Thoroughly recommended modification coming up
As visitors to this blog will know I visited the Jotagas factory in Girona a short while ago and completed a report on it all. Well .......whilst I was down there and had the attention of the boss Josep Pibernat, I explained to him that although I loved my bike, it did pink when it got hot. If you read the previous blogs here you will learn all about it. The pinking occurred on medium to full throttle and it didn't really have to get very hot to start pinking. It would pink on the road and also pink in sections as well. I sought advice about how to cure this but none of it worked. Nope, although the carb changes made a tiny difference, it was only a very small improvement.
When you hear your engine pinking it's not the best noise in the world and you always want to sort it out and improve things.
I was actually down in the factory when I mentioned this to the Jotagas boss. As soon as I mentioned it to him he said "Ahh yes, when you buy your Jotagas ". I replied "It was the first of the 2014 bikes into the UK". He then went over to a corner of the parts area of the room. I attempted to follow him, but I wasn't quick enough because of all the distractions in the factory. He returned with a small package and pushed it into my hands saying, "This will fix it". I looked down and opened the bubble wrap envelope. Inside was a gold anodised cylinder head insert. Piber explained to me that this insert had a larger internal void and would reduce the compression. It was as simple as that. I thanked him and put it down, hoping that I'd remember to pick it up later.
Luckily, I did remember to pick it up and bring it home when I returned to Blighty a few days later. I then installed it in my bike. It was pretty easy. I just drained the coolant and then disconnected the rubber coolant pipe going to the head. I then removed the red cylinder head outer water jacket and removed the existing insert.
When you hear your engine pinking it's not the best noise in the world and you always want to sort it out and improve things.
I was actually down in the factory when I mentioned this to the Jotagas boss. As soon as I mentioned it to him he said "Ahh yes, when you buy your Jotagas ". I replied "It was the first of the 2014 bikes into the UK". He then went over to a corner of the parts area of the room. I attempted to follow him, but I wasn't quick enough because of all the distractions in the factory. He returned with a small package and pushed it into my hands saying, "This will fix it". I looked down and opened the bubble wrap envelope. Inside was a gold anodised cylinder head insert. Piber explained to me that this insert had a larger internal void and would reduce the compression. It was as simple as that. I thanked him and put it down, hoping that I'd remember to pick it up later.
Luckily, I did remember to pick it up and bring it home when I returned to Blighty a few days later. I then installed it in my bike. It was pretty easy. I just drained the coolant and then disconnected the rubber coolant pipe going to the head. I then removed the red cylinder head outer water jacket and removed the existing insert.
 The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300 |  The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300 |
The hardest part of the whole process was getting that rubber pipe disconnected from the head. I saw Joan Freixas applying heat and silicone at the factory so realised they were a squeeze. Any way, off it came.
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
You can see this was silver alloy.
This combustion chamber was a good colour with crispy black particles, no slime. I'd rather have it a little rich than weak.
This combustion chamber was a good colour with crispy black particles, no slime. I'd rather have it a little rich than weak.
 The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300 |  The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300 |
Here is the new gold cylinder insert fitted.
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
It's been nearly a month since I fitted the insert and I haven't ridden the Jotagas since. Shame on me.
In fact I've been riding enduros and have only last weekend successfully demolished my KXF 450 engine when the cam chain skipped some teeth. Nice skills hey? I think not. I'm still weeping in my beer :). This bike has given me two mechanical DNF's in as many months, when the YZ 250 gave me none.
That my pals, is why one must always be on a two stroke :). Tomorrow the KXF is off to be crushed at the local metal dealers. I will only be happy when I see the petrol tank explode like a squeezed Zit and see the rest of the bike the size of a Rubix cube . :)
So anyway ......the Jotagas went for it's outing today at a local club trial. The sun was shining and it was an absolutely glorious day for a trial. Before the event started I went off for a ride to see the sections and take these pictures.
In fact I've been riding enduros and have only last weekend successfully demolished my KXF 450 engine when the cam chain skipped some teeth. Nice skills hey? I think not. I'm still weeping in my beer :). This bike has given me two mechanical DNF's in as many months, when the YZ 250 gave me none.
That my pals, is why one must always be on a two stroke :). Tomorrow the KXF is off to be crushed at the local metal dealers. I will only be happy when I see the petrol tank explode like a squeezed Zit and see the rest of the bike the size of a Rubix cube . :)
So anyway ......the Jotagas went for it's outing today at a local club trial. The sun was shining and it was an absolutely glorious day for a trial. Before the event started I went off for a ride to see the sections and take these pictures.
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
The best modification yet to my 2014 Jotagas 300
It was a great day ....and the bike ended up a great deal dirtier than these glamour shots :).
The cylinder insert has absolutely transformed the bike. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with it. The tick over is steadier and smoother. The bike seems to be smooth through the whole rev range and it seems to rev higher, easier. And ....of course ....no more pinking ....not once ...ever in the whole days event. Zilch, nothing, not a jot. It's cured ....yipeeee !. When before it would have pinked a good amount, now it doesn't pink at all.
Sooo, if your 2014 Jotagas 300 pinks and you have the silver insert, then you must get the gold insert. Apparently all the new bikes are coming standard with the gold inserts, but if your bike is more than a couple of months old you might have the old silver insert as the factory weren't aware of the improvement available to them.
It's thoroughly recommended. Steve Saunders has them.
I'm so happy with the Jotagas, that I almost forgot that my KXF was sitting dead as a door nail in the garage :)
Now ...let me introduce you to Mike Vincent on his 1974 Bultaco Sherpa 325. He's lives in the UK, but was born in New Zealand where he lived for many years and is now living in the UK. He bought the Bultaco brand new in 74 and it has followed him around the World where ever he has moved to. He is no a precision engineer and makes amongst other things, Bultaco parts for the industry.
This guy has got one huge set of Gonnads. Today there was a very hard muddy section with a stream ditch to cross. It was a slippery as hell. Everyone was crossing at the easy part and riding around the edge but failing and slipping into the ditch. None had the balls to jump it. Well, this guy on one of the oldest bikes at the trial charged at the ditch like it was his last ride ever. I'd never seen a Bultaco fly ....but I have now. He launched himself at the ditch and flew over it at maximum revs, which I know isn't much for one of those old things ha ha, but it was one hell of a brave ride. The word quickly got around that there was this lunatic on a Bultaco and all of the riders and spectators gathered to watch him do it again. It was very very entertaining and really balls out.
Nice one Mike :) It was quite a spectacle and put the rest of us on our new bikes to shame :)
The cylinder insert has absolutely transformed the bike. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with it. The tick over is steadier and smoother. The bike seems to be smooth through the whole rev range and it seems to rev higher, easier. And ....of course ....no more pinking ....not once ...ever in the whole days event. Zilch, nothing, not a jot. It's cured ....yipeeee !. When before it would have pinked a good amount, now it doesn't pink at all.
Sooo, if your 2014 Jotagas 300 pinks and you have the silver insert, then you must get the gold insert. Apparently all the new bikes are coming standard with the gold inserts, but if your bike is more than a couple of months old you might have the old silver insert as the factory weren't aware of the improvement available to them.
It's thoroughly recommended. Steve Saunders has them.
I'm so happy with the Jotagas, that I almost forgot that my KXF was sitting dead as a door nail in the garage :)
Now ...let me introduce you to Mike Vincent on his 1974 Bultaco Sherpa 325. He's lives in the UK, but was born in New Zealand where he lived for many years and is now living in the UK. He bought the Bultaco brand new in 74 and it has followed him around the World where ever he has moved to. He is no a precision engineer and makes amongst other things, Bultaco parts for the industry.
This guy has got one huge set of Gonnads. Today there was a very hard muddy section with a stream ditch to cross. It was a slippery as hell. Everyone was crossing at the easy part and riding around the edge but failing and slipping into the ditch. None had the balls to jump it. Well, this guy on one of the oldest bikes at the trial charged at the ditch like it was his last ride ever. I'd never seen a Bultaco fly ....but I have now. He launched himself at the ditch and flew over it at maximum revs, which I know isn't much for one of those old things ha ha, but it was one hell of a brave ride. The word quickly got around that there was this lunatic on a Bultaco and all of the riders and spectators gathered to watch him do it again. It was very very entertaining and really balls out.
Nice one Mike :) It was quite a spectacle and put the rest of us on our new bikes to shame :)
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