think you can go wrong with either the most important thing to remember is no piston will be good if the cylinder prep isn't right.
1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- PLUMMEN
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:26 - 05 May 2009 07:30
i think mtc uses a better alloy,and they used to offer more options as far as compression wiseco is really limited

Still recovering,some days are better than others.
Last edit: 05 May 2009 07:30 by PLUMMEN.
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- Alabaster
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:27
Great advice, timebomb. Whoever does the machine work I will make sure to get some sort of warranty.
'07 Ducati SC1000S
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'79 KZ1000
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- Tyler
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:32
PLUMMEN wrote:
I don't know any specifics about the alloy they use but I have burnt the hell out of Wiseco's in a 2-stroke and they held up well. I think thier two stoke experience is why the run loose piston to wall clearence.
i think mtc uses a better alloy,and the use to offer more options as far as compression wiseco is really limited
I don't know any specifics about the alloy they use but I have burnt the hell out of Wiseco's in a 2-stroke and they held up well. I think thier two stoke experience is why the run loose piston to wall clearence.
If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
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- timebomb33
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:37
actually it is because of the alloy's that are in each make of piston the wisecos have do allow for more expansion the m.t.c pistons have a higher silicon content in them so they don't expand as much and the are alot denser.
1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- PLUMMEN
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 07:38
i burned up an wiseco 1197 turbo piston took a piece of top ringland,ive still got a nice set of 3 maybe i can build some sort of bigbore h2 with them! :laugh:
Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- Tyler
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 09:16
timebomb33 wrote:
Cool, that makes sense. I wondered if the spec for clearence on my Wiseco's was correct, becasue I though it was a bit loos, but the machine shop said that is what they run. Now I know why.
If MTC are a denser alloy, are they heavier? Is there a weight difference between Wiseco and MTC?
PLUMMEN you would probably toast them in a 2-stoke. But I guess that would be par for the coarse eh?
actually it is because of the alloy's that are in each make of piston the wisecos have do allow for more expansion the m.t.c pistons have a higher silicon content in them so they don't expand as much and the are alot denser.
Cool, that makes sense. I wondered if the spec for clearence on my Wiseco's was correct, becasue I though it was a bit loos, but the machine shop said that is what they run. Now I know why.
If MTC are a denser alloy, are they heavier? Is there a weight difference between Wiseco and MTC?
PLUMMEN you would probably toast them in a 2-stoke. But I guess that would be par for the coarse eh?

If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
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- Tyler
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Re: Piston brand preference
05 May 2009 09:20
And I would also like to restate the importance of surface finish. Most people gloss over that when talking to thier machinist. That has to be done right, and depends on the ring material, piston speed, and operating temperatuers. Wiseco reccomends a fine hone, and with good reaon. Make sure you get that right.
If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
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