A follow up on my hard to start Gasgas.
I purchased a s3 head and low compression insert for my 2023 gasgas 300 GP. It made it a little easier to kick. I would buy it again, but it wasn’t a huge game changer. I think the bike broke in a little also. Before the head It would always start 2 or 3 kicks when cold with the choke on. But the compression when the bike was warm was really tough on me. Sometimes I couldn’t get a full kick. I would look for a tree to lean on to get a solid kick. Truly wore me out. I’m an intermediate rider, I couldn’t feel any power differences. Still plenty of power.
But I can’t stress enough what a game changer the following starting procedure is
when warm,
put the bike in gear.
Roll it back
Pull in the clutch
Kick
The bike will kick easier, No compression kick back
The bike will start first kick 9 out of 10 times. Never more than 2 kicks using this procedure. And if it doesn’t start first kick the compression doesn’t wear you out, I’m 66 years old and 150 pounds. If I was bigger and stronger maybe the original compression wouldn’t have been a issue. I now have zero thoughts of converting to a 250. I’ve kicked a 2023 Gasgas 250 GP and those bikes are much easier to kick.
I’ve ordered a fly wheel weight, and a slower throttle. I’ll follow up with these parts.