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SUBJECT: KAWASAKI REAR SHOCK ADJUSTMENT
I have a 2000 KX250 and I've been noticing the rear shock seems a little "spongy" but not needing rebuilt, I am 150 lbs, 6' but I do alot of freestyle and I was wondering how to adjust the valve on the rear shock dampening because I've tightened the spring up to where a like it it seems to just rebound a lil too fast
No Name
Council Grover. KS

If the rebound is too fast, then you need to increase the rebound damping.  Please note that I did not say "dampening," which means to wet something.  Turn the rebound adjuster until the rebound slows down. 

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SUBJECT: KAW F11 REVVING WILDLY

Hello,
I have a Kawasaki F11 Enduro bike, and whenever me and my dad start it it just revs itself to the moon! We have NO idea whatsoever about why it does that, we even checked the float, cleaned the carb, checked the points, the timing could be off but we don't know for sure. I was hoping you would know.
Thanks.
Juice-Eye

When a bike revs high for no apparent reason, the reason is usually an air leak.  Check the intake for cracks and things not seating properly.  Also check for leaking head or base gaskets.

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SUBJECT: CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
HEY u r a real dumb ass **********er i wote u askin about a problin with my Honda and u gave a smartass answir and dident even answir my question right so what gives huh i xpect a answir not to git dissed &%#%**^%$ u and ur pet
Fast Flyer

Ah, Mister Flyer. The last I checked, your email was the usual garbled tripe I receive from those with the literacy of a goldfish. And, if I recall, you were not billed for the advice I gave you. Keep the change. And please, do not write again.

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SUBJECT: WHICH HONDA ELSINORE CAME FIRST

Got into a spirited discussion the other nite around the campfire with fellow moto-geezers as to which came first, the Elsinore 125 or the 250...We would appreciate your impartial opinion and accept it as a final decision.....mainly because no one else can remember that far back....The dingleberry I made the bet with did'nt even know what GYDBT stood for or even what color it was.
Rex Gary

I referred to the four-year CD set of the 1971-74 DB magazines and found out the following: 

The 250 Elsinore was tested in DB in  the June 1973 issue, starting on page 40.  The 125 Elsinore was tested in the September 1973 issue starting on page 76. 

It's nearly a criminal offense to not know what color the Great Yellow Dirt Bike Truck was. 

Visit my website at:  www.superhunky.com to find out about the CD set.

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Hold on - more great questions and answers are loading!

SUBJECT: RIBI FORKS FOR A FACTORY HONDA

I know the The Man Roger DeCoster rode a factory Suzuki mxer with the really weird RIBI forks. I also heard that Honda played with those forks. Do you know anything about that?
Mark Winslow
LA, CA

Yep, Honda did indeed try the RIBI forks. Here are some photos.

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SUBJECT: CURE FOR MONKEY BUTT?

I did an out west trip with our two old bikes....and i guess i WILL ask a question, but if you are too busy to answer i understand. Do you happen to know what year rear shock will interchange on my 89 KDX200? also my cure for monkey butt is a butt shaped piece of carpet foam duct taped to a pair of underwear that I pull on over my regular mid-calf cotton underwear before i put on my motorcycle pants. sounds weird, but it works!
an old buddy.... j. hoerath.
PS still have the letter you sent me sometime in the 70's or early eighties when you were at dirt bike.
Powell, OH

Just about any year up to when they discontinued the KDX200; they all ran the same shock.  Kawasaki quit making the KDX200 in 2007.  The carpet foam thing sounds weird, but I'll pass it on.

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SUBJECT: Article Title: Used Dirt Bike Buying!

I’m 5'10'' 30 inch's in the crotch, so i have to get something that fits me and not the high setting monoshock bikes in the last 15 yrs, Like the story goes??? Be,,,, And I Mean Really Be On Your Guard On Used Dirt Bikes, Just because something is newer or recent within the last ten yrs, dont mean nothing, Ive seen nightmares rolling, and bad dreams in the ads too, if you know about dirt bikes and theier ancillaries, go slow and ask questions as to what the history was on the bike and who owned it,before this??? youlll be alor safer in the long run and youll have no sorry feelings on this if you do your homework,
Kirk Conway
Alton, KS

Yep, most of the newer bikes have genuinely tall saddles.  Even worse, they have a short fuse when it comes to engine life.  As long as you're thinking about a decent bike, you couldn't do any better than a used KDX200.  Even though they quit making the bike a few years ago, you  can still find them on eBay.

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SUBJECT: BOGGING OUT ON A 96 HONDA CR250

I went for a ride yesterday on my 1996 cr 250... Ran well for the first half hour or so and then it started bogging down between 3/4 to full throttle with lots of smoke trailing behind. Luckily I was riding in a sand pit with my truck nearby because the bike suddenly bogged to a hault. I kicked it over a few times and the only reaction that I got was an initial fire and then an immediate bogg and stall. I pulled the plug to find it saturated and black. I didn't have another plug so I toasted it up with a lighter to dry it up. I checked to see if it was sparking and it seemed week... Kind of between orange and blue in color. I pulled my air cleaner and my silencer to relieve it of all restrictions and tried starting it again... Same thing, fired for a second and then bogged and stalled. I packed up my stuff and headed back home. I still havent put a new plug in it yet but I did some research on the symptoms... I noticed the stator side cover was missing a bolt and it is actually in pretty rough shape... I just bought this bike a week ago so I haven't got all of the bugs out yet. I was told that it has a fresh top end (it seems to have strong compression).

My theory is that there might be a problem with the stator... I pulled the cover today and I'm waiting for a flywheel puller to come in the mail so I can check this thing out. What do you think? Oh by the way I mixed my fuel with golden spectro... 12 oz to 5 gallons supposed to be 52 to one... Thank you for any help!
Bogged
Colchester, CT

Before you go ripping your bike apart, why don't you check the logical stuff first. The fact that your plug was black should tell you that the bike is jetted overly rich.  Add to that the fact that bike will start, then bog out, should be a clue that you have crud in your float bowl that's blocking the main jet.

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Be patient - Page 3 has a great vintage ad you won't want to miss

SUBJECT: SUZUKI TM 400 AD

Rick
I recall an add for the original Fear Machine the TM400 Suzuki Cyclone where they had a racer who had just won a race with it. It was bogus, but I’d like to see it again. Can you help?
Steve
Palmdale, CA

Your wish is my command. Here is the original ad and here are the actual people who were in the ad.

***

SUBJECT: NAME THAT YAMAHA

i need to know the year and model of the bike i just got the number on the bike and motor is ct1-1086347 please help........
Mike
Omro, WI

According to the Yamaha I.D. chart, your bike is a 1972 model.  You could have saved an email by simply looking at the tag on the steering head.

***

Article Title: HONDA XL 250 K1 - VINTAGE DIRT BIKE
Where can I get No Longer Availible Parts ?
John
Madras, OR

Like what kind of parts? Motor? Frame? Plastic? Here's a link to NOS Honda parts: http://www.olypen.com/retro/
 

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Article Title: Project Honda CRF230F: It's all about the Forks

Hi,
i have an 05 CRF230F and i was wondering what would be the best upside down forks for it, iv been looking on ebay and i fould some CR125 forks but dont know if they will fit my bike, so my price rang for forks are $1000 Im 14 and my 230 just needs to be a bit better, i have a tone of upgrades already but i need better forks any ideas?
Thanx
Honda101MotoMan
Altona, CANADA

Before we installed upside-down forks on our Project CRF230, we put on conventional CR125 forks and they worked just fine.  Our cost was under a hundred bucks, so if you're looking to save some money, this is the way to go.  Refer to our early project series for info on how to get it done.

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SUBJECT: HONDA CR80 WON’T HIT POWERBAND

i have a 93 cr80 it wont rev up or hit powerband could u tell me why
Dirtbikerider
Cranston, RI

Hello there Mister Rider.  Perhaps your little mini bike is all worn out.  Check some basic things, like doing a compression check to see if your top end is shot.  And while you're at it, learn how to write.

***

SUBJECT: Title: Rebuild Your Carb

THIS IS REALLY GREAT INFORMATION BUT! i took apart my carb and cleaned it thouroughly , re- assembled it , mounted it back on , now when i turn on the gas and start the bike , the gas is going through the carb and out the overflow pipe continuously , can anybody help me out ?
Adzski
Ottawa, CANADA

You did something like leaving the float needle out, or setting the float level way too low.  Double check these areas.

***

SUBJECT: NO SPARK IN A 2001 RM125
have a 2001 rm 125 it sat for 2 years and now no spark can you tell what the ohms should be for the stator and pickup
No Name
Valdosta, GA

Before you whip out all the electrical testers, why don't you just take all the connectors apart and sand and clean them properly.  Chances are that corrosion is the real culprit.

Hold on - Page 4 has more great info, and a Shameless Plug from Super Hunky himself

***

SUBJECT: SLIPPING CLUTCH ON KDX200

I have a mid 80's KDX200. It starts, runs, idle, etc. When I go to put it in gear - the bike won't engage, but it won't stall out either. I know the clutch isn't engaging, but I'm wondering if I need to break the motor open or if a simple clutch adjustment may cure this.
Thanks in advance, Matt
Worthington, OH

First check and see if the adjuster on your clutch cable is too tight.  If it's OK, the chances are your clutch is dead and needs fresh plates at the very least.

***

SUBJECT: 1975 CR125 SILENCER ISSUE

Rick,
I need some advice on an expansion chamber (stock 1975 CR125 Honda). The pipe is in great shape with the exception of the
silencer/baffle. This is the stubby one piece pipe without the extra silencer on the end.It's loud as H#ll and I suspect the packing is beyond it's days.The bike runs OK but just doesn't want to scream like it shoud in the upper end.(Restricted?) Circle F told me not to gut the stinger on it, and that they could provide a slip on silencer to quiet things down, but I still have the spooged up end problem, any suggestions beside buying a new pipe??
Thanks,
Gregg
Hutch
Kewaskum, WI

It shouldn't be too hard to put some fresh packing in the silencer.  You can use the packing in an old furnace filter if you don't want to spend any money.  By all means, put some sort of silencer on the bike.

***

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

BLACKWATER 100

Welcome to a celebration of The Toughest Race In America, the notorious Blackwater 100. Held every year in Davis, West Virginia, the race was designed by Dave Coombs to be a real test of survival. While the race is no more, the tales of this legendary race seem to grow with each passing year.

What we have here, is a collection of hundreds photos, stories and copies of some of the actual programs. These images tell you more about the nature of the grueling course than the many tales that circulate.

Included in this great collection are stories about the race by Rick Sieman, who competed in this event numerous times. You’ll also find a story and test on the legendary 760 Maico, the first bike ridden by Rick in the Blackwater race.

The Blackwater 100 is a two CD set. On Disc 1, you’ll experience a slide show with some classic bluegrass country music to accompany the images. Just put the disc in your computer, go to MY COMPUTER and hit the BLACKWATER 100 button on your screen. Make sure you turn your sound on for Disc 1.

On Disc 2, you’ll find the same images, but these are in Picassa 3 format and literally hundreds of photos are there. This means that you can stop any image, or copy what’s on the screen, make it bigger (or smaller) and print out anything you see. Just go to the bottom of the screen and a very simple menu is there.

Cost for the CD set is $20 plus $5 for Priority Rush mail. Paypal, checks or money orders OK. Paypal address is: superhunky@gmail.com Mailing address:

Rick Sieman
36607 W. Costa Blanca Dr.
Maricopa, AZ
85238

Go to www.superhunky.com for more info on other products, including posters, CDs and the Monkey Butt book Email: www.superhunky@gmail.com