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<< To start << Go back Forged VS. Cast pistons 2002-09-12 One of the most common questions is about which piston to buy. The marquee is one factor but sometimes we have to choose between a cast and forged piston. This article cannot give you the definitive answer to which piston to use but some facts must be shared based upon experience. OEM Piston The OEM pistons are generally of a good quality. For normal riding I would almost always preffer a OEM piston. Cast piston 
Cast shaped components means that the material has been melted and then poured into a mold that basically shapes the piston. The advantages are many, for example: a possibility to add other components like silicolene, carbon, zink and so on in order to gain certain properies. The aluminium itself doesn't build up inner tension as much. It is cheap. The density of the material doesn't increase which means it could be kept light.There are disadvantages also, of course. The piston will be weaker in structure. It is often heavier since the manufacturer has to increase wall thickness on order to achive sufficient strength. The heat expansion cannot be controlled and is therefore often not completely round since the piston pin requires some material on the inside. Forged piston Forged pistons are mechanically shaped into a piston shape. They are hammered into a mold forming the piston. This makes them structurally more durable. Forged pistons are well known in racing industry. They are known to withstand more heat, higher RPM:s and higher temeratures. Unfortuately most manufacturers of forged pistons uses these advantages to their full extent making the piston as thin and light as possible. Thus building away the advantage. The idea is to trade the inhereted superior strength into one or two horses. The aftermarket piston manufacturers tries their very best to make pistons that makes more power targeting the professionals. Those riders have mechanics and a budget for replacing the piston between races. Conclusion If you ride for fun I'll suggest that you go for OEM pistons unless they are unreasonable expensive for your bike. If on the other hand you are racing seriously and have routines for replacing parts like the piston regulary you are likely to be happy with the performance of a racing forged piston of a well known brand. B Hahn |
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