On a lighter note, came across a greeting, developed with social distancing in mind, and which trials riders, with their good balance skills, would adapt to. "The foot shake". Persons are using the knuckle bump, and other greetings keeping their distanceing in mind. The foot shake fits well into trials riders good balanceing abilities.
Noticed the Gas Gas dealer I use, in Oregon State, has anounced 2020 models. My 2017 doesn't need replacing, but good to see KTM is working toward keeping Gas Gas trials alive.
Washington state, USA, has reopened off road trails, which includes trials areas, but continues to ban group events, so some progress in our part of the country and a big part of maintaining sanity.
During the winter, with no area open, I ride 10 to 15 minutes in the driveway, figure eights, full lock turns, static balance, may look nuts to the neighbors, but keeps the jets clean, and only mix the gas 1/2 liter at a time. Keep it fresh. Have mostly gone back to this with the pandemic, but do have a fellow trials bud who has several acres of property and have been out to his personal trials sections. But can not count on this.
Dealers have crated and shipped the last two machines friends have purchased. Knowing a reputable dealer has worked well as dealers are not close in this corner of the USA.
I'm sure this has helped them with the pandemic close down
Gas Gas seems as reliable as any of the brands. My 2017 has needed nothing, friends ride the Montesa 4RT and Vertigo and Sherco. We have no local dealer, so we all order parts online. I recently rode a 2019 Gas Gas 125 TXT racing and was impressed with how good a 125 is. Don't pass up on any of the engine sizes if you see a good one you can try.
Yes the rubber piece circled in the picture fits on the carb and the airbox boot fits over it. The plate you mentioned slides over the airbox boot and unless you took the boot off the airbox is still there. It's the backing plate for the air filter metal mount in the air box.
Those are vent openings, usually they have nothing on the fitting or tubes that run under the carb. Connecting them would block the venting. The split may have been intentional to alow venting.
What is available here in Washington, is very different from the UK and other areas where trials has an old and active history. If you live in the Seattle area, more trials will show up in the Seattle area. With this virus shutdown, thing are on hold for the Washington club. The Puget Sound Trialers, but a good group to contact, as lately used trials bikes often are sold without hitting Craigslist or adds.
Thanks again, what a friendly and helpful bunch you are! I will have a tinker with it and see what conclusion i come to, then will report back.
Very intrigued that a few of you suggest to lean out the oil to fuel ratio, against the manuals recommendation!
Less oil, richer fueling, more oil, leaner fueling. Best to stick with the recommended mix if jets are the ones supplied by the factory. A lower flash point oil will produce less sponge for most riders.
syspig, has returned to the Pacific Northwest, USA, with his Vertigo 200, after spending several weeks in the warmer Southwest. Several of the local trialers have gotten to throw a leg over it, both 4RT owners. Their opinions have been positive, but had not made any decisions to sell their 4RTs. syspig as reviewed in his post continues to sing it's praises. I hope to get a try on it in the next couple weeks.
Found a OEM parts source. www.gasgaspartsguy.com with the OEM silencer for the 2017 contact 280 listed for retail $500.99/ $450.89. Did not check the price on the OEM foot peg.
Have not used the seat, and don't intend to, on mine. Seems the dealers are in limbo with the KTM buy. Bought mine from a long time trusted friend who is dealer and took on Gas Gas 3 years ago. Even if he loses the Gas Gas dealership, he will still support us who have them.
Here in the northwest corner of the northwest USA, the whole business of motorcycles is just enough to support one dealer. He sells several makes including KTM and also Honda. He has no interest in trials and does not seem aware that Honda Montesa has a world class trials machine. He really likes KTM, but I can bet he will not want to add trials machines under the Gas Gas name. Right now there does not seem to be any answers to who will be a Gas Gas dealer and the few dealers nation wide seem to be just trying to sell off what they have.
I have 2017 GG 250 Contac, not the e-start. Have probably put more than 100 hours on it. Has needed nothing other than a couple oil changes. I did change the fork oil, but it was pretty clean, not the usual dark from break-in. Also put a Dunlop D803GP on it in place of stock Pirelli. Like the bigger gas tank, the suspension is nothing to brag about, but works fine for my 180 lb, and basic skill level. Mine has the Dellorto 26 on it and the idle jet needed a bit of adjustment to run good, and smooth. Jim Snell has bunches of Gasgas videos on YouTube from his past being the US distributor. Lots of trials dealers list parts and plastic for Gasgas. Jitsie makes nice fenders that I replaced the rear with after a fall. Hope this helps with your decision.
Trials in the future.
in General Trials Talk
Posted
On a lighter note, came across a greeting, developed with social distancing in mind, and which trials riders, with their good balance skills, would adapt to. "The foot shake". Persons are using the knuckle bump, and other greetings keeping their distanceing in mind. The foot shake fits well into trials riders good balanceing abilities.
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