Calming down the EC300

Marc,
I went with a CCK needle that I ordered through Jets R Us. I've also read that others like the DDK. You'll probably also have to change your main and pilot to match the "milder" needle. Those "N" needles are pretty aggressive. The CCK has a gradual taper which gives you that roll-on feel. All the "N" that I tried and looked at are step tapered which gives you the unwanted hits while riding tight trails. Fun for wide open stuff though! There is an old thread here about this type of jetting that I'm using. It was suggested for a 300, but I copied for my 250 and it's awesome for NW single track riding.
Also, you had mentioned a possible head modification. I suggest RB Designs. He is in Portland,OR and is very experienced in 2-stroke engines. I've used him before and he does great work. The head mod will make the jetting easier and give you a more crisp throttle response. Will also make idling better. Especially here in NW when one weekend you may ride coast trails at 500'-1000' sea level and the next your riding Cascade Mt trails at 4000'-6000' sea level. Hope this helps.
Rob

Thanks Rob

Mike at Jets R Us said he doesnt have parts for my bike:(

Marc
 
Another option if you want to slow the throttle down is to use a honda trials throttle - look up one for a honda tlr... Les mounted one on my bike back in '01 - I liked it in the tight stuff.

jeff
 
You would have hated my 2006 & 2008 300s Marc. They both had the 2k2 ignitions and 38mm carbs. The 2011 with the 2K3 and 36MM carb is a bit more tame compared to those previous mounts.

There are a lot of great Ideas here but IMHO I would not change the jetting in that bike. It is spot on and with a bit of air screw adjustment as I mentioned it will take a bit of the edge off the initial snap.

I wouldn't regear it either. At least until its time for sprockets and chain. Going back to the 48 from the 49 that's on it now is not going to make that much of a noticeable impact to make it worth it now.

Id get the G2 and concentrate on riding a gear high, lug that thing! Gain confidence and get used to that 2 stroke power. As you mentioned your coming of a 4T and it had been a while since you were on a bike. Not to mention you went out with Frank and Josh who are both getty up and go kind of riders.
I believe you need more seat time. One ride is not enough experience with it to deem you need to change the power characteristic. The harder you push that bike the more it will reward you. Make sure that sag is set for you and do the suspension adjustments I mentioned and I think, things will start to come together buddy.

The new Beta is almost ready, lets get out together soon.
 
Id get the G2 and concentrate on riding a gear high, lug that thing! Gain confidence and get used to that 2 stroke power. ...

The harder you push that bike the more it will reward you. Make sure that sag is set for you and do the suspension adjustments I mentioned ....

Words of wisdom. The first time I rode with Roscoe on a Gas Gas ride in 2012, I tried to ride my 2002 300 on the pipe and a gear too low. I was WHOOPED after 30 miles. Tapped out. Once I discovered third gear and 600-1200 RPM, everything started to make sense. Knock it up a gear, wind out the idle mix screw, and relax. I hated my 2002 300 until I figured out to ride it a gear higher than everything else I had ever ridden prior (small sample size, admittedly).

The next year Gas Gas ride, still on the same fugly 300, I did much better. Until I didn't. But still, I made it out alive, bummed that I couldn't put in the last 10-20 miles because I opened up my radiator (by bending it around the frame).
 
All right you two! Now you are ganging up :D I will do what you suggested Roscoe and go from there. See you guys soon. I am looking forward to seeing that new Beta R. I saw two in front of me this past weekend ;)
 
A second spacer between the reed block and the engine will make power delivery much more linear, a lot like a trials bike, but you will loose some mid and top end power. As mentioned, going a touch richer on the air screw is less dramatic but effective fix.

I learnt at training, counter intuitive though it is, that riding much more aggresively in slick ground conditions increases control over trying to 'feel' for rear wheel grip with very small throttle openings. However, for us mere mortals, plenty of throttle on a 300 through the trees isn't going to end well. For myself, the answer lay in down sizing to a 200, easier to concentrate on riding with the smaller bike bike, instead of fighting for control with the 300.
 
In the real slick conditions I find aggression gets you nowhere. Smooth keeps you flowing, and the best way to achieve this is to still use a lot of throttle, but run a few gears higher than normal and really labour it up. Body language, I guess is still somewhat aggressive, feet on the pegs, head over the bars, but obviously being a lot more cautious of what could bring you undone too. I guess a bit more emphasis on line selection. Adds to the 'smooth'
 
Quick in mud keeps tires clean. I would say best way to think about it is be intelligently aggressive. I personally cannot ride like that but a riding buddy can and it is magnificent the traction he can maintain by riding aggressively. But back to the main question. Seat time is worth it's weight in gold when it comes to bike control.
 
I can relate to your goal. Since this GasGas is the smoothest 2 stroke I have ever had I'm seeing how close I can get it to a 4 stroke-Not that I have ever owned one:) I know I'll never get the over rev but how the power builds continues to improve.
So I was running
Stock cylinder,pipe, and squish (1.9mm), NEDW 4th (Yes this is rich but ran fine and filled in when the Power valve opens) 50 pilot, 175 main when the temperature was 30 F. Ignition soft, heavy FWW, Rekluse, Shortened silencer 4 inches This was really quite good. I have a lot of miles on this set up

I had another head from my 05 that was done for that bike. So I put it on my 2011

Stock cylinder and pipe, 1.6-1.7 squish , NEDW 2, 48 pilot, 172 main, 1mm power valve shim, FWW, Temp 50 F, Shortened silencer 4 inches, Ignition soft and hard (Funny thing is I liked the soft in the open when I was always running in the upper revs but in the single track I went to the hard so when I wanted to clutch it and go it responded faster-I am a 2 stoke guy) After 60 miles I think it is better than my last setup.....Time will tell.

For those non GasGas owners reading this- this thing really hooks up. I am just screwing with it more than anything. I enjoy the chase.

Went for another ride today. The shim and leaning out my jetting really works well. Very strong seamless power. Very easy to transition on and off the power valve because the power valve can hardly be felt. Running the ignition in the hard mode. Bike is fast and smooth. The only thing it doesn't have is great over rev. For what I do I don't need it. If you like the feeling of a 2 stroke hit this is not the solution. This is a 3 stroke solution. My 250 rr Beta feels radical compared to the GasGas. I can ride the Beta if I want the traditional 2 stoke sensation.
 
I am going out on Saturday and I will be trying the air screw to richen it up first. It looks like it may be drier than it has been for the past two months. I will report back on the air screw.
 
I went out this last Saturday for the first time since I posted this thread. I listened and hopefully learned a lot from everyone on this thread. After riding on Saturday, I think I am in love with my 300. The only thing I have done so far is soften the front and rear and fatten it up a bit. Because it is a fire breather and jetting is spot on. I also listened to some of you guys and ran around in 3rd and 4th gear all day long and had a blast!! I am still going to put a G2, but I think that may be it. Especially since spring is here and we will start heading to the mountains and the trails are different and not quite as slimy. Thanks again for all the help.

Marc
 
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