Which reed cage? Charriot or VF3...ported stock?

[Vintage Smoke]

I am loking to do something with my reed cages. It's a ported, stock cylinder, stock stroke engine with a cool head and 21cc domes. Carbs are 28mm PWK's. I am in the process of building the engine right now. I am considering either V-Force 3's, the Charriot cages, or taking the time to port the stock cages.

 

2 questions.....will porting the stock cages come close to the power gains of the aftermarket cages?

 

Have any of you tried both the Chariot and VF3? Did you see a differance between the two?

 

If porting the stock cages comes close, I would rather spend the time to do it rather than spending the $$.

 

Also...reccomendations on an intake manifold? Do the one piece billet manifolds with the built in crossover really add any power over the rubber manifolds with the external crossover? I'll even keep the stock manifolds if the increase doesn't justify the cost.

 

If you can't tell already, I am on a budget and more interested in getting the most for my money rather than the bling factor.

 

Thanks!!

[gotta_goatsfast]

For starters, I run VF3s and have a machined intake manifold. The VF3s did make for a crisper throttle and seemed to aid the top end (this is coming from a poorly calibrated butt dyno)

 

As for the power increase of my machined intake.... You'll notice similar acceleration gains as you would raising your ass and blowing a fart while dragging. Not much... unless you had tacos and beer.

 

It did however raise the carbs so that they clear the clutch arm and linkages.

 

If you're on a budget and have a steady gentle hand, port the stock cages and pick up some aftermarket reed petals. Use the saved money for other go faster parts. (times like this, its okay to have gentle hands)

[toytech]

I ported the reed cage and put boysen two stage reeds in my blaster and noticed a good power gain. if your on a budget port the cages

[Larry's Shee]

Speed is only limited by cubic dollars. That being said port your stock cages , get some good reeds ,either low-mid or mid-high depending on type of riding. Could also mod timing plate for about +4* advance. What pipes you running?

[ECshee]

from what ive heard, the chariot reed cages are really nice, and just as good, if not better than the vf3's. your paying for the vf3 name!plus you can get the chariot cages in a few colors. ive been debating getting chariot reed cages for a while, for the same reason...i just dont know if the bang is worth the buck.. get em and lemme know how you like em!

[alf44]

Ive used them both. I now run the Chariot setup and will proly run nothing else. There great on the bottem and all the way through. They are super crisp and took out that little notorious bottom end bog. I recommend the Chariot reed cages.

[jbooker82]

VF3's

 

You have 2x as many reeds per cage so they open half as far. Since they only open half as far they use a light tension reed. That is what makes for the crisper throttle responce.

 

Reeds are not a HP mod they are a throttle responce mod.

[AKheathen]

VF3's

 

You have 2x as many reeds per cage so they open half as far. Since they only open half as far they use a light tension reed. That is what makes for the crisper throttle responce.

 

Reeds are not a HP mod they are a throttle responce mod.

i can't really agree......

[06specialedition]

I run V-Force 3's. I know Wildcard does really good reed cage porting if thats the route your considering.

[kpennepacker]

I run the vf3 with the charriot intakes with the crossover plate and really like but it is rather expensive. I was a machinist for a living and I must say the charriot intakes are nicely machined and I 'm very impressed. So either way I don't think you'll make a wrong choice.

 

 

[J-Madd]

All of the Chariot products are of excellent quality and precision. I wouldn't think twice about buying Chariot over VF3. I run VF3 in all of mine, but I've had them for years before Chariot was producing them.

[bigborebanshee]

I ran VF,Ported stock and Chariots

 

The VF were the best for crisp throttle response,but they were high maintenance.Reeds would last me about a year,not bad but expensive

 

The Chariots were the WORST in reed life.I think it is due to the design of no "bridge"..I replaced the reeds 2 times in 3 months!The petals would stick out like buck teeth.

 

The ported stock cages with single stage fiberglass reeds lasted the longest and gave the quad the most consistent performance,but throttle response was not as good as chariots or VF

 

If you run top-end pipes and "live" in the powerband,get yourself some stock cages,have em ported and throw a set of single stage reeds on them.