My Predator is at Gary's right now, we are waiting on a special head gasket. should be in tomorrow. Installing nitrous kit and the gasket is a must. Cams still not ready yet, still a couple of weeks away. The 580 is wicked, with another 20 to 40 shot of NOS it will be a true sleeper. Other then Gary's sticker's on the bike it looks stock as a rock. Should be ready this weekend. A couple weeks of getting me and the bike broke in then we will be showing up at a few places to see what it's going to do. Then back to the shop for the cams and CDI then plans are for heading to Texas at the end of June to race with the Best of the Best at the "trailor park". Gary said he was bringing his Predator, so I guess that will be so called day view of the big bore Predators.

 

SP, you need to come out from the Superbike halo from time to time. I think you might be getting some tunnel vision. Don't get mad, just read back on yourself from time to time. The optimum flow into the airbox would be to enlarge the smooth bending tubular stock air inlet. Kinda like the "S" duct on #2 (middle) engine on a 727. Your main area of concern is still gonna be on the other side of the filter, and how smoothly you flow that air to the inlet airhorn of the carb. Heapster, the Boeing engineer can probably elaborate on this.

 

The air force kit looks great. I just went to the site. It sounds like the w/b pipe,K&N filter and the air force kit is all you need on the predator... with a 157-160 jet.. and is that leaveing the needle/clip in the stock. place??? ..blkbird

 

Yea, and an FMF chrome super fatty pipe looks sooo sweet on a 400 mod motor. Then you pull up next to him/her with the not so good looking Aaen, Hot Seat, orHPD ATV8 pipe.....hmmm, I wonder who'll win. Have a nut. I'll stick with what the factory backed brain-trust is using. I'll wait for you at the finish line.

 

Ken,
I think by "looking great" he meant the torque and hp dyno comparing stock with W/B to airforce kit with W/B. I think Gary is selling a pretty good product there - talking to him on the phone they did a lot of work and experimentation to get that AF kit working at an optimal level. Pondering myself over getting this kit or tinkering with punching holes in the airbox myself.



Jeff


03 PRED
W/B slip on
39 tooth rear sprocket(black)
PRM radiator scoops
shock covers(black)

 

Talk is good. Sales pitches can do wonders to sway a person. Dyno numbers seem to reinforce that talk......but at the track, you can have all the dyno numbers you want, but if the HP and the durability isn't there......you're on the trailer. I've said it before, and I'm not paid by anyone. Look at everyone's signatures. I used to get ragged on for sounding like such an HPD, Hot Seat, and Aaen spokesperson (you can include Rick Ritter in that with the great quality of gear he sells). Now if you look at everyone's signatures, hmmmm look at those company names. Kinda funny, they're the same. Things can change, I know that, but things that work need testing time. That's why Polaris took 3 years to bring the Predator to market. Show me it works, but also show me it'll last longer than a week. I've seen the frustration of someone testing run after run after run....for an entire summer.

I'm not matching shop against shop, like I said, I'm not paid by anyone. I just don't want people jumping the gun on what they think is the latest and greatest. You waste your hard earned dollars that way. Show me proof of HP and longevity testing to go along with it, I'll be a fan. Fill my ear with hype, I'll just stand and watch you dig the hole. Above all, if someone tells you something in belief that you'll keep it confidential.....then you talk, spreading rumors, that tells me what I'm dealing with. Trust is a big deal. Loose it, and you don't have much.

The preceeding is brought to you by soapbox speakers of America. Support your troops! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Modquad, your the last person on this forum to talk about someone having tunel vision. Your middle name should be HPD. If you really want to talk engineering, you would already know the problem with the factory air box has nothing to do with what you just described. As far as your comment on people telling company secrets, I have not told anything without Gary knowing about it first. But you on the other hand are always talking about your trips to the speed shops and the secret products there coming out with. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me. Your always talking about durability, Superbike has had the engine in testing longer than almost anybody. This is a totaly new four stroke, all these shops you keep bringing up have never built a fast four stroke. So it's a level playing field for everybody right now. Sounds like your just crying foul because those of us who chose Superbike shop are already racing our Predator's and your shop is still in the development phase. Why do you always speak negative about our choice ??? questioning the horsepower, durability. I have never questioned HPD or said anything that would suggest they do not do great work, they built some wicked sport 400 two-strokes. But does that mean than can build a four-stroke, only time will tell, just like the Superbike shop engine's. And I do indeed know the Horsepower number's, but like you said yourself, it is not right to give away company secret's.
And I am using the source the factory chose to do testing.
ps, I am not paid by anyone either, just sharing with the forum what I have personally seen and tested myself.

 

Blkbird, the airforce kit comes with all the jetting and carb mods included in the kit. Just add the white Bros pipe.

 

"If you want to talk engineering"? Bring air in at and turn it sharply (90 degrees)? That's not engineering. As far as I'm concerned, the Hot Seat unit presently available is probably the best "engineering" piece that's out there. It still uses the original runner tube to straighten the air out prior to introduction to the carb airhorn. I work on jets, the flow of air is something I know just a bit about.

As far as company secrets, it's not you that was aimed at (Gary). Confidentiality is something that goes a long way in this industry, as well as many aspects in life. If someone is on an inner circle, and trust is extended to them, they should honor that. Hmm, honor, that's a whole seperate soapbox.

To be called an HPD commercial, well, I'll just take that as a complement. Cause if you read people's signatures, wow, look at all those happy HPD customers running fast and reliable. Not to blow my own horn, but I'd like to think I maybe had just a little bit to do with that.

As for the motor mods, for the Predator, and what I've seen in the initial rounds of products, there are some people really missing the call. I have sources (and will never give them out) as to potential areas where improvement is needed. I don't presently see anyone on the market who has the improvements for those areas out there. For your sake, I hope the mods you have last. Happy trails.

 

We are starting to sound like 14MINS vs AIRRAPTOR. Everyone is intitled to the opinion. Your source's should have told you the Hot Seat kit does not work as well as the factory box with K&N filter then. The words, pulse, resonance tuning, scavaging effect come into play. There is a problem with the pipe going from the airbox to the carb, so adding a filter to the back of that, just create's another problem. Just running the clamp on filter will out perform that kit. Everyone just keeps on using the same old technology, It's just not responding that well with the Predator. So the real question is are the other shops testing for durability, or are they lost and searching for the Power. HMMMMMMMMMMMM.
And trust me,I am not Gary. Just a satisfied customer.