Tom Morgan YZ315 Stroker (Red Bull Straight Rhythm)

When I got it home, I knew I had some work to do. I am so used to 200HP street bikes, it was crazy how slow it felt. My last bike was a KTM 250 SX back in 2006 and was one of the first to do the 300SX kit...had that ported, etc and it RIPPED.

Saw a lot of people going Eric Gorr but heard a lot of mixed reviews. I used Tom Morgan Racing back in my 125 days and he promised his YZ295 is much better then Erics. So I tore apart the bike to the frame. The cylinder head looked good, but the piston had signs of detonation. Possibly the previous owner just swapped heads?

Frame was really bad shape, so I used a slow spinning wire brush on the end of a drill, a Dremel and some scotch brite pads.

At this point, I wanted to re-grease everything (no pics of that) and start ordering parts! DEP works pipe, R304 shorty silencer, 2008 CRF450R front brakes, Vforce 3 reeds, new plastics, chain and sprockets, and tons of other stuff. Some of it is already on. I then found some 2018 YZ250 wheels brand spanking new, so nabbed those up and threw on!

Sorry, site seems a bit glitchy. Sometimes will only let me post 2 pics.

Had to order the Tusk 270mm adapter to get the 2008 CRF450 calipers mounted. Brakes work fantastic now that it's bled with new system!

More to come. Will be cleaner posts when I get more organized. Was not expecting to be posting this to Vital, but why not!

Ordered a guts seat, blue bottom, white top and red stripes. I like the patriotic look. Also, Red Label is making the graphics and waiting for them to show. Here is the final product.

Also wanted to see how DEP pipe might look, so just threw that on to see

Looks good so far man!

Looks great I’m jelous of those blue wheels I should have gone that route!

looking good. I like those graphics. what type of riding you plan on doing?

Mostly MX, but may try some other stuff. I'm from Oregon I did all sorts of riding...MX, woods, Desert, dunes. Took it to Pala the way it looked when I first got it and it was rough!

Looking nice! You scored on those blue wheels I want some so bad. You'll love that dep pipe. Not sure how it is with a 304. I have the dep silencer on mine and love it. Did you do full brake system or just caliper?

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Looking nice! You scored on those blue wheels I want some so bad. You'll love that dep pipe. Not sure how it is with a 304. I have the dep silencer on mine and love it. Did you do full brake system or just caliper?

What did the DEP do power wise??

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Looking nice! You scored on those blue wheels I want some so bad. You'll love that dep pipe. Not sure how it is with a 304. I have the dep silencer on mine and love it. Did you do full brake system or just caliper?

I did the whole front brake system, master cylinder, lines, caliper. Was a little more expensive then most, but looks almost brand new! Threw on new Honda pads, put on an adapter to fit on 270mm disk, and bled it.

Obviously haven't ridden yet but old one couldn't even slow me down even after bleeding. Probably needed a rebuild.

And yes, I love the blue wheels!

Still waiting on a ton of parts like cylinder/head/piston from TMR, GUTS seat, graphics. But the graphics should be here next so I decided to do a mockup and to make sure I could find all the fitting for plastics!

Anyone have any tips on cleaning the gas tank up? As you can see, pretty big color mismatch.

Also put new OEM tubes on carb...forgot to order the float tube...but you can kinda see the original condition of them!

Bikes going to look awesome man. A lot of time and money but it will be worth it

Thanks man! For sure lot's of time and money, being awesome still up in the air. This is my first time doing a full tear down and rebuild, but I sure do enjoy it!

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What did the DEP do power wise??

Everything you read about is true. Good roll on power, no peaks or valleys through the rpm, and will rev to the moon. Hold it in a gear way past where you would think to shift and it will just keep pulling. but it doesn't give up anything on a short shift either.

I won't know on DEP for sure unless I do back to back comparison to stock pipe. Going from 100% stock bike with worn top end, clogged stock silencer with 15/45 gearing...yes 15/45 previous owner had.

Now it will have Tom Morgan 295cc ported, milled head, DEP Pipe, R304 silencer, Vforce Reeds, 11oz FWW, stock gearing (14/50).

I'm sure it will be night and day difference. May do stock pipe comparison some day, but results may be moot since most aren't running Tom Morgan 295cc.

Nice build
With a TMR 295 you may even gear down to a 14/49...
What made you go 295 vs the 265?

cdoggy81 wrote:

Nice build
With a TMR 295 you may even gear down to a 14/49...
What made you go 295 vs the 265?

My last bike was a KTM 250 SX that I threw on a 300cc cylinder (before KTM made the official kit). I had it done up by Clay at Munn Racing and it was super fast, and very easy to ride.

Kind of wanted to mimic that style if I could. I talked to Tom and he said the obvious, the 265 will rev a little free'er. The top end should be the same, but of course with added displacement will get better bottom to mid. He recommended the 285cc stroker, or even 315cc stroker but that was way too much money right now.

Also been riding/racing 1000cc Sport Bikes and now everything feels super slow so wanted more pep. I know, very apple to oranges. But I'm also a super nerd and just like trying things different

Looking good, can't wait to see it finished!

Tried a little magic eraser, and goof off to help clean up tank. It's been drained of gas for awhile. I guess most of it will be covered by graphics, but a lot is still exposed. Before and after of 15min clean up job...

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Looking nice! You scored on those blue wheels I want some so bad. You'll love that dep pipe. Not sure how it is with a 304. I have the dep silencer on mine and love it. Did you do full brake system or just caliper?

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What did the DEP do power wise??

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Everything you read about is true. Good roll on power, no peaks or valleys through the rpm, and will rev to the moon. Hold it in a gear way past where you would think to shift and it will just keep pulling. but it doesn't give up anything on a short shift either.

I wonder if I could get a pipe like that for my 03 kx250 lol it sure could use a top end overrev boost

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What did the DEP do power wise??

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Everything you read about is true. Good roll on power, no peaks or valleys through the rpm, and will rev to the moon. Hold it in a gear way past where you would think to shift and it will just keep pulling. but it doesn't give up anything on a short shift either.

Lightning78 wrote:

I wonder if I could get a pipe like that for my 03 kx250 lol it sure could use a top end overrev boost

Have you tried a PC pipe with a 304 silencer?

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What did the DEP do power wise??

Zesiger 112 wrote:

Everything you read about is true. Good roll on power, no peaks or valleys through the rpm, and will rev to the moon. Hold it in a gear way past where you would think to shift and it will just keep pulling. but it doesn't give up anything on a short shift either.

Lightning78 wrote:

I wonder if I could get a pipe like that for my 03 kx250 lol it sure could use a top end overrev boost

From my understanding the key to top end on a 250 is a long silencer. Pc is known for making top end pipes, so maybe get the long silencer and not the shorty and you will benefit from top end and smoother bottom.
For reference here is the dep silencer on my bike.

Zesiger 112 wrote:

From my understanding the key to top end on a 250 is a long silencer. Pc is known for making top end pipes, so maybe get the long silencer and not the shorty and you will benefit from top end and smoother bottom.
For reference here is the dep silencer on my bike.

The engine design & oem porting specs play a factor in it as well. The YZ & KX 250 2t's were more of a low to mid powerband engine vs. the CR & RM in comparison. A PC pipe will help a little, but if the rider is looking for more up top changing the port timing will make a bigger difference.