featsupppp

The video makes it sound like KTM will introduce a GasGas trials powered by KTM by model year 2021. I think that's pretty exciting. I want one now!

I just run mine without the thermostat, so its on all the time. Seems to be fine. Let the hate begin!

There was a local trials Saturday but my Gas Gas water pump went out on Wednesday, so I used my spare trials bike to ride it. Its a 1995 Fantic Section. I bought it in 1996 used but I was unable to get it to run right, so it just sat in my garage. When started it acted way too lean, then even when jetted right, after about twenty minutes the same problem started. I recently finally found out that the cooling was not working because the "radiator cap" provided no pressure. I bought a cap for cheap on eBay off a street bike to test this theory. Its ugly, but it worked. The Dellorto needles I found were not correct for the bike, tuning wise, and I ended up using a Mikuni needle that fit in the Dellorto. The front brake had puked so rather than try to rebuild it, I bought a caliper-hose-lever-master-cylinder complete assembly off Amazon for 35 bucks. The brake assembly was not made for Fantic so I made a small aluminum adapter plate to get it on. Other things I have done to the bike is: put a doubler on the kickstand so it actually works. Geared it down a little with a bigger rear sprocket (probably not needed,) Used a 1996 seat and rear fender mount (metal!) Put an extension on the tiny rear brake lever. It has "custom" lever/hand protectors (I've had too many fingers broken by the end of the handlebar when crashing). I put heat reflective tape on the radiator hose where it is right next to the muffler header. My plan was to use it for a trail bike so I put an enduro headlight on it and a KTM 300 seat and rear fender. It has a street-legal license plate and tail light that I have not mounted yet. It ran fine the entire trials event Saturday and was lots of fun. I am 6' 2" so the seat was no problem. Here are some pictures of it.

That picture of the new KTM Trials is a ray of hope. It looks like they are keeping the power valve on this engine. They made a big mistake by taking the power valve off of the FreeRide. It is way low on power compared to anything else KTM makes. My Fantic Section has a power valve and I like it.

My fan died yesterday in my 2006 TXT Pro after oiling it. I think the oil must have gotten into the brushes. But the motor shaft bearing was toast anyway. I ordered a replacement but I had an upcoming ride and did not want to wait. I had just received a $49 SPAL 4" pusher fan from EBay that was going onto my KTM 300. I made a temporary fix by cutting out the supports for the fan motor on the shroud and wedging in the SPAL motor, fan and all. The wiring connector was exactly the one needed for the Gas Gas. So I added a few zip ties to additionally hold it in place. It fit onto the bike just fine and works great.

Where's the fun in that?

Here is a quick test you can try to see if reduced trail will improve your bike's steering. Take off the front wheel and swap the fork tubes. Put the axle mounts behind the fork tubes. Remount the wheel. I had a 1971 Kawasaki Bighorn that had forks that allowed you to change the axle position. Moving the axle back made it steer more like a trials bike. Google it or look here. You could also raise the tubes in the triple clamps to get back to the same height, because the axle will now be lower.