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Hey. I just got a 94rmx with a complete rm makeover, but I don't have the tools to fix it yet so I've not ridden yet. I was wondering if anyone has tips about riding. And if anyone has some spare tool they could give a beginner. I'm pretty poor so could be some time till I get them myself. The pics my beaut

OK so I have a 2013 crf250r jumped time and as I was putting the can holders back on I cracked the left one I ordered new ones and cracked them too. Im looking to buy either the left cam holder or a set. Or looking to buy a 2013 crf250r complete head. And help would be great. And any info is helpful. Thank you for your time

I was an idiot and accidentally over-tightened my spark plug on my KX450. In doing so I put a slight indention right in the center of the piston that you can see in the attached photo. I was wondering if this is enough damage to warrant me buying an entirely new piston? Or will I be okay to continue using this one?

Hi,I have an African Twin as my main bike.I was considering a 250 for light off road and green laneing.One minute I think the 250l then I’m back to the Rally.Would the Rally be too much like the Twin.Any advice welcome.

Buckle in this is a long one. Any advice is appreciated! I have a 2011 RMZ 250 that has done me very well for 4 years. Has been a very reliable bike with lots of power. Last year it started to act up a bit, slightly less power & became more difficult to start, especially cold (side note: it’s a Suzuki so it’s never started great cold but usually 3 or 4th kick was the case). Still ran okay though & fiddled with the fuel screw a bit which seemed to help with the starting/power issue for the rest of the season. This past winter we pulled it apart, put a brand new piston in, checked the valve clearances, moderate amount of carbon build up on the valves which we cleaned off, and put in a new spark plug which is also in spec. Bike still wouldn’t start great cold but was starting on about the 8-10th kick and power seemed to be improved although not 100%. I’ve take it for quite a few rides now and broken the new piston in and am having more issues: -won’t kick over cold at all but bump starts just fine -will kick over first or 2nd kick when warm but NOT when the bike starts to get even slightly hot -very little top end power. Bottom of the gears seem to be full power and the hotter the bike gets the less power I have in the top end -bike began to backfire quiet a bit when hot -won’t idle in gear when hot Any advice on what to replace/trouble shoot next? I had a buddy tell me it could be a worn out injector so that’s what I’m looking at replacing next. Thanks!

What do u guys think about this it's $2,680 for a 06. Only one picture

Anyone remove and clean their oil screen. 2010 KX450F. I want to check and clean my oil screen but it is behind my flywheel. Has ayone ever done this job on a similar bike. Any advice on how to get to it or garage tricks?.

Hey dudes! This is my first time posting on the site so hopefully Im in the right spot and everything. I've been a long time lurker on the site and have learned tons from it over the years and decided that I'd get more out of it if I posted a bit! First the question, then I'll give you the back story- I'm looking at a 1998 YZ125 on fb marketplace. The dude wants $1500 OBO and Im trying to determine if its a good deal. Heres his description: "1998 Yz125 fresh rebuild, Fmf Turbine Core 2 silencer, protaper perch and lever, Protaper grips, frame is powdercoated white, engine case powder coated blue, new seat cover. Cons needs carb re jetted, rear shock needs rebuilt, needs tires. Just dont have time to mess with anymore have other bikes to maintain." I reached out and asked him about the jetting. He sent me a vid and the bike just sounds like its idling low. My guess is it needs the carb cleaned, the jetting adjusted, or the idle screw adjusted. I asked him how the brakes were and he said they are decent but the front is a little squishy. I asked him to clarify the rebuild and he said he rebuilt the top and bottom end himself with Wiseco. I was thinking of offering him $1000 since it needs a bit of work and I'm guessing if it needs the aforementioned items then it probably also needs other things like rear linkage bearings and maybe more. I'm willing to do the necessary work but also want to flip it for a little profit. Definitely not interested in fixing it up and losing money though. What do you guys think? I'll post pictures of the bike The back story for those that are interested: I grew up riding dirt bikes and sold my '08 CRF250 a few years back when I started a home remodeling business. Ever since then I've regretted it. I have a 3 year old son that is ripping on an XR50 and I want nothing more than to be able to take him riding all over the place. My end goal is a CR250 or similar. My wife isn't super stoked about me spending $2-$3k on a bike so my plan is to work hard to find good deals on bikes and flip them until I've made enough to pay for (or at least mostly) a bike for me. I know- easier said than done, but I know I can do it and am willing to try. Overall I'd appreciate any advice you guys have but currently I want to see what you guys think about that YZ125. Im a Honda guy at heart so blue is uncharted territory for me. Thanks all, I look forward to your response.

Hello Thumper Talk Community! This is my first post here, just created my account a few minutes ago. I apologize if I violate any type of forum rules or formatting, but I'm sure I'll learn as I go. To begin with: I've been riding dirtbikes since I was 8. I am currently a 19 year old University student in upstate NY, and I am riding a 2006 Honda XR650L that I bought myself when I turned 16. I've attached pictures of it (taken today, as I wrote this post) to illustrate the condition it is in, what it looks like, etc. While I have been riding for an extremely long time, and consider myself a safe and competent rider, I have a very limited mechanical knowledge of motorcycles. My dad introduced me to bikes and taught me to ride, but my riding experience over the years has been on my own, and my mechanical knowledge is self-taught and basic maintenance of my bike at best - nothing fancy whatsoever. He and I don't really speak anymore, and therefore I don't have any type of guidance or reference points when it comes to bike mechanics (or mechanics of any kind, for that matter). Nevertheless, I am very interested in modifying and improving my bike and possibly beginning a project to convert it into a café racer or scrambler-esque bike. I rarely go off-road anymore and use my XR as a daily driver, but I find the traction of off-road tires to be favorable and have never had street tires. Therefore I'm debating whether or not to keep my off-road tires (or get different ones), making the bike more of a scrambler - or to use street tires making it more of a café racer. If I'm using terminology wrong and have no idea what the f**k I'm talking about, then please always feel free to correct me. I am using Daniel Peter's custom XR650L café racer, and Ready Moto's brat/cafe racer as inspiration. I think both are beautiful bikes/rebuilds, and want something very similar as my final product. However, I think Daniel Peter's bike is tricked out in a very expensive (and unnecessary to me) way (i.e. antelope seat, c'mon dude). I also want to preserve my passenger seat and pegs, if possible. I have absolutely no idea where to start, and have no current access to welding or fabrication machines of any kind. I'm asking for a full walkthrough and as much help as you all are willing to give me. Because I'm in school, I have a very limited budget. Basically, I'm willing to do my short term modifications and enhancements, and probably put the conversion project on hold until the spring. This is particularly dependent upon the advice I get. I don't need the bike as much in the fall, because I live on my college campus, but it's nice to have around in working condition (I know the project would require pulling it all apart and not riding for a while). So if any part I need for this is expensive but necessary, I will save up for it and make it happen. If there are cheaper, reasonable alternatives to achieve the same goal, then I will do that. I'd appreciate all advice along those lines. I just replaced my battery two weeks ago, and am going to attempt to replace the brake pads (a simple job, I know, but with luck/mechanical ability like mine, it can be quite daunting!) The chain is new, the frame has been reinforced at certain points, but everything else is stock! What I Want Out of This Bike (Short Term) 1. I'd like to put the battery underneath the seat. 2. I want to clean it up, particularly the rusted parts, and possibly repaint/replace them to make sure the bike looks better. (Need guidance for this, as I'm unsure how to remove rust/how to go about repainting parts - why I posted pics, so hopefully this community can identify where my "problem areas" are on this bike). 3. Learn how to properly winterize and maintain bike. Currently I check oil regularly, fill it with premium gas, lube the chain once or a week or more, and wash it (probably not enough) and spray WD-40 on various pieces. If I'm an incompetent fool, tell me. 4. Replace footpegs, throttle, handgrips. 5. If feasible with my current bike, put in a circular (brighter) headlight instead of the stock square one. Am willing to get rid of red plastic housing, or find an alternative. What I Want Out of This Bike (Long Term) 1. A full café-racer type conversion, styled similar to what I linked above. My dream "bought brand new" bike currently is a Triumph Bonneville converted to a scrambler (provided a pic) to let y'all know what I'm interested in, aesthetically. 2. Switch out stock carb (40mm) with a 41mm Keihin FCR-MX flat slide. I've been doing lots of reading, and it looks like this will drastically improve bike performance and throttle response in many ways, not limited to AFR and starting. 3. Repaint the sucker! Sorry for the giant wall of text, I appreciate those who have read this far. Please ask any questions, give comments, critiques, advice, anything! I look forward to hearing what the TT Community has to say. Cheers! John

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums but not to riding. I grew up riding dirt bikes and eventually switched to racing super sport motorcycles. I have many years of experience riding on street, dirt, and all types of tracks, but I have been out of the scene for about 10 years. Looking to get myself another dirt bike and eventually one for my boys. I was most recently considering a KTM 450 XC-F or Husky FX450 but some of my latest reading on here suggested it may be overkill. I have answered the basic questions below and look forward to your help! 1. What is your skill Level (be honest)? Intermediate - on dirt, especially considering I will be rusty. Last rode on tracks and trails in 2010. Hoping to knock the rust off quickly and not have a bike that I feel like I will outgrow too soon. 2. What's your height & weight? 6'2" & 235 lbs 3. What year, make, & model of motorcycle are you coming from? And, what do you want the new bike to do better? 2008 Honda CRF450R - I had no complaints, just looking for something that will be reliable, fun, and allow me to push my skills up. 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 4. What's your ballpark budget? Dependent on my options. I could buy new (some deals to be had right now) if it makes sense, especially considering the risk with some used bikes. But I'm open to late model used, as well. 5. What types of terrain will you be riding? Mostly trails, adventure parks, fire roads, possibly some single track. I'll definitely hit some jumps on a track but I will not enter any MX race. 6. Will you be racing or just play riding? Most likely just play riding, but I may consider a race down the line. Is a 450 XC bike overkill or will I feel the need to upgrade once I knock the rust off? Thanks! -Matt

Hello im 14 and im selling my 400ex and buying a dirt bike but I dont know what to buy. I'm somewhere between 5'7-5'8 and about 160lbs, I have been told to get a yz250f or a yz125 i've never sat on either of those so it might be fine but at first glance they seem really tall. thoughts or suggestions?

What's up TT not sure how this really works so this is just a test.I got a bike finally after a few years and it deff needs some maintenance if anybody can help me out first thing I was wondering about is the last time I rode it it seemed to smoke a lot when I was warmin it up like maybe a little more than a little idk.could my mixture be off??

First off, here’s my background, because it will give some context: Location: Northern Arizona Weight: 160lbs Height: 6’1” Riding Experience: 4 years on street bikes until this past Saturday where I test rode my coworkers upgraded 2001 XR650R and an old 100 that had a bore kit and some other upgrades. We rode out in the woods and did a small hill climb with no problem. I currently own a Suzuki 2004 GS500f So just to preface this, I know the XR650R is a beast and probably not a “good” starter bike, but I think I’m getting it for a really good deal and it would be a great bike to grow into. It would be a project bike for me and would eventually take it on adventure backpacking trips. He’s quoting me for $2550 for the XR650R with the following upgrades: -Uncorked engine -Oversized brakes -Aftermarket suspension (it’s quite stiff, it would need to be changed to fit my body type) -Upper triple clamp with stabilizer mounts (I’ll probably buy a Scott stabilizer to install as my first upgrade if I buy the bike) -Pro taper bars (1-1/8” taper) -Heavy duty hand guards -Aluminum skid plate -4 gallon desert tank with foam insert -Aftermarket seat (some more padding) -Custom headlight -Oversized foot pegs -Brake light (I’ll want this to get to it be street legal, plan on commuting to work with this a lot) -New front steering stem bearings -and more... I noticed when riding it that when turning the front fork it would sort of “catch” when crossing over the middle. He’s changing out the front bearings and I’m going to test ride it again this weekend. So here are my qualms and questions… If I go back this weekend and test ride it with the new bearings and it still has the catch, would a stabilizer almost certainly do the trick in smoothing it out? Am I really stupid for thinking this is a good deal? Am I really stupid for still wanting this beast (even if it is a good deal) as my first bike? Any suggestions is appreciated, thanks!

Alright, I'm moving to newfoundland, canada next month and need help deciding which dirt bike to get when I get there. Im 14 and weigh 135 pounds and im 5 foot 8 inches tall. My budget is around 6000$CAD and this will be the first time I'd ever been on a dirt bike. Doesnt matter if its new or used. Please give me some advice!

Could have sworn I set my torque wrench to the right specs, yet still managed to crack my crankcase on my bike during an oil change this week (pics from others with the same issue attached) I'm lacking the time (and expertise, to be frank) to DIY and would prefer to have a professional install new case, but I'm finding it difficult to locate a shop or independent mechanic that works on Honda bikes near me in Seattle. Would anyone in Western Washington be willing to recommend a trustworthy mechanic and provide their contact information? I'll happily drive up to the Canadian border, down to the Oregon border, or east to ~Ellensburg for the right person & price. Thank you 🙏

Hey all I have been riding street motorcycles for a little over a year now and I’ve been looking to switching to dirt bikes. I am pretty mechanically confident working on bikes. I’ve been looking at some cheap options near me and came across this 2009 RMZ 450 that seems pretty clean and according to the owner only has about 50 hours on it. Going to check it out today, anything I should watch out for with these bikes? Any and all advice is welcome, trying to learn as much as I can Link to listing for bike

My buddy’s bike started making a whirring sound after we put a new top end in it (third ride). The head appears warped or something because when I sprayed ether on it the bike revved up. The bike didn’t overheat at all. I checked the flywheel and there is no play in it so the bearings are good. It has had low compression since the rebuild, so I know something’s up with the head as I’ve replaced the crank seal. Could it be sound from a blown head?

Hi, i'm a 5'10,185lb Freshmen in highschool i just got done with my first year of riding bikes and is really comfortable on my kx100 im outgrowing it very fast though it. I have been suggested to get a yz250 (sticking with 2 strokes) anyways i found a rm250 2002 and im wondering if its a good idea. Can y'all help?(I ride offroad in deserts and have never been to a track)

I recently picked up a pit bike as a project which needs a bit of work, I have been able to identify the engine as a lifan 110cc as it appears to be a generally used engine manufacturer on pitbikes however I have struggling to identity the main manufacturer of the bike as a whole, its causing a bit of difficulty finding the right parts for the frame etc. I feel I may be hitting a dead end as it appears the previous owner(s) of this has customised it so parts may not match up, just looking for some advice. I've attached some photos for reference, I can upload more tomorrow if need be to give a better picture.

hello, I'm new to this forum, hope I'm going about this the right way.... I'm new to KTM's and 4 strokes but not to the off road world. I'm about to pull the trigger on buying a 2013 KTM 500EXC with 2100 miles and roughly 100 hrs on it for $7,500. I'm a little hesitant for the fact that it's a 2013. I was looking more for a 2016 or newer because I was told that the motor design is much better?? I rode the bike briefly and from my experience nothing seems odd about it. The owner is a second owner and says he bought it from the dealership with about a 1,000 miles on it and about 50 hrs and then he updated the display to a fancier one that shows the other half of the mileage/hours on it. It seems to be ridden by him only in the pine barrens in NJ. I saw it was listed about a month prior for $8,000 and he told me he had it listed for $9,000 at one point but someone told him he is nuts so he lowered the price. I'm hoping to hear that I'm being paranoid and that it's a good deal but I need to hear it from someone who knows more about these bikes.

Hello, short introduction. I live in Thailand and only ride snotty rocky single track. I have a Suzuki rm250, Yamaha wr250f and just finished the build of a 98 wr250. I took the wr250 out yesterday for the first time, all bottom end done with new bearings, conrod, etc. engine runs great with the fmf fatty gold series and pro circuit silencer.However....when the bike hits the power band all traction is lost and just spins the wheel. It feels like this beast has so much more power then the other bikes. where my rmx lugs up the hill the wr250 just goes mental! I am running 13/50 gearing. any suggestions are welcome. steahly 11 or 13 oz.? and what else to tame the hit, i really don't need the hit as i rarely see open terrain. its all up or down rocky. Thanks. I am a bit disappointed with the useless power at the moment especially its a WR with already a heavier flywheel, 18 inch rear, wide ratio. Thanks

Hey All! Reposting my first post from touring/adventure touring - thought this forum would see more activity. Here it is: 7/18/17 Hello Thumper Talk Community! This is my first post here, just created my account a few minutes ago. I apologize if I violate any type of forum rules or formatting, but I'm sure I'll learn as I go. To begin with: I've been riding dirtbikes since I was 8. I am currently a 19 year old University student in upstate NY, and I am riding a 2006 Honda XR650L that I bought myself when I turned 16. I've attached pictures of it (taken today, as I wrote this post) to illustrate the condition it is in, what it looks like, etc. While I have been riding for an extremely long time, and consider myself a safe and competent rider, I have a very limited mechanical knowledge of motorcycles. My dad introduced me to bikes and taught me to ride, but my riding experience over the years has been on my own, and my mechanical knowledge is self-taught and basic maintenance of my bike at best - nothing fancy whatsoever. He and I don't really speak anymore, and therefore I don't have any type of guidance or reference points when it comes to bike mechanics (or mechanics of any kind, for that matter). Nevertheless, I am very interested in modifying and improving my bike and possibly beginning a project to convert it into a café racer or scrambler-esque bike. I rarely go off-road anymore and use my XR as a daily driver, but I find the traction of off-road tires to be favorable and have never had street tires. Therefore I'm debating whether or not to keep my off-road tires (or get different ones), making the bike more of a scrambler - or to use street tires making it more of a café racer. If I'm using terminology wrong and have no idea what the f**k I'm talking about, then please always feel free to correct me. I am using Daniel Peter's custom XR650L café racer, and Ready Moto's brat/cafe racer as inspiration. I think both are beautiful bikes/rebuilds, and want something very similar as my final product. However, I think Daniel Peter's bike is tricked out in a very expensive (and unnecessary to me) way (i.e. antelope seat, c'mon dude). I also want to preserve my passenger seat and pegs, if possible. I have absolutely no idea where to start, and have no current access to welding or fabrication machines of any kind. I'm asking for a full walkthrough and as much help as you all are willing to give me. Because I'm in school, I have a very limited budget. Basically, I'm willing to do my short term modifications and enhancements, and probably put the conversion project on hold until the spring. This is particularly dependent upon the advice I get. I don't need the bike as much in the fall, because I live on my college campus, but it's nice to have around in working condition (I know the project would require pulling it all apart and not riding for a while). So if any part I need for this is expensive but necessary, I will save up for it and make it happen. If there are cheaper, reasonable alternatives to achieve the same goal, then I will do that. I'd appreciate all advice along those lines. I just replaced my battery two weeks ago, and am going to attempt to replace the brake pads (a simple job, I know, but with luck/mechanical ability like mine, it can be quite daunting!) The chain is new, the frame has been reinforced at certain points, but everything else is stock! What I Want Out of This Bike (Short Term) 1. I'd like to put the battery underneath the seat - what are the benefits/disadvantages of this? To my knowledge it'll just slim the profile of the bike when I take off side paneling and prevent the battery from getting wet or as damaged in a drop. 2. I want to clean it up, particularly the rusted parts, and possibly repaint/replace them to make sure the bike looks better. (Need guidance for this, as I'm unsure how to remove rust/how to go about repainting parts - why I posted pics, so hopefully this community can identify where my "problem areas" are on this bike). 3. Learn how to properly winterize and maintain bike. Currently I check oil regularly, fill it with premium gas, lube the chain once or a week or more, and wash it (probably not enough) and spray WD-40 on various pieces. If I'm an incompetent fool, tell me. 4. Replace footpegs, throttle, handgrips. 5. If feasible with my current bike, put in a circular (brighter) headlight instead of the stock square one. Am willing to get rid of red plastic housing, or find an alternative. What I Want Out of This Bike (Long Term) 1. A full café-racer type conversion, styled similar to what I linked above. My dream "bought brand new" bike currently is a Triumph Bonneville converted to a scrambler (provided a pic) to let y'all know what I'm interested in, aesthetically. 2. Switch out stock carb (40mm) with a 41mm Keihin FCR-MX flat slide. I've been doing lots of reading, and it looks like this will drastically improve bike performance and throttle response in many ways, not limited to AFR and starting. I know nothing about AFR...or carbs. 3. Repaint the sucker! I've read online various opinions, the main camps seem to be either (a) don't do it yourself, have a professional do it or (b) you can do it yourself very carefully. Sorry for the giant wall of text, I appreciate those who have read this far. Please ask any questions, give comments, critiques, advice, anything! I look forward to hearing what the TT Community has to say. Cheers! John UPDATE 07/22/17 I replaced both front and rear brake pads because I had irresponsibly been using very worn-down ones, and the friction subsequently wore down my rotors. Not bad enough to replace rotors (thank goodness, I'm too cheap for that right now), but still negligent on my part. Started taking the most rusted bolts out and WD40+steel wool scrubbing them, then putting grease on. I don't have any never-seize, but I'll get some at some point. For now, grease should suffice. Going to wash the bike soon, scrub everything down and then get to polishing up....everything!

Hi, I'm 16 and looking to buy my first dirt bike. I'm pretty dead set on a 2 stroke, but dont know what to get. I'm 5' 11", 165 pounds, and only have experience on 4 stroke utility quads(500 Polaris etc.). I'll be riding old gravel roads, pastures, and the occasional trail. I like going fast, but don't know if a 250 would be too much power. I also don't know if the 125 will have enough to keep me entertained or not. Some people say they have them going 85, some say 55. So the question is: first bike, 125 or 250?

Hello, long time lurker and now dirt bike owner! (Mod: please move to appropriate forum if this is in wrong area) My 13 year old son kept asking for a dirt bike to ride with friends. After much hand wringing and talking the boss (mom) into it, we are now owners of a Honda CRF125 (son) & CRF150 (mom and dad). I grew up riding quads like 400ex, and streetbikes. I was fairly nuts and a moderate to good rider in my youth. Wow, dirt bikes are a different experience altogether and much harder to adjust to than I thought. I have a complete new respect for those who ride dirt bikes well, and motocross/enduro in general. I have done the research and watched video after video, my question to this community is this. Real world, what advice do you have for teaching my son good habits and experiences? And by proxy mom and dad. I'm only talking light riding and beginner advice. Trail riding and dirt roads, nothing crazy. Just tips and real world advice and things you learned along your journey. We have full protective gear and the bikes, now we just need the experience to make memories as a family. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'll leave it with one experience I've had already. Unloaded the bikes once I got home. I jumped on the 125 and proceeded to teach my son the basics. Clutch, shift pattern, brakes, stance, choke, gas, etc. I then revved her up to show them (whole family + neighbors) how to start - yup, got cocky and whiskey throttled it throwing me on my butt and barely missing my Jeep. Bruised ego and replaced broken clutch lever later, all was well and my son took to a clutch like a fish out of water! ? We are located in Valdosta, Ga. Looking forward to finding riders and places to ride around us.

Sorry if this is not the right forum to post this, but I've recently started taking apart the top end on my 2008 ktm exc-r 450. I was able to loosen 3 out of the 4 bolts that hold the cylinder head on and when I got to the last one (front right shown in the picture) the inside rounded out. As you can see from the picture its pretty close to the side of the engine so nothing can fit around the outside of it. I tried using a star-head to get a little more grab on the inside of the bolt head but no luck. I'm trying to figure out what my options are before I make anything worse. I've been told I could cut the bolt head off, but if I do wont the threads inside still be holding the cylinder head down?? Maybe a stupid question, since from looking on the oem parts finder it looks like the threads dont start until their into that bottom part of the engine. I've also head of tack welding a bolt on top to remove it, but not sure how hard thatd be to do with such little space. Are there any other tools or tricks to getting this thing out before resorting to those last ditch efforts?