[Buzz]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Ron, are you sure about this? I would think that the stored energy in a higher weight flywheel would require additional braking to slow down. Surely there's a mechanical engineer on here that could answer the simple question: "If a Cobra is travelling, say 120mph at 5000rpm, does it take more brake force to bring it to a stand still if the flywheel weighs 18lbs or if it weighs 25lbs?" No fair pushing the clutch in during braking.

I have to go with Paddy on this one. A heavier flywheel retains more inertia and resists changes in engine speed far more than a lighter one, whether accelerating or decelerating. Lift off the gas at high rpm and the heavier flywheel acts like a gyro and just wants to keep on going. The lighter one is far more responsive on deceleration as it offers less resistance to changes in engine speed (ie: "engine braking").