TAYFIX

Yes Jon bike remains in gear with clutch in for starting, one of my friends that rides regularly with me has exceptionally short legs, he was always looking for something to lean against to start his 2012 250 gasser. He has now adapted this technique and loves it, no longer needs to worry about will he be able to start his bike or find something to lean against. I did try this before changing the head but wanted a little less power, not sure I really notice that part. ?

I have fitted a inertia stop and tail light to my bike it works a treat. One I use is X Lite 100 cheap to buy on the bay and last for ages on a charge, just drilled a couple of holes through my mudguard and cable tied it on. I travel on the road with my bike and to satisfy my local Bobby he wanted to see a seat brake light and full size number plate, so I have a jitsie Velcro seat a very flexible number plate that I fix to my rucksack. Luckily he never mentioned a horn.

prep your bike well for each ride and enjoy your riding, I’ve never met another biker that will not help a fellow rider, no matter what type of bike country or language you speak. I’ve noticed I’m late to this post so I presume you have completed your first ride.?

That’s great news your getting to grips with it, I now put it in third gear and roll it backwards slightly when starting, different technique again, it’s even easier to start with low comp head. After rolling back literally just rest your foot on the kickstart (no weight of foot or boot) then quick stroke down with the leg, starts first kick every single time when bike is warm. Feels completely different this way as there seems to be no compression when using this method. I’m really enjoying my 300 now especially knowing I can start the rascal when ever I want. happy Christmas to all, I hope we can all find the allusive Christmas spirit this year, maybe after this pandemic the word will realise how fragile all living things are, and we can all enjoy world peace and plenty of bike riding. ?

Blimey if you’ve noticed that kind of feel already, it will feel even better after the next oil change when the plates have had a good time to absorb the new oil. What was you old oil and how long had it been in the bike? splat shop here you come. ?

Hi Jon, I’ve just sent you a what’s app little video, tried posting it here but even though I kept it short it’s still to large. its nothing rud, it’s bike starting related. ?

Carb settings

Nice, I always liked the white and blue RS200, the dreaded virus I’m sure will hit London hard again bringing lock downs like earlier in the year, I rode my road bike through London and could not believe what I was seeing, it was just like normal, masses of people walking around closely together. It could go on across the world for another year or more, especially if the thing mutates as people catch it more than once. I really hope I’m completely wrong. I’ve been thinking of building a few objects to practice on in my garden, best I fill up my fuel cans in case the petrol stations shut to restrict movement.

Like David soul sang, don’t give up on it baby, has your bike got the S3 head on? If so give the low compression insert a go. Simple to change. Can’t remember if you have had your carb apart, also easy to do, check you float height, needle jet setting, and clean inside throughly. The only way I would swop my Gas Gas for a beta, is if I could swop out the wife for a newer one in the exchange, only joking I love her to bits. did you ever have one of these?

Hi Jon, My 250 was very easy to kick over, but I do really enjoy the the torque of the 300, the extra base gasket and low compression head insert would be my first swop, I’ve not done the base gasket on mine, take your clutch apart and have a look at the plates and clutch basket to find out why your clutch is snappy your clutch should be super smooth,maybe firstly change the fluid for fresh, use a big syringe and reverse bleed it, there easy to work on. I run putonline nano tech trans gp gear oil 380mils using slightly less seems to build less pressure in the box allowing finding gears and neutral better, I found this combination worked perfectly on my older txt, my 300 has Kevlar plates so I may try cheaper Putoline light gear oil as nano tech trans gp is ridiculously expensive. But it cured the drag in my old bike even after setting the clutch pack height correctly. ive also found since putting the low compression insert in my 300 I can now easily push the bike backwards whilst in 3rd gear allowing to be started clutch in and in gear, my bike had so much compression before I found pushing the bike back in gear awfully difficult especially when in slippery conditions. and it would hardly ever start in gear. The piston in my bike is a S3 78.95 I do not know if standard as I’m the second owner. shame your not in Blighty Jon and near me as I would of fettled your bike for you, really hope you get it sorted.

Oddly I put a high compression insert on my 250, but I just could not get my head around how easy my friends 2014 280 txt starts, he tells me it’s got a low compression insert in it, the only gutter is the newer bikes you have to buy a S3 head as well, earlier bikes Have a two piece head allowing just a insert purchase. I bought mine from Splatshop.co.Uk the two brothers that run it are really helpful and extremely efficient. if you can spare £60 I highly recommend it, My right leg has had a beating over the years, I’ve snapped all the ligaments and tendons on different occasions in that leg, so I know what your going through. I’ve broken my back, hospital for three months, then at home in a body cast, All I could think about whilst learning to walk again was what bike am I going to get, I feel if your riding a bike thinking it’s going to hurt you, then it’s definitely time to change it or possibly time to hang your boots up.

If just fitted a low compression head insert and S3 head to my 2020 300 txt, it has changed how my bike starts. It’s now second kick every time, strange the first is almost like a priming stroke. 2nd kick is so easy now with hardly any effort, no longer do I have to get up on the kick start for a massive downwards thrust. I can’t notice any loss in power but do notice the lower compression When starting. I’m sure a serious rider may notice a power loss but for a old git like me that just wants to play it’s perfect. Also had to adjust the mixture screw to one turn out from fully closed, do not over tighten this when you wind it in to fully closed before coming back out to one turn. Apparently the carb should be within 1 to 2 turns out, if either side of this your jetting is incorrect.

Last weekends ridding was cut short as the rear brake failed, it was grabbing the first time I rode it so dismantled the rear calliper and could not believe the amount of crud behind the seals, they were also a bit perished, hard to believe in such a state on a 12 month old bike, anyway new pistons and seals ordered and will fit tomorrow ready for Saturday ride. but starting seemed to work ok with my new technique, shame I can’t get the little video I done on here. I suppose if anyone private pms me with there mobile number or email I could what’s app or mail it to you. as for your carb it’s very easy to strip down and check all the settings.

Thank you for your replies, I stripped the carb completely again yesterday cleaning every thing, I set the float heights according to (Splatshop’s online tutorial for Keihin carbs) put in a NGK BPR5EIX Irdium spark plug, spent a bit of time with the air mixture screw one and a half turns out seems optimum for my bike, HAY PRESTO, I can start the red Spanish ragging beast. I even thought my wife was happy for me as she was waving her arms around shouting, but no, she was not happy at all, I was filling the house up with two stroke smoke, she was shouting dinner is ready, the dog got my dinner , I was greeted with a very happy content dog and angry wife when I finally came into the house. I have also adopted a new Starting technique, get the kicker right to the top as you normally would engaging the starter gear, seems there is enough compression for my 14 stone bulk to quickly kind of get up on the kick start using a fast full body weight downward thrust with no throttle, all done in one quick fluid motion ( NOT balancing wobbling on the kicker before you thrust down) I stop started 10 times in my garden, either 1st or 2nd start was achieved. not sure if all these adjustments were the single fix or just my new starting technique, either way I’m extremely happy and I love the lazy torque the bike gives over my old 250 it rides and reacts much different to my friends 2015 feisty 280 txt proof will be when I’m out in the field, that will be in four days time September 5th 2020 i shall post again with happy or either hot flustered out of breath sweaty news. ???? I’ve done a little video of how well my bike starts now with new technique, but unable to attach it. Maybe someone can help me there as I’m sure it will help others.

Jet tower? I’ve cleaned everything inside the Keihin carb.