The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
On Sunday the 26th of January 2014 i rode the Bognor trial at Buriton , Hampshire. It rained all day and the chalky base at first was very very slippery. As the day went on though the rain made the mud to thing that the tyres seemed to drive through to a hard bade giving good grip. Id never had predicted that.
The Jotagas ran very well , however i noticed a few little improvements that could be made.
I have some trials coming up with road work and the Jotagas' top gear (5th) isnt the highest. With a 5psi tyre you might get 40 mph max , but it would be nice to have a little more. The standard sprocket is 40 teeth. I looked online and you cant see 38 Teeth rear sprockets anywhere. They are the same as GasGas , Montesa , Beta and Sherco , but they are not widely used . I telephoned Talon and they had a 38 in stock , so i ordered and fitted it. With the standard rear sprocket on , there are 4 rear teeth to everyone tooth on the front sprocket. So , in theory i was increasing the front sprocket by half a tooth, not that , that's really possible.
I have had a spin around the woods and it hasnt made a huge difference , which im glad of. Im sure it will give me a few extra MPH on the road and track though , which is what i was after.
The Jotagas ran very well , however i noticed a few little improvements that could be made.
I have some trials coming up with road work and the Jotagas' top gear (5th) isnt the highest. With a 5psi tyre you might get 40 mph max , but it would be nice to have a little more. The standard sprocket is 40 teeth. I looked online and you cant see 38 Teeth rear sprockets anywhere. They are the same as GasGas , Montesa , Beta and Sherco , but they are not widely used . I telephoned Talon and they had a 38 in stock , so i ordered and fitted it. With the standard rear sprocket on , there are 4 rear teeth to everyone tooth on the front sprocket. So , in theory i was increasing the front sprocket by half a tooth, not that , that's really possible.
I have had a spin around the woods and it hasnt made a huge difference , which im glad of. Im sure it will give me a few extra MPH on the road and track though , which is what i was after.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
before modification
In this photo you can see that the chain tensioner arm is very close to the rear tyre. If you are a muddy trial and are running perhaps 2psi , then the rear tyre rubs on the arm and will obviously sap power.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
after modification
In the photo beneath you can see the problem is cured. The chain tensioner arm is a good distance away from the tyre and there will be no more rubbing. This was achieved using 2 mods
- This is the first mod which takes 30 minutes
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
The 2nd mod is as follows.
This is easy and takes 5 minutes - When you undo the rear wheel allen bolt, the swinging arm expands in width by 6mm. Enlarge the sprocket side wheel spacer , by fitting a 5mm thick alloy washer . This gives you another 5mm.
This gives an extra 8.7mm clearance between the swinging arm and the tyre , meaning there is no problem anymore.
One side issue from doing this 2nd mod is that the swinging arm spindle isn't perfectly long enough and pushed through half of the swinging arm and not all of it. Having looked at the situation , this is more than adequate. I will keep a close eye on it and make sure the rear wheel is kept tight at all times.
This is easy and takes 5 minutes - When you undo the rear wheel allen bolt, the swinging arm expands in width by 6mm. Enlarge the sprocket side wheel spacer , by fitting a 5mm thick alloy washer . This gives you another 5mm.
This gives an extra 8.7mm clearance between the swinging arm and the tyre , meaning there is no problem anymore.
One side issue from doing this 2nd mod is that the swinging arm spindle isn't perfectly long enough and pushed through half of the swinging arm and not all of it. Having looked at the situation , this is more than adequate. I will keep a close eye on it and make sure the rear wheel is kept tight at all times.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
Another modification which i decided to complete was to raise the front mudguard by 6 mm. This was for two reasons. I have had Jotagas's for 2 years now and the front end does not clog up with mud , but i dont want a first time so this is a precaution.
Secondly i have fitted a light plastic mud flap on the front mudguard. despite it being light the rear of the front mudguard with the flap attached flaps a bit hitting the tyre. Its a tiny thing and was caused by me fitting the flap , but by raising the mudguard it will cure this -- hopefully :)
Secondly i have fitted a light plastic mud flap on the front mudguard. despite it being light the rear of the front mudguard with the flap attached flaps a bit hitting the tyre. Its a tiny thing and was caused by me fitting the flap , but by raising the mudguard it will cure this -- hopefully :)
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
This is the same modification i completed on my 2013 Jotagas. The plastic radiator guards are held on with tiny plastic clips. With heavy mud sticking to the guard it has in the past caused it to fall off and i dont want this to happen again. In order to fix it discretely so it doesnt look naf i wired the guard on as in the below two photos.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
One thing ill mention is that the carb is really easy to get off and back on again. Ok , its not as easy as an old Bultaco , but its not hard at all and can be taken off and placed back on in 5 minutes. Not bad for a modern bike. The key to success is to push the carb back to get it off. This pushes the filter back in the air box , but then you put your hand in the air box and push it all back onto the back of the carb.
Simple and easy once you get the hang of it.
I am awaiting a size 36 idle jet which im assure will cure the slight pinking i get when the bike is hot on medium throttle. Again , its not a problem and doesn't affect performance , but i just want it perfect.
Simple and easy once you get the hang of it.
I am awaiting a size 36 idle jet which im assure will cure the slight pinking i get when the bike is hot on medium throttle. Again , its not a problem and doesn't affect performance , but i just want it perfect.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
On a side issue - Heres something of interest
Here is a photo of the first ever drawing of the Jotagas logo. Marc Arano the previous World wide sales manager drew this with Jordi Tarres and the JTG owner Josep Pibernat.
This is what Mark said about the logo
"About the sign, we just wanted to support the brand name using a shell like other well knows brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, Ducati And so on ... So the idea in Its terms came from us meanwhile the design came from the communication agency. The image inside is what we call in Spain a " halcón peregrino", a fast And smart kind of eagle... Emular inf the shape of a trial bike......"
Here is a photo of the first ever drawing of the Jotagas logo. Marc Arano the previous World wide sales manager drew this with Jordi Tarres and the JTG owner Josep Pibernat.
This is what Mark said about the logo
"About the sign, we just wanted to support the brand name using a shell like other well knows brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, Ducati And so on ... So the idea in Its terms came from us meanwhile the design came from the communication agency. The image inside is what we call in Spain a " halcón peregrino", a fast And smart kind of eagle... Emular inf the shape of a trial bike......"
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
This made me happy .
Kev won't mind me saying this. On Saturday we went out practising. He is Kevin Nolan ,a very very good rider. He's expert level and I've never seen anyone hang off a bike like Kev fighting and waiting for grip. A truly ace rider whose mostly know for winning the Normandale last year on the impressive modified SWM.
He is a much much better rider than me. He always has been.
Any way...... he took out a brand new demo sherco 300 and I was on my Jotagas 300 14 model. We set up a simple section consisting on going down a slippery steep hill . At the bottom there was a horseshoe and then straight back back up again.
Kev won't mind me saying this. On Saturday we went out practising. He is Kevin Nolan ,a very very good rider. He's expert level and I've never seen anyone hang off a bike like Kev fighting and waiting for grip. A truly ace rider whose mostly know for winning the Normandale last year on the impressive modified SWM.
He is a much much better rider than me. He always has been.
Any way...... he took out a brand new demo sherco 300 and I was on my Jotagas 300 14 model. We set up a simple section consisting on going down a slippery steep hill . At the bottom there was a horseshoe and then straight back back up again.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
It was first on loose leaves with loam underneath. The Jtg went straight up for a clean. 3rd gear riding on the bottom of the revs.
Kev tried no less than ten times on the sherco and couldn't touch it AT ALL.
He jumped on the Jtg and was straight up for a clean. He repeated it on the Sherco and again had a big five. He could get out and had to push the bike out with me pulling. Then I cleaned it again.
The sherco was absolutely crucified in this comparison test.
Tyres were the same along with pressures.
Kev tried no less than ten times on the sherco and couldn't touch it AT ALL.
He jumped on the Jtg and was straight up for a clean. He repeated it on the Sherco and again had a big five. He could get out and had to push the bike out with me pulling. Then I cleaned it again.
The sherco was absolutely crucified in this comparison test.
Tyres were the same along with pressures.
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
We worked out what was going on. The JTG power delivery is totally flat. The sherco is soft for the first 300 rpm them comes in with a rush and the exhaust barks. Nothing incredible. We're not talking mx bikes here , but the Sherco wanted to deliver to much power.
Kev was gutted. Everywhere he rode on it , it was spinning out.
It's no mystery. it's the power delivery. The Sherco had way more power. Great for Enduro or rocks in Spain but not mud in the uk.
Later we tried a different section requiring traction and again the Sherco didn't grip on the slippery base. Kev immediately said' Let's go' in disgust after cleaning it on the JTG. He packed up straight away and was straight on the phone to Steve Saunders for a new bike.....lol.
Remember ... he hadn't set up my JTG at all.
So from this direct comparison with no advertisers to keep happy... straight out of the crate the JTG is much much better at finding grip .
Kev came out to practise ready to buy the Sherco. He's desperate for a new bike , but after this the Sherco went straight back.
On this one day the JTG made me better than Kevin . Nice one :). Thats never happened before. In Kev's words " You made me look like a beginner".
Kev was gutted. Everywhere he rode on it , it was spinning out.
It's no mystery. it's the power delivery. The Sherco had way more power. Great for Enduro or rocks in Spain but not mud in the uk.
Later we tried a different section requiring traction and again the Sherco didn't grip on the slippery base. Kev immediately said' Let's go' in disgust after cleaning it on the JTG. He packed up straight away and was straight on the phone to Steve Saunders for a new bike.....lol.
Remember ... he hadn't set up my JTG at all.
So from this direct comparison with no advertisers to keep happy... straight out of the crate the JTG is much much better at finding grip .
Kev came out to practise ready to buy the Sherco. He's desperate for a new bike , but after this the Sherco went straight back.
On this one day the JTG made me better than Kevin . Nice one :). Thats never happened before. In Kev's words " You made me look like a beginner".
The 2014 Jotagas JTG 300 Diary
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