Piaggio Skipper ST (4 stroke 125, 2004) tuning/UK parts?..

Hi folks,
So, I have 2 engines with my '04 Piaggio Skipper ST, and I'd like to throw a bit of 4T tuning at one of them, *without breaking the bank*! New and stock the thing is only ~8.8 bhp with a power-to-weight ratio of 0.0815 and I'd like to up that somewhat, keeping final gearing stock as I'm only after a little more accelleration. Thinking about either/and/or big bore barrel and piston/better breathing head/performance cam shaft, then later adding better variator and clutch.

Anyone suggest a route to follow with this, how far I'll need to go, and which parts are best value/performance/money, and best places to order these from? I'm in the uk by the way.

TIA and be well, all!

Shaun

 

Big bore/head/cam/variator/clutch + not breaking bank = you'll be lucky

Seriously though, without diving around the interweb, I think you can get a 150 or 180 bore kit for it, it's the leader engine if i remember rightly.
Question though: have you passed your bike test (A license)?
If not then your will be riding illegally.

 

As a 47 y/o married dad I'm aware of the laws involved here, and it won't be getting used on a learner license.

That out of the way, the big bore route was secondary to the trick head/cam - if I could get it up to around 12+ hp with just head/cam/carb/exhaust I'd be happiest.

 

If I remember rightly the new replacement standard carb for that engine is around £297 itself.
The upgrade I would think is about the same price or thereabouts.
Malossi cam shaft..........?
Exhaust..........start around £250 and go up from there.

How's the budget looking?

I've just had a quick dig around, without looking too hard at the specs, a malossi cam is around £200. But some can only be used with the malossi barrel kit.

 

Hi Steve - Thanks again for the reply, and thanks for the tip re. some of the cams and the stock barrel not working together it's info like that that's really helpful - so what's the issue between some Malossi cams and the stock barrel then?

Is anyone doing a(n improved) head and cam already matched with stronger springs etc. allready together do you know?

I suppose I posted the original message in the hopes I might find someone who's already done one or two of these sorts of Leader mods, but they're proving hard to nail down it seems ',;~}~

So far budget still looking alright.

Thanks again,

Shaun.

 

I'd also considered retrofitting a skipper 2T and tickle that up a little for a cheaper and simpler way of getting a few more hp, but I don't fancy all the extra running hassles of a 'stroker, nor the extra thirst.

All the Malossi based stuff I can find involves the 4 valve water cooled heads only, and I'm not sure those heads can be converted to forced air cooling without major machining?..

Found a nice 4 stroke leader tune-up writeup for the 2 valve head a/c engine, but he re-profiled his own cam, and then cut bigger valve seats for new customised oversized valves... so this got me thinking a bit...

Cheers!

Shaun.

 

Most people just change the barrel, upping it to a 172/180/200, and keep the standard head and cam setup, and to be honest, I've got 3 leader engines on the ramp at the moment that sooner or later i will get round to doing, and that's the route i will be going down, simple barrel changes.
Unless I do a one off MAJOR special jobbie on one of them

 

I'd thought about that and it may still be partly an option. However what I'd really like is to find a hot cam that fits the 2v head - I've always had a thing for getting more out of a smaller engine via tuning, rather than hitting a vehicle with more capacity.

It's a shame that all the Malossi stuff needs all the other Malossi stuff - can't even get a 125 lc Leader engine and fit a Malossi V4 lc head - needs the bloomin' Malossi barrel too doesn't it, and I am not even sure they do a 125 barrel for it anyway.

I suppose I may be able to dig up a *cam regrinding co. that'd put a fast street profile on a stock leader cam for me, then fit new springs, work on exhaust and carburation afterwards...

Cheers!

Shaun.

*Anyone know of one they'd rec?..

 

Kent cams could re-profile a std cam for you! We had Honda c 90 cams done in the early 90's.

 

because some people like to play with engines do some tuning and have fun with skills they have/learn new skills

 

so? some people like two strokes and some people like 4 strokes it doesn't matter what it is or what it costs 4 strokes are just as good to learn to tune as 2 strokes are 2 strokes are being phased out now so 4 stroke tuning is becoming a huge thing