Initial test of 6 month build
Posted: 03:08 pm Jun 20 2018
On June 16th I finished a 6 month build, (part 1 anyway.) 2001 KDX220.
Then June 19th I headed up north, out of the twin cities rain & lack of riding areas, for testing and break in.
I settled on Huntersville state forest for the day.
1st test ride:
Using (one gallon) Bel Ray mineral two stroke oil and 40:1 for break in, put on the choke and kicked about 5 times before starting. Warmed it up 3 minutes in idle while continually blipping the throttle. Then rode slowiy for another 2 minutes in 1st gear while bilpping the throttle. Then Rode for a total of 13 minutes while continually blipping and chopping the throttle. (varying engine RPM greatly)
Observations: It ran OK at low and middle RPM's but ran rough at higher RPM's. I considered it a successful 1st ride.
Then let the bike cool for 1 hour 45 minutes.
2nd test ride:
Started 1st kick, I think, but then had problems with it revving real high while idling, pinging and then dying after 13 minutes. While pushing it 1.3 miles back to base I had all sorts of theories on what the problem could be. (The problem apparently was the fuel pointer needed to be set on Reserve, so I effectively ran out of gas!)
Observations: Disasterous 2nd ride, thankfully just operator error. It sure was good excercise though (pushing it back).
Let the bike sit for another 1 hour and 30 minutes.
3rd test ride:
While resting from the 1.3 mile push, while pondering packing up & heading home, praying and thinking , it occurred to me the problem could be it ran out of gas and needed to be switched to reserve. So I put the lever on reserve and tried again.
This time it started fine and ran very good. Low and middle RPM ran clean. Not sure about wide open (probably runs a little rough there) but I was still in break in mode of continually varying the RPM. I ran it for about 35 minutes and then it died. This time it was clear that I ran out of gas. So I pushed it another 1.3 miles back to base camp.
(It takes skill to run out of gas twice....in one day!)
Observations: Ran very good. Good low end and mid range power. But one gallon fuel only went about 13 miles! Clutch lever is a one or two fingers pull and not needed when shifting. I don't think I missed a shift. Suspension (.42 fork springs & revalved & rebuilt rear shock with a 5.2-5.6 rear spring) seemed plenty stiff for whoops. Bike seems tall (with a tall seat combined with stiffer suspension)
Then June 19th I headed up north, out of the twin cities rain & lack of riding areas, for testing and break in.
I settled on Huntersville state forest for the day.
1st test ride:
Using (one gallon) Bel Ray mineral two stroke oil and 40:1 for break in, put on the choke and kicked about 5 times before starting. Warmed it up 3 minutes in idle while continually blipping the throttle. Then rode slowiy for another 2 minutes in 1st gear while bilpping the throttle. Then Rode for a total of 13 minutes while continually blipping and chopping the throttle. (varying engine RPM greatly)
Observations: It ran OK at low and middle RPM's but ran rough at higher RPM's. I considered it a successful 1st ride.
Then let the bike cool for 1 hour 45 minutes.
2nd test ride:
Started 1st kick, I think, but then had problems with it revving real high while idling, pinging and then dying after 13 minutes. While pushing it 1.3 miles back to base I had all sorts of theories on what the problem could be. (The problem apparently was the fuel pointer needed to be set on Reserve, so I effectively ran out of gas!)
Observations: Disasterous 2nd ride, thankfully just operator error. It sure was good excercise though (pushing it back).
Let the bike sit for another 1 hour and 30 minutes.
3rd test ride:
While resting from the 1.3 mile push, while pondering packing up & heading home, praying and thinking , it occurred to me the problem could be it ran out of gas and needed to be switched to reserve. So I put the lever on reserve and tried again.
This time it started fine and ran very good. Low and middle RPM ran clean. Not sure about wide open (probably runs a little rough there) but I was still in break in mode of continually varying the RPM. I ran it for about 35 minutes and then it died. This time it was clear that I ran out of gas. So I pushed it another 1.3 miles back to base camp.
(It takes skill to run out of gas twice....in one day!)
Observations: Ran very good. Good low end and mid range power. But one gallon fuel only went about 13 miles! Clutch lever is a one or two fingers pull and not needed when shifting. I don't think I missed a shift. Suspension (.42 fork springs & revalved & rebuilt rear shock with a 5.2-5.6 rear spring) seemed plenty stiff for whoops. Bike seems tall (with a tall seat combined with stiffer suspension)
