Ok, now that I've got my near death/sunk ski episode behind me, I tested 3 intake grates last week and wanted to share the results with everyone. Now that I think about it, I did this testing in response to the R&D grate ripping off my boat and throwing me overboard at speed. I think my ski is trying to kill me....

Please keep in mind that these results are for my ski with the mods I've done. Your results may be different:

Protec:

Pros - best speed of 70.1 mph. I thoroughly enjoyed this grate. It has terrific hole shot and hook up down low.

Cons - However, at anything approaching 70 mph, or above, it overloads the pump and bucks violently. When the nose of the ski comes down, the grate causes the ski to want to turn left or right. I had to shim the ride plate with three washers to make these runs, but still experienced the bucking and turning. Granted, this is all bad for a very fast ski, and I didn't like it. But if I had a stage 1 or 2 ski doing 68 mph or less, this is the grate I would buy.

R&D Double Bar:

Pros - this is my grate of choice. I was able to remove all washers from the ride plate, and achieved a best of 72.7 mph with no bucking or ill manners.

Cons - the only scary thing is that this is the grate that broke apart and threw me off the ski.

R&D Single Bar:

Pros - surprisingly, this grate gave me a top speed of 72.8! Same gas level as when I tested the other grates that day.

Cons - Some bucking on top end, and very abrupt nose down attitude when I let off the throttle.

So there you have it. Hope this helps everyone. Again, keep in mind that this testing was done on a ported big block with R&D trim tabs and a Riva ride plate with angle mod.

Yep Dave same results I got last year.Boy that single bar acts like a drag chute when you dump the throttle at wide open speed !!

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... that single bar acts like a drag chute when you dump the throttle at wide open speed !!

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Isn't that a good thing?

I have the Riva intake grate that's included in the Stage II package. I was just wondering which is similar to it or if it's totally different?

Thanks for posting that David

Phillip-

No, it's not a good thing. It noses over so suddenly and strongly that at 70+ mph, you almost go over the handle bars. Plus, it bucks the rear end and comes unloaded at those speeds, so I wouldn't use it.

Yeah, I was really hoping the Protec would be good for higher speeds. But I still say it's a fantastic grate for anything below 70 mph.

And just for the record - Carl at Protec was extremely cool when I told him about the problems I had at higher speeds, and offered to take the grate back since it was used for just 1/2 hour. Very nice guy, very good customer service.

I've never had the bucking problem you speak of, all the way up to 80.

I've never heard of too many folks that actually tested the sb grate and figured out that it CAN BE FASTER on top...shhhhhhhhh

I had the same results comparing the R&D double bar to the single bar - I didn't have the bucking problem - mind you I was using the Shred plate and was running around 69 mph

No 800 R&D or Riva grate tests included?

800 grate - spins big time out of the hole (my BB will spin it to 7200 as quick as you can say - cavitation)

800 hooks up reasonably well once rolling

1 mph faster than a 1200 grate

phillip, what final jetting did u end up with. u have novis right.

my saga continues, my jetting problem turned out to be a faulty (new) CDI

so I need to rejey my carbs (yet again) to get them back to almost where I started from

With my stock carbs I am going to go way low on pop-off (18) and use 120 and 120 jets with 125 on 3rd cylinder main

Spud-

Fullboogie here - I'm using Cajundude's computer this weekend.

Didn't have an 800 grate to test.

And we didn't need to test the Riva grates, because they're made by R&D - it's the same thing.

Could I ask a really stupid question, Why didn't you try a stock grate with two bars removed?

I am pretty sure with a GPR removing bars on the stock grate is a big no no. I asked recently about using a stock untouched grate and was advised it is risky, especially at anything over 70 mph (pump gets over stuffed, rear rises, front digs in and a Violent left or right hand turn results)

Hey phil...I bet the only time the rear comes around is if you chop the throttle,but if you let off slow it might work for getting just a high speed run...I think someone should try it...hell I'll try it im not scared.

Just dont turn.....

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Originally posted by Cajundude:
Spud-

Fullboogie here - I'm using Cajundude's computer this weekend.

Didn't have an 800 grate to test.

And we didn't need to test the Riva grates, because they're made by R&D - it's the same thing.

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Is that the case with all Riva grates? I don't have pictures of the R&D and Riva Venture 1100 grates to compare. It seems like Riva puts a nice black finish on their grates while R&D just leaves the aluminum plain with the rough sand sandcast warts and all (can't they use finer sand?).

R&D does not make all of riva's grates...actually not that many ....they do make these and they finish them with the black paint probably so it doesnt affect the whole patent thing although still the same but needed something more than just the riva stamp on the back.

It's kind of like subleting some work out.

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Just dont turn.....

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It will turn on its own.