Modern Vespa

wondering if anyone has installed the variator in the GTS or GT
and if it has made a difference off the line

Just fitted one to GT 125 a week ago.....much much better take off. A new bike. Still have to wait for that 4t power windup but great when gone. Good pull on hills too. Much more reactive when 'filtering' through slow traffic, can get into those gaps that were a bit tight with the original.
kitt.

From reading this board the Polini one is better. Many bad reports of the Malossi one. Good reports on the JCosta as well.

do know what kind of reports?

reports from many actual users on here that say the Polini is better. Do a search and see what you find.

Mmm..had a few scoots all fitted wth malossi variators and no flat spots.
Just flatspots on the rollers but definately no flat spots in the power delivery.
The malossi wakes the lazy bugger up.

I have the Polini and love it but it goes hrough rollers faster.

Be warned that you will probably have to change rollers, etc. more often.


Regards
Harvey

...there's a topic on www.scarabeoclub.it

http://www.scarabeoclub.it/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=57&func=view&id=18335&catid=36&limit=10&limitstart=0

I'm going to say skip the malossi and go JCosta.

www.scootertrap.com

I do not think you can go wrong with the Jcosta or the Polini. They both seem to have great reviews.

The polini... can have soem problems, as we noticed on Cannonball.

JCosta, installed right, is still the winner IMHO.

What happened with the Polini and did the same thing happen to multiple people running it? I have been using it for some time now and would not trade it for the world. Are there know issues because I would love to know before I have any issues. Thanks OZ.

Yes.

We learned 2 things:

Polini rollers do not like being run for any length of time, as they will get stuck, then get flat.

The Polini is cut in a way that purposely rides the belt too high, to help with the fact that the variator would otherwise give the user a reduced top speed. As a result, belts were cutting into oil pans. That doesn't end well

My rollers get much more flat than my stock rollers and quicker too. I knew thta going into it and bought 3 sets of rollers. I also noticed how high the belt went and often ride the bike between 80-85 indicated for long periods of time but no where near as long as the ride you were doing. Good info and I will keep an eye out. I have not seen any symptoms of a reduced top end in fact in my case just the opposite.

Yeah, you won't see a reduced top end because the variator's shaped to compensate for the fact that the lighter rollers would produce a lowered top speed.

The real take home is you'll be fine as long as you don't run a full day WOT. That's literally all it took - a day before people noticed.

The Scootering mag comparison test said that the Malossi belt was taller, and could rub on the inside of the transmission housing, but one shouldn't have this problem with the standard belt.

A lot of members recommend the Polini variator with Dr.Pulley sliders. I have a Polini, and have sliders on order. Anyone got any comments on this configuration, preferably with different slider weights?

Mike

I have heard some bad things about that combo but I would love to get a review after you install them. I was really considering the Dr Pulley sliders but heard some really poor reports. I have no first hand experience.

The polini is super fun for a while.
I am back to the 'Costa that I had originally intended to run in the CBR. I ran a polini, and it actually held on for me for the most part.
If you want 98% of the oomph of the polini, but without the belt/roller/oil pan destruction: get the Costa.

The polini is faster, for sure though.

as stated these performance variators are hard on rollers, expect regular roller replacement, the difference is night and day so you wont mind the extra maintenance. the costa also gives those pins a workout as well. i prefer the malossi for its superb lightweight construction, parts availability and when comparing price against the others its cheap. my supplier also has dozens of rollers on hand. ive never had problems with the belt contacting the casings. i had a polini on a gilera 200 [same as a gt200] and performance was on par with the malossi i had switched to.