[hasslbri]

Well, I finally have some more seat time on the bike. I did do my typical modifications. For starters, I removed the E Start. There really was nothing wrong with it. It worked flawlessly and I even holeshot my first race with it in a lemans (spelling) style start. I just didn't feel the need for it.

I also had the head and carb done by RB Designs, beefed up my radiators, and added flex bars. Other than that it is pretty much stock.

The first race back after mods was a (3 hr) Sioux Falls harescramble. Sioux Valley Cycle Club harescrambles are basically high speed square edged cow pasture with no trees for miles. It is the perfect place for a 450 (wide open). The 3hr is typically a team race but I decided I wanted to ride the Iron Man class (I know this sounds silly to GNCC guys who ride 3 hours every race). It is pretty brutal because the place is soo fast and rough compared to the woods stuff I like to ride.

Race went, holeshot, lead for 1 1/2 hours, give up leave at gas stop, pass back for the lead, and hang on for a win. The bike, in the dry blue groove conditions, worked amazing, esp considering the non two stroke conditions. That's the beauty of a 300. It can find traction typically only a 4 stroke can find. The suspension was excellent on the small chop and larger stuff only bottoming on the most severe G-outs. I had no hints of head shake or anything scary. (don't run steering dampers cause I hate the feel) The bike tracked straight and true all afternoon even when I was tired.

My next race was a D23 Harescramble (Minnesota). Again the course was dry, silty, and rocky with a bunch of tight off chamber woods sections linked together with a bunch of fast field sections. I got off to a 4th place start and worked my way up from there. I had a nasty endo on the moto track on lap one, but never gave up the lead.

In both races, I could not have asked for a better engine. With the carb and head mod the bike runs so crisp on bottom and revs out really really well. Another change I made was going to a 48 tooth rear sprocket. Stock is a 50 and that is way too slow for a 300 even in the super tight nasty stuff. It just requires you to shift more.

Suspension, as I originally thought, is very very good stock. I just had two issues that will need to get corrected. The valving and spring rates seem very close for my size and riding style. (165 lbs and tight woods A rider) The issues I have with it are mainly to do with the new 48 Zokes. First issue is they do not settle into the stroke like I would like. While they are nice and plush, they don't settle enough to really let the bike drop into turns and rail. The front just rides too high for my liking. Talking to a Drew (WER), he had heard the same thing. Everyone he had spoke to was running the preload all the way out and still having the the same issue. I might need a some modification to that part of the fork.

The other issue with the fork was more of an annoyance. When i would wheelie into whoop faces or jump faces there is a bit of a clunk to them. Almost like the main spring is to short when the fork is fully extended. That issue you would think would help solve the other issue but again it was just something I could feel only every once and a while and I do not think it was a major issue.

Other than those small issues I could not be happier with the bike. It was already excellent bike straight out of the box and it only got better with the standard modifications.

Brian