Piston brands... help please!!

[jostby]

Can you all chime in, what is the difference of the 3 main brands Athena, Vertex, and Wiseco?? My kid burned his up and now I need to supply a piston when I send the cylinder for repair. What are your preferances? His cylinder is stamped a "B", shouldn't make much of a differance at this point if I get the "A" size should it since I would think they would replate it to match? Millennium has been recommended more than once for the replating process so I think I will go with them, I just need to know which brand piston is preffered. Thanks for all input

 

[2 strokes 4 life]

The Gasgas bikes in the USA all came with Wiseco from the factory. This might have been the situation for other bikes as well. My Canadian bike also has a Wiseco. I have well over 120+ hours with the stock set-up.

If you are going to re-plate it you mine as well get a A sized piston. That way if it ever goes again on you can go with a B and not replate.

Also, I think Wiseco owns Vertex.

 

[eff]

I don't think my bike had a Wiseco in it stock.

I replaced it with a Vertex. I imaging if you are replating they can plate it up to an "A" piston. They just need to know the diameters and tolerences.

The same company owns both Wiseco and Vetex FYI.

 

[GMP]

Wiseco was OEM through '03. Wossner for a couple yeras and now Vertex. Wiseco is a forged piston, the others cast. Forged pistons need a bit more clearance. The Vertex is widely available, in four sizes. The EXACT SAME piston has been OEM in the TM 250 for years. For this reason I'd have the cylinder plated for an "A" size Vertex.

 

[2 strokes 4 life]

I was reading an old Dirt Bike Mag and it had a 2003 DE300 test. It said that the bikes came with Wiseco but this could have just been for their bike. Mine had a forged piston of some type in it.

Are the Vertex forged pistons?

 

[WoodsRider]

I've always had good luck with Wiseco pistons. Make sure the wrist pin clips are installed correctly and fully seated in the groove. After installing a new piston, perform a minimum of three heat-cool cycles with the engine under light-load before riding the bike hard. Always let the bike warm up before riding hard.

FWIW my EC250 used a Wiseco replacement piston for the '86 - '96 Honda CR250, which for some reason was a few $'s cheaper than the Gas Gas Wiseco.

 

[eff]

I was reading an old Dirt Bike Mag and it had a 2003 DE300 test. It said that the bikes came with Wiseco but this could have just been for their bike. Mine had a forged piston of some type in it.

Are the Vertex forged pistons?

Read with GMP posted again. The bikes had a forged Wiseco piston through 2003, so for your bike you are correct.

My bike is an '04 and had the Wossner.

 

[widebear]

Re;GMP I believe Wossners and their sister brand Athena's are both forged units.

 

[2 strokes 4 life]

Ohh i see now. Thanks for that. I have had great luck with my wiseco.

 

[eff]

The Wossner site does say that they are forged.

 

[GMP]

I stand corrected.