[andyvh1959]

I will finally get into the engine and trans on my VN1600 Classic this winter. I have a bunch of Mean Streak parts going into the Classis 1600 to get some more fun from the engine which already has the typical aftermarket mods (Baron intake, smog crap gone, V&H pipes, Power Commander).

I had bought a set of VN1700 pistons/rods, since the bore is the same for the VN1500, VN1600 and VN1700, at 4.030", and I hoped to up the compression ratio with the VN1700 pistons. I figured I'd measure the 1600 and 1700 pistons when I dug into it, hoping the VN1700 piston would fit. But then I also read the Mean Streak 1500 pistons were higher compression than the VN1600, and they shared the same con-rods and wrist pins. So I bought a set of low miles VN1500 Mean Streak pistons on Ebay.

So check out the attached pics to compare the VN1500MS and VN1700 pistons. Some other interesting details. The wrist pin on the 1500 psiton is much bigger/more mass at 0.945", only 0.867" on the 1700 piston. The compression height of the 1500 piston is 1.207" and 1.105" for the 1700 psiton. The overall height of the 1500 piston is 2.500" and 2.040" for the 1700. The 1500 piston has 18 oiling holes from underneath and up to the lowest ring. The 1700 piston has only eight oiling holes. The 1500 pistons has a LOT more mass, longer skirt, oiling holes to the wrist pin.