uhoh7

the one view that looks alot like my 300, t-clamps and bar clamps. check out the guard on the front sprocket:

Frankly, I think it is a reasonable complaint. I build alot of computers, and I've seen many fans. Some are loud, others silent--- same size. The GG fan does not need to be so noisy---the other bikes are proof of this. Road tests of the GG should mention this fact---and us GG lovers should complain about it more. Maybe they will wake up, fix the fan, and give us a good long ride kit in the bargain.

The GG rep for overheating comes from the fact that once it gets real hot, it will keep getting hot till you replace the o-rings. In the SSDT what can happen is the rad gets clogged by mud and the rider does not catch it in time. I think what happened to me is that the thermostat was slow to come on or the water level got below it-- I did not catch it. Then once I tried to change the orings, I did not seat them right--it can be tricky, and the problem persisted. I lived with it for awhile--in the process my cylinder started getting ugly with score marks. Now this thing NEVER left me in the backcountry---I would just let it cool, add water, and put out. Last time with one ring stuck. So I sent it in to langcourt for a nikasil coat matched to a new piston with .06 clearance. Back together I was still having some issues, so I put the fan on a manual switch. Any climbs, I turn it on. Also added overflow so I could tell easy. With the overflow tank, if it gets hot, you stop the motor for 5 minutes, and it sucks all the fluid back in OR often you can just turn on the fan and it will cool back down on the trail. The other issue, which I also had, was a worn water pump shaft (VERY common), which would not let pressure build in the system--and then some water would squirt in the oil. YOu get a water pump kit, and watch the video--easy fix. Today my 300 will stay cool on climbs where my other bike, with it's fancy aftermarket radiators, starts boiling over. In fact despite many big climbs I have never boiled over when the fan was on---since I got it all sorted finally. These were climbs where I used to add water several times in the past. Now if you REALLY want to get serious about staying cool: I haven't put them on yet. The two piece Raga head holds more water than stock, and the GMX rad cools beeter than stock. That's the setup the GGUK team is using at the SSDT on their 300s. I do know there is a 280 raga head at TRIALSPARTSUSA. The radiator must be ordered form the UK. The 4s are cool but nothing rips like a good running GG. He she was almost new: by the end of her first season:

The O-rings in your 280 head are shot and your thermostat may be dodgy. (check the color of your oil too--waterpump shaft.) Replace Orings and turn your fan on manually, you will not overheat. My bike 300txt used to act like yours. Now it never overheats--you can drive it at 50 uphill on two-track, it doesn't care. I used to think there was no way to fix it (overheating), like you. Now I know the bike does not need to overheat. That said, the 4 RT is great by all accounts, except it's fat. 20LBS heavier that your 280. Also I use a small overflow tank, which works really well in case I forget to turn my fan on (I prefer manual switch) The 280 cools better than my 300, but one can also upgrade to RAGA head and SSDT GMX radiator.

There are two GG fan whines....... If it's shrill, the fan bearings are dry...starting and stopping the fan will often fix it (there are several ways), but some will squeal untill replaced. Then there's the regular whine, which seems to vary between bikes, and with the age of the fan. Ever since I took my plastic rad guard off, mine seems quieter, but that may not be the reason. It's a pretty new fan, but still can go into SQUEAL mode.

Fun to watch, even without the trials bikes. TY for link, Sir

ones pictured are the GG branded S3s. No difference, I was told.

one possiblity: Jitsie 5.5 bars, S3 clamps moved forward, 20mm riser

S3 over 20mm risers

They, whoever they are, are blind to the american market. "The Montesa COTA 4RT will be fully equipped with a complete on-road kit, including front and rear lights, turn indicators, speedometer, horn, steering lock and license plate bracket, that allows it to be ridden legally on public roads. These components have also been designed for easy detachment by customers who wish to pursue more competitive off-road-only applications." If that were true in the USA, and the bike came with a good long ride kit, and was available through Honda dealers, it could sell in the thousands anyway. Based on how they stare longingly at my 300txt at the trialhead, MTB'rs could be interested. It's a low impact, hi-performance backcountry bike. It's a competition trial machine. You get both!

here's machalooney on his GG w/ full face, last weekend... http://picasaweb.google.com/csvp07/Bonanza...O-y86r1h4aS6gE# Idaho still has a lot of places to ride.....

280 trials motor? machalooney on his own wheelchair

I blame it all on the AMA minimum weights regulations. That bike in the vid, 07 250sx, box stock, is illegal to ride pro ama because it's too light-- several pounds lighter than a crf250f, but on tight trails it's still a pig. I think my 1976 RM250 weighed about the same. Trail-ready, with steering dampner, kickstand, big tank, skidplate (and that one has bigger radiators), without fuel it's about 210 lbs. The serious enduro bikes, xc, and xwc are 15-20 lbs more. Low speed handling is appalling---and there's always the wonderfull slow highsides--the tall seats mean you cannot catch it on a sidehill with the downhill foot, so you bail, then race over and bench press the whole thing before the gas all spills out. 500 calories in about 2 minutes. a 300txt is awesome on the tight stuff, and fun on any single track. For me it's hard on my neck and lower back--they get sore past 30mins continuous fast riding. In a trial you are on and off so much it's not such an issue. Then there's the range issue. I've got a 4.5 litre aftermarket tank, but I still have to be carefull past 40 miles. You can pack fuel of course, but the camelbackpack starts to get pretty heavy. We have to carry clothes, tools, food, 2 liters of water, then you throw gas in there too.....the bike is still light but you are not so light, hehe. I wish GG had nice tank/seat combo like the betas have. That's a downhill bmx helmet. I just ordered some stiffer springs, hehe, you can see why. Then, up till now, I've had to watch mine like a hawk on big climbs. It will p*** the water out in about 30 secs and by the time you notice it's already knocking--8000 ft on a hot day. Then you learn all about how how to fit o-rings. I will say this: it's never left me out there. Let it cool, put water in, and even if the o-ring is toast, it will start and I can tiptoe out. I've had it with that, and I'm adding a GMX rad and Raga head.

What I want to know: what happens when you toss a cup of water on it? I mostly ride my gg in the backcountry, and a completely non-working fan would be bad. good initiative there

I was wondering the same thing, trying to ring trialendurodirect from US, no answer.

South central Idaho, near Sun Valley.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!! I'm going to try and get a GMX---have you seen one? Do they take the standard fan? Macalooney, you are too high, hehe.

Wow epic thread WHen i first heard about n-stop in wtc, i thought--ugh. But after reading all this stuff, frankly I'm all for it, just to see what will happen. Stop=1 seems to make most sense to me, and it could be easily monitored at the world level, just as lap times are accurately tracked at motoGP and MX, with a sending unit on each rider or bike. Full stops should be easy to capture. As to interest levels, one factor has to be noise and filth, which well educated youth are increasingly aware of. I got my daughter an OSET electric bike, and crude as it is (for cost reasons), I wish I had something like it. I've seen no serious efforts to develop what is surely possible, a 150lb electric bike capable of 1.5 hours or more, with batteries that could be changed out. Why not? Trials has always been the "greener" motorbike discipline and it does not have huge HP needs---it's the best suited to electric of all the classes. Electric trials would draw some much needed media attention as well. Because of this thread, I went back to watch the old WTCs on youtube. I could not really find any no-stop stuff from the seventies, please post a link if you do, but it was interesting to watch i.e. the 1988 WTC, which had alot less hopping, that's for sure, and the sections seemed bigger and more open. It seems that the sections have changed with the skill levels of the top riders, because you don't see anyone remotely in the class of the current top 6 in 88 or 90. Machines are better no doubt as well. You have to wonder: are the current machines designed to work as well in n-stop as hop?

My understanding is that this is completely normal. It's also normal for the needle bearings to fall out when you regrease--they do go back in. Lateral play is the real nemisis-- main swingarm bearings.

I just ordered one for the front on my gg300 I hope it fits....

I didn't know that--checked the part numbers and you are right: the 08 has both a different fan (maybe it won't squeal so fast), and a different radiator (i did read about some quality issues on the early 08 rads). The 08 frame seems identical to the 06. So I wonder if the 08 fan and rad would bolt on to an 06?

If only it were that simple. If the hill is big enough, at altitude almost any bike will overheat. Then add in a tiny radiator and small water jacket. That said, I think I have finnaly got a decent system for my GG 300 in the backcountry. As you can see I have an overflow tank, which does two things: catches the fluid, and with one glance I can tell if I am overheating. I've found that on a big technical climb, it's easy to miss a Rad overflow--then you start to hear the knocking...... Also you can see a switch on the handlebar. This goes to ground, and also joins the normal fan circuit. So the fan should come on by itself, but I have the option to turn it on myself. When I know a hill is coming, I switch it on well before. In testing yesterday this system worked well, and I was able to do some big climbs all the way to the top. I checked fluid when I got home: plenty.

get serious with your jetting, and watch the radiator overflow carefully--as soon as it starts blowing, stop the bike and let it cool. Never ride without checking your water level.

I ride my 300 in the backcountry only, sometimes at a pretty good clip. The sharp steering helps to avoid loose rocks than can get you---as long as you see them. The other constant danger is clipping a solid rock hidden in the grass beside the trail with a foot-- many ankles ruined this way. Your feet are lower than on an mx bike, so it is more dangerous. The best insurance policy is respect. Bikes are very easy on your body in general, and it's easy to get cocky. I try to fight that. When you have not fallen for a long time--besides small falls, you start to think it can't happen. Wrong. All motorcycles are dangerous. However I would say bicycle riding in an urban area is even more so. I was once very badly injured on my RM250 in 1975-- lost 75% of my liver. That's what got me into trials. When I got out of the hospital after 6 weeks I was too weak to ride my RM 250 (I had lost 50lbs) At the bike shop they had a new RL250 for 450.00. I bought it. About 5 years later I stopped riding for many years-- took up kayaking. Now I've been riding again for 7 years, quite a bit, because we have such incredible trails around here. In that time I've had a few scary get-offs, with one tweaked ankle and a near concussion in two different incidents. I love it, but I try to pay very sharp attention. Yesterday: (took my KTM, my buddy on his yammy 450)

Boy, that one is 150.00 and the GG comex is 114.00. It might be worth it if it is rebuildable. I am on my second GG fan and getting tired of the squealing. This really is a big issue, and the cost of the comex is crazy.