SUBJECT: 1969 YAMAHA 175 RATTLE

I recently purchased a 1969 Yamaha 175 CT1. It sounds like the rings are rattling. I did a compression test at the local Yamaha shop, however they cannot tell me if it is low. the first kick came in at about 50 psi. After several more it came in at 107. can you tell me what the proper compression for this bike is suppose to be. Any help would be appreciated.
Ed
Duncansville, PA

What kind of Yamaha shop are you going to?  Do they specialize in fish tacos?  Jeez,  most any two stroke of that era had a 7:1 compression ratio.  You should have around 135 to 150 psi to be right on the button.  You, my friend, are ready for some rings.

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SUBJECT: XR600R HONDA HARD STARTING

i've had my xr600r for 1 year now it starts up fine (2-3 kicks)
i think runs a bit low on idel and somtimes cuts out when first started. also when riding i get to the end of the street and it will cut out just when im about to stop like it loses fuel or somthing like that also it will cut out after riding even when its warmed up if i put the idel up it's ok but if i try and lower the idel it wants to cut out also. and if im idelling and give it a rev and let the revs drop down it cuts out and also when i try and give it a quick squirt of juice it also dies. please help cause im sick and tired of trying to restart my bike at traffic lights
thankyou
Dean
Adelade, AUSTRALIA

By the time I got done reading your email, I had a headache.  The word is idle, not idel.  Also, consider the use of a sentence every now and then.  And you are allowed to use capital letters.

Now, to your  XR.  Chances are that the pilot jet is partially clogged. This would create the problems you described.

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SUBJECT: ’99 YAMAHA YZ80

Hi
My son has a 1999 yz80 and the cdi and stator has been replaced the timing is correct the bike runs fine and starts within three kicks the only problem is when you put it into gear it runs backwards, there has been no work done to the transmission the bike had no problems last year until the cdi went no spark.any sudgestions would be great.
Kevin
Winnipeg, CANADA

I hate to differ with you, but the chances of your timing being correct are slim.  When you get the timing too close to top dead center, the bike can and will start backwards.

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SUBJECT: OLD EDITORIALS?

Super Hunky
Do you have on DVD or CD your old 1980's editorials and the crash and burn pics?
Thanks
Tim
Topeka, KS

Tim, I have a two CD set with all my columns  and a bunch of great photos, but have never offered the old Crash & Burn photos.  Go to www.superhunky.com for details.

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SUBJECT: 1987 KDX200 KICKSTARTER

Rick,
I have a 1987 kdx 200. The kick start mechanism where the lever goes on to is semi worn away at the knurl where the c clip and washer sit. Do you know how I can fix this or what other bikes kick starts will work with this bike? I cannot find an exact one for sale anywhere. Please Help
Matt
Chicago, IL

You're not even trying.  I did a search on ebay motors and found three kickstarters right away.  Then I placed five phone calls to Kawasaki dealers and two of them had parts and the other three said they could order the parts.  Get off your dead butt.

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SUBJECT: MORE CHEAP BIKE PROBLEMS

I have a jingcheng civet 70cc, but it has been play with not sure what wires go where. I look all over the net to find a wiring diagram but no luck for 1 so im not sure what to do!
Stokesey
UNITED KINGDOM

Sigh.  You are only the latest in a long line of poor saps who bought a cheap Chinese knockoff with utterly no support.  Sorry pal, but those are the hard facts.

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SUBJECT: 1973 SUZUKI TS185

Hey Rick,
I recently picked up a 1973 Suzuki TS 185. I know that suzuki used to make a version of the 185 with turn signals as well as a trail version with only a headlight and taillight. Unfortunately the previous owner took off all of the lighting as well as the wiring and battery. I would like to try and restore all of the lighting, but I have no idea as to whether my bike originally had turn signals or not?

Do you have any tips as to how I can figure this out? Also, do you know of any good place to buy parts? The dealer isn't turning out any info. Any help appreciated.
Mark
Haslett, MI

Suzuki only made one version of the TS185 and it didn't have any turn signals.  For parts and such, you might try:  www.vintage-suzuki.com

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SUBJECT: 1982 YZ250 HIGH ALTITUDE JETTING

Hi Rick,
My question is about the jet sizes in my carb. I live at about 9,000 feet and I'm pretty sure I'm running rich. I'm sorry but I don't remember the size of the jets in it right now. Any help is apreciated.
Thanks,
Glenn.
Woodland Park, CO

I'm assuming that you have stock jetting in your YZ.  If that's the case, then a 7 to 8 percent leaner jetting across the board should do the trick.

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SUBJECT: KDX200 DAMPING GONE WRONG

Good Day Super H!
And welcome to the great state of Arizona.One quick question to the all knowing Guru of dirtbikeing. In my small stable of dirtbikes sits one 2002 KDX 200 ,A real favorite of mine. I took it for a warm up ride after about 4 months of not being ridden and noticed I had what seemed like no dampning in my recently rebuilt forks.Can you tell me what might have gone wrong? Sincerly
Bob
Lake Havasu City, AZ

I agree that the KDX200 (most any year) is a great bike.   When you had the forks  rebuilt, they either put in too light of an oil, or not enough oil.  Either way, your damping will suffer.

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SUBJECT: 1999 XR600 WET PLUG

Rick,
I have a xr600 1999,I cleaned the carb,getting spark,when I pull theplug it is wet,Have good comp too.Still won't start.any ideas would be greatly appreciated,maybe there's something I forgot to check
Tim
Steubenville, OH

You're not giving me much information to go on.  If your plug is "gas" wet, then your problem is carburetion.  If it's "oil" wet,  you might have worn oil rings, or leaky valve guides.  Sniff the plug and see what kind of wetness you've got.

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SUBJECT: OLDER KTM FORK PARTS

Rick
I need your help. One of the bikes I own A 1999 KTM 640 LC4 needs a left lower fork cap that has the caliper mount and the axel clamp are part of. KTM part #582-01-006-100.

According to every KTM dealer I have spoken with  It's no longer a service part??. WTF? I know that the bike is 9 years old but damn I can still get parts for my 23 year old huskey's. Maybe the fact that BMW owns KTM now I need to get a new bike every 4 years and Subscribe to some cheese & wine club and talk trash about the poor folks that ride "A DATED"
motorcycle. Please help

PS I have met you many times over the last 30 years; the last time was at the baja 500 in 98 or 99 when I was the team manger of Collins Motorsports my name is Jeff Roberts I have moved out of las vegas 3 years ago before the housing market tanked moved to western wyoming.
THANKS FOR ANY HELP ON THIS 
Jeff Roberts

Your best bet in this case is to go right to the source;  White Power, who made the forks for KTM.  Their email:  www.wpsuspension.com

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SUBJECT: YZ125 WET PLUG

I was to young to enjoy your rantings when you were in your prime, but now find myself on this website daily. My question seems like a stupid one, but please help a confused Marine out. I bought a used 2000 yz 125 and it has always seemed to run OK, but not great. I rebuilt the top end and now everytime i try to start it the plug is fuel soaked. I tore the carb apart twice and cleaned everything. Is it the float level? If so how do I adjust it? Also how do I remove the throttle cable? And how do I adjust the needle? Sorry for so many dumb questions but mail takes for ever over here and I cant find a manual in english.
Thank you for your time and Semper Fi.
Lcpl. Duncan
Okinawa, JAPAN

The float should be set to be level.  It's more than likely that your float needle/seat combo is leaking.  To check this, remove the float bowl and depress the floats until they're level, and see if there's a leak.  If there is, replace both the float needle and seat.  Leave the needle in the middle position.   To remove the throttle cable, loosen all the locking nuts and take off the top of the carb.  The end of the cable goes into the carb slide  Take that out and the rest is easy.

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SUBJECT: 1974 YAMAHA DT100 WITH NO SPARK

i have a 1974 yamaha dt 100 that wont start becouse it doesnt have any spark. i replaced the points and condenser and had the coil tested. if you could help that would be great!! thanks nate
Nate
New Richmond, WI

The first thing I would do is check all of the wiring for a dead short, or a corroded connection.  Eliminate the obvious first

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SUBJECT: 1982 VS 1983 MAICO 490
Hello Rick,
I’ve emailed you in the past and asked some dumb questions so here’s another.  I have two Maicos right now, a 1983 Maico 490 MC and a 1982 Maico 490 GS.  I am currently rebuilding the GS and yes I know of the horror stories for the shocks and what not but this isn’t about that.  What I am wondering is since I have not ridden the 1982 yet is will I be disappointed? 

I mean the test articles say that the 1983 Maico 490 pulls like a freight train on nitrous oxide and that’s definitely true!  That bike has to be the best bike I have ever ridden; the powerband is incredible and controllable.  I have a 1986 CR 500 with so much compression you can stand on the kick lever but that bike feels like a weak terd when comparing to the long low to mid range power band of the Maico.  Granted the specifications probably say that the CR500 has like 65HP while the Maico has 53HP, but the CR500 needs to be at high RPM before it even reaches maximum torque, of course never know if the HP specifications are real or how they took them. 

The Maico feels like the chain is on the front tire and feels like it’s pulling you while the CR500 feels like someone ran up behind you and pushed you in the back when you weren’t looking.  So, my question is how does the 1982 motor compare to the 1983 motor?  I know it was a completely new design (for Maico) without the primary chain.  BTW, how often do I need to change that primary chain once I’ve actually started riding that beast? 
Thanks,
Toby Obferman
 
While the 1983 Maico is definitely faster than the 1982 model, the 82 is no slouch.  It pulls plenty strong.  Change the primary chain when you can press it up almost a half inch with your finger.

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SUBJECT: TOO TALL WR400F

Do you know if its posible change the heigth of my byke i have a wr400f year 2000. It’s too tall for my thanks I write from baja races land.
Walo
Ensenada, Baja, Mexico

The lowest cost way to get the bike shorter, is to cut the saddle down.  You can easily take an inch or two off the foam by removing the saddle cover and cutting the foam with a simple hacksaw blade.  You can do a search on ORC and find an article on how to do it.

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SUBJECT: YET ANOTHER YAMAHA ID PROBLEM

My son just bought an old Yamaha at a yard sale yesterday. It runs, but is pretty rough. The only numbers we can find are on the front of the frame under the handle bars and I was wondering if you might have a reference book that would tell you the model number or anything else about it. The number stamped on it is 3YO - 002487.
thanks for your
help.
Ron
Hartville, MO

I checked all the ID charts available, and none of them started with 3YO.  Please double check the frame numbers and get back to me.  A description of the bike would also help.

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SUBJECT: FREE BIKE?

please pick me iv been beging for a dirt bike because i really need a thing to get me around and have fun on please pick me
Chris
Austin, AR

Should I deliver it directly to you, or should I just stand at attention while you wheel it away?  Sigh.

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SUBJECT: IT’S OFF-ROAD.COM IN CASE YOU DIDN’T NOTICE

MY wife bought me a bike at a garage sale for fathers day. they said it was a 77 yamaha 650. 1w2-006553 was on the neck and motor. 650cc by the oil fill. and 1w200 1710cc on the left side of jug. can u help me find out what it is.
Tim
Syracuse, IN

No, I refuse to help you ID the bike because street bikes bore me to tears and back.

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SUBJECT: 1973 HONDA MT250

a buddy of mine just gave me a 1973 honda mt 250 two stroke, I am a yamaha guy and know nothing about hondas i was curious what the oil to fuel ratio would be for this bike it would be much appriciated
Thanks.
Tim Kindle
Douglas, WY

You can run most any vintage two stroke on a 32:1 ratio.  For many years, I used Yamalube with great success.

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SUBJECT: SUZUKI RM80 WON’T RUN RIGHT

Hi thier
I recently was givin a little suzuki rm80. It wasn’t running i managed to get it to run better, but now once i put it into gear and start going it wont rev up. It starts to go then dies what could i do to make it work thanks for your time.
Tyler
High Prairie, CANADA

Just about any freebie bike is one that has been stored, or sat around for a while.  Chances are that you have some sort of vile crud in your carb.  Take the carb off, take it all apart, clean all the jets and passageways and put it all back together again; your free bike should then run properly.

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SUBJECT: BIG 550 KTM

Hello Mr Sieman,
First, I would like to thank you for bringing humor to my life in the form of the funniest journalism I have ever had the pleasure to read. I started reading DirtBike in 1980 and couldn't wait to read your column every month. (My favorite was when you countered an article written by Jody "Weasel" for April fools.Circa 1985)

Now for my question; Among the few dirtbikes I own is a 1996 KTM 550 MXC. I love this bike as it makes gobs of power and brings a grin with every twist of the throttle. I had heard that there is a company that performs a porting process that reportedly is to KTM factory specs. The completed work is supposed to increase the horsepower significantly. I was hoping that you may know of the company/shop or any reputable KTM guru that could help me with my goal.

Thank you in advance, Chris Colelli PS. I posted your "Rat Bike Johnson" article here at my station (we have a gang of dirtbike nuts)and everyone got a huge laugh. We have one of those characters here.
Chris Colelli
Newhall, CA

Thanks for the thoughts.  The magazine was written for guys like you.  At the end of a day of riding, I used to listen to all the good natured BS and turn that into stories. Re your KTM, I'd just have a good shop clean up the porting a bit and don't do anything wild.  You might put in some Boyesen reeds, but the bike is such  a brute that you should just consider enjoying it as is.

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SUBJECT: FORK SWAP HELP FOR HONDAS

In your fork rebuild looks like you had a buddy. Some of us don't. What do you think the cost at a reputable shop should be for a rebuild like what you did? I just scored my forks off e-bay and am trying to decide to by the tools required or just pay someone else to do the job.
No Name
Riverside, CA

The going rate for most bike shops ranges from $50 to $85 an hour.  Try to find a mechanic who will help you after hours for a better price.

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SUBJECT: 1989-1990 CR 500 FORK PROBLEMS

My wrists are aching! Need some plushness in the initial travel w/ less dive under braking to help hold off the usual cr 500 headshake. This only occurs in the 500's under decceleration through heavy woops @! 60+ mph, not the best time for serious tankslappers on a 500!

Springs or valving changes?, I really need some good advice here, as I desert race on a budget and am trying to choose between progressive springs or oil flow changes.
Bob

The big Hondas of those years were notorious for bad head shake.  You could reduce it a bit by stretching the forks out some, or going to heavier springs, or both.  But you'll find that the steering will push somewhat if you do this.  If you're fun/play riding, it's no sweat.  But of you're racing MX, it's a real problem.  Take your bike to a good shop and have them revalve the forks.  No oil or spring change will do the proper job.

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SUBJECT: YAMAHA MINI ENDURO I.D.

I am restoring what I assume is a 60cc Yamaha mini-enduro. However the serial number (matching) is JT1-202733, which is outside the range of serial numbers on the webpage. Can I just assume you didn't have the full range of serial numbers? also this bike has lights, but no speedo. and it doesn't have the L in the serial #.
Swanski

Wow, after doing an incredible amount of research, it appears that you have a JT1 based on the following numbers:  SERIAL # JT1L-200101 - 201152 W/LIGHTS.  However, it looks like Yamaha built some extra bikes (the demand was high) based on the MX model and simply added lights.  The model numbers were increased all the way to 202733 (yours) and beyond.  How many?  There are JT1s with model numbers into the 203 plus range.  We assume from our sources that this is the case, but  would welcome additional input.

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SUBJECT: 1982 RM125 WITH NO LOW END POWER

I have a 1982 RM 125, the bottom end was recently rebuilt, I have only ridden for a few hrs since the rebuild but now the bike does not want to stay running. It is wanting very high rpms to get moving. Any ideas on what it could be? It has new feul/oil, oil, antifreeze, plug. It simply won't idle!
Dave
Edmonton, CANADA

Think about this for a moment.  When the 1982 RM1125 was brand sparkling new, it never had much low end power to speak of.  Consider the fact that your bike is more than 25 years old.  Chances are that your top end is badly worn.  Do a compression check and get ready for a fresh piston and rings.

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SHAMELESS PLUG
Man, 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
Paypal, Check or Money Order OK - No plastic