Kelsey's heads are like crack! He's helped me with 3 high comp sleds, 1 big bore sled now I'm on my 3rd running 15.5 on a 22 300xc. Widening the powerband and and waking up the ride everytime.
I know this is an older video but I love watching your videos. Have you tried an Apex technical innovations head yet? I just put one on my 17 yz250x with the XC dome and I love it. I couldn’t believe how well I could get the bike lugged down in conjunction with a gytr fww. Best upgrade I’ve done so far to my bike.
Can't wait to hear how each head does on the trails. Really like the RK head on my Betta 200 and loved it on my 2020 300XC and plan on getting one for the 2023 300XC whenever it comes in. Love the content, keep it coming.
Just ordered the RK dome for my XC - trail / enduro model. Looking for a cleaner bottom end and idle as well. Thanks for the all the testing on your channel 😀
Morgan this a little late, but I am looking at a head. I am looking at RK insert, the TSP, but I heard that maybe you can just use the SX head insert which is much more affordable. But then I heard the 24 SX insert won't work on the 24 XCW cylinder. Do you know anything about this? The head is the same part number but maybe its how the head seats on the cylinder? Thanks!
Are you sure? the cylinder head is identical and the insert changes only by 1 number on the spare part code.. in fact I bought one and will try it at the first opportunity...
RK head is great. It’s a more explosive power delivery than anything else I’ve used. It, with a stock ecu is good. The tune is what really makes a massive difference but the RK with IRK and stock ecu is a great upgrade
Love the real world no bs videos.Will these heads combustion chamber dome shape stop a 250sx carburated bike from pipe knocking.I ve jetted this bike lean and its stopped the pipe knock any change in the temp and Hou gave to change pilot or jet needle clips postion has jd needle.Never had a stroke so finicky .Let me know would appreciate any help Iam a mechanic have been for a long time.
Not sure man. I really don’t know the difference between these domes and the normal ones. This bike isnt pinging but everything about this motor is new.
That’s always a concern but when we get it right, it won’t detonate at all. Especially up at elevation. It might require a little race gas at sea level
Not ktm related but at what compression ratio is it time to change the top end on a yz250 2 stroke? Ive searched forums but answers are just all over the board but figured youd have good knowledge for this question
YZ’s typically have much higher compression than other bikes. A fresh one usually has close to or over 200psi. I usually plan on a top end when it gets down to around 150.
@@highlandcycles I just bought the 23 250XC and will be using it for both moto and some trail riding. Was buying the 300SX at first but changed my mind because I've never had an XC and always wanted to try one Wondering what the difference in ECU mapping is between these and the SX models. Any chance you could get some info on that ? Would be really helpful and great to know !
@@highlandcycles I fouled a plug mid ride in a technical slow rock section. EFI bike definitely shouldn't do that in my mind but maybe I'm crazy. Makes me think it'd help to do some tuning
Sounds crisp and barky off the bottom in the parking lot at 7:10 or so into the video! I noticed my '18 300 sounds "deeper" with a higher compression head on it. Some people question the need for head swapping, but in high elevation riding it really helps restore the lost low end. I imagine a head swapped 300 might be a bit of a handful below 3,000 feet or so. My head equipped 300 gets pretty "excitable" at Rabbit Valley, which is the lowest place I ride at 4,600 feet. At least on the older 2Ts, KTM's squish band is a bit lacking. My '18 really woke up and runs crispy critter with the S3 head I have on it, I swear it burns cleaner on the same jetting. Of the two, I like the head with the smoothed squish transition. The sharp one seems like it could create a hot spot there and more potential for detonation - who knows though, Kels knows more about this than I do that is for sure. Will be interested to hear your findings!
The rk tek inserts fit in the stock head?? I want to buy an rk tek head for my 2022 300xc, but the rk tek website doesn't give an option for the orange anodized heads. Did they stop making those?
On these the insert fits into the stock head on yours they aren't like that. Unfortunately he did stop doing anodizing. I guess he had too many issues.
Kelsey's heads are like crack! He's helped me with 3 high comp sleds, 1 big bore sled now I'm on my 3rd running 15.5 on a 22 300xc. Widening the powerband and and waking up the ride everytime.
I know this is an older video but I love watching your videos.
Have you tried an Apex technical innovations head yet? I just put one on my 17 yz250x with the XC dome and I love it. I couldn’t believe how well I could get the bike lugged down in conjunction with a gytr fww. Best upgrade I’ve done so far to my bike.
I haven't
Would love to see dyno results for these head inserts
Me too. I wish I had a dyno.
What about S3 Pipes ?
Can't wait to hear how each head does on the trails. Really like the RK head on my Betta 200 and loved it on my 2020 300XC and plan on getting one for the 2023 300XC whenever it comes in. Love the content, keep it coming.
Thanks
Just ordered the RK dome for my XC - trail / enduro model. Looking for a cleaner bottom end and idle as well. Thanks for the all the testing on your channel 😀
Good choice!
Morgan this a little late, but I am looking at a head. I am looking at RK insert, the TSP, but I heard that maybe you can just use the SX head insert which is much more affordable. But then I heard the 24 SX insert won't work on the 24 XCW cylinder. Do you know anything about this? The head is the same part number but maybe its how the head seats on the cylinder? Thanks!
I’m new to your channel and I’m enjoying your real world no bullshit reviews! Makes me want get a new XC 300 too!
Right on. Thanks.
Has anyone thought of using the 300sx head insert on the 300exc?
They don’t fit unfortunately
Are you sure? the cylinder head is identical and the insert changes only by 1 number on the spare part code.. in fact I bought one and will try it at the first opportunity...
What is your thoughts about rk head, injector relocation kit and stoc ECU? Is hard to find good tuner in Europe for ecu,and TSP are way to expensive
RK head is great. It’s a more explosive power delivery than anything else I’ve used. It, with a stock ecu is good. The tune is what really makes a massive difference but the RK with IRK and stock ecu is a great upgrade
Sounds like a great test!!!!
Love the real world no bs videos.Will these heads combustion chamber dome shape stop a 250sx carburated bike from pipe knocking.I ve jetted this bike lean and its stopped the pipe knock any change in the temp and Hou gave to change pilot or jet needle clips postion has jd needle.Never had a stroke so finicky .Let me know would appreciate any help Iam a mechanic have been for a long time.
Not sure man. I really don’t know the difference between these domes and the normal ones. This bike isnt pinging but everything about this motor is new.
Hey did you ever test the 145 head . I bought a rk tech head for Kelce and he sent me the 145 . I live at sea level to 1200 .
I didn’t
I'm running the RK Tek head on my Sherco 300se love it, Do you know if Kelsey has a piston kit for the Sherco 300 yet?
I don’t think so
IDAHO FOR THE WIN!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤘🤘🤘🤣
How can I buy the same head you’re running from Kelsey?
Just call him and ask for it.
Have you tried a John Ross tune? Id highly recommend!
I haven’t
I wonder if it’s a similar setup for the tc/sx250 FI 2-strokes for 2023??
Yep. The same
Race gas only with the head inserts? Or is high octane 91 or 93 usable?
pump gas. I specifically asked for a pump gas head.
Great review , will the increased compression caused by the insert cause any detonation issues ?? Thanks
That’s always a concern but when we get it right, it won’t detonate at all. Especially up at elevation. It might require a little race gas at sea level
I like the inserts. Is that typical, or would you replace the entire top cap on most bikes cylinders?
For previous gen bikes it's the whole head
Most bikes require an entire head
Not ktm related but at what compression ratio is it time to change the top end on a yz250 2 stroke? Ive searched forums but answers are just all over the board but figured youd have good knowledge for this question
YZ’s typically have much higher compression than other bikes. A fresh one usually has close to or over 200psi. I usually plan on a top end when it gets down to around 150.
@@highlandcycles awesome thank you!
Nice. Any thoughts on remapping the ECU at some point ? I imagine this is going to be something new for engine tuners now that it's TBI.
Of course people are going to want to. So far I can't see any reason to. It is spot on.
@@highlandcycles I just bought the 23 250XC and will be using it for both moto and some trail riding. Was buying the 300SX at first but changed my mind because I've never had an XC and always wanted to try one Wondering what the difference in ECU mapping is between these and the SX models. Any chance you could get some info on that ? Would be really helpful and great to know !
@@duffyrides I will do my best
@@highlandcycles I fouled a plug mid ride in a technical slow rock section. EFI bike definitely shouldn't do that in my mind but maybe I'm crazy. Makes me think it'd help to do some tuning
@@bh86utid it shouldn’t. But I think they have them running too rich because of the TPI issues
Sounds crisp and barky off the bottom in the parking lot at 7:10 or so into the video! I noticed my '18 300 sounds "deeper" with a higher compression head on it.
Some people question the need for head swapping, but in high elevation riding it really helps restore the lost low end. I imagine a head swapped 300 might be a bit of a handful below 3,000 feet or so. My head equipped 300 gets pretty "excitable" at Rabbit Valley, which is the lowest place I ride at 4,600 feet. At least on the older 2Ts, KTM's squish band is a bit lacking. My '18 really woke up and runs crispy critter with the S3 head I have on it, I swear it burns cleaner on the same jetting.
Of the two, I like the head with the smoothed squish transition. The sharp one seems like it could create a hot spot there and more potential for detonation - who knows though, Kels knows more about this than I do that is for sure. Will be interested to hear your findings!
The rk tek inserts fit in the stock head?? I want to buy an rk tek head for my 2022 300xc, but the rk tek website doesn't give an option for the orange anodized heads. Did they stop making those?
On these the insert fits into the stock head on yours they aren't like that. Unfortunately he did stop doing anodizing. I guess he had too many issues.
@@highlandcycles oh okay bummer. Thanks for the reply
Bro how tight is your hat that it doesn't fly off? 🤣 I can't get out of 2nd without flipping mine backwards . Love all the '23 KTM videos
Hahahahaha. It’s magic
Sounds sweet👍
Thanks. It’s such a sweet bike
I am done modding my motors, I feel like the gains, if any, don't improve my riding. I don't need more power.
I hear that for sure. For me, at this elevation and above it helps me carry a taller gear which helps keep the bike more settled and less twitchy
🔥👊🔥🔨⚙️🏍