Piston is here! Just walked in today and I must say after inspection she's a beauty. We had JE custom make this for us (no one makes a 10:1 piston for a 102mm bore KTM 450). Compared to stock (picture below) this thing definitely means business.
When making a turbo piston (especially for a big bore), care must be observed to weight. You want a strong piston where it counts, not just a lot of aluminum. Why? A heavy piston will tear a motor up. Every time a piston changes direction it thrusts into the cylinder. Heavy pistons will have shorter life expectancy by literally wearing out the clearances between piston and cylinder. Furthermore, they will reek havoc on crank bearings because the crank/rod/piston system is now out of balance.
So how can you make such a large turbo piston and keep the weight close to a stock piston? Here is how:
Smart reinforcing forging where the stresses are highest and...
Under-dome milling. They cut the underside of the piston to contour with the crown and valve reliefs removing excess material and ensuring a uniform dome thickness. This machining process is a must have when you are going this big and is worth every penny. Here is why:
Stock piston:
New KMS 102mm Turbo piston:
The new piston only weighs 20 grams more than a stock one. That is only a 7.5% change in weight with a +7mm bore piston. Keeping this monster on a diet not only ensures a motor that can lay down the big power, but also last year after year.