What is the real difference between the two??
Pros.. cons? Any other drives in the same $ range worth looking into??
Thx

P

both have same lower....XR has straight cut upper gears. XZ has hardened B1 type helical cut upper gears. Orig B1 would break lowers, beef up lower, then upper became weak link, beef up upper = XR XR will take 600 hp in the right boat with the right driver.

For the power you have been talking about, don't even consider an XZ. Get an XR with a good top cap and a good drive shower and go.
Eddie

What he said.

The XZ seems to have a longer life span unless subjected to excess HP. THe uppers seem to last a tad longer

Does a larger better top cap make a much of a difference on a stock Bravo? I bought a new one last summer, it doesn't have the new style cap. Should I buy one like the new style??

What does a better top cap offer?

Yes, it will add strength to a stock bravo. Keeps the vert shaft in place. Keep your drive and get a billet top cap from billet marine or something....if thats what you want.

yes, the straight cut gears dont last as long under normal wear and tear.....i would think we are still talking 3-4-5 yrs though and for whats its worth I wouldnt skimp on the XZ with the amt of HP.

The beefed up top cap is a big help in keeping the vert shaft in place. It also helps on the left hand drives to keep the cap from flexing. The left hand drives want to send the upper gears and the vert shaft up through the cap. The stock cast aluminum cap can and does flex allowing increased basklash and less tooth engagement in the upper gears, which can cause premature gear failure. Billet Marine is my cap of choice. It has internal cooling passages, making for an excellent drive shower. The problem with some of the aftermarket caps is that while they are thick and do not flex, your drive shower is not very effective at cooling the drive. They are so thick that bouncing water off the top of them is not going to cool the drive because of the mass of the cap. Hence the reason I like the internal water passages. Hope this answers your question, Eddie.

XR also has a larger diameter prop shaft. Therefore, a regular Bravo 1 prop requires the internal hub to be replaced with the larger diameter id. Soooo, ideally it should be harder to twist a prop shaft in the XR.