Performance Variators

The variator is the upshifting of the engine. It is part of the cvt transmission. It contains either rollers or sliders that move inside the variator pushing the drive plate closed that forces the belt up on the ramp to increase gearing. As they release it downshifts the gearing. This is the part of the gy6 cvt transmission that is part of acceleration.

Stock gy6 variators are limiting in several factors. First off, the ramps that the drive belt rides on are shorter then performance variators limiting top speed.

The performance variators will have a larger diameter ramp, usually 115 to 118mm  giving that extra area for the drive belt to ride up. As an example, stock variators typically range around 108mm which is the bottle neck to overal speed.

In addition, most performance variators will have a Teflon coating where the rollers or sliders sit and roll. This enables the rollers or sliders to move smooth and quickly. It also extends the life of the rollers or sliders. Adding a little dry lube such as graphite to this area can even add more performance.

The variator is one of the areas that you can fine tune dramatically for riding conditions. There are a lot of roller and slider weight options that determine low, mid to top end performance. So whether you are riding in an area with lots of hills or and area of long stretches, you can fine tune the variator to perform best for your common riding condition.