Eric Gorr 225 kit first ride impressions
Posted: 01:18 pm Jan 30 2015
Finally got a chance to try out the fresh Eric Gorr Mo Better everything 225 kit last weekend. First of all.....I am coming from a RB modded (head and carb), V force 3, FMF woods, '04 200 which I was happy with. I just wanted a little more, and I got it.
I was a bit skeptical based on some of the research I had done about EG's work. A few years back there were some that seemed to have bad experiences. Not wanting to mess up my current setup, just in case I wanted to go back, I purchased a stock head and cylinder (thanks osobad
). I sent them off to EG and a couple of weeks later this is what I got.
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I am no machinist, but I was impressed with the work. Everything went together just as planned.
Last Sunday I took it out for the first time. Me and a bud on a '04 CR 250 went to a place west of Ft. Worth, TX properly named Rocky Ridge . It was a mix of varied terrain including fast grass track, tight woods, steep hill climbs, and lots and lots of rocks of various shapes and sizes. The bike started up easily, as it always does, and I let it idle for an extended warmup. Coming from a cast Pro-X piston to the cast aluminum Wiseco it needs a little longer warm up cycle. Then off we went.
My initial reaction was pure bliss as we headed for the hill climbs. It was obvious that my bike was transformed into something different. I searched for the power playing with the throttle and gearing. Wherever I wanted it, it had it. I approached the first hill climb as I would have normally, 2nd gear in the mid range then laid into the throttle once on the hill. As I neared the top of the hill, very steep mind you, the wheel spin began to slow me down. This is an area that before I would have held the throttle wide open and slipped the clutch searching for traction. I started to do this initially, then took my hand off the clutch allowed the RPMs to decrease, and used the low end torque the rest of the way up the hill with little wheel spin. I cleared the top of the hill in the low to mid range with the front tire in the air. My bike would not have done that before. All smiles..
We then took off into the woods. The bike seemed very familiar there with a few exceptions. I quickly realized that there was no need to stay "on the pipe" to go fast. Where before I would use the clutch to control power out of the turns, now it was just a twist of the throttle. The acceleration was very similar, and a lot less wheel spin. I hate to say it, but very 4 stroke like
.
Next it was off to the high speed grass track stuff. This is the only area where I had a little disappointment. First through 3rd the RPM's built quickly and the bike pulled hard. In the higher gears, the bike was screaming sound wise, but really seemed to fall flat on pulling. Example: If your cruising along in fourth at a slower pace, then roll on the throttle, let the RPM's build, when the "powerband" kicks in there is no hit like I am used to. Hate using the word powerband, and no I don't need to buy a new band.....for all you jokers out there
. This is where you guys may be able to help me out. It really feels like the clutch is slipping just as you hit the powerband. Lots of noise, but no action 
. I bought the bike new at the end of 2003 and it still has the original clutch. That being said, the clutch engages and disengages just fine at the lower rpms. Is it possible that the clutch can function normally in 1 RPM range and then slip in another? A side note, I have installed a Magura hydraulic clutch so it could possibly need adjustment. But again it functions fine when your not on the pipe 
. Thanks in advance for any comments on this.
As the day wore on we covered many of the sections over and over. When we got back to the hill climb area I decided to try something that I would never of done before. Rather than attacking the hill in 2nd gear I shifted it up to third and used the low to mid range torque all the way up . No Problem. The only issue I had with the hill climb was that in the low to mid range I was getting so much traction that the front end wanted to come up. So it was a delicate balance wheel slippage, traction, and keeping the front end down. A welcome problem.
Overall I am very impressed with this mod. Once I get the top end over rev thing figured out, this will be the ultimate bike for me. My bud that rode it said it best "it now pulls like a KTM 300, minus a few cc's and more manageable ". I agree.
Hope this helps someone out.
Don
I was a bit skeptical based on some of the research I had done about EG's work. A few years back there were some that seemed to have bad experiences. Not wanting to mess up my current setup, just in case I wanted to go back, I purchased a stock head and cylinder (thanks osobad
). I sent them off to EG and a couple of weeks later this is what I got.
[/URL[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/B737driver357/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141222_184414_zpsge3tc6i0.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/B737driver357/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141222_184551_zpswiut5qei.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/B737driver357/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141222_184712_zpsmrczbe0k.jpg.html]I am no machinist, but I was impressed with the work. Everything went together just as planned.
Last Sunday I took it out for the first time. Me and a bud on a '04 CR 250 went to a place west of Ft. Worth, TX properly named Rocky Ridge . It was a mix of varied terrain including fast grass track, tight woods, steep hill climbs, and lots and lots of rocks of various shapes and sizes. The bike started up easily, as it always does, and I let it idle for an extended warmup. Coming from a cast Pro-X piston to the cast aluminum Wiseco it needs a little longer warm up cycle. Then off we went.
My initial reaction was pure bliss as we headed for the hill climbs. It was obvious that my bike was transformed into something different. I searched for the power playing with the throttle and gearing. Wherever I wanted it, it had it. I approached the first hill climb as I would have normally, 2nd gear in the mid range then laid into the throttle once on the hill. As I neared the top of the hill, very steep mind you, the wheel spin began to slow me down. This is an area that before I would have held the throttle wide open and slipped the clutch searching for traction. I started to do this initially, then took my hand off the clutch allowed the RPMs to decrease, and used the low end torque the rest of the way up the hill with little wheel spin. I cleared the top of the hill in the low to mid range with the front tire in the air. My bike would not have done that before. All smiles..
We then took off into the woods. The bike seemed very familiar there with a few exceptions. I quickly realized that there was no need to stay "on the pipe" to go fast. Where before I would use the clutch to control power out of the turns, now it was just a twist of the throttle. The acceleration was very similar, and a lot less wheel spin. I hate to say it, but very 4 stroke like
. Next it was off to the high speed grass track stuff. This is the only area where I had a little disappointment. First through 3rd the RPM's built quickly and the bike pulled hard. In the higher gears, the bike was screaming sound wise, but really seemed to fall flat on pulling. Example: If your cruising along in fourth at a slower pace, then roll on the throttle, let the RPM's build, when the "powerband" kicks in there is no hit like I am used to. Hate using the word powerband, and no I don't need to buy a new band.....for all you jokers out there
. This is where you guys may be able to help me out. It really feels like the clutch is slipping just as you hit the powerband. Lots of noise, but no action . I bought the bike new at the end of 2003 and it still has the original clutch. That being said, the clutch engages and disengages just fine at the lower rpms. Is it possible that the clutch can function normally in 1 RPM range and then slip in another? A side note, I have installed a Magura hydraulic clutch so it could possibly need adjustment. But again it functions fine when your not on the pipe . Thanks in advance for any comments on this. As the day wore on we covered many of the sections over and over. When we got back to the hill climb area I decided to try something that I would never of done before. Rather than attacking the hill in 2nd gear I shifted it up to third and used the low to mid range torque all the way up . No Problem. The only issue I had with the hill climb was that in the low to mid range I was getting so much traction that the front end wanted to come up. So it was a delicate balance wheel slippage, traction, and keeping the front end down. A welcome problem.
Overall I am very impressed with this mod. Once I get the top end over rev thing figured out, this will be the ultimate bike for me. My bud that rode it said it best "it now pulls like a KTM 300, minus a few cc's and more manageable ". I agree.
Hope this helps someone out.
Don