When you mention a thinner gasket are you referring to the base gasket? Does dropping to a .020 base gasket which I think is .010 thinner than stock, make a noticeable difference as far as reducing port duration, irrelevant I guess if you have a port job done but what about a stocker?
Took mine out for a ride today 2 and a half hours of mixed riding maybe 10-15% at WOT, 20% at under 1/4 throttle, 30% 1/4 to half and the rest above half but not wide open. I started running 24:1 premix due to the oil study found here and also due to being slightly rich from 1/3 throttle up.
Ran really well, obviously the air screw and needle were set better than Last time.
Didn't load up on long downhills or even just off idle in high gear across the parking lot, band came on predictably and strong, I often thought the clutch had slipped just to look back and see double spin marks in the dirt. Of course I also did a +3° timing mod since last trip. Even my boy was able to ride it without loading up or stalling, first time he actually let it hit the band (4th gear) his grin widened with the rpm.
With the wealth of information and links here I have learned and been able to change my bike from a sick leaky carb, too rich to idle to lean to pin the throttle, piece of crap. To a well tuned putt around the trail, stand up on cue, wind it tight machine, that people look at and wonder how that rattley (pipe on header, header spring on frame brace) old thing runs so well.
Next mission is to see the blush on the young guys faces when the dust settles and they see that an old dude on a little air cooled 200 just put it all over them.
I am quite thankful, of the advice and direction you guys have given me , I have made some pretty dumb mistakes and possibly even dumber statements, and not had 15 posts flaming me for being an idiot.
When rebuild time comes really think it is going to be possible to end up with a nice powerful trail machine, without breaking the bank. It's amazing how money spent in the right places, be it DIY tools or professional work, can result in a motor that will be better suited to the owner, than a motor with thousands spent foolishly. Like a full drag motor on a wide MX chassis, for riding tight woods trails. We have all seen it.
