http://www.mototassinari.com/
seattime.co
Seat Time scores a big one YET AGAIN! Huge Thanks to SeatTime.co for the hookup with Moto Tassinari, and huge thanks to Moto Tassinari for coming through with an absolutely sick product!
I rode four strokes and only four strokes up until this year. And not just 4 strokes, BIG 4 strokes. I love the open class bikes- 450's, 505's, etc. "Overkill is underrated" my friends, and my bike collection as well as gun collection speak that truth. Two strokes confused me, and the thought of pre-mix and that strange magical ju-ju that happens somewhere inside a 2 stroke did not appeal to me at all. That was up until this year when I saw and felt how much lighter the 2 strokes are, and it peaked my curiosity. With the same overkill theme in mind, enter my beloved 2009 KTM 300 XC-W. I've only started my 450 enough to keep the oil circulated since I got this beauty. I call her Alice, and we have a strange bond. My 300 is a phenomenal machine in that it is such a simple build, easy to maintain, light, and will still rip your arms out of socket with a fist full of gas.
The KTM smokers come stock with VForce 3 Reeds, so I would by no means say that I was weak in the reed cage department. After all, they're carbon fiber, and anyone that has something bad to say about carbon fiber is full of crap. It's the end all solution to all things fast. But when I got on the phone with Moto Tassinari, I learned some more about the new VForce4 Reeds, and read about them on their site some more. They took their design, modified it to do its job even easier and more bulletproof, then made it specifically for my bike, the KTM 300. Lovely.
The install didn't take long at all, especially since I already had the rear shock off. Everything I needed was there, except a hand to hold when I put a perfectly good VForce3 reed cage on the shelf for inactive duty. I really liked the design. Just in your hand and on the work bench, the 4 seemed more prepared for the evils that an off-road bike sees.
I fired the bike up and let it warm up, then stood for a listen to see if I heard any jetting issues. Strangely enough, the engine already sounded different before i threw my leg over it. A little more throaty, a lot smoother, even at idle. Off we go... My practice trail starts with a drop off the parking lot, then a small booter out of the ditch. Immediately penciled it and almost came off the back! I just wasn't ready for the power to come on that quick. Into a turn, drift out with total control. Down the hill, weave the first tree line, open it up. WOW. If you're unfamiliar with the KTM 300, it's the unicorn of motorcycles except there's a chainsaw instead of a horn, and it's covered in scars with a strange look in it's one good eye. This thing is notoriously sweet from the showroom floor. Power comes on hard, but lasts long enough that it's spread out more than the smaller screamers. It's so torquey, you find yourself a gear low at all times, just looking for the times you get to light it up. Add the VForce4 cage, and it turns this bike into a whole new beast. It comes on smoother, stays strong longer, and gives the bike an even more capable feeling! I couldn't believe the change! I've ridden bikes with big bore kits, cams, all kinds of mods, and have never in my life felt anything that offered more improvement than this reed cage. I can't wait to ride this thing on some better terrain than my back yard, it feels so much more responsive and predictable. I even caught myself playing around with some trials moves on my big bike. It doesn't just add power like some may think. It completely modifies the kind of power you get from the bike. No more trying to predict the power curve since the power comes on so much sooner. My clutch feathering is minimal now, even a gear or two higher. With the change in the torque, I can just roll it on and it pulls great. Wheelies snap up quicker and more controlled, turns get riled up immediately without losing control or slipping, and the bike just generally has a more relaxed sound and feel to it. I absolutely love the feeling of capability it has now. This is a very cool part, and it really shows that Moto Tassinari is hard at work helping you get even more smiles out of riding! Thanks for an excellent product, and thank you very much to Seat Time for the hookup!
