11 Search Results for "forks"
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Project Forks
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick Sieman's DON'T ASK column this month has some good stuff. Check it out on Off-Road.com:
- 3 months ago
- Views: 252
- Not yet rated
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Honda Ribi Forks
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
Rick Sieman's DON'T ASK column this month has some good stuff. Check it out on Off-Road.com:
- 3 months ago
- Views: 312
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Honda Ribi Forks
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
Description:
Rick Sieman's DON'T ASK column this month has some good stuff. Check it out on Off-Road.com:
- 3 months ago
- Views: 318
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Don't Ask July 2009
- From: PowersportsEditor
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Description:
SUBJECT: GOOD OLD KAWASAKI KDX200Hello,
I currently own a 2001 KDX 200. I've kept the bike bone stock over the years and always wanted more power, but I was young and financialy unable to throw money at the cause. Now that I can afford to do so. What would you suggest to squeeze some hidden power out of an already awesome bike? (other than installing the FMF"Gnarly",which I intend to do, soon!)Ed Gardner
Clarksburg, WVThis is one of the finest all-around bikes ever built. By all means, go for an FMF pipe and a set of Boyesen reeds. Then go for two teeth more on the countershaft sprocket. Don't worry, the bike will easily pull the gearing. At this point, the bike will be a joy to ride.
Here’s a photo of the KDX200 I personally owned for over a decade.
***
Check out full column of this months reader's questions and Rick's answers.
- Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 402
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Don't Ask - Sneak Peek!
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
Description:
Rick Sieman's monthly "Don't Ask" column doesn't go live on the Off-Road.com editorial site until next week. But I've decided to reward all our loyal Community members, and you get it here first! Here's just a taste, you can read the whole thing over there next Wednesday. Brace yourself!
SUBJECT: YAMAHA ENDURO CLUTCH PROBLEMS
Mr. Siemen,
First, let me tell you that after nearly 25 years of reading your stuff throughout my formative years, I finally have cause to write you. I will, no doubt, sound like so many other sniveling brats that have plague you with questions about their bikes, but I do so at my own risk.
I recently purchased a 1976 IT400C with 768 original miles on it. It has sat for four years with minimal use, and quite obviously, saw little use before that as evidenced by the actual mileage. The bike starts first or second kick, idles beautifully, and cycles through the gears with no problem. I do, however, have one issue.
When the bike is not running, and in gear, I pull the clutch in and attempt to roll the bike and the tranny catches. The clutch will not disengage. My first attempt to remedy the problem was to adjust the freeplay out of the cable at the perch. This helped, but did not cure it.
I took the case cover off and removed the clutch/friction plates after draining the oil, which it had plenty of. They look fine, but they do stick together in a mass when I squeeze the clutch, of course there is no centrifugal force to spin them apart because the motor is off. When I pulled them off the basket they separated with little effort.
The bike will start in first gear with the clutch lever pulled in. Do you think this is something as simple as the cable? Could it just be that I need to run her a bit with some light oil and get the clutch moving again? Finally, could the fiber have swelled and now be out of tolerance?
I appreciate your time and expertise.
Yours,
Matthew Buzzell
Beverly, NJ
The cork swelled up from all those years sitting in oil. You probably need new clutch plates, but before you buy them, try this. Take the cork plates out and clean them thoroughly with contact cleaner. Then, put a sheet of 200 grit wet/dry sandpaper on a small sheet of glass. A piece of glass from a picture frame works fine. Next, rub the plates on the sandpaper a bit (both sides) and after this, hit it with the sandpaper again. Let the plates dry a full day, then re-install. The plates will either work, or the cork will disintegrate. It's worth a try.
***SUBJECT: MAKING A 2002 CR250 SHORTER
Im writing this with reservation that my spelling/grammar may not be up to par. However, I do have a question regarding motorcycles, and as you may have figured short people. Im 5'7 , 23, and recently bought a 02 CR250, my first bike. Ive been riding for just under a year now and I really enjoy my bike, Ive been riding the Oregon dunes along with doing some minor trail riding. Obviously I need it to be lower; as you said anyone under 5'10; will experience problems, Im no exception. Ive read your article regarding shaving your seat foam down, and thats one option that I will take.
I was curious; are there any other avenues that I could explore regarding the issue? Some more experience riders have told me that you can soften up the front and rear suspension to effectively give you a shorter bike, but, warn it can severely change your ride. How much can I change my suspension without it changing my ride drastically?
On a final note, Im the third owner of this bike; is there a simple way to tell if your bike has been bored out? I wonder because the bike has a myriad of bolt on goodies including V-force reeds, FMF exhaust, etc. Finally, what should I take with me for parts, and do you have any insider knowledge- I should know- regarding the late model two strokes?
Thank you!
Short Guy
Tacoma, WA
Cutting the saddle will make a huge difference. Then you can raise the forks up in the triple clamps a bit (13 mms or so). Combine that with backing off the pre-load on the shock to 110 mms or so, should let the bike settle down a bunch. If you were going to race the bike, this would affect the turning of the bike, but for play/trail riding, it should be no problem. To tell what size piston you have in the bike would require that you take the top end apart.***
SUBJECT: NO SPARK IN A YAMAHA TTR225
We bought a Yamaha TTR225 that has no spark. Everything checked good by the shop manual specs except the stator checked no good. We installed a new stator but still no spark. Previous owner replaced the coil but the old one checks good. Do the stators sometimes take out ignition modules when they fail?
Thanks.
Kirby
Lafayette, TN
Chances are quite high that you have the wiring hooked up incorrectly. Check out all (and I mean all ) of your wiring for a dead short or a faulty connector. No, stators do not "take out" ignition modules when they fail, as a rule.***
SUBJECT: WHAT’S AN OLD YAMAHA IT465 WORTH?
looking to get back to enduro, friend has IT 465 ,not running for 6 months says minor issues what is a fair price to offer??? thanks
Mike
Gettysburg, PA
That's a tough question. In good shape, in average condition, a Yamaha IT465 would go for$700 to $1000, depending on details. The "minor issues" could be electrical in nature, which means big bucks. Or the bike could use a top end job, which should cost under $100. Find out what these issues are and deduct what it would cost to fix them from the price I gave you.***
SUBJECT: HAH! YET ANOTHER WEIRD BIKE
I just bought a Baja Motorsports dirt runner 50cc 4 stroke 3.8hp 2005 dirt bike off a free listings website when i went to see the bike it looked good. It started right up this is when i figured out this guy was putting mix oil in the 4 stroke bike. it went pretty good didn't even smoke that much. it has very weak low end power you have to find the sweet spot to get it to start revving up then it goes to about 5500rpm it starts bogging and you have to pulse the throttle to get it to rev to its max 7500rpm. if you don't give it the right throttle it just holds a bog and eventually dies i bought it for 150$ when i got it i drained the gas and put 94 in it opened up the carb and cleaned it good with throttle body cleaner and brake cleaner. the flout looked good and the high flow jet is clear i sprayed some throttle body cleaner right in the engine thew the intake cranked it let it sit then poured gas right in and cranked it then it would rev up a bit pretty cool with no carb. after all that it runs a farly bit better but still has no low end and bogs a lot the bog is usually consistent to cetain rpm i don't really know what to do next please help thx
Super Devon
Oakville, CANADA
Hmm, this email was far above the norm in degree of difficulty, so we enlisted the Divine Intervention of Father Matt Cuddy. After all, he's an expert in weird bikes and your bike qualifies. So here are his thoughts:
I thought Super Devon was glue, and it came in a tube … whatever.
Devon, here's my unsolicited thoughts on your Baja Motorsports "bike":
Since it is only fifty cee cees, and has less horsepower than most lawnmowers, you have to "go big" with a hop up kit to get the displacement to at least 600cc. You can do this by getting an electric drill and a hole saw, and attacking that puny cylinder with gusto. Just remember, when the fins fall off the barrel, you've gone too far. If you've managed to "bore" the cylinder out to a respectable 700 cee cees or so, you now have to find a piston and set of rings to fit. Might I suggest a piston from a 1923 Hispano Suiza? They work great, and the high silicone content in the cast iron piston insures long life between re-bores and ring jobs. The lord gives us these trials to overcome, and become a better person, or in this case a better Baja 50cc (ahem) "motorcycle".
Now about cleaning the carb with brake cleaner, that's a no-no. You should have used oven cleaner, and a nice big sponge. NEVER EVER use brake cleaner on a carburetor; that would be like using aquarium cleaner on a car bumper, or chrome cleaner on a poodle. Get the right tool for the right job Devon, er, Super Devon?
Maybe you can just get rid of the carburetor all together and run the gas line directly into the intake manifold, It ran OK when you did it last time, right? Maybe you've invented some kind of new fuel-infesting system, that needs no moving parts, or has been untouched by human hands. Amazing stuff there, Super Devon.
Now about the "BOG" you're experiencing, it might be that the motor's clogged up with cranberries. Get it? Bog? Cranberries? And if, in fact, it is cranberries causing the "bog", you can get one of those super juice machines from the Juice Man and squeeze up some Cranberry Juice that's good for the urinary tract. See, when life gives you bogs, make juice! Ha! That's a good one...
So Devon, er, Super Devon, I give you these thoughts so you can achieve greatness with your little Baja Bike, that I'm sure will one day be as fast as a top fuel dragster, and have all the torque of a Massey Ferguson tractor.
Send me five holy cards and say 15 Hail Marys.
Yours Truly
Fr. Matthew Cuddy
St. Finbar
Burbank - Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 2790
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MAICO_9.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: 583
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Living a dream
- From: jrbartgissr
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Description:
John here, I am 46, married with 5 kids. My youngest is 12. Two years ago I was able to get back into dirt biking after 20 short years. Boy, things sure have changed. My last ride was a very nice 83 Maico 250 Spider, you know air cooled with right side up forks but still hot in it's day. Well my intention was just to do some trail riding. I got an 85 XR350 with all of the Al Baker mods for 600.00 bucks, smokin deal, well it was nice but I missed my smoker so I traded the XR and 2 guns for an 01 YZ250. As I said before things sure have changed. This bike seemed light years faster than my Maico and if I could have rode it right I'd say it handled great. As it was I felt that this was a younger man's bike and could never get comfortable on it. Well, in Jan of this year I found a sweet 93 KDX 250 in primo shape. It has all the good aftermarket stuff, you know FMF pipe, Factory Connection suspension, Renthal drive etc. I drove 150 miles and traded the guy even for my YZ. What makes the KDX such a sweet bike is it is as comfortable as the XR with the snap of the 2 stroke. Here's where the dream comes in. When I was a kid I had a 74 KD 100 and wanted to go racing but my folks couldn't support me. I went to all the local tracks to spectate as I had a friend that raced a 75 YZ125. I was his pit crew. My best memories are of going to Lake Sugar Tree in Va. to see the Trans-AMA races. Decoster battling guys like Kent Howerton, Garritt Wolsink and Chuck Sun. The track was beautiful and the racing was hot. Gary Bailey, David,s dad, owned the track and ran a school and a Bultaco shop. Well here's the dream. I decided this year to join a X-country association and go racing. This Sunday 4-26 I will be racing on the same track that felt the fury and power of the previously mentioned legends. What a dream come true as I always dreamed when I was a kid of going fender to fender with "The Man". Of course he would have smoked me but one can dream. Come on back and I'll fill ya in on the excitement.
- Blog post
- 7 months ago
- Views: 234
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Rick Sieman - Don't Ask
- From: PowersportsEditor
-
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Want more? Check out past editions of "Don't Ask!"
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 5503
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Prepared (not)
- From: Younggun95
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Description:
A few things are important when you head to the race track for the weekend and don't have any kind of kitchen easily accesible. But we figured no problem. I had a few of those small propane tanks, a small portabable grill, and a camping box full of different random forks, knives, pots and pans.
Our first mistake: Technicaly, I should say my dad's first mistake. I guess we'll blame this one on old age. It was an exteremly late 8:30 pm and he was starting to get cranky about wanting to get to bed. In his crankyness he didn't take a second to stop and think that we had no idea what we actually had when we left to get groceries for the weekend. The result of this mistake: Spending almost an hour wandering around the store not knowing what we need or what to get to eat. In return he would have gotten to bed way earlier if we had just checked our supplies. But I'm only 18. It couldn't have been a good idea when I suggested that we check our box... The only positive result from this trip was finding out that by applying for their free grocery card we could get a 3 cent per gallon discount on fuel!
Our second mistake is also related to not checking our supplies. We had bought some chicken breasts that we figured we would grill on a small portable propane powered grill that we had in the trailer. It took us a while to decide on something, partly because we had no idea what we were looking at. Luckily I thought to buy a generic chicken seasoning for it. Anyways, when we were ready to cook it I found the grill full of all kinds of black stuff. I'm guessing grease and the remnants of everything else thats been cooked on it. I spent a while cleaning it out, but I shouldn't have wasted my breath. 20 minutes and a few different screwdrivers later it still wasn't shooting out any flames. It didn't help though that we only had two propane tanks that were both less than 1/4 full. Result: The grill went in the dumpster.
Luckily our neighbor at the track had a brand new grill not even out of the box yet. We got out a few more screwdrivers and built his new grill for him. How nice of us...
Surprisingly, the chicken ended up being pretty good. We had no idea what we were doing, but the planets must have been aligned or something...
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 228