Don’t Ask: Your Dirt Bike Questions Answered

1. Do not write your email to me IN CAPS. If you do so, I will print out your question and do terrible things to it.

2. Do not request a personal e-mail response. Since I get thousands of questions each month, trying to answer them all would cut deeply into my leisure time, which I value more than your current state of confusion.

3. Try to spell at least in a semi-correct fashion. If you choose to mangle the English language, expect no mercy from this quarter. You might be mocked severely.

4. Do not ask for me to send you copies of my many manuals and literature. I am not in the library business, nor do I want to spend the bulk of my day at the copy machine just because you're too lazy to ask your dealer,  or look around a bit.

5. Don't bother me with truly stupid questions, like how to get 50 more horsepower for a buck and a half.

6. Now that you know the rules, think carefully and have at it! Oh yes … I’ll leave your e-mail unedited, for what it’s worth.

Previous Don't Ask Columns:
June 2011

May 2011

April 2011
 

SUBJECT:  RM125 MASSIVE CONFUSION WITH “NO SARK”
hi i have a rm 125 1997 it works great with a new sark plug in but about an hour of riding it just bogs out and wont start again when i check the spark plug it fine not burnt out but it is covered in oil and i no thats the problem but dont no how to sort it my oil petrol mix is fine i just dont no what to do cheers tom
Tom

So you've got a new sark plug, eh? And it's covered in oil? You don't think that possibly you are jetted way too rich, do you? Have you ever considered the fact that you write worse than a typical second-grader and don't have a clue on what to do with your bike? It should be more than obvious to anybody who's been around two-cycle motors for more than 20 minutes the carb is jetted horribly rich. But then, based on your spelling, lack of punctuation and complete lack of capitalization, this should come as no surprise to me.

Take your pathetic little Suzuki to someone who has an inkling of knowledge and they'll take a glance at your spark plug, shake their head, and tell you what I told you a few sentences ago: you’re jetted way too rich. Now go away and don't write again until you learn what the language is at least semi-about.
                                               

SUBJECT:  HARD STARTING MYSTERY SUZUKI
I got a suzuki dirt bike 125cc it takes about 10-20 kicks to start it and when it starts it dies right away. I was wondering if it could be the magneto.
vitaliy v.

Actually, it could be the fact that you probably haven't serviced it in the last five or six years. Chances are the air filter is filthy, there's crud in your float bowl and your plug is probably older than a 200-foot tree. Do some ordinary maintenance to your bike and it will treat you well. If you don't do that maintenance, it's going to take you 10 to 20 kicks to start. The fact that it dies right after it starts should be a clue that something alien is in your float bowl, like water or crud.

SUBJECT:  MAKING A 74 YAMAHA DT125 FASTER
Re: Vintage Dirt Bike Guide
i have 1974 dt125 enduro.. can u give me guide lines how to make it increase his speed?
Emerson

I didn't know that Yamaha Enduros had genders. So yours is a he, I take it. Perhaps if you get a lady DT 125 and park it next to your he bike, they'll propagate and you'll end up with a little baby 125. As far as increasing the speed on the bike, the single best thing you could do is go up one tooth on the countershaft sprocket. This will give you a greater top speed at the expense of slightly less acceleration. If you can find an aftermarket pipe for your bike, which will not be easy because it's quite old, that will also add some power to the engine.

SUBJECT:  STICKING YAMAHA TTR 90 THROTTLE CABLE
son has yahama dirt bike  throttle cable broke at handle bar end. i replaced throttle cable but have been unable to adjust the throttle so that the idle speed won't change when the handle bar is turned left or right. I followed the procedure in the owner service manual but each time i try, by the time i get enough slack in the throttle to keep idle from changing the idle is so low the bike won't run at idle. can you tell me where else to look to solve the problem.
Joseph
 
 

Check the idle screw on the carburetor and after making sure that there's sufficient slack in the cable, set the idle a bit too high. After the bike is properly warmed up, you can then set the idle to the proper range. You want to make sure that the cable is not being pinched anywhere from the throttle to the carburetor, and that where the cable goes into the top carburetor, there is no air leak. A simple thing like a small bit of air coming into the carburetor will throw off the low-range circuit badly. Take it from there, and while you're taking it, ask your son to capitalize the next e-mail for you, because it's pretty obvious that you don't know how to do it.
 
 
SUBJECT:  WHERE TO GET CARABELA PARTS
saludos
• le envio fotos de mi carabela marquesa 175cc 1976
• foto de  mi carabela centauro 360cc 1979
• si ustede nesecita refacciones de carabela   - islo  aqui en mexico hay bastantes

con gusto se las envio
• yo me dedico a la restauracion de carabela e islo en Mexico, DF  estoy a sus

ordenes   cidenriquez@hotmail.com
• 
 
 greetings
 
o I am sending you pictures of my Carabela Marquesa  175cc 1976
o A picture of my Carabela Centauro 360cc 1979
o If you ever need Carabela parts, in Islo here in MexicoCity, there is  lots of

them that I gladly can send you.
o I work in Carabela e Islo’s restauration in Mexico City
o I am at your service

Normally, we don't translate letters that are sent to us, but since my wife speaks fluent Spanish, and I speak passable Spanish, I figured we'd give it a try. Normally we don't run e-mail addresses on this site, but since Carabela parts are so hard to come by in the states and Canada, we’re running yours. Thanks for the photos of your two bikes.

SUBJECT:  IDENTIFYING AN OSSA
Rick,
Can you tell me what year this is. It is the same bike they had in the Movie "Summertime Killer" I have seen a few similar with black pipes, and a different stripe on tank. Ive seen it called a 1969 e-71 and a 1971 and 1972  e-71. Im thinking it is a 1971. I think they changed the paint scheme in 1972 and had the shock taller with a cutout in the plastic at the top[ where the shock mounts. Also Ive seen the 1969 and 70 with pipe on left side.
Thanks
Dave
 
Since we're not the world's greatest expert on Ossas, we figured we'd contact Keith Linas at www.ossaplanet.com for enlightenment. Keith is the absolute end-all for any of your Ossa questions. Here's his reply.
 
 

Yes, got a few ideas!!! This is one of 3 versions/models. What is the VIN/engine number? This will determine which it is. Why is it people do not start with this info? Every day someone has similar questions and my reply is always the same (engine number is on top of the right front engine mount, begins with a 'M' and has six digits, this one should begin with a 30)!
Take care,
Keith
 

SUBJECT: YAMAHA VINTAGE DIRT BIKE ID GUIDE
need more info on this bike. 1w5-000199. I am sure its a 250. bit I dont know the year or model. thanks, Dan.
Dan G.
 

Your bike, a 1977 IT-250D, is a Yamaha Enduro, and it was a decent bike all the way around. The model numbers on this frame started at 1W5 – 000101.

SUBJECT:  YET ANOTHER YAMAHA ID QUESTION
Re: Yamaha Vintage Dirt Bike ID Guide
I have a change to buy a Yamaha 2 stroke, 2 cylinder with 2 carburetor. I tnink it is a 100 cc or 125 cc, the engine number is L1 54409, are there some people there can tell what a model the bike is?
Regards Boie

The bike in question is a 1967 YL-1E, and there aren't too many of these rare old birds left around. Here is some information on a brochure regarding the bike, and a photo of an actual YL. This is one that's worth restoring.
 
 
SUBJECT:  WHAT THE HELL IS A PIRANAH 90?
dos anyone know what the primary gear reduction is on a Piranah 90cc semi auto engine.
Jim Burke

Piranha 90cc Semi-Auto Engine
Engine Specs
Bore: 47mm
Stroke:49.5
Displacement: 86cc
Big Valve E22 Head
Gears:4 speed, Bottom neutral
Ignition:CDI Flywheel type
Kit Includes
Kicker starter
Shifter
Stator
Not Included
Skid plates
Electrical components
Exhaust
Air filter

Note
When upgrading your Honda XR50/70, CRF50/70 to this engine you may want to use order aftermarket footpeg mounts and tank spacers. Also we suggest using an aftermarket exhaust to obtain maximum performance. All of these items are available at TBoltUSA.com
Apparently, this little engine is used in a bunch of small bikes to replace the existing stock engine. We know nothing about the reliability of this motor anyou can find out more information about it by contacting TBoltUSA.
                                                ***
 
SUBJECT:  KAWASAKI KDX 250
Ive gotr an 83 KDX 250. It's nice to ride, and good mid range power too.  A lot better than an MXer with narrow powerband.  finding parts for it right now. but nice bike to ride.
Older MXer

While the KDE X250 was a decent bike, it didn't begin to compare with the KDX 200. Try one of these and you’ll throw rocks at your 250. Seriously. Editor Josh Burns started a project on a 2000 KDX 200 that you can see here. 
 
 
SHAMELESS PLUG
SUPER HUNKY T-SHIRTS
They're finally here. Brad Lackey printed up a bunch of Super Hunky T-shirts and they're available now. Sizes are M - L - XL and XXL. If you don't know what those letters mean, you're too stupid to have one of these Collector's Items. White shirts only (so far) and the cost is $20, including postage in the US. Contact Rick for any questions, or to just bench race.  Email: superhunky@gmailcom



SUPER HUNKY SWEAT SHIRTS
Sweat-shirts are available now. Sizes are XL and XXL only. If you dont know what those letters mean, you're too stupid to have one of these collector's Items. Shirts are white, with two-colors, the logo in blue and the image in black. They're heavy duty with a crew neck and the quality is high, as it should be, because Brad Lackey made them. Cost is $30, including postage in the US. Contact Rick for any questions.  http://www.superhunky.com/