Sounds to me like CAPtain232 has it straight. The price should not change, and the motor (from previous conversations with Keith) will come with a radial mount, similar to the one on the current 102 and upcoming Xtremes.

The challenge, considering this is nothing more than a 110 with only one cylinder, is to reduce internal crankcase volume without adding extra weight. This will require a redesign of the rear crankcase half, with a 'shifting around" of metal to use the radial mount, but also fill in the voids inside the crankcase that would cause less efficiency.

Some of the ideas being floated around to reduce weight will be directly related to tremendously over-designed areas of the engine. Currently the 55 uses the front of a 110 crankshaft, yet produces substantially less power, so this area can be lightened and smaller bearings can be used. This would also allow for less mass on the crankcase itself, so you can see the possibilities for further weight reduction.

If you look at a DA50, it appears to use the same crankcase front as the DA100. This is a VERY beefy piece, with absolutely huge bearings. Keiths approach is to reduce the mass of these parts while still using the highest quailty bearings and materials to ensure longevity.

On a comparison note with the YS120. . this motor DOES use a sleeved cylinder, right? Those cylinders do weigh a bit, and the fact that you have to make the outer cylinder over-sized to accomodate the liner adds weight to the total engine. I imagine that if you used a linerless cylinder, as BME does, with nikasil plating, you could reduce the weight of the YS by 4-5 ounces by not only tossing the liner, but making the overall cylinder dimensions smaller. Then you have the separable head, which adds weight for bolt bosses and bolts and for the mating surfaces between the head and cylinder. Make it a one piece head and there would be a further weight reduction.

Really, because of the way the YS is designed and put together. . it's a BIT porky. I bet slicing the beam mounts off the crankcase would save 2 ounces or so, too. You STILL have to use a motor mount. . so attaching a small radial mount on the back, to the backplate screw holes, would allow you to use a SMALLER mount, toss the beam mounting ears, and further reduce the engines weight.

So, you see. . . the vaunted YS120 is NOT that light, and has a TON of extra metal on the engine. I bet 4-6 ounces could be pulled off the assembly without even blinking hard, and no longevity or strength would be lost, and then your motor mount would be another 2-3 ounces lighter than the currently available pieces. Gee. . we just saved HALF a POUND!!! That would put the YS in the 25-26 ounce range. . . a bit lighter than the projected weight of the BME 55 Xtreme.

So, you see. .under 2 lbs is entirely possible and achieveable, with no sacrifice of strength and longevity.