21 Search Results for ""super hunky""
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Rick Sieman: A Tear Jerker
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Recently an Off-Road.com reader wrote in to our Dirtbike Columnist Rick Sieman:
"I am a long time fan of your magazine column work. I have even begun writing stories of my own riding experiences, attempting to do it in your style, that I liked so much. One of my favorites of all time was the "Tear Jerkers". The routine, painful things that happen to us out in the garage working on the bike. I would love to read it again, any chance of getting to see it?
Thanks.
Mike"
Here you go:
TEAR-JERKERS
(Whenever I hear about a baseball player not playing because of a sprained knee, or some other pussy injury, I just read this column and figure I must be a hell of a man. Or in a really stupid sport.)
By Rick Sieman
Tear-jerkers. We're not talking about when Ramone leaves Belinda for an under-aged goat brander from Seville and gets hit by a train and a bus. Nope. We're talking about real life tear-jerkers … the kind that can bring a grown man to his knees, eyeballs moistened, hurting too much to even curse. Let me explain:
A short time back I was working on my bike, quite peacefully, mind you, getting it ready for the weekend. Now, I have a habit of sticking the screwdriver I'm using into the footpeg. That way I can find it easily. Anyway, I had just put the shiny new Craftsman straight-slot screwdriver into the peg and turned my attention to removing the airbox cover and the filter, when the phone rang.
I got up from the milk crate and drove—literally drove!—the tip of the screwdriver into my left leg, right above the knee. Using my lightning-quick racer-trained reflexes, I immediately fell to the floor, moaning like a kicked poodle, tears welling up in my lagoon-blue eyes. Tear-jerker.
A friend of mind was fixing a cracked pipe on his Yamaha by carefully welding along the spider-webbed damage, taking his time, doing it right. He set the welding rod down, removed the welding goggles, studied the weld, then put the goggles back on to weld a bit more. When he picked up the welding rod, it was by the hot end. Tearjerker.
Once I was in a desert race, doing rather poorly, if memory serves correctly, and I smashed my right foot into a rock that was hooked directly to China. The pain was blinding and caused white dots to swirl in front of my eyes. However, it was not a tearjerker. I was only five miles or so from the finish, and I had no choice but to ride in.
After picking up the bike, I got back on, found neutral, and gave a boot to the kickstarter, with the swollen toes pointed out. On the third kick the bike fired, but the kickstarter slipped up and slapped me on the back of the leg, just above the boot. Serious pain, but still not a tear-jerker.
Rather carefully, I rode back toward the finish line, with the entire right limb throbbing like a wounded tuna. After a few miles, the foot hurt so much that I could no longer keep my heel on the footpeg. So I held the foot in the air and rode even slower. About one-quarter mile from the pits, I rode through a little gully, and the suspension gently bottomed out. This lowered the injured foot just the correct amount, and it made contact with a grapefruit- sized rock, toe first. Real tear-jerker!
My friend George was racing at Saddleback one fine, clear Saturday, and he related this tale: He got off the line a fraction late and had to gas it hard to get to mid-pack. As he neared the top of the long start straight, a rock lazily left the rear knobby of the bike in front of him and arced through the air. He tilted his head to one side to play it safe, and the bike moved over slightly with his body. The rock then dropped gently right into his groin, hitting him in ... how shall we say it?... one of the family jewels.
The pain was intense enough to make him suck in his breath, curl up into a ball and make no attempt whatsoever at trying the first turn. He merely rode through the turn, fell on the ground at one mile per hour and lay there, feet in the air, whimpering. Tearjerker.
Recently I ran into a series of minor cuts and scrapes that were more infuriating than anything else. First off, I cut open my right thumb on a sharp-edged hose clamp while removing the carb. After a few minutes, I forgot about that. Then, a bit later, a screwdriver slipped and my left palm got a nice little gash. I sucked on that for a few minutes to cleanse the wound and then proceeded. A half hour later, a wrench slipped, and I gashed open the backs of two knuckles on the footpeg.
This was getting monotonous. Twenty minutes later, I got a three-inch white-meat cut on the back of my left hand while trimming a zip tie with a dull razor blade. Not much time passed before my right hand got pinched in the toolbox lid. I more or less wrote off these petty injuries and went about the business of shaping up my bike for the next day.
At 11:15 that night, I was just about done, with only the air filter left. It had been hanging up all day to dry, so I grabbed it and got out a bottle of filter oil to wrap up the job. With the filter in my left hand, I poured a liberal amount of Maxima filter oil on the foam and began to work it in really well.
At this point, I realized that my hands had no less than ten open wounds! People have received medals for less serious injuries. Well, what could I do? My hands were already covered with the filter oil, and the cuts were thoroughly saturated. With tears in my eyes, I squeezed the oil through the foam, then stumbled into the laundry room and turned on the hot water and squeezed liquid soap into my greasy hands. And washed them. King of the tear-jerkers!
*** - Blog post
- 1 month ago
- Views: 1104
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KDX 200
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
- 5 months ago
- Views: 377
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MAICO_2.jpg
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
I first saw one of the Rage Maicos on display at an open house at Bill Ramseys Motorcycle Accessory Shop (MAS in Mesa, Arizona).There was a small crowd gathered around the 1981 490 Maico and most of the people just shook their heads and jaws hung wide open. The bike was staggeringly beautiful and the attention to detail was incredible. The Bobby White project started out with a 1979 Maico 250 core bike. It was dismantled, sorted and the work began.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 704
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MAICO_3.jpg
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
I first saw one of the Rage Maicos on display at an open house at Bill Ramseys Motorcycle Accessory Shop (MAS in Mesa, Arizona).There was a small crowd gathered around the 1981 490 Maico and most of the people just shook their heads and jaws hung wide open. The bike was staggeringly beautiful and the attention to detail was incredible. The Bobby White project started out with a 1979 Maico 250 core bike. It was dismantled, sorted and the work began.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 559
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MAICO_1.jpg
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
Description:
I first saw one of the Rage Maicos on display at an open house at Bill Ramseys Motorcycle Accessory Shop (MAS in Mesa, Arizona).There was a small crowd gathered around the 1981 490 Maico and most of the people just shook their heads and jaws hung wide open. The bike was staggeringly beautiful and the attention to detail was incredible. The Bobby White project started out with a 1979 Maico 250 core bike. It was dismantled, sorted and the work began.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 621
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MAICO_4.jpg
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
I first saw one of the Rage Maicos on display at an open house at Bill Ramseys Motorcycle Accessory Shop (MAS in Mesa, Arizona).There was a small crowd gathered around the 1981 490 Maico and most of the people just shook their heads and jaws hung wide open. The bike was staggeringly beautiful and the attention to detail was incredible. The Bobby White project started out with a 1979 Maico 250 core bike. It was dismantled, sorted and the work began.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 584
- Not yet rated
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MAICO_5.jpg
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
Description:
I first saw one of the Rage Maicos on display at an open house at Bill Ramseys Motorcycle Accessory Shop (MAS in Mesa, Arizona).There was a small crowd gathered around the 1981 490 Maico and most of the people just shook their heads and jaws hung wide open. The bike was staggeringly beautiful and the attention to detail was incredible. The Bobby White project started out with a 1979 Maico 250 core bike. It was dismantled, sorted and the work began.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 515
- Not yet rated
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2 Project Yamaha
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman wraps ups two long-term Off-Road.com Project bikes, by comparing them. Work, parts and results. An awesome technical series. In fact - two!
- 7 months ago
- Views: 218
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3 Project Honda
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman wraps ups two long-term Off-Road.com Project bikes, by comparing them. Work, parts and results. An awesome technical series. In fact - two!
- 7 months ago
- Views: 155
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1 Project Honda
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman wraps ups two long-term Off-Road.com Project bikes, by comparing them. Work, parts and results. An awesome technical series. In fact - two!
- 7 months ago
- Views: 162
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4 Project yamaha
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman wraps ups two long-term Off-Road.com Project bikes, by comparing them. Work, parts and results. An awesome technical series. In fact - two!
- 7 months ago
- Views: 156
- Not yet rated
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5 Project Honda
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
Description:
Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman wraps ups two long-term Off-Road.com Project bikes, by comparing them. Work, parts and results. An awesome technical series. In fact - two!
- 7 months ago
- Views: 158
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Rick Sieman - Don't Ask
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Every month, our dirtbike section burns up the line with Rick Sieman's "Don't Ask" column. If you haven't read it before, you are missing out. 2 parts grouch slapping people for not using proper grammar, 2 parts grouch slapping people for asking stupid questions, amid a whole lot of technical motorcycle expertise, stirred together with a healthy dose of vintage nostalgia and bench racing.
This month, it has spilled and overflowed, so we thought we'd bring you a sneak peek here first - look for the full column on the Off-Road.com Dirtbike Editorial site April 1. But for now, enjoy. And beware!
DON’T ASK!
QUESTIONS ANSWERED, INSULTS HURLED, LESSONS LEARNED
***
DIRE WARNINGS AND THINGS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
If you choose to email a question to this forum, then you must conduct yourself accordingly. Therefore, the following rules are in order
1. Do not write your email to me IN CAPS. If you do so, I will print out your question and do terrible things to it.
2. Do not request a personal email response. Since I get thousands of questions each month, trying to answer them all would cut deeply into my leisure time, which I value more than your current state of confusion.
3. Try to spell at least in a semi-correct fashion. If you choose to mangle the English language, expect no mercy from this quarter. You might be mocked severely.
4. Do not ask for me to send you copies of my many manuals and literature. I am not in the library business, nor do I want to spend the bulk of my day at the copy machine just because you're too lazy to ask your dealer, or look around a bit.
5. Don't bother me with truly stupid questions, like how to get 50 more horsepower for a buck and a half
6. Now that you know the rules, think carefully and have at it!
Oh yes … I’ll leave your email unedited, for what it’s worth.
***
SUBJECT: BUILDING YOUR OWN DIRT BIKE
Im a 10 year old boy who loves to ride dirtbikes. I have a project Im working on. I have an old dirtbike frame and I have an old leaf blower that runs. I want to put the leaf blower in the dirtbike frame and I cant figure out how to rig up the throttle. Do you have any sugestions that might give me an idea for this project?
J. Ryeley
This called for some comments from Matt Cuddy, who has built more weird dirt bikes that any person alive. The fact that he's still alive is mute testimony to his skills in this department. Read and learn:Very good idea there my 10 year old friend, but you didn't mention what type of frame you have, so I will have to think it's a standard mini-bike frame.
The big problem with leaf blower motors is they are very small (about 30cc) and once you get the fan cage off, you'll see that the crankshaft end that's sticking out of the case is tiny, about the size of your pinky finger, and almost impossible to mount any type of clutch or sprocket to.
Also, there are no "motor mounts" on the tiny motor to speak of, and the best bet would be constructing a motor mount that bolts to the case halves, and the bottom of the frame. Too much work, for too little power from that itsy-bitsy motor.
I suggest you find a five horsepower Briggs & Stratton laying around somewhere (a 3 & 1/2 horse works too) and your problems will be solved, as there are thousands of places where you can buy parts for the Briggs, and even more places that sell clutches, throttles, hop-up kits, etc.
While your idea on using a weed-blower motor is sound in thinking, in practical application it would be almost impossible to mount, and the low horsepower from the tiny little two stroke would hardly move you and your bike at the same time.
Go with a Briggs & Stratton, or if you're really into technology, an over head valve 4 HP Honda. Please keep us updated on the project, and maybe we'll run a full report on it, in the dirtbike section of Off-Road.com.
***
SUBJECT: REMEMBER MUNTZ CYCLE PARK?
Hey Rick!
I called you a few years ago. What a phone bill! You were still in Mex. Just wanted to thank you for Dirt Bike Magazine. I bought the first few issues, then here and there bought more. Shouda kept those first ones. Hope you are doing well. Remember Munts Cycle Park? Did it become Valley for a while? I rented some s**tbox Suzuki one time. ran like a...well...a rental dirt bike! Handled like wheelbarrow with a flat and only one handle!
I would have "ghost rode" it down that gnarly hill climb, but it couldn't make it up the back way. Wasn't the first bike to make it up that hill a dirt bike with a Kawasaki H500 triple in it? I heard the first bike to make it up was going to get $500 (the rider) Remember any of that? Right across from the Simi Drive-in used to be a Dunecycle rental track. Got kicked out 'cause my friend and I got to the very rear of the course and stayed there too long shooting around instead of just making the lap.
Well, I've read "MONKEY BUTT" at least 5 times, now. A very educational read. All dirt-bikers should buy it! All true, too! (?) I grew up in Thousand Oaks, California from '57 to '73 when I graduated H.S. and went into the Army. What a great time to be off-road! Also, I heard someone was looking for info on the Chris Cycle. A friend had one. It was cool! not quite a Hodaka powered Bonanza, but it still ran good. Had a long, chrome gas tank, a real clutch and i think a 4 speed. Made in Italy, I think.
Well, hope to hear from you and/or read your answers in "DON'T ASK". By the way, was my grammar and/or spelling okay? Take notes, mini-riders, It can be done. My skool musta ben gooder then yurs.
Dave Fruhling
Gold Hill, ORWow, your email brings back a lot of memories. Muntz Cycle Park got renamed Valley Cycle Park and it used to be a great place to ride. Hang on to that first copy of DB, as it's going for around $200 now. Your spelling was "way gooder" than normal.
***
SUBJECT: WHICH BIKE SHOULD HE GET?
Hi Rick,
I was wanting a newer kx 500 kawasaki, I like them alot ,but i dont know if i can get on one as Im 5'10 but 30in, in the seam,? do i get an oplder bike and fit on it rick or do i get the kx and have it adjusted if its possible,? I was looking at the older 73 maico 400's in orange and the older 74 yamaha 250,360 mx's,too, I mean if i could fina an older maico id get it but ive heard about the thing on parts and pieces falling off but i still like them they were really something and handled really good, please help me Rick on this ok, im 48 and getting back into riding ok, thanks alot
kirk c.
Alton, KSIf you're just getting back into riding, then consider a KDX 200, most any year in the last decade. They're great bikes and very reliable. If you want to race vintage and reliability is the prime issue, consider a CZ. Stay away from the KX500. In my opinion, it's a poor bike.
***
SUBJECT: ELSINORE OR PURSANG?
Rick
I have found a one owner 79 elsinore $2500,,, Also, a 75 Pursang, same price , this is 175cc frame with 250 top end... whats your opinion? Both within driving distance, im a novice mxer although I have ridden them for a lot years (not lately) .
Rohn Ussery
Robins AFB, GAForget the Pursang and go for the Elsinore, although the price seems high for a 79, unless it's perfect.
***
SUBJECT: NO GAS TO A 1985 CR500
I just bought a 85 cr 500. I took the carb apart, cleaned it and the reeds and rad valve and put a new spark plug in it. It fired right up with the old gas still in it. then I drained the remainder out and put new gas in and now it wont start. Can you help?
Brad
Paso Robles, CAFrom what you described, it sounds like the gas is not flowing into the carb. Float level might be grossly off, or the float needle might be stuck. Check this first.
***
SUBJECT: LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT BIKE
Hi Rick
kirk c, from kansas here, still looking at bike,s I still like the TM 400 suzuki , I mean the 74 model Is this one better than the 71's that were hand grenades? I hope so as i cant find anything that i like as much or the looks of than a TM 400, maicos are ok kinda crude looking, buls are neat if you worked on them first,
Yamahas are nice if you can find a good one,I like the 360 MX, 74 mod, I think the older yammies and suzukis are kinda in the same league, good quality, or as good as anything out there if you got good shocks, and redid the forks, and jet the carbs right than youll have a sweet bike, Plus,,,, they fit me alot better than the newer stuff that looks like puddle jumpers,
I m sure glad your doing good Rick, and i heard that you guys are moving back to Az, good move, Im not nuts just looking and not buying but i have to be sure like you in what im gettingI know you said the older Elsinore 250M's were really nice too and id like to have one if people didnt think they were made from gold, and were asking wayyyy too much for one, or the old thing where pour all your money in it but get nothing out of it,
Im sure glad your there rick to help and guide guys like me that know better than to be swayed by anything trendy and then it dies out, hope things are going good with you guys,
cordially
Kirk C,
The 1974 TM400 was actually better than the original beast. If you want to race an older (and lower) bike, the best pre-75 bike you can get is a Maico. Period.
***
Want more? Check out past editions of "Don't Ask!"
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 5498
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Vintage Dirtbike Graveyard
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
If you are as big of a vintage off-road motorcycle/dirtbike nut as Rick Sieman is, you don't want to miss Super Hunky's feature this month on "The Black Hole." Looking for a sparkplug, he stumbled into nirvana...
If you were just driving down the street, you might pass this place up. It has a modest sized sign up that proclaims: THE MOTORCYCLE ACCESSORY SHOP and the phone number. Let's say you needed a fresh spark plug
and maybe an extra tube, so you pull in, park in the lot and head for the entrance.What's this? Leaning against the wall you see a 1973 Cooper 250! Not too many of those rare birds around. When you walk in and look around, you might not be able to take it all in. The place is literally packed with stuff! Leathers, goggles, gloves, boots things you would see in any well stocked shop. But the shelves are jammed to the max with all the gear. And the prices are low, outrageously low. MX gloves 10 bucks. Riding pants 50 bucks. Whoa!"
Click Here to read the full article and see some great vintage bikes - Blog post
- 10 months ago
- Views: 451
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Your Questions Answered
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
I don't know how many of you are loyal Super Hunky (Rick Sieman) followers, but if you own a dirtbike - or like to see people smacked who haven't mastered the keyboard - you shouldn't miss this month's installment of "Don't Ask." Vintage enthusiasts will especially find something to smile about.
Want a sample?
SUBJECT: VINTAGE BIKE RACING CHOICES
gettin' older now at 57 and still wanting to race post vintage mx. Have a chance at a really nice 83 yz100 with 125 rims and ported by a pro. Is this a viable bike for an old guy 5 foot 6 inches and 150 pounds? I love the vintage bikes but they just don't have the suspension for my old bones. I still want to race past 60; what bike? George in Jefferson City PS: have a '69 441 Victor that is a blast from the past!
vmx1969
Jefferson City, MOThe YZ100 would not tire you out if you rode it flat out, which is what you'd have to do in the 125 class. If you really want to race, get a Hodaka 100 and race in the new AHRMA 100 class.
Because the bike is so light, it won't beat you to death.SUBJECT: JETTING FOR DUMMIES
im looking to buy an after marjet exaust pro circuit t4 to be excact but i heard that u have to re jet so what jetts should i buy my bike is a drz 125l?
Oscar
Stamford, CTYou are typical of a person who is too lazy to learn how to spell much better than a house plant. Using your crippled logic, had it ever entered your mind to contact Pro Circuit and ask them what jets should be used with a product they developed? Now go away.
- Blog post
- 11 months ago
- Views: 222
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Ask your Tech Questions!
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
With the economy in the toilet, we know a lot of you - and us - are having to stretch your recreational dollar. Heck, if you even have one left! You may not be shopping for a new Jeep, ATV, dirtbike or snowmobile this year. You may be hitting the Nickel or the Trader and looking for a killer deal on a hopefully-slightly-used one, or grubbing around in your neighbor's old barn for a hidden treasure. Or you have one already in your garage that you just are going to have to make last one more year.
We feel you.
As a result, and in recognition of the hugely popular "Don't Ask" dirtbike column that Rick Sieman has written for Off-Road.com for year, we have brought back our ATV Answer Man column and added a Snowmobile Ask the Snowman column. These guys have been around forever, have breathed life back into models that have been on the trails longer than some of you have been alive. And often test ridden last year's too -
But be warned - your answer may just be found in an owner's manual; look there first! Otherwise, jump on and join in.
Dirtbike - Don't Ask
ATV - Answer Man
Snowmobile - SnowMan
Jeep - JeepCreep - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 550
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Super Hunky
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:Super Hunky Rick Sieman tests out the Works Shock on Project Yamaha TTR230
- 1 year ago
- Views: 344
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wildmanwillie
- Newbie
- Points:250
- Views: 257
- Since: 1 year ago
- Not yet rated