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Trevor b
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 77
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« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2011, 09,44:02 AM » |
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Pete, the problem with the suspension on my GG wasn't that it was too firm it was quite the opposite. The fork was undersprung and the initial travel was underdamped causing it to blow thru the first part of the stroke leaving it doing most its work in a spikey midstroke. I had the fork revalved to try to firm up the inital travel and reduce the midstroke spike but with little success. I think it actually needed heavier springs as well as more revalve work. I know another guy who had his forks revalved 5 times and still wasn't happy with them, he moved on to a crf250x and has been happy since, pretty handy rider too. There a couple of guys on DBW who replaced their GG's entire front end with one from a crf in order to get their front end working satisfactorily. Mine was an '05 with 45mm shivers but it seems the later ones with Sachs forks also have issues. Darren White at Dirtworks machines up his own parts to get these working, he evidently can get the shivers working pretty well too. I know what its like to ride firmly suspended bikes, a number of years ago I had a couple of road reg'd KX250's, left the suspension standard on them, didnt respring or revalve just softened them off on the clickers. They were a little bit harsh in the snotty stuff but were surprisingly good. Yes the WR is softly suspended, almost mushy actually but its surprising how well it works. I found I was bottoming mine pretty heavily in the open stuff, not just off erosion jumps but also hitting stuff hard. When i blew the fork seals i had Dirtworks revalve them while he had them apart, no more bottoming but still regularly use every mm of travel. The thing with the WR is that even when you've bottomed metal to metal it is still 100% predictable, no deflection, no kicking. I have a copy of ADB from 2008 which has a shootout of 5 bikes of various capacity including the EC300 and the WR250. 5 riders of various skill levels from trailrider to clubman to pro rode the bikes around a timed enduro loop, every rider was faster on the WR than the GG. The TE510 set the fastest time tho'.  Alistar, cant beleive you've had such a bad run from a WR, definately must be a Friday bike, these things are usually bulletproof. Hope i haven't put you off a GG too much, they are a good bike, probably one the best motors I've owned and I've had heaps. Probably best to get a ride on one and make up your own mind. Good luck with your decision, its fun choosing. Cheers, Trev |
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Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
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« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2011, 11,46:14 AM » |
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Trevor- I wish my bike was as reliable as yours! First ride yesterday after getting the valves worked on its now blowing smoke so im ready for a new bike this week! As for the valve problem i took the bike to Main Jet in Thomastown (nicely recommended by Matt Richmond) and i told Lee about the shocking history Ive had with it and it had him stunned. I told him to get to the bottom of it and he checked the carbi float, the timing as well as anything else that could lead to poohouse valves and he could not find a thing out of whack. He said even with poor maintenance the the valves should last 2500ks before needing to get re-cleared but the bottom line is he reckons ive got the 'friday bike'. I did test a ktm300 last year and i really liked it except for the vibration but those who have them say its easy to get use to. Will- I had a new cr80 for a 2 years when i was a kid and that was an animal! I experienced the nasty end of power band a number of times. I also tested the ktm300 last year as well as taking Zeb up on his offer to swap bikes for approximately a 10k flat section on the way out to the fuel stop at the HCR so as to answer your question i do have 2-stroke experience. I also spoke to Dave and Colin at riders edge and they both said the resale value of the ec300 isnt all that great but the 300exc holds their value more. Dave has a ktm300 himself. By the way guys thanks for all your input much appreciated. If youve got anything else to say dont hold back  Al please do not take offence to this, but you are only a small guy, so if I were you, I would buy a KTM 250, but this is only my opinion. I have riden Frankies 300 a few times, and its a lot of bike in the slow slippery stuff. One of our more experienced club members only purchased a Berg 250 and he reckons it has enough. But at the end of the day it's up to you, and you are the one who has to live with the bike for a few years, not me or anyone else. Good luck with what ever you decide to do. Will |
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
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Alistar B
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« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2011, 08,19:23 AM » |
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I tested an ec300 this morning at K&J Thomas in Whittlesea and it is a nice machine to ride. Real punchy power which you would expect from a 2-stroke and it handled with ease. I know its hard to get a real indication from riding a bike in a paddock but i did like it though. Trevor whos the main dude selling them wasnt there today but i will be intouch with him later in the week. I then went onto Evolution motorcycles in Epping and got some pricing on the ktm300 but never realised that there is a bit of work that needs to be done before it gets handed over to you and the amount of 'essential extras'.
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Alistar B
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« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2011, 08,21:38 AM » |
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and will i was about 67kg 6 months ago but for some reason the scales this morning told me 79kg  |
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 830
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« Reply #19 on: April 18, 2011, 08,51:18 AM » |
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That's the extra "Talent" you have aquired form riding?
Al
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seano
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1388
BERGALICIOUS
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« Reply #20 on: April 18, 2011, 08,51:45 AM » |
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and will i was about 67kg 6 months ago but for some reason the scales this morning told me 79kg you,ll have to use wills userer name soon |
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It is nice to be important.
But it is more important to be nice.
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Zeb Colic
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 785
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« Reply #21 on: April 18, 2011, 10,08:53 AM » |
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I tested an ec300 this morning at K&J Thomas in Whittlesea and it is a nice machine to ride. Real punchy power which you would expect from a 2-stroke and it handled with ease. I know its hard to get a real indication from riding a bike in a paddock but i did like it though. Trevor whos the main dude selling them wasnt there today but i will be intouch with him later in the week. I then went onto Evolution motorcycles in Epping and got some pricing on the ktm300 but never realised that there is a bit of work that needs to be done before it gets handed over to you and the amount of 'essential extras'.
Those essential extras are a pain in the ass but if he wants to sell a bike bad enough you can get them cheap as a complete package , best time to get them is when you are buying your bike .... go the stroker . |
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SHE ASKED ME TO WISPER SOMETHING REALLY SEXY INTO HERE EAR AND I WISPERED " BRRRAAAAP "
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Frankie-boy
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 747
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« Reply #22 on: April 18, 2011, 10,15:12 AM » |
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and will i was about 67kg 6 months ago but for some reason the scales this morning told me 79kg I wouldn't worry about that AL, you are now the weight you should be. But from now on, you'll have to watch what you eat, or you'll end up like me or Will |
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Falling off doesn't hurt, it's the sudden stop that does the damage.
Back on the 2 smoker, 2011 KTM 300
!988 KTM 350.
06 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Road
05 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Track
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Alistar B
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« Reply #23 on: April 18, 2011, 12,27:55 PM » |
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Al and Seano- i believe its called inner core rider strength  . Zeb- the price the salesman gave me said that there is no way they would ever sell it for that price they would do a better deal but was good for a rough indication. he also told me theyre selling the 300exc like hot cakes lately depending how true it is or not but whatever bike i choose im gonna shop around for a good deal though. |
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Zeb Colic
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 785
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« Reply #24 on: April 18, 2011, 12,59:35 PM » |
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Al and Seano- i believe its called inner core rider strength . Inner core rider WHAT ..... yes we all know you wont get ripped , us older blokes just worry about you younger members its a parent thing I think .. Go gettem knackers   |
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SHE ASKED ME TO WISPER SOMETHING REALLY SEXY INTO HERE EAR AND I WISPERED " BRRRAAAAP "
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Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
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« Reply #25 on: April 18, 2011, 10,35:38 PM » |
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Al and Seano- i believe its called inner core rider strength . Inner core rider WHAT ..... yes we all know you wont get ripped , us older blokes just worry about you younger members its a parent thing I think .. Go gettem knackers Uw a parent thing Zeb, talk 4 yourself, we just dont want Alistair to get stuck with a ride he may regret buying later on. Take it all onboard Al but at the end of the day you buy what feels right to you. Will |
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
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Ken R
Committee 2013/2014
Posts: 699
Himalayas gateway, only 16,000ft to go.
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« Reply #26 on: April 19, 2011, 01,35:11 AM » |
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Big bore 2 strokes are great, just get em jetted to suit your riding style and then its all about throttle control. The KTM has the adjustable power valve to further refine your riding experience how about the EC?
With the suspension I'm guessing there would be more places to go to for correct revalving etc of the KTM but these new bikes have so much built in adjustment that unless you are way above or below the standard weight range you should be able to make it good for you with a methodical approach.
Definately get a day in the bush before you buy and before you go out adjust the clickers to out of the box as per hand book and set up the ride height to suit you, this can make a big difference to the handling if it's not set up.
Enjoy!!
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SEX - It's OK, but nothing like the real thing!!
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Brad Somers
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« Reply #27 on: April 19, 2011, 09,19:08 PM » |
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Hi Al. Just to throw another cat in amongst the pidgeons there is also the TM 2 strokes with the torque controller(which I have seen and is a pretty cool thing.) Anyhow good luck with trying to choose! Here is a link to a 300cc enduro shootout dirt action did. http://www.dirtaction.com.au/_webapp_306270/300cc_Enduro_Comparo |
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Grandpa
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 163
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« Reply #28 on: April 28, 2011, 11,11:37 PM » |
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G'day Al, If you havent bought something by then.................... have a squirt on my crf250x at Zeb's level 1 in a few weeks time.
I'm not saying "buy a honda" but you might decide that the power / weight etc of a ( well set up) 250 four banger suits your riding. I've ridden the 300 ktm a bit & it's a good thing, but I just don't feel confident on ém when things get tight or gnarly. (plenty of others absolutely love ém, so its probably just my short legs !!!)
I don't know who your Yamaha repair people are, but they sound like drongos ! WR's are about the most reliable dirt bike on the planet ! If you want to persevere with the Yammy, give the blokes at Christensens Motorcycles ( Waragul) a call, These blokes have been racing , riding,& running top level race teams with WR"s for years. Ask for Steve Cooper.
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Grandpa
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 163
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« Reply #29 on: April 28, 2011, 11,19:20 PM » |
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