Krieg
New member
I finally got to ride the new GG today! Mother Nature cooperated in Chester, SC and we loaded up the bikes and rode at TNT Motorsports for 5 hours. 60 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Couldn't have been better for a southern Winter ride!
I'll cut to the chase and boil my first impression down to one statement: "Wow, this is exactly what I remembered about riding my buddy's '08 300!"
Now, what does that mean?...
New good stuff I've noticed on the '11 model:
I'll withhold most jetting comments for a later post since I was riding in "break-in" mode with a 40:1 mixture. However, I'm 90% sure the stock needle will be replaced. I'm also "working through" a blubbery off-idle situation that is pretty annoying. So far, I'm down one pilot from stock and 1 clip leaner on the needle... with slight improvement. Stay tuned.
One definite con... the rear brake lever position needs work. Too high in relation to the footpeg. It just ain't where your brain thinks it should be. Thankfully the front brake works so well!
And one absolutely inexcusable blunder... the rear tire is absolutely, without a doubt, the biggest POS abomination I've ever seen on a new bike! At first, I thought it was me. But after the third ride, through various terrains ranging from rocks to roots to ruts to NC clay mud... this tire simply refused to bite into anything. Given the overall outstanding handling characteristics of this bike, I can't wait to feel what it's like with a real rear tire. Spain must be getting some major discounts from Metzeler.
Suspension worked well with stock settings. But it needs to be broken-in to give a fair assessment. Again, you have to remember I'm an old fat guy who will never ride this bike close to its capability.
Like I said, stay tuned. This was just a shakedown cruise. The bike needs to be broken-in to give a 100% fair assessment. I also plan to compare the XC to my '09 Husky WR 300.
I'll cut to the chase and boil my first impression down to one statement: "Wow, this is exactly what I remembered about riding my buddy's '08 300!"
Now, what does that mean?...
- The best handling feel of any woods bike I've ever ridden.
- VERY predictable handling characteristics... confidence inspiring... bike handles like it has a direct wire into your brain.
- Bike feels much lighter than it is.
New good stuff I've noticed on the '11 model:
- Best front brakes I've ever ridden. Bar none. No grab, smooth engagement, predictable progression, light pull. I hardly used the rear brakes.
- Best clutch I've ever ridden. Bar none. Buttery smooth, light pull, perfect engagement. I've honestly never felt a better clutch.
- E-start worked flawlessly. Very nice feature for old fat guys like me. And yes, it started in one or two kicks with the young man lever!
I'll withhold most jetting comments for a later post since I was riding in "break-in" mode with a 40:1 mixture. However, I'm 90% sure the stock needle will be replaced. I'm also "working through" a blubbery off-idle situation that is pretty annoying. So far, I'm down one pilot from stock and 1 clip leaner on the needle... with slight improvement. Stay tuned.
One definite con... the rear brake lever position needs work. Too high in relation to the footpeg. It just ain't where your brain thinks it should be. Thankfully the front brake works so well!
And one absolutely inexcusable blunder... the rear tire is absolutely, without a doubt, the biggest POS abomination I've ever seen on a new bike! At first, I thought it was me. But after the third ride, through various terrains ranging from rocks to roots to ruts to NC clay mud... this tire simply refused to bite into anything. Given the overall outstanding handling characteristics of this bike, I can't wait to feel what it's like with a real rear tire. Spain must be getting some major discounts from Metzeler.
Suspension worked well with stock settings. But it needs to be broken-in to give a fair assessment. Again, you have to remember I'm an old fat guy who will never ride this bike close to its capability.
Like I said, stay tuned. This was just a shakedown cruise. The bike needs to be broken-in to give a 100% fair assessment. I also plan to compare the XC to my '09 Husky WR 300.
I may try a JD kit, although I haven't seen a whole lot of reports about JD's GG kits.
