Post by HotStuff2 on May 3, 2012 12:02:51 GMT -5
So, I've been up since ~3:30am-ish. Been reading the forums, and a few posts led me to a Google search...which in turn got me to thinking. Allow me to be loquacious for moment:
I'm coming from a supercharged Mazda Miata (which I lost last year, long story.)
Anyway, I had a 1997 Miata, which is known as the NA model (90-97; the NB is 99-2005, and the NC is 2006-present, although there is an ND in the works.) Anyway, the NA Miata put out 114hp at the flywheel, and 98hp at the rear wheel. BUT, by adding a turbocharger or a supercharger, that increased dramatically. I had the Flyin' Miata U3 Übercharger, which was the biggest and best one they put out (original cost: just under $6k for the kit alone.) By adding the U3 Übercharger to the NA Miata, it went to a whopping 340+rwhp (real wheel horse power; I never did measure the flywheel hp on mine), and I was able to do 0-60 in 4.1 seconds (yes, tested - I also raced Solo2 modified in her.) A lot of mods and tuning on the dyno resulted in whopping hp gains; some guys were getting 500+rwhp. 
So, I did a Google search for "GY6 turbocharger". Lo and behold, a dealer IS working on this - I found his post (from roughly a week ago) on a different forum (which is for scooters, go-karts, ATV's, and snowmobiles.) What REALLY caught me eye was this:
I did a double-take and nearly spit my coffee out when I read that. Corky Bell used to work for Flyin' Miata, and helped create the original turbocharger and supercharger for it. In fact, Mazda themselves bought the (albeit smaller) turbocharger from Flyin' Miata to put on the NB (1998-2005) factory Mazdaspeed Miata, and Flyin' Miata did quite a brisk business upgrading those to the "real" (larger) turbocharger kits from Flyin' Miata.
Also, slightly off-topic, Corkey Bell left Flyin' Miata to form Bell Engineering (aka BeGI), and Flyin' Miata stopped producing the Übercharger supercharger kits - citing several different reasons, all of which were BS - and BeGI began making the MOAB (Mother Of All Blowers) supercharger for the Miata - which was essentially the exact same thing as the Übercharger (in fact, the parts were interchangeable. I could go into the Miata community controversy on this in much more detail, but I won't for obvious reasons.)
So with that being said, it looks like they're going to be using the IHI RHB31 3T-505 Worlds Smallest Turbocharger; the "real" Japanese one is a whopping $996.95 (for just the turbocharger!), while the Clone ZV21 model is $298.94 (I'm guessing most people are going to go with the clone model!) They're also working on a bolt-on EFI kit for the GY6 engine (which, ostensibly, you'd want/need EFI with a turbocharger.)
Obviously this kit is going to cost as much (if not more) than a stock Chinese scooter; they're targeting a ~$700 range, however. But IMO, it's very interesting.
I've emailed Corky (I actually still have his personal email address!) and told him that I'd be very interested in this, and I'm waiting to see if he replies to me (doubt he remembers me anyway.)
What do you guys think?
I'm coming from a supercharged Mazda Miata (which I lost last year, long story.)
Anyway, I had a 1997 Miata, which is known as the NA model (90-97; the NB is 99-2005, and the NC is 2006-present, although there is an ND in the works.) Anyway, the NA Miata put out 114hp at the flywheel, and 98hp at the rear wheel. BUT, by adding a turbocharger or a supercharger, that increased dramatically. I had the Flyin' Miata U3 Übercharger, which was the biggest and best one they put out (original cost: just under $6k for the kit alone.) By adding the U3 Übercharger to the NA Miata, it went to a whopping 340+rwhp (real wheel horse power; I never did measure the flywheel hp on mine), and I was able to do 0-60 in 4.1 seconds (yes, tested - I also raced Solo2 modified in her.) A lot of mods and tuning on the dyno resulted in whopping hp gains; some guys were getting 500+rwhp. So, I did a Google search for "GY6 turbocharger". Lo and behold, a dealer IS working on this - I found his post (from roughly a week ago) on a different forum (which is for scooters, go-karts, ATV's, and snowmobiles.) What REALLY caught me eye was this:
I'm am currently collaborating with a renowned Custom Turbo Kit creator, Corky Bell, owner of Bell Engineering Group to come up with a viable Turbo option for today's 150cc GY6 Swaps.
I did a double-take and nearly spit my coffee out when I read that. Corky Bell used to work for Flyin' Miata, and helped create the original turbocharger and supercharger for it. In fact, Mazda themselves bought the (albeit smaller) turbocharger from Flyin' Miata to put on the NB (1998-2005) factory Mazdaspeed Miata, and Flyin' Miata did quite a brisk business upgrading those to the "real" (larger) turbocharger kits from Flyin' Miata.
Also, slightly off-topic, Corkey Bell left Flyin' Miata to form Bell Engineering (aka BeGI), and Flyin' Miata stopped producing the Übercharger supercharger kits - citing several different reasons, all of which were BS - and BeGI began making the MOAB (Mother Of All Blowers) supercharger for the Miata - which was essentially the exact same thing as the Übercharger (in fact, the parts were interchangeable. I could go into the Miata community controversy on this in much more detail, but I won't for obvious reasons.)
So with that being said, it looks like they're going to be using the IHI RHB31 3T-505 Worlds Smallest Turbocharger; the "real" Japanese one is a whopping $996.95 (for just the turbocharger!), while the Clone ZV21 model is $298.94 (I'm guessing most people are going to go with the clone model!) They're also working on a bolt-on EFI kit for the GY6 engine (which, ostensibly, you'd want/need EFI with a turbocharger.)
Obviously this kit is going to cost as much (if not more) than a stock Chinese scooter; they're targeting a ~$700 range, however. But IMO, it's very interesting.
I've emailed Corky (I actually still have his personal email address!) and told him that I'd be very interested in this, and I'm waiting to see if he replies to me (doubt he remembers me anyway.)
What do you guys think?
I think a proper turbocharger kit for the GY6 150cc engine would result in some serious significant gains in HP and speed, probably faster than a stock 250cc. Again, comparing my Miata with the U3 Ubercharger on it, I was able to beat 5.0L Mustangs with ease. It's not just the engine, but the overall weight of the bike as well; it's much less with the 150cc than it is with a 250cc touring bike. From what he's been saying, they're looking to spec out, build, test, and market the 150cc turbo kit, and gradually move up to offering a 250cc turbo kit as well.
