Simmo737
Gold Level Site Supporter
G'day
Picked up my 2013 300r yesterday, greased well from factory (as good as they ever do) haven't checked the swing arm pivot yet.
The Aussie/Europe model has the alloy subframe and still has giant air slots in the air box that need to be closed up. The engine has a lot more induction noise due to this.
The fit and finish compared to my 2011 estart is better, general commonality of fasteners, stronger side stand, better chain rollers, better cabling routing and plastic fitment. The 2011 wasn't bad but this is a step up, apart from the air box, jetting and glueing and wiring grips and cables, nothing to do.
Nothing was rubbing as far as I can see after 1hr of engine time.
The front fender is much more solidly mounted and looks ktm ish from the saddle, the 997 renthals are stiff as a priest and not as nice a bend as the hebo bars on the 2011 which were exceptional, but the renthals are good enough. Stock hand guards are great, but a lot of guys like bark busters depending on their tree count, ill go stock.
Switch gear is the same, but you get a non ADR light switch in the goodies pack, I'll keep the blinkers at the mo to stave off the fuzz.
Seat is firmer but nicely sculptured and more rigidly attached. Fuel cap the same but breather goes through the head stem. Rear fender much the same style with easier removal of the ADR compliant rear bit, but you then loose mounting points for the rear blinkers. Side stand safety strap finally. Side plate bolts are rounded aliens, you need to remove the front two under the seat, the bolts into the rads and the tank bolt to get the tank off.
The motor... Mmmm. Delivered with n1ef middle clip 42/175 with 3 turns out on a s. did ten minutes then threw that cross the yard, in went jd red clip 4 40/180 1.5 turns float st at 8mm. WOW, feels a touch more grunty than my 2011 (2011 fitted with S3 high high insert and 36 mm carb with jd blue)... And this is stock. I don't need to do anything to the motor to make me happy. Jakobi sent me some (heaps) of needles so ill try the Yamaha "jakobi" setup to see if I get the sh$t eating grin everyone talks about. This motor has the new cylinder and head arrangement with no front engine mount on the head and a larger pv cover. No idea about ports but the importer said he thinks they lowered them like the Katos did in 2012. I switched out the cable choke ( standard choke in goodies pack)
Suspension... Mmmmm. The bike has the hrg valving with corresponding sticker on the fork guards. With stock springs it was nice straight away, the front felt just like ttx with a little bit more of a trail trash edit going on, the transition to mid stroke is linear, and bottoming resistance off drop offs (couldn't g it out) was good and will get better with springs from steveb at after hrs cycles ( they are here already, thanks Steve!) the shock has the...um what shock? Feeling which is just fantastic. Can't be happier, longer ride will give better feedback.
Wheels the same, brakes, rear the same front better with wave rotor. Annoying rear brake cable that eats into swing arm and motor casing the same. 50t rear sprocket stock which is the way to go.
Handling....very gasgas, the motor is so familiar that its easy to get trapped into thinking its your old bike....but it's not, this thing turns ALMOST as good in the slow, and MUCH better in the fast as the 2011. The frame had that nice late model Japanese insulated feeling without the tip weight and poor slow speed handling...very impressive. I think an rmx450 or the like will still feel more stable in the rough super fast open stuff but the gg will be a better compromise for varied terrain. I think the suspension benefits from the generational engineering put into the frame, it's stiff where it needs to be and compliant where it needs to be.
Ergos... Very close to the same, rear brake pedal perfect from factory.
I'm very happy.
Picked up my 2013 300r yesterday, greased well from factory (as good as they ever do) haven't checked the swing arm pivot yet.
The Aussie/Europe model has the alloy subframe and still has giant air slots in the air box that need to be closed up. The engine has a lot more induction noise due to this.
The fit and finish compared to my 2011 estart is better, general commonality of fasteners, stronger side stand, better chain rollers, better cabling routing and plastic fitment. The 2011 wasn't bad but this is a step up, apart from the air box, jetting and glueing and wiring grips and cables, nothing to do.
Nothing was rubbing as far as I can see after 1hr of engine time.
The front fender is much more solidly mounted and looks ktm ish from the saddle, the 997 renthals are stiff as a priest and not as nice a bend as the hebo bars on the 2011 which were exceptional, but the renthals are good enough. Stock hand guards are great, but a lot of guys like bark busters depending on their tree count, ill go stock.
Switch gear is the same, but you get a non ADR light switch in the goodies pack, I'll keep the blinkers at the mo to stave off the fuzz.
Seat is firmer but nicely sculptured and more rigidly attached. Fuel cap the same but breather goes through the head stem. Rear fender much the same style with easier removal of the ADR compliant rear bit, but you then loose mounting points for the rear blinkers. Side stand safety strap finally. Side plate bolts are rounded aliens, you need to remove the front two under the seat, the bolts into the rads and the tank bolt to get the tank off.
The motor... Mmmm. Delivered with n1ef middle clip 42/175 with 3 turns out on a s. did ten minutes then threw that cross the yard, in went jd red clip 4 40/180 1.5 turns float st at 8mm. WOW, feels a touch more grunty than my 2011 (2011 fitted with S3 high high insert and 36 mm carb with jd blue)... And this is stock. I don't need to do anything to the motor to make me happy. Jakobi sent me some (heaps) of needles so ill try the Yamaha "jakobi" setup to see if I get the sh$t eating grin everyone talks about. This motor has the new cylinder and head arrangement with no front engine mount on the head and a larger pv cover. No idea about ports but the importer said he thinks they lowered them like the Katos did in 2012. I switched out the cable choke ( standard choke in goodies pack)
Suspension... Mmmmm. The bike has the hrg valving with corresponding sticker on the fork guards. With stock springs it was nice straight away, the front felt just like ttx with a little bit more of a trail trash edit going on, the transition to mid stroke is linear, and bottoming resistance off drop offs (couldn't g it out) was good and will get better with springs from steveb at after hrs cycles ( they are here already, thanks Steve!) the shock has the...um what shock? Feeling which is just fantastic. Can't be happier, longer ride will give better feedback.
Wheels the same, brakes, rear the same front better with wave rotor. Annoying rear brake cable that eats into swing arm and motor casing the same. 50t rear sprocket stock which is the way to go.
Handling....very gasgas, the motor is so familiar that its easy to get trapped into thinking its your old bike....but it's not, this thing turns ALMOST as good in the slow, and MUCH better in the fast as the 2011. The frame had that nice late model Japanese insulated feeling without the tip weight and poor slow speed handling...very impressive. I think an rmx450 or the like will still feel more stable in the rough super fast open stuff but the gg will be a better compromise for varied terrain. I think the suspension benefits from the generational engineering put into the frame, it's stiff where it needs to be and compliant where it needs to be.
Ergos... Very close to the same, rear brake pedal perfect from factory.
I'm very happy.
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