125-200cc My second 165 kitted bike and it's the frankenbike...

Maybe we need to make a deal for my new 125 cylinder and save Walt the work!

Quick report as I have honey do's a happening today :>)

Super fun ride. 4 125 huskys in various states of tune. All were very good and fun and added there own flavor.

Brandons 165 with FMF and PWK running high compression and race gas:

Like all high compression race gas motors i have tried it is powerful, snappy and STRONG. Fastest feeling 165 of the group. The FMF pipe is a monster on these bikes and the high comp and race gas adds to it. I preferred my electric motor but loved his as well. Snap it the word here. His bike had a good deal more compression than the others, you could tell when kicking it or trying to bump start it. I had it grind to a halt several times when I stalled it and it would not roll start. I really did like it and it was super fun but would perfer less aggression and hit for the woods work we do. Fun but exhausting.

Blakes 165 with PC pipe:

Great bike, ridden it a bunch of times in the past and know all about it. Feels more like a 125 than the rest and that's the way Blake likes it. Seems to be a little off jetting wise but close and fun to ride. EZ on the pilot and does not take near as much concentration as Brandons ripper.

Jakes 125 with JD TMxx:

Runs 100x better with the JD TMxx. Nice pull, surprising power right off idle. Obviously a good bit less than the 165's and needs more prodding to get up hills and blip the front end over stuff. Great bike, fun to ride and crawls it way up and over anything with a never quit attitude. VERY EZ to ride.

My 165 with big ass doma, and Lectron carb:

As reported SUPER smooth. Very electric motor linear, no hit and makes great power bottom to top. Much less hit than Brandons bike. Carbureted perfect even though it is obviously slightly rich. Will adjust the metering rod for next ride. The Lectron adds a smoothness and control the others did not have IMHO. It is not night and day and all bikes ran very good just seems the lectron makes it seamless and SMOOTH. I think the pipe mellows it out some too. I have several other pipes to try to see what that does. Also I need to check compression because my bike kicks about as EZ at the 125's and bump starts EZ so i think it is on the low side compression wise. I am not saying this as a bad thing as I flat LOVE the motor. It is perfect for me. smooth controlled power everywhere. I also find these Metering rod carbs will accept a lot more throttle openings that the others and likes to pull with big opening. I might even get a quicker throttle for mine.

In the end we all liked our own bikes the best. Setup is everything and you can feel the personalities of each bike. All great bikes with different setups and flavors.

there was also a new KTM 200 there most of us rode. Was interesting. I thought it was OK, thought it had a little to much motor and I did not care for the handling at all. Bike feels short and inconsistent. the more i rode it the more I liked it and I know they are great machines but I could not wait to get back on my bike. Brandon did not love it. Blake seemed to hate it. Jake surprisingly liked it quit a bit. Very surprising and husky handling and lack of power seems top be his thing which this bike seemed the opposite of. James the owner of the KTM 200 was hauling the mail (we all were / fun day) on it and it works very well for him. That said he road all the 125/165 huskys and flat loved them. He said "wow, i get it now, the less power and handling are really nice" He really liked Brandon's bike as it had the most hit like his 200.

Another note, I need a stiffer rear spring, way to much sag and makes it turn slower in the corners. All the 09 and up bikes felt like they handled a good bit quicker than my 04 with soft spring. i think the sprig will get it 80% there but still not be as quick handling.

My hydro clutch rules. Super smooth pull. Very much not needed on these bikes but also very much an upgrade IMHO. Everyone who road my bike commented on it. In fact my whole bike seems like the description of smooth. The smooth linear motor, the smooth clutch, the smooth and very forgiving suspension, the comfy Seat Concepts seat. IMHO the perfect vet bike. Just way I wanted. So cool these 125s are a great platform to build whatever you need, EZ trail bike or ripping race bike. Dial it up.

Oh, suspension. All these bike (except maybe Brandon?) have has some sort of work with valving and springs etc. My bike was the only one with the old school crappy 45mm forks. These are not well liked by many including myself. Always seemed harsh and unforgiving. Not horrible but leaning that way. My gold valves seemed to really help. I feel they where the most forgiving forks of the bunch. Soft but controlled. The rear too. I just need tog et a spring a few rates higher and I am completely happy with the suspension. Jake even mentioned after ridding my bike that he has always hated those forks and will stop bad mouthing them (as we all do) after riding them with the gold valves. They are nice and compliant now and worked as good or (IMHO) better than the revalved and resprung twin chamber 50's. Speaking of suspension James KTM reminded me again that I don't care for PDS non linkage stuff. Just does not feel right to me. It is not horrible but just don't like the feel or performance of them. It is me I know as countless people are happy with it and wins at top levels of competition.

A great day with great friends having a great time. This is what it is all about. With a double A rider friend leading most of the day it was game on. Jake and I are so closely matched it was fun mobbing the trails with him trying to keep AA Scott (not my regular riding buddy and other fast guy Scott I always mention) in sight. Jake and I had some really fun cat and mouse trail races that are always a blast with someone who rides so much the same speed. Everyone hung together nice, had a great time and no issues. Fun sampling of bikes and setups. Great day, thanks guys.

I hardly took any pictures but Jake and Blake had gopros so I'm sure we will see some of that here shortly.

6:30 am wait in the dark



Brandons sweet hauler setup (thanks a lot for driving)



Jake with no shame loving on a KTM :>) (Scott (KTM) on the right with the AA plates as he is super fast)



Mr smooth.




Get those vids coming guys.

Great day that was, thanks.

Yep. the single track side.