11/12/02

Hey this is Ashley from NY. I thought your trip was interesting and I'd like to here more about your trip. I am 15 and love atving in the sandpits of gloversville NY. It must suck to have that many issues on the trip. Just think not many people got that opportunity. Live and learn! That's exactly what you did.

Peace Sincerely,
Ashley Fosmire

11/13/02

There I was, searching for some word on what the real weight of my ordered wr450f is going to be, when I ran across this website and this wonderful story by "Kim."This is the first one of her stories I've read, but I won't knowingly miss another one. She's quite a writer/storyteller. As for the new wr's weight, I've resigned myself to lose, from my body(there's plenty there), whatever the weight difference is between the wr and a 450EXC. Same difference, right?

Oh yeah- the rest of your site is pretty cool too.

Dickosaurus in Oklahoma

Thanks Dick! I have the enviable privilege of being able to read the column before we publish it each month. I try to wait as long as possible before starting (usually about 5 minutes) because I just can't stop - no matter how busy I might be at deadline. The resultant muscle strain from laughing usually puts me out of commission for a while...

Don't forget to check out the last 4 years of Woman Overbored! at http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/columns/wo/archives.html

Hopefully we will get a firm number from Yamaha before too long! Makes you wonder... they are either busily making last minute weight saving changes - or are embarrassed. Either way, we won't hold it against them - they still have credit built up from creating the first YZ/WR 4-stroke.

By the way - I suspect you will have to gain some weight to make up that difference - the 450EXC weighs 260

- Editor

12/01/02

the specifications [for the KLX125 l] were missing the final drive - it is 14/57

Actually - Final drive specs are "missing" from all of the Kawasakis - they were not available at the publishing date. But thanks for the update.

- Editor

11/20/02

when it said that it is forestry service-approved spark arrestor does that mean it is green sticker in california

No - a Forrest Service approved spark arrestor is required to ride in the National Forest whether the bike is red sticker or green. Additionally - the spark arrestor needs to be quieter than 96 decibels in California - not part of the FS approval process.

This is a complicated issue - please see the full write up at http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/news/2002mar/caohvstickers/

- Editor

11/29/02

When will you have the test on the kaw 2003 kdx 220 or 200. I own a yahama 250wr and hate it. Yes thats right i hate it. When its running , its awsome . I am just not used to 4-strokes I guess. Its my first one.The 2002s just dont like to start. Oh well enough of that, I am trading it in for either the kdx 200 or 220.

thanks for your time
Mike

We have no plan to test the Kawasaki KDXs at this time. Anyone interested in testing them and submitting an article can contact us at dirtbike@off-road.com. Please see http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/yourarticlehere/ for more detail.

- Editor

11/21/02

Does this work for four strokes since tranny and engine oil are the same on most?

Ron Rennke

For the most part it is the same - it depends on the model of 4-stroke. While the likehood of water in the crankcase is obviously less, you still have to worry about the combustion chamber. Don't crank on the kick starter if it doesn't wan't to kick - water doesn't compress - but the connecting rod might bend - so pull the plug and flip! You might also have a crankcase breather on the top of the motor which could spew oil using this procedure - so careful!

On some of the newer big four strokes (YZ/WR 400/426/450) the breather hose end is down under the motor. Kicking the bike with the end of the hose submerged will result in 400, 426 or 450 ccs of water being sucked into the crankcase and contaminating the oil. If this happens, the diluted oil can ruin bearing surfaces in a hurry.

In either case water is going to get into places it shouldn't - you should plan on some additional maintenance ASAP.

• The oil will need to be changed several times (be sure to run the engine between changes)
• Change the oil filter (if applicable)
• Remove and clean the carb and airbox
• Remove the ignition/stator cover - clean if necessary - and allow to fully dry.

- Editor & MXTuner

11/21/02

Your artical was funny and informative it will be useful for when the time comes.

M Hook

11/04/02

Rick,

On your article there's a part missing. As you are sort of a god on dirt-biking, I think the error was made by the editor, accidentaly erasing the part where you have to unscrew the carburator bowl to flush any water left in the carb. Believe me, it helps.

Cheers from Chile!!

Agust?n Alcalde

Aw! Come on now! ;-)

- Editor

11/15/02

I am a A level enduro rider in Alabama, Sera / Setra enduro series, ,450exc or 250 exc 2-stroke what would you pick ?

David Vines
Vines Automotive
Specializing in New & Used BMW Parts
1-800-214-4839

www.vinesauto.com
Bessemer, AL. 35022

Hey David,

Interesting dilemma. What do you currently ride and what have you ridden in the past? Have you ever owned/raced a relatively current 4-stroke? Have you considered a 300EXC?

I've been to some of the SERA/SETRA races myself (raced the 24 hours of Maplesville) and am fairly familiar with the terrain you ride. I live in Atlanta. The biggest downfall of the 450 is the weight, plain and simple. The power can be nice but the weight can be a bitch in the tight stuff.

By the way, I work on BMW's for a daytime job. Where is Bessemer?

Mark Klein

Hi David,

I currently ride a 1998 KTM 300EXC and really love the bike. I have owned this bike for over 2 years, which in itself is incredible for me. It is dialed in and a great do it all bike. I have ridden a few KTM 520s and am trying to decide if I really want to sell my 300 and get a new 525 or 450. A buddy that just bought a new 525EXC says it isn't really any different than his 520 MXC except for spacing on gears, and that the forks are better on the new bike.

Since I ride a lot of desert I would probably go with a 525. I also ride quite a bit of singletrack, but CA singletrack isn't usually as tight as the stuff your probably used to. It really comes down to which traits are more important to you because both bikes are awesome.

My mental notes to myself after riding the 520s were that you just dial in as much power as you need for the situation. Very smooth and controllable power and sixth gear is warp speed! The front end also sticks like glue compared to my 300. On my 300 it takes a lot of body positioning to weight the front for traction in slippery hard-packed riding where as on the 520 it just goes right where you point it. The 520 does maneuver quickly on singletrack trails but I found it was quickest and easiest to be a gear high and lug the bike in the tight stuff....riding it high in the RPM doesn't work like it does on my 300 where I ride that real aggressive...if you do this on the 520 it will wear you out in a hurry, plus it does vibrate a little when you wind it out for a while.

Now when I jumped back on my 300 right after riding the 520 I couldn't believe how light and flickable it was. I could pull the front end up instantly and throw it around like it was nothing. The 520 just takes more of a "flow with the bike" style riding where the 250/300 needs input to make things happen. The weight wasn't necessarily bad on the 520, just a different feeling to get used to.

So for your riding the 450 will be smoother and heavier than the 250....but if you learn to flow with the 450 I think it saves energy and the motor provides awesome traction in slippery conditions. The 250 will be easier to loft the front wheel and throw around aggressively in really nasty stuff, but you have to stay on top of it. Like me you probably have to decide which traits are more important to you and just go with it.

Hope that helps, let us know what you decide.

Eric Tabb

That would be a tough choice. I believe Kevin Gorzney has ridden both in the past, but we have not had the opportunity to try the new KTMs. I've been trying to talk my brother, a former 4-stroker, into buying a 450exc or 525exc to replace his '96 360exc. He's not interested. The technology is definitely there - but it really depends. There is no doubt that the KTM 2-strokes romp the competition on low end grunt, but cannot compare to the 4-strokes.

Depends on the way you like to ride, which power curve you prefer, the weight that you prefer to throw around. I for one would be VERY tempted to go back to my roots (4-stroke) after campaigning an RM 250 in the RMEC enduros here in Colorado - now that the weight has really come down. But I think I would miss the feel and flick of the 2-stroke.

- Editor

11/15/02

I would like to offer a tech tip in regards to your article "Top Ten Tech Tips". I appreciate all of the information that was shared regarding some of the strange reasons why bikes just will not run correctly. I have a tip regarding an inconsistent running dirtbike.

I purchased my 7 year old daughter Erica a new 2000 Kawasaki KX65. 2 months after purchasing the bike I, that's right, I wiped-out on the bike and the bike slid into a small body of water just deep enough to cover it entirely.

I drained all of the fluids and cleaned everything really well. The bike would start and run fine for about 5-7 minutes and then began to gasp and die when grabbing a hand full of throttle.

I checked out the electronics, spark plug, air filter, fuel and everything in between and could not stop the starvation problem.

I started analyzing the processes that make the engine run efficiently and determined that it was not getting enough fuel. The one place I didn't check was the one way valve that resides in the vent hose that's connected to the cap on the fuel tank.

I removed the valve, ran water through it and blew air into the valve releasing a fair amount of dirt.

The only thing I can figure is that the dirt in the valve caused the engine to pull a vacuum on the fuel tank, which reduced/restricted the flow of fuel to the engine.

I have also heard that bugs will make their homes in the end of vent hoses causing the same conditions as well as in silencers.

Since that day the bike has been fine.

Hope this helps someone.

Joey Edwards
2002 YZ426F

11/12/02

Hi

Bought my 525 this summer and can say it is awsome..

The power is alittle to much when is slippery,especially after the wieght reduction. The bike is great on track becuase of the power band, but is sucks big time when you ride on small trails such as in sweden. The first gear is to high and you have to compensate on the clutch.

Overall there is no bike that takes it on a dry track,maybe the 450SX?? My buddy has a 450yzf and he deosnt have a chance when we come out of the curves..

Thanks
andreas

11/07/02

Where do I sign up for this years Thanksgiving weekend ride??

thank you - Sam

The easiest way is go to the District 37 Web Site, which sponsors the B to V ride and send them an email that you want to sign up. It is a AMA membership mandatory event, so once you sign up the first time, you will get on their mailing list and be notified of all upcoming California Dual Sport rides.

I have attached a couple of hyperlinks that should take you to the right spot.

http://xrpilot.com/d37schedule.html

http://www.district37ama.org/dualsport/ridingevents.htm

Ron

11/07/02

If limiting the number of active coils in a spring will stiffen it. Would somehow fusing the coils with some sort of apparatus give the same effect? Such as, if there were a device that would fit in between the coils that was strong enough to keep the last coil or two from compressing. Just a thought...

Chris Dispina

I've seen strange devices inserted in automobile springs to do just this to cars with old worn out springs. We used to call them "The Poor Man's Lift Kit" back in the day. The cross section was much like a figure 8 - about an inch or two wide - with the coils resting in the "saddles" on both sides. The problems I saw were the tendency for the devices to move around, fall out, and even cause spring breakage due to uneven stress. Imagine - a single coil spring broken in two places... With some ingenuity something more useful could be cobbled together.

- Editor