Thanks Fuzzy, did they make the RMX in 2001? Did they have lights? I'm starting to wish I had at least a headlight. Rather than go through the trouble of the coil etc, I may just rig up a battery powered clamp on for the few occasions I would night ride.
I went on 2 rides with the new weight. The first was local. Very rocky terrain in general. For the woods the weight made it easier to do some short wide open rips. Just smoothed out the hit. I can be on the throttle wide open more often, which feels great. I was hoping the FWW would eliminate the low throttle sputter, which it did not. The bike still sounds the same, however the general feel of the bike is very smooth now at low throttle, even though the bike sputters, I barely feel it. That is very nice. As far as climbing, and I can't say for sure if it's the weight, but it climbed well. I'm talking about mostly softer straight up long coal hills. I did climb the largest hill around here that day. It has a severe angle and is very long. I've looked at that hill several times before and chickened out, It only has one path up it and has very little sign of being used much. I attempted it this time expecting to make it about halfway, but it tracked unbelievably on a maxxis 6001 that only has 1/3 tread left. Made it up twice no problem. It is by far the longest steepest hill I've ever done.
I haven't been big on long wheelies up to this point, but the few I did were easier to hold, more controlled. I'm looking forward to practicing them now where before I always felt like the bike would flip without warning, and did a few times in the past.
The second ride was on mostly faster stuff, and it ran well, perfectly. I don't notice any lack of power, it just feels smoother, still comes on strong. It still breaks loose easily, but now it's only when I do it intentionally. On this ride I did get to do a few very rocky twisty hills, although I've ridden worse. It is easier to get started from a dead stop halfway up. Even in the tough spots that might stop you in the first place.
Lastly, I tried lugging the bike as low as I could, both uphill, downhill, and on flatground. It will lug considerably more with the weight when I push it to it's limit, one point to make here is I hardly ever push it this far anyway. In the spots where I have stalled before, the very extreme rocky, long stuff that beats me up, I would expect the bike to stall less.
Overall I am very pleased with the results, although the performance changes are somewhat subtle, the rides have been 100% more enjoyable, and I am definetely less tired after I ride. I would do this mod again given the choice. I am also happy with my choice of the 11 oz, they do offer a 13 oz, and I guess that would have been a good choice for what I ride and how I ride as well. I am glad I didn't get the 7 or 9 oz. On a bike with more stock weight I would be leary of going too heavy and probably go with the lightest weight available or none at all.
To install it I had to drop clothesline down the sparkplug hole. Anything else I tried wouldn't hold the flywheel still while torquing the weight. Steahly also makes an optional flywheel holder for 9 dollars if you plan to install/uninstall the weight frequently. The original nut came off with an electric impact wrench no problem. To make room for the weight, they give you a thick plastic sidecover gasket (appx 1/8"). My shifter still clears it, but not by much. A little heat and bending could solve that.
Joe Chief