The grass is never greener, Even after Third Try

[twowheels]

I tend to think riding a 300 off the pipe all day to prevent getting bitten would be less fun than using more of a 250 or most of a 200.

Raced a 300 this weekend for the first time. Granted it was a GP style (as opposed to tight woods) HS, but opening it up was fun, fun, fun. In what tight stuff we did have I was just able to lug through and worry about picking a line rather than being in exactly the right spot in the power or getting the right gear. We've got an 80 mile trail ride Saturday on much of the Jack Pine trail, so I'll be able to tell you how it works in the woods for a (traditionally) 250 rider soon.

 

[Brian VT]

I dont always want a trials tire. They are flat prone...

???? I've been using them for 5+ years everywhere except Sandy Lane. Never flatted.
Many flat fronts. Never my trials tire, though. (knock on wood) I run it at @12 lbs. fwiw.

 

[Ed Ventura]

???? I've been using them for 5+ years everywhere except Sandy Lane. Never flatted.
Many flat fronts. Never my trials tire, though. (knock on wood) I run it at @12 lbs. fwiw.

I have flattend 2 times during events. Both times right at 10 psi Bridgstone ultra heavy duty tubes. I found much more air and the you loose the benit of the trials tire. Maybe tireballs in a trials tire are the answer.. I like them in my regular tires.

ED

 

[GMP]

Mitas with MSR Heay Duty tubes, never a flat, even at 7-8 PSI. There is a problem with those ultra heavy B'Stone tubes. While the tire is locked to the rim with the rimlock, the excessive weight and subsequent inertia overcomes the friction of the inside of the tire, causing it to shift within the tire and tear the stem. Often it happens in the braking directon, from the instant lock of the wheel which happens with a trials tire. I flattened several, went back to slightly lighter MSR tubes and problem disappeared.

A 250 with a head mod, G2 #200 cam, and a 12-14 oz weight on a 2K-2 is great in the rocks and in general really. I'd keep and ride my 250 in these conditions, and ride the 200 in the tight south jersey events or when its wet and slick and power is not your friend. This is where the 250fs work real well, less is more. Thinking back, this is exactly what Fred Hoess used to do, whether it was a GG or a Husky.

 

[GasGas]

What does one gain with the head mod? More power and better mileage? Or is there more?

 

[GMP]

More efficient combustion from a tighter more consistent squish clearance across the width of the band. This translates into better low end, easier jetting, and better milage.

 

[skid jackson]

That was fast, whats the story? Back to a small bore? .

I don't know what the story is .. sometimes you get on a bike and it just plain works for you and sometimes it don't. I feel better on the small bores ... Before I would spend the time chasing set up ... I don't have the patience for that anymore ... plus I have a kawi 250f set up for moto that I took in the woods and thought it worked pretty well. I took the husky on a turkey run about a month ago and the bike ripped and was a blast to ride. between that and the 250f ... I don't need a third .... like I said though everyone that rides it likes it!!

 

[eff]

I really like the 200 , Last year I spent most of the year on a 250. Sometimes late in the day I was trying to short shift it around the hit. I never tried a G2 on a 200. The Wheel spin in the rocks is what I hope to get away from. A 200 with a trials tire in the rocks Is awsome, but I dont always want a trials tire. They are flat prone, and to stiff with a bib.

ED

Ed,

I put a 14oz FWW on my 250 and use the G2. The hit is real smooth and works great. Something to think about.

I also just went to an IRC VE33 on the rear from a trials tire. It worked great in Pachaug and didn't miss the trials tire at all.

 

[GMP]

Well it is a lot of motor compared to a 250F or a 144. Quite a versitile bike though, and probably one of the easiest to set up. Mine is set up just like Ed's, plus the head, and I have several wheels with S12s for sand, MT-16 for general racing, and Trials tire for trail riding or more rocky courses.

 

[hannesd]

I always wind up with a 250 because you can't go wrong with one. In most cases, not to much, not too little. Plus they seem a lot eaiser to jet and set up. I still get the bug to try another size though. I'd really like to ride a newer 200. I tend to think riding a 300 off the pipe all day to prevent getting bitten would be less fun than using more of a 250 or most of a 200.

exactly, since i'm starting to notice that i'm not nearly using half of the power of my EC 300 with 2K2 ignition (+ 12oz FWW), i tend to wanna try for a 200...
just can't get enough money for my '00 300, not even if i sell it in parts and bits.
gassers market in my country (belgium) is not that big.
i would be loosing to much money.
sad sad sad...

 

[twowheels]

exactly, since i'm starting to notice that i'm not nearly using half of the power of my EC 300 with 2K2 ignition (+ 12oz FWW), i tend to wanna try for a 200...
just can't get enough money for my '00 300, not even if i sell it in parts and bits.
gassers market in my country (belgium) is not that big.
i would be loosing to much money.
sad sad sad...

Maybe a topic for another thread ... but how much would one expect to get for a 12 year old dirt bike? Five years old? One year old?

 

[Ed Ventura]

Maybe a topic for another thread ... but how much would one expect to get for a 12 year old dirt bike? Five years old? One year old?

My Hope/Expectation is to get 5200 for my one model year/ 5 month old bike with 1200 worth of accesories.That is close to 70% of what a new one would go for today same model year. Any bikes that I have bought 2 years old then raced for 2 /3 years I really dont expect much.

Ed