Once again, we sneak this baby out there early, for those of you struggling to get through your Friday. Enjoy!

SUBJECT: GOOD OLD KAWASAKI KDX200

Hello,
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, WV

This 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.

***

SUBJECT: PROJECT HONDA CRF230F: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FORKS

Will the forks and triple clamps off a 96 cr125 fit the crf 230f???? Where abouts can I get the step by step guide if they do??
Thanks and Cheers
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Am I missing something? Yes, the forks will fit.  Now since you referred to the Project CRF230F project bike series, might I be so bold as to suggest that you read the series, wherein there's a detailed step-by-step on how to do it.  Jeez.

[Editor's Note - Rick actually addressed the forks several times in course of that project. Here's a list of the articles he wrote.

What We Learned About the Forks

Questions and Answers about the Forks

Front End Fix Part I

Front End Fix Part II

Upside Down Forks - Step by Step Part I

Upside Down Forks - Step by Step Part II - pay special attention to this one. It's your "step by step" how-to.

It's All About The Forks - Reader Questions

***

SUBJECT: A RARE STREET BIKE QUESTION

Greetings Rick, nice pic shown with About the Author...mucho character,..I know your all about the dirt bikes but I was wondering if you could help me out with a question about my street bike,... 1995 Honda CBR 900 RR and every time I change the front and rear sproket & chain,.... it's not long before I notice the chain goes from being to loose or to tight when I roll the bike forward. is the chain just stretching unevenly or what,... the wheel is centered and there's no problem with the sprockets.... and I'm taking about a pretty big difference in being tight and loose. I'm using an RK 520 racing chain which is suppose to be correct for my bike...it's happened with two or three chains so far....and yes i do pop a few wheelies from time to time.
Johnny aka Rocket

Normally I don't answer questions about street bikes, but I'll make an exception in this case. First off, don't take it for granted that the marks on the swingarm are correct. In many cases, the marks are one full line off.  The only way to check this is to measure from the center of the swing arm pivot bolt to the axle center on each side.  If the measurements are correct, then check the bushings in the swingarm pivot bolt.

***

SUBJECT: THE SEARCH FOR WHEELSMITH

Dear Rick,
I was searching through Google today and just out of the blue I thought to Google an old boss of mine from the 70's that I worked for. Greg Smith at Wheelsmith Engineering. I was 20 at the time and did his Maico frame upgrades and expansion chamber designs ('72 - '74). It's great to see the name Wheelsmith Engineering is still being bantered around. I haven't found any info about Greg's whereabouts yet but would like to find him and say howdy. Thanks for letting me vent about ancient history. Keep up the good work.
Mike Smith
Dodge City, KS

Greg Smith made more cool Maico stuff than anyone else at that time.  Maybe we can locate him and ask a few questions about those days.

***
SUBJECT: THE GOOD OLD TWO STROKES

Hi Rick
I just got an 85 honda CR 250 and I think its gonna work out ok,   i can get on it without too much problem,  i didnt realize the power that this thing had after not riding dirt for 10 yrs, I mean compared to an older air cooled 250, this thing felt like a 400 instead of a 250 rick,  the bikes had went forward on technology like a laser beam, and I got on this thing and i didnt even get it into 5th and it was wanting to do 70 like it was already there, Its alot of fun to ride and its got good power too, I hope things are going good for you and your wife and that you got the house in arizona, If I ever get over that way, maybe Ill hear the raspy sound of you riding that triumph in the hills and Ill go,,,, awright,,,,, super hunky is out and about, take it easy and dont do anything i wouldnt do ok,
Kirk,
KANSAS

Most people don't realize just how fast the bikes of the mid-80s were.  The CR 500, as an example, will pull a modern four stroke through the gears.

***

Lots more to come - give it a second to load...

SUBJECT: 1971 SUZUKI TWIN DIRT BIKE?

1971 Suzuki T or TS 250 Rick, I just got a 1971 Suzuki 250 im not sure if its a T or a TS. i was moving some stuff for a friend and asked about it and he said i could have it granted it has sat in a dry hay barn for 3 years with out being started. When i got it home i tore off the carbs and cleaned them and i also cleaned out the petcock. after i got it all back together the carbs (Mikuni) the left carb was leaking gas out of to ports that i guess is supposed to have hoses on them. my question is that i need to know if i can get interchangable parts for the carbs or if i can put a different brand of carbs on the bike. thanks
johnnybravo
Casstown, OH

This one stumped us, so we turned to our weird bike expert, Matt Cuddy.  As usual, Matt came through:

He's got an old Suzuki T-250 Twin Scrambler. Two cylinders=two carbs. It's the little brother of the Titan 500cc Scrambler. Rebuild kits are everywhere, go to a Suzuki dealer.

SUBJECT: STRANGE AND VIRTUALLY USELESS EMAIL

i have a 1990 yz 80 with a mono shock and im not sure how to damper the shock because i hit a bump and i bounce all over the place help is much needed here as soon as possible.
Zoo York
Shickshinny, PA

Mister Zoo, your email is typical of the garbage that clutters the Internet these days.  Not only is your message garbled and confusing, you don't even know how to capitalize words.  Now go away and only come back when you learn how to communicate.

***

SUBJECT: 1985 HONDA CR125 REFUSES TP IDLE

I can't get my 1985 cr 125 to idel more than about 10-15 sec before it dies and then its hard to restart
Dennis
Volcano, CA

Check your float bowl for crud/water and while you're at it, see if the pilot jet is clogged.

***

SUBJECT: HONDA CR230F ALTITUDE JETTING

hi i have a 2003crf and ride at 1000feet will this mod still work?
Colton
Dauphin, CANADA

No problem at all.  In fact, we jetted our bike at this altitude.

***

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: TOO BUSY TO RIDE

Sr. Rick,
You've heard the proverb regarding the monkey with its hand in the coconut? Well, I'm the monkey with a coconut factory. Suggesting that I enjoy my new bikes is like telling the proverbial monkey to enjoy his coconut.
 
Would that I could...
 Jim

Wow!   Quite a collection.  No wonder you don't have time to ride them.

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: WHAT YEAR IS THAT MAICO?

Hi
I'm trying to find out what year my maico is I believed it to be 1985 but my frame number doesn't match any on the site can you help? thanks\
Andy Leeds,
UNITED KINGDOM

First off, they called the bike an M-Star in 1984 and 1985, so the Maico ID chart does not apply to you at all.  Secondly, you certainly should have included any numbers in your email to assist in your search.  Failing that, you will remain ignorant.  

***

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: LEAKING SUZUKI RM125

I have a RM125...Water started coming out of the exhaust and I took apart the top end and the orings were blown out. I replaced them and tried to start bike and it wouldn't. Water was in piston. I took it back apart and didn't see any cracks so I took the cylinder off and water and coolant were standing around crank shaft. I drained the oil and it looked like a milk shake but the water around the crank didn't drain away. My first question is this. Are the rod bearings lubed by the fuel mix and should I just dump out the water and not worry about it? 2nd, how did it get there? Did it hydrolock and was it forced around the piston or could it of come from another place. I don't see any cracks in the top end. Any advise on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.
THX
Hair Pulled Out
Austin, TX

You probably blew a head gasket, which started your problems.  You could turn the motor upside-down and get the water out of the lower end, which is normally lubricated by oil in the gas.  Then flush the lower end out thoroughly with gas.  You can now rebuild the top end, taking care to properly install a fresh head gasket.

***

SUBJECT: MODIFYING 1996 YAMAHA YZ125 REEDS

hi, silly question.i have an old 96 yz 125. it has carbon fibre reeds. i was wondering if i could remove the reed stops completely or would this just result in epic failure with no improvement at all.
cheers
Doug
Gosford, AUSTRALIA

If you use Boyesen reeds you can remove the ribs from the reed cage and detect a small improvement in performance.  I have not played with carbon fibre reeds or stop removal, but I suspect nothing but problems should you do so.

***

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: WHICH BIKE SHOULD HE BUY?

I am 14 years old and weigh 110 pounds aproximitly. I am wondering what kind of bike i should get.
Eric
Burlington, IL

A good starter bike would be a clean used Honda XR200.  When you outgrow this fine little four stroke, you should be able to sell it for about what you paid for it. 

Here's a photo of one.

***

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
 

SUBJECT: YET ANOTHER JUNK CHINESE CHEAPO!

I have a 2005 250cc chinese fourwheeler with dual exaust. I have a couple problems. I am having problems with the carberator it is full of junk. Everyday I will run it for atleats a half a hour to a hour or two a day. It still does not get all the junk out. When we bought it the carbs were so full of junk it would not run. I took it to one of friends and he cleaned the carbs and ran it and cleaned the filters. I sometimes will run it enough in a day it sounds great and there is no junk in the carbs. I am wondering if there is a way to stop it from getting full of junk?

One more problem I am having is with the clutch. I think the clutch is burnt.When I ride it and it gets warm. Once it is warm and is in a higher gear like 3-5 it revs up and doesnt go very well. It is a wet clutch. I dont know where to get a clutch because it is a chinese four wheeler. I was told by one of my friends to get it re plated. I dont know anything about that. I was wondering if it would help?
Dustin
Grand Forks, ND

It's so sad that people keep buying these horrible Chinese knock-offs.  You obviously don't know much more about mechanics than your pets, or you would not have acquired one.  Now to your problem. Clearly, the crud keeps coming from somewhere. In this case, it's coming from leftover crap in your gas tank.  Take the tank off and clean all the crud out.  How?  If you're too stupid to do that, you should not be handling anything of a mechanical nature.

After you've cleaned the tank out, there's no guarantee that sluff would still not fall off the interior of the tank and contaminate the fuel.  To prevent a problem, put a fuel filter on the gas line to the carbs.  There are any number of filters at most auto stores that will do the job.  Change or clean them regularly, and this problem will go away. But rest assured, another cheap Chinese problem will pop up.

***

SUBJECT: HISTORY OF THE HONDA CT70

Hello Rick,
I was reading one of your articals on hondatrailbike.com, it says 1982 was the last year for the ct70,however it was built untill 1994,a friend of mine has 9 for sale,including a 1991 and a 1994 Thought i would share this with you,
Thanks,
Ronnie M. Ky.

My interest in mini bikes is shallow and flawed, as was clearly demonstrated by my comments on the CT70.  To get the real facts, we sought the brain power of Matt Cuddy, an expert in truly weird bikes, old Yamahas and mini bikes.  Here are his thoughts:

The last Mini Trail was built from in 1994 by Honda, After that, China bought the old tooling from the 50 & 70cc series to stick that ancient crappy motor in everything imaginable.
 
Then the Mini-Trail series was sold in the United States between 1969 to 1994.
 
I use to rent those evil handling little death traps in San Felipe and get the suckers up to about 50 before highsiding into a send berm, or into the surf.
 
Once both my Uncle and I ate it at speed on rented CT70's,  right in front of the Clam Man’s operations. He was nonplussed and shooed us out of his area on the sand. Bastard.
 
The 4 speed manual clutch ones were the most dangerous, you could get those into bad tank-slapper situations with the 10 inch wheels, and the flaccid suspension. I have the scars to prove it.
 
A Go Devil could kick it's ass in most situations BTW.

***

SUBJECT: OLD ELSINORE WITH WEIRD SPARK

I have a 1974 honda elsinor mt 250 and i only get spark when i flick the switch repeatly back n forth from run to stop if i just put it on run it wont spark what is this from? I took the switch apart and clean it but didnt help.
Zack
Thompsonville, MI

One way or another, you have a faulty switch.  To check it out, take the wire leading to the switch off and the bike should run OK.

***

SUBJECT: MEASURE THAT BARREL!

I just bought a 03 yz125 with a bad topend. The Yamaha shop told me the cylinder is gouged beyond repair. Hearing that I ordered a used but recently honed cylinder off of ebay. My question is how do I know which piston to put into this cylinder (or are all yz125 pistons the same size?) I'd prefer to order it from online to save a little $$ over the dealer but would really appreciate some advice on determining the right piston.
Thanks,
John
Gig Harbor, WA

This might come as a shock to you, but if you actually measure the bore, that will tell your parts man which piston you need. 

***

SUBJECT: LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING

I don't have a comment I have a question ! You seem pretty wise on these dirt bikes. I need some help adjusting possibly my float not sure which one.Anyways It keeps on flooding out everything and Im not sure the proper adjustments. I have a 1978 yamaha dt 175. Any clue where I can find some specs for it ?? HELP PLEASE !!! –
Ang
Fort Wayne, IN

Clymer has a manual that covers all the inner workings of a DT175 for about fifteen dollars. Suggest you start there in your search for the truth.

***

SUBJECT: MAKING A 98 HONDA CR250 LOOK BETTER

i have recently switched to older bike to see the difference its a 1988 cr250r and i would like to make it look somewhat decent is there anyway you can put newer graphics on it or cut them out to fit cause i cant find any graphic kits for it. please give me some advice
Kaleb
Cedar City, UT

Measure the shrouds on the 88 bike and find a newer bike with approximately the same shape and take it from there.  But before you do that, spend some time learning how to write.

SUBJECT: SUZUKI RMZ250 QUITS RUNNING

We have a 2006 RMZ250 it starts and runs fine at home, but once we get it out on the track it keeps stalling. Last time my son rode it it stalled 5 times and then couldn't get it started at all. Once we got home it started and ran for 20 minutes without stalling. It seems like just when it is actually being riden is when there is a problem. Does it sound like it could be the stater? Any other suggestions on what to check??
Tara
East Hampton, NY

You have crud in your fuel system. 

***

SUBJECT: A MAICO SCOOTER. YES, A MAICO SCOOTER!

Hi
I’m looking for a lighting kit for a maico engine, to explain a little further my husband has fitted a maico engine into a lambretta scooter frame and we need a lighting kit so that we can use it on the road. Can you help?
Many regards
Lynn

You didn't give much information about your transplant.  If you're putting a later Maico MX motor in your scooter, you might have brain damage.  If it's the old scooter motor, remember, Maico built scooters based on the Heinkel design. They probably have one of those indestructable Maico 175 motors that ran a blooey pipe. It has a lighting coil in the magneto.

***

SUBJECT: SHOCKS FOR A 1979 CR125

hello,
I am looking for some rear shocks that will work on a 1979 Honda CR125R elisnore. i have tried e bay, every motorcycle shop around, and some go cart shops and no one seems to have anything that will work.. Or maybe a way to rebuild the ones on it?? tell me what you think might work, it dosent have to be perfect its a hundred dollar bike my friend bought and he wants to ride some, nothing major, it would be great if you could help me out thanks,
KC
Rio Rancho, NM

Consider the fact the shocks are about 30 years old.  You could (and should) contact Works Performance (818-701-1010) about some new shocks for the bike, but they probably cost more than the bike.  If you absolutely must have something dirt cheap, then measure the eye-to-eye length of the stockers and find another set of shocks from most any other bike the same length.  Use the stock springs.  It'll work, but not that good.

***

SUBJECT: STRANGE AD

Dear Superhunky,
Check out this ad I just saw on the Detroit Craigslist:

I have a 1984 Yamaha Yz80 which i have had for about 2 year and runs fine...My dad bored out the engine to be +40 so its a yz120...Theonly problem is the kick start has low compression and there is no exhaust...You can call ********* for questions....thankyou :)

I thought maybe you'd get a laugh out of it.
Bert Carrier Jr.

Just think … this person will grow up and vote.

***

SUBJECT: COULD IT BE A MAICO?

Please Help Me!!! I have a 1990 Maico MX250 It's Blue!! In Very good Condition, I have been told these bikes are rare.. Is that true??? How much is the value on this Bike??? I don't know much about them, But I went to an ORV Park and had at least 30 people surrending my truck, asking me questions, telling me what a rare bike this is.. I HAVE been told that it ended in 1983, how is that possible when i have a 1990!!! I wasn't ripped off was I??
Rena
Spokane, WA

Maico quit making bikes in 1984.  For two years after that, they were brought out under the M-Star name.  Since that time, various companies have tried to market the brand, the latest being a Dutch company.  Your bike isn't rare and if it's in average shape, it's probably worth a grand.

***

SUBJECT: HONDA CRF230 CARB MODS

Hi rick,
I am about to do your power up mods, and i was wondering if i am supposed to leave in the stock 42 pilot jet or swap it for a 45, thanks for the help I greatly appreciate it.
Jean-luc
Essex, CANADA

Go with the 45 pilot. It helps the response off idle and smooths it out a bit.

***

SUBJECT: A POULTRY QUESTION RE 1998 YZ250

why would my 1998 yz 250 keep fowling plugs everytime I shut it off? When you are riding it, it runs good but it doesent sound as crisp as it should and as soon as you sut it off it will start back up but then it instantly fowls it.
Rob Job
Mills, PA

Fowls.  Could be the chicken syndrome.

***

SUBJECT: WHAT’S AN 81 YZ465 WORTH?

Hello again
I am wanting to sell my bike And was wondering what a good price for it is An 81 Yamaha 465 Runs great and Just put a lot of work into it hoping for $ 1000-900. You think that's a good price? Know anyone that wants a nice bike ?? O yea i got it just right so it starts 1st or 2nd kick! Talk about power though almost every shift it goes on 1 wheel is that normal ? My dads making me get a smaller bike like a 250 Whats a good cheaper 250 that doesn't have many problems ?? Wells thanks
Smidty
Klamath Falls, OR

If the bike looks good and run good, that price is about right.  The 81 465 is/was a great bike.  Instead of a 250, try a Kawasaki KDX200.  It's one of the finest bikes ever built.

***

SUBJECT: A BIZARRE MESSAGE FROM TWINKY

i have a 1984 80cc dirt bike and i would like to know the proper compretion would be
Twinky
Pembroke, Ontario, CANADA

Twinky?
Well Twinky, since you didn't tell us what make, model or any other information on your 80cc "dirt bike" I would guess the compression ratio would be at about 8 to 1, or about 140 psi. Thanks Twinky. And good luck with your creme filled life.

***

SUBJECT: YAMAHA YZ490 FRAMES

Hi Rick
I was wondering what yamaha frames will fit an 1982 yz490 motor. Thanks for your help
lance
Sparks, NV

This email demanded a response from Matt Cuddy, who knows more about YZ490s than is healthy:

Hmmmm, that's a tough one. I think an '82 YZ490 frame would work? But why not make a nice planter out of the 490 motor? An '82 was the first year, and a horrible mess of a motor.I can envison some sort of cactus sprouting out of the plug hole.... 

***

SUBJECT: COMMUNICATION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT SKILL

hi i got CR 125 1997 had a full rebuild costin £540 pounds i takein the carb out cleain much as i could i put it bk on now theres fuel getin to the carb i take the spark plug out its wet fuel its floood i bliev so i wated and clean the spark plug witch is new put it bk still want start. i did want to no how to make.my cr tick ova but now it wont even start u think ts eatn the plug or sumet plz help need bke for week end could see if they was a spark u its new sparkl plug u think its burnt it out the is a ngkr br9eg spark plug i bourght yestaday
CR Dirt Bike Dude
Leeds, ENGLAND

This one stumped us, so it got turned over to Field Marshall Cuddy for an answer:

GOOD LORD! You have mangled the English language so badly in this illegible mess, that I have no idea what you are trying to convey. So I got my cat to take a look at this, and judging by the painful meows and guttural purring sounds, it seems you had your CR125 rebuilt for way too much money, and based on the current exchange rate of 1.626800, that works out to almost nine hundred USD. Is your bike even worth that much? Whatever...
 
When you had the motor apart, you most likely dropped the carburetor, backed over it with the Alvis, or pranged it in some manner that caused the float to be either stuck, bent or fornisqued in such a manner to allow gasoline (petrol) to escape from every available orifice and overflow tube that Honda saw fit to equip the bike with.
 
Take the carb apart and check the float height, and see if any crud or other foreign matter is stuck in the needle valve or seat. There sure aren't any commas or capital letters stuck in there, since they seem an extinct species in your neck of the woods.
 
Now drop and give me fifty push ups.
 
Field Marshal Erwin Cuddy
The same guys who kicked your asses at Dunkirk
And we built the Maico too

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SUBJECT: NITROGEN IN A 93 KX125 SHOCK

I have a 1993 KX 125 with some UniTrac issues. I bought it used from a guy who said the neighbor kid had let out all the air from the valve on the unitrac valve and it needed charged. When I got it home, I test the valve by trying to put air (I know it takes Nitrogen) in the valve but it wouldn't only take about ten pounds and seems plugged. I just wanted to see if it would take some air and charge up the shock. If it did then I was going to take to local shop and get the Nitrogen filled on it. However, it seems to only take the ten ponds and when I touch the valve seat release pin it discharges the ten back oout. It won't take any more than that. Is this shock screwed up or should I look for something else to repair it?
Thanks for any help!
Fireshack
Kewanee, IL

The reason nitrogen is used in a shock instead of air is that air contaminates the oil and it breaks down. Nitrogen is an inert gas.  The pressure from a nitrogen bottle is quite high.  Chances are that your air pump is too wimpy to force the remote reservoir separator back into its proper position.  Take your shock to a shop and have them pump in the correct amount of nitrogen.

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SUBJECT: A HODAKA INDIAN? I THINK NOT!

Although my first bike was a Yamaha250 endro and it stayed in the air maore than on the ground, I have found a bike I would like to get running again. My dad says its an Indian and you can clearly see Hodaka on the bike , What I was wondering was there ever an Indian Hodaka made. It is clearly a dirtbike size but has been driven on the road, the last tag is from 1977. Its in pretty good shape but I am trying to prove my dad wrong, can you help?
thanks
LT2302
Lanet, AL

Hodaka never made an Indian.  They (the Indian mini bikes) were Italian made and had Minnarelli engines in them.  Hodaka never made a true mini bike.  The smallest bike they made was a 90.

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SHAMELESS PLUG
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Every issue has every page included. All the color pages are reproduced in color. You can print out every page if you want to, since the issues were produced in Picasa 3 format. Or you can put it in your computer (or CD/DVD player) and simply enjoy a slideshow of each and every month. There are seven discs included in the package. Each disc contains one-half of a year (six issues) in order. This comes to about 4400 pages total.

The cost is $75 and that includes postage and shipping anywhere in the US. Accept Paypal (Paypal address: superhunky@gmail.com), personal checks or money orders. No plastic. All orders are shipped Priority rush mail.

Rick Sieman
36607 W. Costa Blanca Dr.
Maricopa, AZ 85238
Email: superhunky@gmail.com