Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders

Just wondering what guys here are running in their 300s in terms of power valve springs and settings? I just picked up an '11 300XC, and it has the yellow spring a few turns in.

Red spring flush was my setting.

I run the red spring and run it in a few cranks unless its muddy. The unit does have a lot of adjustment and makes a difference if you play with it.

So you guys don't find the red spring comes on too strong for our area? I'm hoping to get my powervalve set up so its a lot smoother throughout the entire rpm range. I'm currently running the yellow spring, and just started playing with the preload, but am finding it to be too "peaky". Its a new to me bike, but I'd like to get the power more linear like my old 4stroke. Maybe the 4t just spoiled me?

Have you tried the green spring yet? it should make it even less snappy than the yellow spring

IMO I liked the Red spring for two reasons;
- I wanted as much power as possible, as early as possible.
- The other springs all make the same horsepower, but just delay it so you end up with a 2-stroke "hit" when it opens.
Coming off a 4 stroke, I never found the power to be "too much" or "uncontrollable", but YMMV. Some guys set their bikes up to delay the powerband hit, and then never rev them high enough to get there. Riding style comes into play, and I sure learned that KTM 2-strokes can be made into VERY different machines, depending how you set them up.

All that aside, the best thing I ever did was put on a high compression head. Made the bike so much better off the bottom, and complemented the red spring perfectly.

hey AJRJ, how much was the high compression head and where did you order it from?

I bought the KTM powerparts head, you can find it CycleWorks. It was around $300 I think.

Worth every penny at our elevation.

Thanks, I'm actually looking for more torque down low, as the 4t I'm coming off was a 525, so I've adjusted my riding to big torque right from idle. I might have to try the red spring out. Who knows, I might end up trying that other head out too.

KTM 300 Colored Power Valve Spring Comparison- None Red Yellow Green with PV Screw Near Midpoint

Here's a picture for you.

I like to run the red spring in more open areas like Moab but in tight stuff I like the yellow stock spring better traction for me.