Category: All-Terrain Vehicles

Honda TRX300FW BIG BLUE -91

Small BIG atv

“I bought Honda 2010 or was it 2011, i dont remember any moore. My friend just left that to me and said that there is atv for you”

”Former owner have used Honda just for snowwork and owner before that have been deer man in lapland, north part of Finland.
Both owners have forgot the service.
So Big Blue was really used”.

“Honda didnt looked so good anymoore. Actually it looked sad, very sad.
Snowplow mounting kit have eated metal from frame and there was several holes in a frame, there was lot off rost in a frame and under the front a-arms there wasnt any metal left. You can just imagine how many kilometers or hours Honda have been used.
All drive shaft rubber covers where broken and battery was dead”.

First service

”First i took racks and plastics away from Honda. After that i washed atv and took all lights away.
”All bulbs where original! I installed those back and those are still there, over 20 years old bulbs still worked!”

” Old racks i hammered straight and after that i painted those.
All plasticks where totally ok. Old Hondas have very good plasticks, thanks to quality. Material is elastic and those last even in cold wheather very good”.

“After that i changed all oils, filters and i made valve adjustement.
Honda didnt had any idle speed and very soon i found problem for that.
When i cleaned carburator i noticed that there is missing one o-gasket.
So i ordered new gasket set for carburator and after that Honda worked like swiss clock!
Transmission, clutch and whole powerline worked perfect.
After that i replaced new battery and drive axle boots”.

“So engine and powerline was after service in perfect condition, as from factory.”

“I had to spend several hours with brakes but finally i found new drums, brake shoes and cylinders. Brake cables i just cleaned and lubricated”.

”Next frame. I had to weld several hours but after that and painting it was ok, actually stronger than original frame.
As a original Honda dont have footsteps, just footbegs. So i made own desing metal nets for Honda, it felt so unsecured to drive with out those”.

“Then skidplate. Off course its unpossible to find skidplate for so old atv but thanks for IRON BALTIC, Estonian professionals made taylor made plasctic skidplate for my classic Honda.

 

Accessories

”When Honda was technically ok and also outlook was better, i had to think about accessories.
Original 11″ wheels i changed 12″ and i choosed Maxxis Big Horn 25″ tyres.
I have tested also 26″ Innova Lug Gears but lighter Maxxis Big Horn 2.0 is exellent choice for old Honda.

Honda had winch but it was totally dead, i replaced that for Ramsey 2500 with rope and from IRON BALTIC i got aluminium winch rope fairleader”.

“Original lights worked but off course driver needed moore light.
I installed 2 pcs 15W LED – working lights to the front and one xenon light middle of the front rack. To rear i installed one 18W reversing light.
After that i installed IRON BALTICs soft gargo box, Garmin NUVI 500, 2″ risers and off course hand and thumb heaters”.

Driving

”When Honda was almost better than from factory i drove with that aproxx. 200 hours per year basic off road and fiew atv orienteering races.
Honda was very reliable and it was very easy to drive off road with that.
That is benefit when races are 10 -12 hours long”.

“Off course ground clearance can be higher, engine can have moore than 21 hp and drivers postion can be moore comfortable.
But Honda is very light to drive and fuel consumption is low and it does not sit so deep in mud than big and powerfull machines”.

“Those are benefits in long races”.

”After 2 years active driving it was time live Honda to garage, actually i bought Honda Rubicon. But now i use Honda for snowpushing and other similar basic jobs. Honda have IRON BALTIC universal mountinkit + 150cm snowplowset”.

Best Regards.
Sauli Lesonen, owner of the Big Blue.

Personally i am happy that i sold Honda to my friend Sauli. 10 -15 years ago we didnt had so many old school atvs or atvs at all in Finland than nowadays.
Back in 1991 atvs was just for deermans and other special groups.
Also i am glad that Sauli had interest to build Honda Big Blue for use and he really have used that. Actually he still use that.

I really hope that he have time to visit in west Estonia with Big Blue, i believe that we both have lot off memories of that.

Mr Jukka Helminen, editor off Finnish Mönkijä – Lehti (atv magazine) have said that only iron rail last better than Honda TRX 300.

Thats true.

Best Regards
Jarkko Kettula / Iron Baltic OÜ
jarkko.kettula@ironbaltic.com
www.ironbaltic.com

 

Hello Adomas. Please tell us who you are and what are you doing for living?Hello all the readers, now I‘m 21 year old. Talking about my job needless to mention that I‘m working at one of the biggest ATV‘s and accessories shop in Lithuania.

OK, so you see atvs every day and work is like hobby?
Actually when I was younger I have dreamed about job related with ATV‘s, because it was my favourite hobby.
Now I can say, that dreams come true and Im working with that everyday.
This activity leads me to success and I‘m very happy that I have opportunity to be the part of big ATV‘s family.

When you first time ride atv? And do you remember brand as well?
I guess that I had my first ride when I was 10. My dad have bought his first ATV and the brand was Honda Foreman 450. I remember that day, because after that all my family started to love this activity. Then we have bought the second and later third ATV‘s: Suzuki KQ and Honda Foreman 450.
Interesting fact, that all these ATV‘s were different colours: yellow, green, red – just like colours in our national flag.

So practically you have seen ATV‘s all your life?
I can say- yes, because I remember my childhood: mother and father were riding with ATV‘s in their freetime. What‘s more? We found new way of holidays- travelling with quads. And now I cannot imagine my life without that.

So practically your family is real atv family?
My dad is one of the main members of Lithuania ATV‘s community, he‘s organizing lot of events, like quads tours, trips around all the country.
Talking about my mother, she‘s very good at driving ATV‘s, also have travelled around Baltic countries (2996km). As well she got other trips like: around Lithuania (1950km); around Latvia (2000km).

Racing with ATV‘s have been very popular in Lithuania, when you started your career in atv racing?
Actually, racing with ATV‘s was more popular 6 years ago, after that this sport had like a break from all the races. But now races popularity are growing again. I have started my career when I was sixteen also I had my first competition- it was mud race.

Is that normal age in Lithuania?
No, I was the youngest guy in these competition, I guess the main reason- because we all know that ATV sport isn‘t cheap as well, so lot of youngsters cannot afford it. Also I am very grateful for my parents for the chance to be there.

What atvs you have had in your life? How many and what brands?
So, let‘s start from the first one- Honda Foreman 450 (green colour), after that I had Suzuki KQ 700 (yellow). Needless to mention, that I have tried lot of ATV brands such as: Can-am; Polaris; Yamaha. But most of my career I spent with Honda Rincon 680.

This previous year then, which races you took part of?
Firstly, I love Enduro type of races and I was competing at Night rally last year. About this competition- it was 200km of orienteering part and two special tracks.
Another one- Winter rally, from 30 participant I was finished at second place.
In the spring I was competing at hardest ATV/SSV races Hunt The Wolf with CFMOTO Z8 side by side.
Okay, the last one- Enduro rally, there was about 19 teams and we finished at 7‘th place. About that rally: good atmosphere, nice weather and lot of different ATV‘s models.

How about next Hunt the wolf?
After previous Hunt the wolf I knew, that I have to come back there with new goals. So, this year my ambition is to reach top 10 in crossover group.
I hope that my team will be ready for everything, because it‘s one of the hardest races at all. Also if I want to be the best I have to concentrate on patience, navigation skills, unhoped situations.

You are very young active man, do you have time for other hobbies at all?
Of course i have time for my other hobbies, such as cycling- I like to travel with bike around my country and visit interesting places. Also I love basketball, in Lithuania it‘s like our second religion. When I have free time I‘m trying to join my friends time and play with them.

Who are your supporters? You must have few at least
My main supporter- Motorider and especially my boss Valdas Radvilavičius, from him i got Polaris Sportsman XP1000 2017 as a racing ATV and he believes that I can reach my goals. The second one- Iron Baltic company from Estonia.
Now I‘m dealing with ITP Tires for new tires and wheels.
Also I‘m always looking for other supporters, who will be the part of my team.

So what are next years plans? How many races you are planning to drive and where?
My plans for next years: winter race on ice; Hunt the Wolf; Enduro rally (2 stages); Enduro sprint (4 stages); Races around Lithuania (2000km).
Also I‘m thinking about Can-am trophy competition in Latvia.
Also my next season consist not only of races, but futhermore of trainings and ATV tours.

Thanks Adomas and we here in IRON BALTIC wish good luck for you and we follow your ATV life.

You can follow Adomas in social media;
https://www.facebook.com/a.gancierius
www.instagram.com/adomasg/?hl=en

Best Regards
Jarkko Kettula /  Iron Baltic OÜ
jarkko.kettula@ironbaltic.com
http://www.ironbaltic.com

 

Hello Algirdas, how old you are what you are you doing for living?

 Hey Jarkko and all Iron Baltic community, well after more than a 4 months I’ll be 25 years old. Currently my father, Rimantas Mosekonis, and I have a company UAB “Cavallus” in Marijampolė, Lithuania which exports cattles to Poland.

When you first time drove atv? And do you remember brand as well?

As I remember the first time I drove a ATV was when I was about 15 years old. My parents and I were in Egypt where local guide said that we should try local ATV safari in a desert. That’s was the first time I sat on ATV, it was old 250 Honda with a semi automatic gearbox. After this journey, about 6 months later, my father bought me a brand new Chinese manufacture Quinqe 250 ATV. With this ATV I began my small step in carrier with ATVs.

Racing with atvs have been very popular in Lithuania, when you started you career in atv racing?

 Well, the first time I’ve raced I were aprox 16 years old, I’ve competed in “Bekelės fanai cup” where were a special class for these kids like me who drove a Chinese manufactured small engine sized ATVs.
Unfortunately I haven’t finished, because my gearbox malfunctioned while I was driving on a abandoned barns rooftop.
So yes, at that time ATV racing was really popular, there were lots of events where you can compete for amazing prizes like a ATV.
What I couldn’t say about this time, nowadays you compete just to be respected infront of you colleagues and other racers.
That is why nowadays if you want to race you have to have sponsors which helps you during race with finances, products or simply just a support by cheering.
This is why I want to thank Jarkko Kettula and all IronBaltic crew for believing in me and my passion.

Thanks!
Is that normal age start racing in Lithuania?

 Lots of younger people start they carrier in motocross when they are younger from 6 years old. So as I could say, when I’ve started driving a ATV it was a bit late but it wasn’t’ a problem if you have passion to work and seek your true goals.

What atvs you have had in your life? How many and what brands?

So I’ve had 6 ATVs one of them were given by my previous spnsor.
First one was as I mentioned before – Quinqy 250, Chinese Manufacture
Second – Can-Am Outlander 400 XT, 2007 yr.
Third – Suzuki King Quad 750, 2012 yr.
Fourth – Can-Am Outlander 800 XT, 2008 yr.
Fifth ATV given by sponsor CFMOTO ATV importer in Lithuania UAB “MotoRider” and CEO Valdas Radvilavičius – Cfmoto Terralander 800, 2014 yr.
Sixt (Nowadays) – Can – Am Outlander 1000 Pro, 2017 yr.

This previous year then, which races you took part of?

I’ve had just one race in 2017, because I’ve bought a ATV quite late and it was completely basic, in order to achieve something greater you have to invest not only in yourself or race but of course in a ATV modification.
So I’ve competed in Enduro Rally with my colleague which one is also sponsored by Iron Baltic Adomas Gančierius. So we finished a race in honorable 7 th position out of 17 th teams.

How about next Hunt The Wolf?

I could definitely say that I’m a GodFather from Lithuania talking about Hunt The Wolf race, because I was the first Lithuanian who ever entered in this kind of madness 5 days straight of racing.
But talking about  2K18 Hunt The Wolf race… I was thinking about competing in it, but unfortunately I won’t be. I do not want to compete and invest lots of money to a race in which I can be just bellow average because my ATV isn’t ready for this kind of race, I still need better shocks, atleast  Elka Stage 4, beadlock wheels, better tires. And after my ATV is ready, than it comes to a crew which I have to bring and pay their salaries: Mechanic, media team. So yes, in order to be more than an average in this race you have to invest a lot.

 You are very active young man, do you have time for other hobbies at all?

 I do not like sitting around. So that’s why I go to a gym 3-4 times in a week, at a winter a few times in a month I’ve go jogging, and I’ve try to ride with a ATV almost every weekend.
Talking about other hobbies, yes I’ve try to arrange my time correctly so that I’ve could have time for everything.

Who are your supporters? You must have few atleast?

 The main supporter as you might guess is IronBaltic Skid Plates and Jarkko Kettula in front of it.
Then a UAB “MotoRider” based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It helps with a spare parts.
Third one is UAB “Cavallus” based in Marijampolė, Lithuania. it helped with a  new ATV.
Fourth and others. I’m still looking for those who believe that motorsport are not just a way to have pure lifestyle, but who knows that fanatic racing is a pure feeling.

So what are the next year plans? How many races and where we can see you?

Next year, 2K18, will be the year when I will try to finsih my modification of ATV and start once again my racing carrier.
My plans is to compete Enduro Rally which will be held in Lithuania and Latvia, i am still waiting calender to be confirmed.
Enduro Sprint and Cross Country events in Lithuania.
So atleast 5 events are in my schedule.

 Thanks Algirdas and merry Christmas to you and your family!

You can follow Algirdas in socialmedia

Instagram; @algirdasmosekonis
Facebook; @AlgirdasMosekonis

 

Terveisin
Jarkko Kettula / Iron Baltic OÜ
jarkko.kettula@ironbaltic.com
www.ironbaltic.com

 

This summer was very busy, i moved from Finland to Estonia and after work all free time went for that project. I had to find new house from Estonia, sell old in Finland, make a plans for moving and so on. And that limited free time what i had i have used for bicycling.

But when the summer turns to autumn i understund that i didnt had own atv!

That was a weird. I have worked with atvs moore than 10 years and also before that i had all the time atv in my garage.

I was man without ATV!

Here in IRON BALTIC we have our trustable atv, 2008 Suzuki KQ 750.
Actually when that was new, i used that one season in atv orienteering races in Finland and after that KQ have had big role in IRON BALTIC.
There is almost 2000 hours on Suzuki now and it works and rides like new!
Off course i can borrow KQ if necessary and we have all the time in our place few atvs. Those are always latest models and most of them are protos or pre production models from importers or dealers. Normally i can borrow those as well but borrowed atv its not own. I mean that we have to respect those atvs and off course challenging use is prohibited.

At the moment we have totally 40 peoples who are working here and some of them have own atv. So it means that they have own experiences of atvs and off course our accessories. I have told many times rest off the peoples that ride with atvs, its good for all of us. Its much easier sell, design, production etc new accessories for atvs when so many than possible have own opinions and experiences of atvs and have used those in a work or hobby.

So that ment that KQ was reserved practically every weekend.

Then it was time to focus for atv markets.
I have moved to countryside and i dont drive so much hardcore, not anymoore. Off course sometimes but my use nowadays is moore light job or perhaps as a hobby use.
Snowpushing, road grading, some timber job and all kind off overall use what we have in countryside. But off course joyriding as well.
Big thing is testing, we are planning all the time something new and we like to collect so many testhours than possible for our accessories  and equipments before we starting to sell those.
In home we have over 2 km private gravel road to our house and i have to take care off that together wit my neighbourg who have atv too.
Winters are not so long and cold than in Finland but we live just few hundred meters from sea so it means that when there is coming snow, there is coming very easy 20-40 cm in some hours.

So first i thought that i am going to need S&S.
I had opportunity to use Polaris Rangers in my old job a lot and i think that utility side by side is best choice for my use. But after few hours thinking i thought that its perhaps too big for my use and my trailer is just 1.45 m wide so i have to buy new trailer for that as well.

But then one day i saw something interesting in designers garage.
New MY18 Yamaha Kodiak 450.
I started to think about that. Lasti time i had Yamaha atv almost ten years ago, Grizzly 550 and in same driving group one guy had a Grizzly 450, both where good and trustable atvs.
New Kodiak 450 felt bigger than old, or previous Grizzly 450 and 175cm long driver found comfortable driving position.
Actually i just, 15 minutes ago spoked with Yamahas product manager and he confirmed that Kodiak 450 is wider and longer than old Grizzly 450.

I starting to look that moore and i liked it. Nice traditional atv, low noice level, good fuel consumption and quality was pure Yamaha.
I also found some articles from internet and all journalists wrote that its great middle class atv.
So i had to make phone call to local Yamaha dealer. After few phone calls i bought new Kodiak and actually that came from Finland, thanks for Yamaha Motor Europe organisation in Finland.

Same time my wife started to search piece of land for us. Actually she found 1.7 hectar area where is aproxx. 50% typical west-estonian forrest and rest is natural field, there is our new hobbyplace. So now we have half a hectar at home and that new place, it means that we have moore to do with atv.

My wife is doing a lot off all kind of hand works and she like to collect items from forrest and beach so she found use for Kodiak very easy.

Accessories

Warn 2000 lbs winch is original in Kodiak 450, so i dont have to worry about that.
IRON BALTIC skidplate, plastic version p/n 21.2500 was my choice. We have also alumium version but i like plastic.

Strong and rigid steel rear box, p/n 56.6000 including chainsaw holder to rear track and soft box 56.4000 to front track.

From Yamaha original accessorie selection i found hand heater set with thumb heater, great seat heater and Kolpins so called gun holders. Actually those are moore like universal holders and those are very usefull for longer items .
Its very easy to take shovel or other gardening equipments with you or use those with fishing gauge etc. I ordered two pairs of those.

Light we need here in Estonia, autumns are dark and rainy so i am going to install extralight for Kodiak. Actually i ordered some unknow 32 cm LED-bar from far east for my wifes car but that is going now for atv.
And there is coming 48 cm high windshield for Kodiak, we have much enought rainy days in autumn.

Then tyres. I believe that Yamaha original tyres are ok but we have lot sharp rocks and woods in our area so i started to search 6 ply tyres.
My personal opinion is that Maxxis Bighorns are best overall tyres for atv but those are some how very hard to find nowadays in north part of Europe. Product manager of Finnish Duell told that they dont import Big Horns anymoore. He offered CST Stags and those are like Big Horns and actually Maxxis own CST factory so after that it was easy to choose Stags.
New tyres are on ITP aluminium rims and size is original 25″.

I didnt saw any reason why to use bigger ones. Very often after bigger tyres powerline do not work like it shoud or how they have adjusted that in a factory.
That is common problem in smaller or middle class atvs.
Yamahas Ultramatic is perhaps best variator in atv world so the belt does not slide but anyway, my choice was original size.

New tyres with ITP rims are wider than originals, unfortunately it means that i need overfenders. Yamaha have those as original accessorie so i just ordered one over fender set.

Our desingners create full sett of model specific accessories for Kodiak, it means that we have now skidplateset (both materials), front mounted snowplowset, middlemounted snowplowset, rear winch adapter and longer adapter for towing ball.
My choose is front mounted snowplow and that mounting kit is there now.
I like that and its is hidden in a front that it does not disturb other use at all and sometimes its good that you can lift plow higher.
We have new G2 V-plowmodel. That is lighter than old version and it fits very well for middle class atvs. So for that i need middle mounting kit as well.
That new G2 V-plow is great for bigger work if there is coming moore snow and whole over 2 km road is full off snow.
For frontmounted snowplow i am planning to buy  IRON BALTIC bucket kit, p/n 20.6600. Its very easy to install for 1280mm straight plow and after 15 minutes work i have bucket for atv.
That is very usefull in a gardening job or other similar work.
In a beginning i am going to install hook extender as well, it much easier to use specially heavier trailers when hitchball is located 200mm out from atv.

So everything is now ready, i believe that next week i have time to build Yamaha ready and then its time to ride!

During the Christmas holiday i am going to replace original steel rope for synthtetic rope and install IRON BALTICS aluminium rope fairleader.
Same time i install rear winch as well, protype adapter is allready on my table. Rear winch is very usefull accessorie for many jobs.

Best Regards

Jarkko Kettula / Iron Baltic OU
jarkko.kettula@ironbaltic.com
www.ironbaltic.com