Flywheel Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a heavier flywheel reduce horsepower?
No, that is a common misconception. It will make the RPMs build slower, which makes the power smoother, easier to control, and increases traction, but does not reduce horse power or torque. In a Dyno test reported by Dirt Rider Down Under Magazine a 10 ounce Steahly Flywheel on a 2006 CR 250 produced a top end increase of 1.13 hp. It also gave a huge mid range increase of 2.09 ft-lbs of torque and 3.67 hp!
How much weight should I add?
That depends on many factors, such as type of terrain you ride, how good of a rider you are, your riding style (aggressive or casual?), what kind of power you like, the type of power your bike has, and if your engine is modified. Here are some general guidelines: 1. Slower and more technical terrain requires a heavier flywheel weight than fast open terrain. Slicker ground, whether mud or hard pack, requires more flywheel weight than loam, sand, and good traction. So most riders would want more weight for the woods than for desert or MX. 2. Riders with a lazy riding style, slow riders, less experienced riders, or guys who just have too much bike for their skill will need more flywheel weight than fast and aggressive riders. Older, smarter, smoother riders usually like more flywheel weight than young, hyper, pin the throttle riders. 3. If your bike has a hard hitting or explosive type of power delivery, whether it is that way stock or it has been modified, you will need a heavier flywheel weight than a bike that has a smooth power delivery. The exception to that might be if you have a 65 to 125cc engine, see the question below.
How does adding flywheel weight work on 125s and minis?
It works great for woods riding and for timid, less aggressive riders. We sell tons of flywheels for minis because it is the best, most cost effective way to make the motocross type power usable and controllable for kids, beginners, and slower riding. A fast and skilled MX rider probably would not want to add much flywheel to his small engine, but there are exceptions. Andrew Short used a Steahly Flywheel on his RM 125 to win the East/West Supercross because his engine was so highly modified it need more flywheel to get the power to the ground. When choosing the amount of weight to add to a small engine use caution. It is possible to add too much, causing the bike to bog instead of accelerate when slipping the clutch to get it into the power band. This is usually not an issue with timid riders because they don't slip the clutch, so they can get the heaviest weights (10 to 12 ounces). A fast and aggressive rider should get the lighter weight flywheels (6 to 8 ounces).
Will a heavier flywheel help for MX?
Not for everybody all the time, but many riders will ride faster with more flywheel weight. Many motocrossers who have not tried a Steahly Flywheel think they make the bike too slow, but MX Action Magazine named it "One of the 35 Products Guaranteed to Make You Faster". Almost all motocrossers will like more flywheel when it is slippery, because the bike will hook up better and be easier to control. Riders who are smoother, tend to lug the motor, or ride a gear higher will like it also. Riders who bought too much bike (too much power) will love a heavier flywheel. Bikes that have expert only power delivery, such as 450s, or bikes that are modified will be much easier to ride and be much less tiring with a Steahly Flywheel.
Does increasing the flywheel weight cause more wear to the engine?
No, in over 20 years of our experience with flywheel weights we have never seen an increase in noticeable wear.
Does where you put the flywheel weight matter?
Yes, the amount of flywheel effect you feel is controlled by not only the amount of flywheel weight, but also the size (diameter) of that weight. In other words, a 12-ounce flywheel that is 4 inches in diameter will have more effect than a 12-ounce flywheel with a 3-inch diameter. That is why we always try to make our flywheels as large of diameter as possible, but still fit inside the stock ignition cover. Some newer 4-strokes do not have enough room in the ignition cover to add a flywheel weight to the ignition. For those bikes we offer steel clutch baskets, which are much heavier than the stock basket and have a much larger diameter than a standard flywheel weight, but rotate at a slower speed than a ignition flywheel. Therefore, a steel clutch basket usually gives you about the same amount of flywheel effect as adding 10 to 13 ounces on the ignition flywheel.
What tools do I need?
All of our 2-stroke flywheel weights can be installed with ordinary hand tools. A flywheel puller is not needed, but a Steahly Engine Lock Up Tool is recommended for easiest installation. A torque wrench is also recommended. If you are installing a complete flywheel on a 4-stroke you need ordinary hand tools and the correct flywheel puller for your bike. Do not try to use automotive pullers, you can do costly damage. We sell pullers for the best prices. A torque wrench is also recommended for 4-strokes.

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