nice thanks for sharing!!

 

Hey, thats MY motto

 

The 300 was interesting and I'd like more time on one sometime to get a better feel for it, but I was happy to turn it back over to its owner and get back on my 450 EXC. I know a lot has to do with chassis setup, though. One of my friends has an '07 450 EXC exactly like mine but when we switch off, his feels like a totally different bike and I'm not comfortable on it. A while back I spent a lot of time adjusting the bar position just so, the shock sag, and so forth to suit me, and I feel at home on it now. So when I switch off to even the same model year bike it feels weird. So I'm not surprised that the 300 didn't feel "great" at first, it would take a while before I could better appreciate it, I think, not to mention learning some new skills, that ride on the KDX200 a while back was the first I've been on a 2 stroke for over 25 years. I would have a lot to learn on a 2t.

Maybe take this as an opportunity to pick up a nice used 300 XC for a good price. My friend with the '05 300 that I rode got it pretty cheap and it's loaded with goodies, steering damper, two pipes, pegs, two gas tanks, and so on. Well taken care of too. Note sure what the original owner replaced it with.

 

No fair FM,

That's not a true Bubba smoker but a gen-u-wine Big Green Egg, which is Japanese for drool on your vittles. Have a buddy with a full size Egg, nice piece of plunder but a bit pricey. Still, I want one as my delayed personal house warming gift. Many good groceries.

Looks like a nice ride but you reeled me in by saying "ribs"... Plus I'm no fan of sugar, too old and fat to ride that hard. Gimme some nice hard packed single track and a cold six pack of Yuengling to call me home. Oh yeah, and some ribs...

 

lol....yes that is my big green egg

You must know your smokin and grillin.....at first my bud gave me a little static about putting it in his trailer. But I reminded him of the smoked corned beef sandwiches I brought along last ride....he was like ok put it in there.

 

Sorry to talk too much about the orange in this green forum, but it sounds like the 300 can be a very versatile bike. Especially if you can get one plated. Is that the XC W, with the wide ratio 6 speed? I think the day I trade mine, it is gunna be for somethin like the 300.

On the general dirtbike side though, and about your recent post. It just reminds me how I really am not a picky rider when it comes to suspension setup. I think I am very likely depriving my body of a properly setup bike, and the day I do suck it up, and send er to the suspension shop I will most likely be happy.
But I'm the kind of rider that just gets on and goes, and the most thing I notice are the power delivery, and clutching and response and wheelyability. I feel like a dumb one that dosn't care, or pay much attention to the dampening of the shocks, or anything related really.. Just kinda get on and ride.
Even lever placement, or bar highth or angle or width.. I never have a preference really. Where I notice some people are VERY sensitive to their suspension and placement of levers and bars.
Anyone else more like me? And just ride it and dosn't notice the details of the bike/suspension/levers?

 

Regarding suspension, I'm no expert or anything, but I noticed a big difference in handling when I properly set up the sag which is basically just getting the proper spring for your weight and setting up the pre-load on it to level out the bike so it has proper geometry with you on it. Big difference for sure.

And I worked with my bars and levers, rear brake height, how far to press before it engages, etc, a good bit to get them where I'm comfortable standing on the pegs and cornering and stuff like that. I even put in a stiffer return spring on the rear brake so I could feel it better through my boot. I used to not care about that stuff, but I'm finding that I can ride better if I spend a little time to set it up for me. I can still get on any bike and ride, but I'm not that comfortable, miss shifts, etc, until I get used to it. I was instantly more comfortable on the KTM 300cc than on the KDX200, though, because there are a lot of similarities between the chassis ergos of my bike and the 300, I'm talking bars, levers, gear shift, brake, etc. The steering is a lot different and quicker on the 300, though.

 

I know you're for sure right. I just really haveto start paying attention to this stuff.. I'll probably enjoy riding even more.. If that is possible, but also be less fatigued I can only imagine.