TTR230 questions

[motorbyclist]

So, we just downgraded the old man's bike from a 2004 YZ250F to a TTR230 and sofar he's stoked and so are our girlfriends (the 250 was maybe a biiiit to quick for them to learn on lol), but I reckon the front is waaaaaay too soft and the plug is waaaay too sooty.

It's an '07 model with 46 hours on the clock, and looks like a full service is in order for peace of mind....

SO, questions:
Is the front really meant to be that soft, or should I be checking oil heights? Seems like it needs stronger damping....

What carby adjustments are available? I'll check the air filter first and even the muffler, but I doubt it's meant to have a black plug....? I read on an american forum that due to some californian laws the adjustment was hidden behind a brass plug....
At idle it will flood if the throttle is pulled too fast; normal or far too rich? (maybe I should just warm it up longer)

Anything else to watch out for? I've found a service manual on the net so if the local mechanic is busy I'll just do it all myself including valve clearances (head is almost too quiet) and hopefully have her riding on saturday

oh and what effect does a larger front sprocket have? worthwhile improvement? shit it's geared low!

[soundbeltfarm]

I got one for a farm bike and my wife rides it on trails also.
it just keeps on going and going.
the front is soft but it seems good enough for trace and for this old guy that sometimes rides with us if he uses it . he loves it all soft and plush.
i have gone to a bigger back sprocket and smaller front so it is better for following the cows and the suspension limits the bikes more than running out of legs so i dont think you'l gain much by changing the gearin up with out doing something to the front suspension.
the handlebars are shit so i changed them straight away and it is much nicer to ride and stronger for the when you crash.
i have never looked at clearances as i dont think it needed in this spec bike.

[soundbeltfarm]

i also when up to a bit bigger main jet as my bikes all run shit where we farm so they do it to all my carb farm bikes and they really do run better.
pull the back drum apart and give them a good clean because i have found they need a bit of tlc i got a hack saw and cut on an angle across the pads and found this helps clean and get water out off the pads.
i cut the light wire and put a switch on it too .
my mate had one and got it rejetted and put full exhaust system on it . it did make a big difference but it better i rekon to get a bike designed for what he wanted instead of spending heaps on aftermarket stuff.
and the tires on it are crap standard so i changed them and it a different bike.

[Ride it till the red]

So, we just downgraded the old man's bike from a 2004 YZ250F to a TTR230 and sofar he's stoked and so are our girlfriends (the 250 was maybe a biiiit to quick for them to learn on lol), but I reckon the front is waaaaaay too soft and the plug is waaaay too sooty.

It's an '07 model with 46 hours on the clock, and looks like a full service is in order for peace of mind....

SO, questions:
Is the front really meant to be that soft, or should I be checking oil heights? Seems like it needs stronger damping....

What carby adjustments are available? I'll check the air filter first and even the muffler, but I doubt it's meant to have a black plug....? I read on an american forum that due to some californian laws the adjustment was hidden behind a brass plug....
At idle it will flood if the throttle is pulled too fast; normal or far too rich? (maybe I should just warm it up longer)

Anything else to watch out for? I've found a service manual on the net so if the local mechanic is busy I'll just do it all myself including valve clearances (head is almost too quiet) and hopefully have her riding on saturday

oh and what effect does a larger front sprocket have? worthwhile improvement? shit it's geared low!

A mates GF rides one and yeah the front is pretty soft, soft is a pretty relative term tho so who knows. If it feels like it needs something changed it quite possibly does.

As far as the jetting goes I wouldn't have a clue, hers has been just fine from new. But both it and my little brothers old TTR125 both needed alot of warming up before they were ready to go properly, not sure what it is with them but they seem to need quite a while.

What do you ride? The 1st few gears in these are quite low but I wouldn't say they are geared low, from standard that is. Down the beach her one will easily outrun my CR250 which is slightly geared up and then she'll change into top...... If your one feels low right the way through then I'd find out what standard is and go from there.

[motorbyclist]

i have never looked at clearances as i dont think it needed in this spec bike.

righto the tolerances on these things are reeeaaaal tight (0.04mm!) and mine are juuuust outside the range but not worth adjusting yet imho as my feeler gages only do 0.05mm increments....

i cut the light wire and put a switch on it too .

this one doesn't have any lights - and it only has electric start.... seems a bit silly not having a kickstart especially as the battery is a bit knackered from lack of use

my mate had one and got it rejetted and put full exhaust system on it . it did make a big difference but it better i rekon to get a bike designed for what he wanted instead of spending heaps on aftermarket stuff..

+1 no intention of making is faster but 1st and second just seem so low it's not worth bothering..... that said the 230 is a lot lower than the 250 and a lot lower maintenance, so I could understand wanting a go-faster version for those not wanting to burn money on a proper motox bike (or even just a WR)

As far as the jetting goes I wouldn't have a clue, hers has been just fine from new. But both it and my little brothers old TTR125 both needed alot of warming up before they were ready to go properly, not sure what it is with them but they seem to need quite a while.

turns out the teeny tiny airfilter was dripping with air filter lube so rich running might be solved....

What do you ride? The 1st few gears in these are quite low but I wouldn't say they are geared low, from standard that is. Down the beach her one will easily outrun my CR250 which is slightly geared up and then she'll change into top...... If your one feels low right the way through then I'd find out what standard is and go from there.

our one is standard.... and I ride a worked YZ400F so I'm used to a first gear that does sprinting speed at idle with the clutch disengaged.... I might see how some learners go first and maybe compare to my XL125....

Or just treat it like a 5 speed and take off in second