Dirt Bikes, who gets dirty?

[Gus Orviston]

I see there are several off roaders selling and buying...who are you all? I chatted with bugflicker a bit on email, but please introduce yourselves. Maybe this fall I will host a roll call and show off some of my secret riding places.

What do you ride, use to ride for that matter?

Favorite riding areas?

I have been riding an XR400 since 96, and a DRS kitted to 414 for a DP bike. Race ISDEs XC and some GP when the urge hits me. I ride a lot in the coast range and when the snow level allows the gifford pinchot in washington. Soon I will add a 450EXC to my toy box.

gus

[The Overfishin Condition]

Heya! Right now I'm riding an XR200 that I bought a couple years ago, realistically the bike is too small for me at this point, hence, my posted wanted ad for an YZ400. The reason I can't go newer is b/c of money, but if anyone has a little larger four stroke 250cc or up, I might be interested. Someone looking for a new bike for themselves and a wife bike for the honey may be able to work out a trade? I'm looking for mainly a woods bike that I could ride on the longview motorcross track. I ride at Jones' Creek, Brown Camp, and around in the Mt. St. Helens National forest! Ride hard, TOC.

[FishinFinatic]

Dirt rider here also. I ride a 2001 yz426, with few mods. But next to a stock one you can definatly tell the difference. I ride most all terrain but have been doing the motocross stuff lately. Well, that is untill I broke my ankle last month trail riding down by Coos Bay up in the blue ridge trails(single track). Very nice trails. not wide enough for quads so the trails stay nice. foot came between a stump and my bike twisted and broke. DOH. I got out of my cast today but have to were a boot for another couple weeks.

If your into thumpers or just riding take a look at www.thumpertalk.com great place for information and meeting people. There has been several rides in the nw area. There is a forum just like ifish, check it out. You will find me in the yz, and NW section under the screen name woodro.

[The Bad Fish]

i may not sell my 200 exc after all. just might take to the part time riding thing. lets all get together this fall and go for a rip. kb

[RvW]

Recently made the transision from two to four wheels. started in 78 with an XR75. Took a beating on a lot of bikes since then, currently have an EX 400 with serious front end damge from an unthinkable launch from Florence "airport"

Back knees and feet cant handle the launches any more, and I was cordially invited by a sherrif to leave Southern California for jumping the hiway on a CR250 (with traffic below).

Thinking about an '04 CR500, but my pocketbook is empty, and my bones are screaming "NOOOO"

Have a custom Harley that suits me fine for two wheeled excitement (when I can get to AZ and borrow it from my mom)

Overfishin condition...too small is a myth on a good bike..Im 6 foot 200lbs and used a CR80 for a year and whooped everyones butts.

Ride red!

[ibeanfishin]

TOC, I also ride at Jone's CR. I'm a Quader (Polaris 500), have wanted to go to Brown's Camp heard its a great place to tear it up.

W.F.O. Gene.

[pole bender]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] I'm glad someone started this. I ride a (00)DRZ400, my husband rides a (00)YZF426, my son rides a (03)CRF450, daughter rides a banshee, son's girlfriend is now learning to ride a (03)CRF230. We are a riding family and primarily ride up a browns and lyda camp. We have been involved with the volunteer trail patrol for around 5 years and just to let anyone who is interested I just got a e-mail from ODF that the motorized trails are closed as of July 29th, maintain gravel roads are open. They will let me know when they reopen. This is a first since we have been working with them, we have been limited riding but not closed. :depressed: . And yes lets all get together and ride. I to talked to bug flicker out at sauvie island about riding and it would be great to have a fun ride.

[Gus Orviston]

way cool, I thought we were getting a larger off road crowd.

I am one of founding members of NORA M/C and we primarily rode further south, or Diamond Mill. I have worked with Ian and Clyde, Ian's gone now, since the early nineties and have done a lot of work. Got burned out in the late 90s and quit racing. I mostly work trails and ride between the nestucca and the eastfork trask. Haven't spun a tire at brown's or lyda in 5 years, 97 ISDE out of Jordan creek.

I think it would fun to do the volunteer patrol. I hope your family has fun doing it...my girl/boys will be coming along soon. I am starting to look for an XR50 to get them going. Soon I will have more fishing and riding partners!

gus, Future fast guy, Sven, Team Squirrel, NORA M/C

[rebell]

I guess i'm a few years late for this thread. I quit riding a few years ago do to way to many missed day's of work because of injuries. All the years of racing motocross and trail riding will alway's be my best memories. I still love keeping up on the MX circuits, and tape every program on ESPN so that I can watch them more than once.

I recently was talking to my wife about getting our son a XR70, she was all for it untill I said something about Dad needing a bike to go riding with him (seems she remembers some of those broken bones). I tried to tell her I was racing and riding bikes that were a lot more powerfull than what I would consider buying today. She didnt believe me!! Go figure. :grin:

I'm going to have to find another angle on this situation. Any suggestions?? :whazzup:

[pole bender]

rebell try to get her into riding. Take her to a motorcycle store and have her sit on the CRF230 it's a great bike and has electric start, very forgiving. For me going out riding with the family was and is the best time and times I've had. My daughter doesn't like fishing so we ride together. The time I have with my son has been especially great because it gave us something to do together and that can be hard for a mom to do. It really strenghtened our relationship while he was growing up. He is now 21 and we are still close, I truly believe it is due to riding with him, he always watches over me and makes sure I'm safe :grin: . We still enjoy going out and putting around.
Gus, Ian is working in bend. Doing VTP is a lot of fun and very rewarding.

[Gus Orviston]

rebell, never too late, if you ever saw Burt Bassett and Harold the north side old timers you would feel embarassed. These guys were pushing 70 and 82 respectively, and scooted pretty darn well on the vertical rocks of diamond mill. The surely rode better than they walk. A couple good friends of mine are retired and nearing 70 and move pretty well also. But really it isn't about going fast, it is about the Eticket ride for yourself. Have fun, feel the G-outs, catch air from 1"-5 feet, doesn't matter,, just smile. Bikes like to be ridden and never hold anything against you.

gus

[The Overfishin Condition]

Row- I completely dig what you're saying, I rarely outride the bikes power, I do stand 6'3, but only weight 175, however, if I jump whatsoever my shocks bottom out on the landing, and a lot of times just going over roots or such, just not enough travel or firmness, plus honestly standing and riding that thing, the bars are a little low. If it was all about the rider, everyone would ride undersize mini bikes, it's just time for the next step for me.

[steelheadslayer]

I'm currently on an XR600 but not for the last few years due to riding areas being closed off by timber companies or environmentalists. Would love to get out and crank her up again with some fellow riders. :grin:

[SnoSldr]

02 DRZ400s here. I ride anywhere. Handle is sno on thumpertalk.com. Itching to go up to the Gifford! Now that the woods closing around here.
Wonder how many forest fires have started becuase of Motorcycles???????

[rebell]

I'm working on her gang!! In time, in time. I would recomend that everyone try riding, street or trail. I know that racing, and riding in general kept me out of a lot of trouble while growing up.

I know i'm not to old, it's the convincing of the wife that I am older and wiser. Wise enough to slow down and just enjoy the ride. I used to be very competive, to the point there was no such thing as a casual trail ride. I loved seeing how fast I could go and survive, now I just need to convince the wife that those day's are over.

I will reply later, but right now somebody just challenged me in race to the next stoplight. I am going to blow his doors off!!!!!!! [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

[Big Dog]

I am currently ridding a KTM 600 LC4. I will ride were ever they will let me. :grin:
Big Dog

[TundraIII]

Banshee, Warrior, Blaster owner. Yamaha believer.

[ReelTrouble]

Well, I ride a XR 250, mainly at Jones Creek and St. Helens National Forest with the Overfishin Condition.

While we are on the subject of dirtbikes, has anyone done any suspention and exhaust upgrades on their XRs? if yes, what did you do?
I was going to save for a WR 426 but decided to see if I could just take my bike, and make it into what I want I just dont know how much $$ it would take, or if its even possible.

Thanks for any imput,
Reeltrouble

[RvW]

Reeltrouble...that XR is highly modifiable...you can spend a lot or a little....talk to the guys at, umm, out there on 217 in Hillsboro/Beaverton...cant remember the name. Drive the hiway south, you cant miss it. Id recommend a pipe and maybe a piston to start, which can be done yourself...then some jetting...port and polish...dont try this yourself. Actually, port and polish the same time as a pipe...FMF or supertrapp.

Once you do this,,,youll have an idea of how much you need to spend on suspension (which is also offers infinite upgrade options.)

Cutomizing is awesome becasue its cheaper than a new bike but when done right, feels as good or even better. better.

[ 07-31-2003, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

[FishinFinatic]

Reeltrouble, for suspension work I would take it to a suspension specialist. There is one there in vancouver, and one a little further north. I don't know the names I'll try to look them up. Not to nock the fellow above who suggested beaverton shop, but that place is EXPENSIVE. You can get much better prices elswere. One thing to remember on any bike, is the suspension fluid has to be changed. most bikes allow you to adjust the amount of fluid you put in to change the feel of the suspension. I'm not sure with you xr but most bikes now also allows you to adjust the dampening and rebound. You will have to refer to a owners manual for your bike for this. after that it is revalving and different sized springs to change your suspension. But definetly go to a suspension shop. Tell them what type of riding you do and what you experience now, and they can suggest some changes. I'll try to find some #'s to the susp. shops.


PS 2001 yz426 4 sale.

[Gus Orviston]

reeltrouble, what year xr250 you got?

If you are bottoming and haven't set up your suspension yet then start there. First set your sag...i.e. seat height difference from when you are off you bike compared to when you are fully dressed w/boots & helmet. This delta should be no more than 4".. 3- 3 1/2" is what you want. Use the locking adjusting spanner nuts to compress the spring to reduce the sag. Then, check your front end to be sure it isn't brain dead either. it should only sag about 1 1/2" and is often adjust by an external screw or you have to take the fork caps off and use a PVC pipe to preload the spring.

Once you have sag set, you can go further in setting up your compression and rebound. Start with the shock firt. Compression is usually set from the top screw, and rebound from the bottom if you have that setting (lot's of bikes don't that aren't race bikes). Compression is the resistance to absorbing energy when hitting an abrupt edge, rebound is the rate that the rear shock once to return to its initial position.

Compression is best dialed in your riding area...terrain you like, you want to absorb the rough stuff, but resist big G-outs. I suggest leaving your rebound in the middle settings and focus on compression 1st. Run up the trail, rocks at minium and crank up in 2 settings at a time. Run the whole gammit and take note where you liked the ride the best. Next go find the largest G-outs and see how it responds. If you can live with the G-out, then leave it. Since you are on the trail more than the G-outs, you will have a smoother ride. If you like jumping best and are willing to sacrifice trail speed dial up the compression.

Okay, rebound. If set to zero the shock is coming back as fast as the spring can. Best felt when crossing say a 8-12" log at speed, the shock absorbs the impact, but snaps back fast...spanking the rider and often kicking to one side or the other. the kicking is best seen by a following rider, hard to know it is happening if you don't know it. The best setting for rebound is something that doesn't smack your rear end, but gets the shock back to fully extended for the next obsticle. Usually the distance between two whoopdee doos. So start at min, and step up 2 at a time, the right answer is what feels best.

90% of the bikes handling is felt through and controlled by the rear shock. Diving is controlled by the front boingers.

So, if you are not happy at this time,,,you need an oil change, or improve you valving.

Happy?, then work on the front end. My complaint on XRs is their propensity to dive hard. This behavior is fixable through the proper sag, compression and or valving using the same steps outlined for the shock.

Check your specs, for where the compression and rebound is on the forks. There are 3 types of shocks and they can be different. Standard, cartridge and upside downs (cartridge)

Okay, you aren't happy.

As for where to get it done, definitely go to somebody who is suspension expert. The guys at D&S are great for parts and repairs, and shock/fork oil changes, but dialing in suspension shim stack is best done by guys who know fork and shock valving intimately. Suspension Specialties (real name in Eugene) is a good choice, I have some friends in the race world that do mine locally, or you can go to Paul Thedes, XRSONLY, BajaDesigns, etc...If your bike is older you might just need a good old oil change and do the above, in that case D&S is the shop that will do you right. Suspension oils break down and over 5 years of moderate riding you need to change it. 1 year if you pound it in 100 milers. I have blown one rear shock and I should have seen it coming...I kept bumping up the compression dampening and eventually I grenaded a very expensive Ohlins.

You can easily change the oil on the forks, but the shock will require more advanced equipement and skill than the average moto head has.

Sooo.. in short, skip the motor mods. Few people can out ride their motors, if anybody can let's hook up for a ride I need a lesson..., Suspension is number one for enjoyment, speed and handling. Then look to motor hop ups, but I suggest not opening a can of worms without having to. XRs are nearly bullet proof, but start mucking with them, and you will soon have a motor that is less than the stock motro in reliability.


Now the XR200 story....get a bigger bike! you are too big for that thing period. :tongue: I have had one for my gal friends to ride over the years, and even with proper up suspension the bike is short of adequate for anybody over 5'8" 160# It is all about enjoyment and being comfortable on your steed, and I stand up 99% of the time, but the cockpit of a 200 just isn't for a big guy.

If you want some help setting up suspension ,we can do that in a morning of scooting around the woods.

Okay, power, if you can't make it connect to the ground through well dialed in suspension, and be able to sustain the speed once you get there is no need to boost ponies. Assume you dialed in on traction...and now want more. On the XR I would open up the air ways. Airbox first, they are usually restricted...this is free HP, then if you want a bit more you can get Big Gun, Super Trap, or what ever fits the pocket book for opening up the exhaust. Then move to header, larger diameter etc...XRSONLY has a good website and lot's of hop up goodies.

gus

[ 08-01-2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

[ReelTrouble]

Wow,

Thanks for all the info. My bike is a 95. I got it a year ago in a swap. He needed my XR 200 for his kid, so I got the 250. I dont know if he ever changed the oil in the shocks, but according to his brother (who I talk to more) it was more than likely never done. So I guess I start there.

Thanks again,

Chris

[Gus Orviston]

Take note of the setting of where they are now, and compare your results you get when you are done....you should have about 15 compression settings and 18-21 rebound (if you got it), so you may end up with 8 clicks in for comp. and 10 for rebound, real high numbers for compression would tell me you are near the max and you need an oil change. count the # of clicks in and out, if the adjustment quits clicking STOP, usually the screws stops but I have seen cases where it doesn't.

I was hoping you had a 96, lot's of good changes for the XRs, new stiffer frame, oil stored in the frame not the gear box (not oil bathed gears). But I know a couple gus with 95s that have them working pretty well.

There is another slightly different approach that might help you getting it done your first time...the guy that valved my forks/shock suggests this approach. Compression =0 , and then adjust rebound first. Why, well the rebound adjustment adds to the compression a bit, so doing comp first and getting happy with the setting, you increase it even more when you start dialing up the rebound.... Again, you can do it both ways, and compare results. if they are close you can be real confident you are feeling the trail and bike the same way everytime. Suspension can seem like voodoo at times, and getting the same result two different ways can prove to you that you have arrived.

So in setting boingers up the 2nd way. C=0, R=0 run over a log typical of what you might see in your riding area. It should absorb it 100% since C=0, but kick like a mule R=0, start clickinging Rebound in 2 clicks at a time until the bike sucks up the bump and doesn't kick back too fast. This is easy, and gets you a good feel for what rebound is doing for you. Then start clicking up the C as you ride, start at max or min, try it both ways and see if you get the same answer.

For the front,,,C=0, R=0 and find some road with washboard on a gravel road. Dial in R first until you get the best ride across the washboard. Then look for logs or trail obsticles to aid in getting your front Compression set. You want the front to be able to absorb slant slippery logs at speed, so too much compression up frontis bad, but not enough gets you that XR diving action...

To make the diving go away on all my thumpers I have had to get them revalved. A bike that is changing position by 6" when you stab the front brake is diving too much,,,2-4 okay, but I like it firmer and hate a bike that feels like it is washing away from me in a turn or a down hill for that matter.

The guy that did my suspension is out of Mac, he owned the Kawasaki dealership there for many years, promoted the local National Enduro, and ran several baja teams. And his son is very very fast rides the LV-Reno, bajas etc... If he is still doing it, he is reasonable and knows local terrain. When you reach a point that you think you want it revalved let me know.

Review time..
#1 Set sag in back, (check it up front)
#2 Set up rear shock
#3 Set up forks

need help, let's go to the hill

gus

[pole bender]

just letting all concerned know that the trails at Browns camp to Jordan are open again. Just notified from ODF today. :grin:

[Gus Orviston]

Thanks for the update! I use to get those notices but got dropped off the list the last couple of years.

gus

[FishBowl]

Just notice this post I ride a 02 Kawasaki KLR 650 DP. Was just my comuter back and forth to work and scouting ride but no more work so just a play toy Yeehaw Let the goodtimes roll!!
Tim

[Gus Orviston]

crambone...that is quite a lot of DP bike man. I have a DR350S..kitted 414. Good power, but not the big luxury bike as the bike KLR.

I called the shop yesterday and put money down on a 2004 450EXC . I am getting pretty darn jazzed, I can't wait to throw a leg on and hit the E button.

gus

[stilly bum]

I used to do a lot of trail riding until a few years ago. Started as a kid on an XL125, then an XR200, then an XL350. I quit after I totalled the 350 and did a short stay in the hospital. I never felt comfortable on a bike after that. We sure had a lot of fun ripping around trails and logging roads.

[FishBowl]

Gus
you are right about that, she is a real nice ride on the street but has lots of grunt for the trail and those accidental wheelies (checkout the Avatar)
I took her from Lebanon to Clear lake the other day and had a real nice ride over HWY 20. I have to admit the backside gets a little sore butt that is life for us old F.O.G.S.
Tim
P.S. if you don't know what FOGS are PM me and I will tell ya

[ 08-19-2003, 01:02 AM: Message edited by: Crambone ]