***

SUBJECT: 1979 YZ400 GAS TANK

Dear Rick,
I own a 1979 YZ 400, but I need to replace the fuel tank and I can find any for that year. I did find a tank for a 1979 YZ 125 but I need to know if this will fit on my 400.
Thanks.
No Name
Denver, CO

Nope. The YZ 125 is a smaller, shorter chassis and the gas tank is much smaller and shorter. You might try an enduro/IT tank. It'll hold more gas than the stocker and a lot of later years will fit.

***

SUBJECT: 1977 HONDA XL100 SWAP

I have a 1977 honda xl 100 in need of a new engine. What year and model engines would fit in this bike?
Jonathan
Abbotsford, CANADA

Honda made a chassis switch in the mid-70s, so using an older engine is out of the question. If you totally wasted your motor, it'll cost you around (rough estimate) $500 to rebuild it. If you just smoked the top end, figure about $250. If you can find a motor in a bike boneyard, it's going to cost you about $200 for a runner ... and who knows what kind of shape it's in. All things considered, if you can repair the top end, do it. After all, your bike is worth just about $500 or so.

***

SUBJECT: LOWERED KX250

Hi Rick,
I enjoy your articles and answers to the dummies with chinese knock offs. I know you get a lot of questions about how to lower a bike for us short fellers. I tried about everything on my 98 KX 250 including letting the adjustment nut out on the monoshock to increase sag which made it ride like a 70 Pontiac Bonneville, so I put
it back at about half of the adjustment range. Next I took an electric knife to the seat foam and what you don't realize is IF you cut your seat down it becomes wider and left me saddle sore and was uncomfortable.

So I found me a 94 - 98 125 seat on flea bay that was about 3/4 in. shorter than the original 250 seat that I ruined with the electric knife. The bike is still too tall for my 5'6 150lb. frame. (How did I ever ride the 83 CR 480 when I was younger? Boy I was fast then at 145lb.) Then I came across the KOUBLA link and walaa! It lowered the bike another 3/4 in. and I can now touch terra firma comfortably when I go to stop. No more looking for a log, stump or little hill to stop at to take a break.

I was warned that the bike may bottom but at my weight it has not been a problem. I did not lower my forkes in the clamps.
Where I ride it is whooped out and ole mean green just skims over the tops, YEE HAW! The KOUBLA LINK has made my bike much more enjoyable.

Pricey little buggars but well worth it and an easy instalation. Thanks Darryl. you may shorten/edit as needed. tell me what you think.
Darryl
Baton Rouge, LA

We haven't tried the Koubla Link yet, as this editor stands a lofty 5' 8 1/2". Still, there are other methods to lower
the height of your bike. Firstly, slide the forks up in the triple clamps. Next consider shortening the fork springs a half inch. You can also take one coil out of the shock spring that will lower the bike about 1 1/2 inches. So you do have some options.

***

SUBJECT: RECALLING THE SAHARA CLUB DAYS

Hey just wanted to say we were thinking about all you did for the dirtbike community.....Still Have this poster Hanging in my garage! See Attached files.
mmrt

Thanks for the photo. It brings back memories of when we fought for land. That's Louis McKey (The famed Phantom Duck of the Desert) on the left and me (Rick Sieman) on the right. Note lack of beer gut.
Ahhh, those were the skinny days.

***

SUBJECT: 1999 RM 125 BORE QUESTION

i have a 1999 rm 125 i broke 2nd gear and me and my dad fixed it i put it back together and rode it for it 20 min and it blew up and i just tore it apart and my pistion is cracked know how big can i bore it before i have 2 machine my cases
Brian G.
Yukon, PA

If you were from Yukon in Alaska, I would guess that your brain had just frozen solid. Since your bike has pistons available all the way up to 5th over, why would you even consider a big bore piston, especially in a bike that's almost ten years old and worth about $800 to $1000 in good condition?

By the way, unless you're a native of Ooga Boogaland, your command of the English language is pathetic. Now go sit in a corner with a first grade grammar book, spit dribbling out of the corner of your lips and try to spell "cow" without making mooooo sounds.

***

SUBJECT: 2001 CR125 FILED CYLINDER?

Hi mate
i own a cr250 01 model and just had a replacemnt piston installed by a mate.i started it up yesterday and it started easy and felt responsive but there was a loud tinging/rattling noise sounds like coming from motor!!!!im just wondering if that should be tehre as its a 2stroke or if somethings wrong with it!!!!!!? my mate put a b size
piston in asprevious one overheated and chiped of into the motor and its ahd to be flushed out etc.and little of it melted to the cylinder and mate filed it back and got her going.any advice would be great mate as want it to last and be able to ride.
thanks heaps
Chad Forrest
Newcastle, AUSTRALIA

Your buddy filed the cylinder? Gee, and you wonder why the bike is making funny sounds. My best bet is that your cylinder is way loose and you just slapped a piston in without measuring it out. Then you for sure would have those sounds.

***

SUBJECT: PERFECT … ALMOST … HONDA XR250

Rick,
I have a 1989 Honda XR250R that looks like it was packed in kleenex for all of its life. It was very lightly used, and is in very very good shape. However, after it gets good and warm it seems to tick a bit. Not a scary scary tick, but still. It doesn't tick on every piston fire. It sort of randomly picks the stroke to tick on. I've adusted the
valves very carefully, and several times. I can hear it ticking from about 15 feet away.

There are no modifications at all to the bike. It is literally new, but old.. The spark plug is a light tan color, it has
tons of power, and doesn't miss a beat. It's just a hair noisy. What should I do? Install a louder exhaust? A radio? I am 28 years old. Thank you in advance,
Ned
Boston, MASS

Very interesting question. If the bike is as fresh as you say, worn out parts are not the culprit. Just about the only thing that might cause the random noise is an overly tight compression release cable. The cable is hooked to the kickstarter and if the cable is just a bit too tight, it'll open the exhaust valve a bit and cause that ticking sound. Check this out by disconnecting the cable temporarily. Get back to me on this.

***

SUBJECT: RATING THE OLDER HONDA CR

Rick,
Thanks for all the tips. They've been a ton of help and I love your site. The Al Gore interview is a HOOT! (Not that we would admit to any support of this type of humor, just an off the record comment that it "could" be humorous in the proper situation and context).

My question is more in regards to your personal opinion of two Honda CR's from the 80's. First would be a 1980 CR125R.second is a 1982 CR250R. I have both of these bikes and love them both. In your opinion, how do they rate to other bikes in that era and class. Tops, mediocre, not the best? I am collecting and value your input as to other models to consider.
Thanks for your time,
Gregg
Kewaskum, WI

Yep, we had a lot of fun with Al Gore when he ran for office. If ever there was a stuffed shirt that deserved ridicule, it was Al. Now, to your bikes: the 125 bike to have in 1980 was theYZ125. The Honda was not that highly rated, as the suspension left a lot to be desired. In 1982, the RM250 was the hot ticket. In fact, I parked my Maicos and raced a Full Floater RM250 for the entire year. If you gave the RM a 10, then the Honda would garner a 7.5 to an 8.

***

SUBJECT: 2002 CR80 CARB ADJUSTING

Need help adjusting carb on 2002 CR80R Dirt Bike. Bike ran fine no smoke, Jackleg brother adjusted carb to increase idle RPM now the Bike smoke a bit and doesn't seem to have the same power, can anyone advise ome of the proper adjustment on the carb jets

Jag Maylene, AL

There's only two things that you can "adjust" on your carb: first, you can adjust the air screw to affect the idle circuit and secondly you raise or lower the needle. That's it. Every other jet can be replaced with a richer or leaner jet. When you adjust the air screw, bottom it out then take it 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 turns out. One last bit of
advice: keep your bonehead brother away from your bike.

***

SUBJECT: IT'S A MATTER OF FAITH

Hey
i have just recently repaired my bike buy putting in a new cylinder and piston. I had the bike started for around 10 minutes then decided to turn it off. The next day i went out it started once and wheni cut it off it would not start again. So i replaced the piston and cleaned out the carbs and made sure that there was spark getting to the
plugs and there was i was just wondering if you might no what the problem could be.
Thanks
James
Wicklow, IRELAND

Ah laddy, your email demanded the thinking of a man of the cloth. So we turned your question over to Father Matt Cuddy. His response:

Pattie me lad, we have some serious issues with your diagnosis of why yer motorbike won't run. Here's a few things to check before you begin anew, as it were:

#1: Make sure you haven't replaced the petrol with whiskey, while it might make you run better, it's bad for the motorbike. So no whiskey for your bike. Got that?

#2: When you check the sparkplug, don't mistake a detonator cap for the plug and screw it in instead, as it might blow up the whole garage, but that's OK if any bloody black & tans are mucking about trying to fix their miserable little Austin Marinas. Spark plug=yes.
Detonator cap=no.

#3: Why in all that is holy are you replacing the piston every time the bike refuses to start? The piston should be the least of your worries, unless you installed it while on the shout, and got it in upside down or something. A good rule is to keep away from the sauce when working on your motorbike, a Guiness or two is OK, but keep away from the single malt.

#4: Since you didn't say what kind of bike it is, I have to guess it's a senile B25 BSA Scrambler. These bikes are constructed so bad the only way to get them off the road is to soak them in warm salty water for 24 hours, and then throw away everything but the gas cap. You can then use the cap to screw it on a new motorcycle.

#5: After all this, I have to insist you say fifteen Hail Marys and fill out 12 holy cards at your next confession. And say hello to yer Mum for me, God bless her.

Cheers,
Father Matt Cuddy
The Parrish of St. Finbar
Burbank, CA

***

SUBJECT: 2004 KAWASAKI KDX220

Hello Mr. Sieman,
I have a 2004 Kawi KDX220. I bought it as a new/leftover and it's always run great, but lately it seems to be a
little anemic. I've got about 60 hours on it, and it's starting to spew goo from the silencer/pipe joint onto the swingarm. Is this the signal that my non-repackable stock silencer is starting to get clogged and it's time to by an FMF Turbinecore 2?

Or might something else be going on? Till now I've kept the stock silencer because everybody says it's the quietest, and being older and wiser now I prefer quiet dirt bikes for the same reasons that submariners prefer quiet submarines.

After being a Dirt Bike subscriber back in the 70's I discovered your on-line column a couple years back and read it regularly. My son and I crack up reading it, especially when the young teens on their endless quest for
the mysterious powerband write in. If any evidence should appear that you actually got this message, and if it please you, I will write again with more questions, vintage bike brochure scans, the link to the NPR
story about the word "Hunky," pictures of a bike in the grip of a swamp monster, venomous desert creatures, a redneck tip for TTR125 owners, stories about how dirt bike madness has affected my family, etc. Kindest
regards and welcome back to (Barack) America, and AZ - I think.
Dhavid

That goop is trying to tell you something. You are ready for a new tip on that pipe. And while you're at it, consider an FMF pipe. I put one on my KDX 200 and it came alive. The stocker is a heavy, double-walled item and stock spark arrestor clogs up easily. What are you running for a gas/oil ratio? I used 32:1 on mine. And genuine thanks for the kind words.

***

SUBJECT: YAMAHA XT/TT 600 ENGINE SWAPS

Hi Rick,
i wonder if the engine from a late 90:s Yamaha XT600 with electric starter fits my 1987 Yamaha TT600. Thank you
Jari
Landskrona, SWEDWN

You might be suprised, Jari, but I don't have a late 90s XT600 in front of me sitting right next to a 1987 TT600. Failing that, might I humbly suggest that you beg, borrow or steal a tape measure and check out the motor mounts on both bikes.

***

SUBJECT: 1983 XL600 REAR FENDER?

I have a 1983 xl600 (street legal) that desperately needs a rear fender. The stock fender has a metal inner liner that has fatigued (as is the outer red plastic). Could you suggest and after market fender, the ones I've looked at don't seem to cover far enough forward. Also this bike has two carbs could you suggest a replacement carb I
could find in a junk yard?
No Name
Lakewood, CO

Do yourself a favor and put on an XR500 rear fender and fender liner instead of the XL. You should be able to locate an XR easier than an XL in a bike scrapyard.

***

SUBJECT: OLD YAMAHA ID SEARCH

I have an old yamaha dirt bike,It"s a 175 I know that.But im not sure what year.There"s a number stamped on the front of the frame,455-004690.The bike is a one owner,and in very good condition.Any help would be appreciated.
Rodney
Terrell, TX

After much searching, I found that your old Yamaha is a 1974 MX175A.

***

SUBJECT: 1983 HONDA CR125 BUSTED KICKSTARTER

i have 1983 honda cr125 and the kickstart is locked in a downward postion. Can u tell me how to fix it?
Zachdeberry
Jackson, TN

Now this might come as a shock to you, but if you take off the case cover, chances are very good you might see what the problem was ... like a broken spring.

***

SUBJECT: HONDA CT70 WEIRD SPARK

I have just gotten a honda 1982 ct70 dirt bike. It isnt getting consitent fire and i think that the ignition wires are messed up. Which two wires have to be together to get fire?
Eric
Madison Heights, VA

If you're getting an intermittent spark, chances are that your wiring is hooked up correctly. The CT70 had a set of points
that was based on an "L" shaped phenolic arm that wore quickly. I'll bet that if you adjusted the points to .015, the bike would then run. Try it.

***

SUBJECT: 1994 YZ250 JETTING

i have baught a 1994 yamaha yz250 from a guy and the crank was junk so i baught a motor off ebay and had to put a new piston and rings in it. it runs great! exept if it is cold or sometimes warm when i go to start it it will foul the plug? i am running a BR9ES and i tried a BR9EYA to and did the same! i have a FMF fatty gold series expansion
chamber and a powercore silencer. i have the TM style carb and i do not know the jet size? also when im in 5th gear realy cruisin and i crack it the back tire will just spin and throw a 4ft rooster and its a brand new tire! any help would be great!
2-stroke man
Eau Claire, WI

Why don't you contact FMF and find out what size jets they recommend with their pipe? Also, unless you're racing, a B8E would be less prone to fouling. And please learn how to punctuate and capitalize before you email again.

***

SUBJECT: 1981 IT175 ERRATIC BEHAVIOR

Hi Rick
I own a 1981 IT175 it starts 1st kick and will tick over all day, as you pull the throttle back it will choke up and try to die even when feathering the throttle it will not rev above tick over. I have changed coil, cdi,plug, plug cap, cleaned carb 10 times over,checked timming, checked piston and head for wear,new air filter, checked crank seals,exhaust all clear, all by IT manual. Please help any
Thanks Scott.
ENGLAND

Three possibilities come to mind. First, the air boot from the carb to the air box might be collapsing when you give
it throttle. Second, check the reed valve. Third, your exhaust might be plugged up. Check all these and get back to me.

***

SUBJECT: 1990 YAMAHA DT200 PIPES

I have a 1990 Yamaha DT200R. Could you tell me if the Yamaha WR200 uses the same pipe? Do you have any European contacts that would know? FMF lists a "Fatty" pipe for the WR200, and I'd like to know if it fits my DT200.
Glenn L.
Edmonton, CANADA

At the risk of being anti-social, why don't you contact FMF and ask them if the pipes are the same? I know a great deal of things, but I try not to clutter my mind with DT200 pipe swaps.

***

SUBJECT: LAST OF THE AIR COOLED HONDA CR500S

Thank you for a great artical, I love 2 strokes recently purchased 1984 honda air colled CR500 VRRY CLEAN.i WAS TRYING TO FIND ANY ARTICLES OR REVIEWS ON THIS MODEL. i HAVE OWNED A 1985 WATERCOLLED cr500 but am not awair of any info on the air colled model. please let me know of any info you know about this model.KTM rules.
Rod
Marina, CA

Here are the specs for the '85 water cooled engine and the specs for the '84 air cooled engine. Also, I've included a photo of the '84 engine and you can see what looks like a water pump housing on the cases. Interesting.

1985 specs
Engine Type 2-stroke
Displacement 489 cc
Bore x Stroke 89 mm x 79 mm
Engine Cooling Liquid
Carburetor 38mm Keihin
Transmission 5 - speed
Wheelbase 59.1 in
Ground Clearance 13.4 in
Seat Height 37.8 in
Weight, dry 232 pounds
Fuel Tank Capacity 2.3 gallons
Forks 43mm Showa
Fork Travel 12.0 in
Shock(s) Showa, Pro-link
Shock Travel 12.6 in
Front Wheel 21 in
Rear Wheel 18 in
Brakes disk/drum

Other Information
Intended Use Motocross
Color Scheme Red-orange/blue
Cost when new $2598
Country of Origin Japan

1984 specs
Engine Type 2-stroke
Displacement 489 cc
Bore x Stroke 89 mm x 79 mm
Engine Cooling Air
Spark Plug Champ N86
Carburetor 36mm Keihin
Transmission 5 - speed
Steering Rake (Castor) 28.5 degrees
Steering Trail 4.3 in
Wheelbase 58.7 in
Ground Clearance 13.2 in
Seat Height 37.8 in
Weight, dry 230 pounds
Fuel Tank Capacity 2.5 gallons
Forks 43mm Showa Conv
Fork Travel 12.0 in
Shock(s) Showa, Pro-link
Shock Travel 12.4 in
Front Wheel 21 in
Rear Wheel 18 in

Other Information
Intended Use Motocross
Color Scheme Red-orange/blue
Cost when new $2598
Country of Origin Japan

"500 ENGINE"	"480 ENGINE"

***

SUBJECT: DANGEROUS TRACKS

SH,
I love to read a guy who caresses the language and loves to write about dirt riding with it. I picked you up in '71 as I remember and you nursed me through thirty years on my trusty but sometimes brutal '72 Suzuki TM250J.
It retired six years ago and now I'm bookending my riding career with the last of the RM250 two strokes. It's like a magic carpet with warp drive.

Now to my subject. What has become of the Dynoport initiative for safer tracks? I support that effort and further believe that Supercross elements have no place on an outdoor motocross track. That's a slightly more extreme
position but it gives me room to compromise. More specifically, I believe tracks should tend strongly toward natural terrain with prep limited to some grading, pit filling, log removal, boulder removal and clearing of big
roots. Daredevil, acrobatic, stunt features have their venues but traditional outdoor motocross should not be one of them.

I believe that Super Hunky also finds the unnecessary danger not only saps the sport of much of its fun for many riders but also places young riders at avoidable risk. Risk should rise with increased speed and fall with diminishing speed. Any rider, especially beginners, should be able to seek sanctuary by backing off the throttle without fear of casing a triple and waking up in the hospital.

I further believe that promoters have allowed this dangerous situation to evolve, but not just to create a gladiator type danger factor for increased attendance. Focusing on these Supercross track elements allows any piece of flat terrain to become a motocross track under the sculpting of a D9 Caterpillar. This reduces the need to search for and maintain interesting and challenging natural terrain which is beneficial but a benefit that has been diluted by being coupled with these unnatural dangers.

While I applaud anything that puts more dirt at the rider's discretion, I can't support adding dangerous unnatural hazards to the track and allowing children and novices unfettered exposure to them. This also applies to old farts who can't afford to spend half of their remaining racing years recovering from unnecessary injuries, yet should not be relegated to the quarter mile kiddy track.

I'll stop preaching to the choir now and close with an accolade and a couple of questions. I give a double fanfare of the brass expansion chambers to the Buffalo Creek Motocross facility near Canton, Texas. While they do have a large track of the current National outdoor style they also maintain a 1.25 mile GP style track with natural terrain and easy jumps. A grandpa can take a grandchild there and share the sport that gives a lifetime of joy.

So, where are we now with the safety initiative and what can I do?
Rex Breeland
"Win, lose or DNF, it's always a blast."

I'd like to relate a story to you. Back in the mid-80s, Saturday Saddlebackgot shut down. This left a huge gap in the SoCal racing, as racers could go there and get in two 45 minute motos and still get home by 3 o'clock. They used to run a bunch of classes together and score them seperately.

Alexander Conrad (ACE/Alexander Conrad Enterprises) decided to run an Indian Dunes Saturday race, just like Saddleback. Since I was the editor of Dirt Bike at the time, I decided to back this schedule when asked by ACE. The first Saturday was great, with big crowds, lots of racers and a full schedule.

The next Saturday, the races went off as scheduled, but this time, they put in three sets of double jumps in the track. The day of racing barely finished before dark, and the second round of motos was only 30 minutes long.

Why?

People kept getting hurt on the double jumps and the ambulances were busy hauling injured bodies to the hospital.

The next Saturday, another half-dozen doubles and triples were built into the track. They finished one round of motos and never got to the second.

The ambulances were very, very busy.

I dropped the magazine's support after that Saturday. The course got more radical and more and more people got hurt. The motos got shorter and shorter. Then the lawsuits started. Shortly thereafter, Indian Dunes closed up for good. The lawsuits, you know.

This is where current motocross is headed. Stupid tracks, crazy jumps, immature kids trying to show off in front of their friends. More injuries. More closed tracks. Insanity. The end of racing as we know it.

***

SUBJECT: OLD TIME IDAHO RACER

Rick,
Are you the Super Hunky that wrote for Dirt Bike Magazine in the early 1970's? If so, I used to buy that magazine and read your articles all of the time. I just happen to stumble onto your website. Your name "Super
Hunky" sure brings back some great memories. I'm to old and fat to race anymore, but I'm still involved in motorcycle events. I'm a member of the Boise Ridge Riders.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Best Regards,
Jake Gier

Yep, I confess to being one and the same. Actually, being fat simply gives you more traction. I recall racing in the Mountain Home 100 in Idaho. Neat event. Do they still have that event?

***

SUBJECT: 2000 HONDA XR200 UPGRADE

Rick
i just bought a 2000 honda xr200r, I've rebuilt this motor from the ground up and it runs great, starts 1st kick and seems to run smooth as expected. I'm wondering if there is any upgrades that i can do on this motor to increase the pep of this bike......ya i know buy a bigger bike which i'm actually doing but wondering if i can tweak this motor a little.
Keith Pammett
Norwood, CANADA

All things considered, you should shy away from any kind of big bore kit. The reliability will suffer and the bike will run hot. You can make the bike run somewhat stronger by installing a pipe/muffler combo, a K&N filter and opening up the airbox. Of course, you'll have to richen up the jetting to compensate for the improved breathing.

***

SUBJECT:

can i put a headlight on my 89yamaha 250 yz Tracy Willmar, MN

Yep. Contact these folks and they can help.

Baja Designs, Inc.
185 Bosstick Boulevard
San Marcos, CA 92069

For information call:
(760) 560-BAJA (2252)
To place an order call:
(800) 422-5292
Email:
info@bajadesigns.com

***

SUBJECT: MORE POWER FOR A 2004 DR-Z250

Hey Mister Hey....just bought an 04 DR-Z250 STOCK..It's kind of lame in torque, and sounds a bit sissyfied. Whats the best way to correct these items without having to cash in my 401K Thanks Mister!!
IBDcaptain
Tomball, TX

Get rid of the stock muffler and put on a decent after market item. Don't bother buying the head pipe, as the stock muffler is the choker.

***

SUBJECT: ARTICLE TITLE: YAMAHA MX 125 - VINTAGE DIRT BIKE GUIDE!

I have a 1979 yamaha 125 in a box stripped down, exhaust is original and in absolute mint condition, rest of the bike is in really good condition for the year. I was wondering if anyone knows the worth of this bike in pieces or if i finish building it. i have 2 engines for it also. i got it for a few bucks and im debating the worth of selling it for a modern bike or rebuilding it for vintage racing
Jon Bisson
Plainfield, CT

All things considered, you would be ahead of the game if you sold the parts on ebay. The MX was not a prized collector The MX version was not as slick as the YZ and neither one was as good as the RM125 of that time. For vintage or evolution racing, you're better off with a 250 of some sort.

***

SUBJECT: 1985 SP600 BROKEN CARB REPAIR

I recently got a 1985 sp600 for 175.00. The carb is completely gummed up and full of garbage. I was going to dip and rebuild it but the body cracked when pulling the mixture screw out. I can't find a replacement, any suggestions for an original or aftermarket?
Dana
Escondido, CA

Believe it or not, you can fix a cracked carb with some
regular old JB weld. Just don't over use the stuff as
you press the cracked parts together. And be sure to take off the excess as it's drying. Keep pressure on the cracked parts as the JB weld dries. A big hose clamp works well in this.

***

SHAMELESS PLUG
I've got books, posters and all kinds of CDs. This makes the ideal gift for someone who enjoys living in the past. Website:
www.superhunky.com

Here's the source:
Rick Sieman
36607 W. Costa Blanca Dr.
Maricopa, AZ
85238
Email: superhunky@gmail.com

Paypal, Check or Money Order OK - No plastic