Dirt Bike Up Keep

Seth Martin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 891 City: Orlando

How much maintenance is there to a dirt bike? Does it depend on the riding conditions, how its ridden, etc. Or is it like a boat, after so many hours change the X?

At Spring Fling there were a bunch of Honda XR50's being ridden. I got the chance to ride one and now have the fever. Im not sure if i would want something bigger or what yet. Part of it is that I can get set up on a 50 for around 1500 bucks. Do bigger bikes, 125, 250's, etc requre more up keep?

RYDOG · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 163 City: NOR CAL

It depends on whether you get a 4 stroke or a 2 stroke. A 2 stroke will take a lot more maintenence with top ends and pre-mix and stuff like that. However, dirtbikes in general can be expensive to keep up, chains, sprockets, tires, handlebars, top-ends(2-stroke), seals, etc...

Seth Martin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 891 City: Orlando

4-stroke

RYDOG · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 163 City: NOR CAL

What are you looking at, and what will you use it for??

Brandon Lee · Addict Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 532 City: Atlanta

ALWAYS KEEP A CLEAN AIRFILTER

BillJ · Posted: May 06, 2003 7:45 pm Post subject:

Brandon is right, the air filter is key. Also keep the chain lubed. But in general it's not expensive to maintain a bike if you take care of it. Unlike a boat you don't have suggested service intervals. Just clean the filter, change the oil, lube the chain.

I ride a 2-stroke (banshee) in the dunes and make about 8 - 12 trips per year. I can go 3 or 4 years without having to do anything major to the bike.

RYDOG · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 163 City: NOR CAL

Dude, you must not ride much.... For my 125 I change the top end about every 2 months and maybe like 3 or 4 for my 250's. I used to have to put new top ends in every other weekend in my practice bikes when I was racing. 3 to 4 years is crazy for a 2 stroke. Your rings would be shot. And in the sand your chain and sprockets don't last that long.

Grace B. · Posted: May 06, 2003 8:26 pm Post subject:

I have a two-stroke KDX80. Its not a lot of work to keep up, I just make sure the filter is clean and everything is working right. I ride it quite a bit in the summer, but yeah its not like taking care of a boat, but you still have to take good care of it to keep it in good condition!

BillJ · Posted: May 06, 2003 8:27 pm Post subject:

I guess it depends on your definition of major. I don't race just ride the dunes at Glamis but we ride a lot.

ohsix · Posted: May 06, 2003 8:27 pm Post subject:

Pretty much any XR is gonna be very low maintenance. just keep gas in it, clean the air filter every hour or two and change the oil and transmission fluid about every 12 hours.

The last bikes i rode competitively were cr250s and we would change top ends about every 4-6 hours. That's really not that much maintenance. My dad road a 99 cr250 recreationally for 2 years without changing the top end and it looked fine when we replaced it though.

I'm guessing you won't be riding an xr50 too hard but if you decide to get something bigger go ahead and buy a new triple clamp and a set of renthal or azonic bars with the bike. Stock bars bend like spaghetti.

Brandon Lee · Addict Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 532 City: Atlanta

yea and if you get a xr 50 you might want to get new triple clamps and handlebars too to raise the bar height up some. then id think about fork and shock springs and a new pipe, but then you are gettin into the serious pit bike stuff. Personally i have an 02 cr250 that I race and its really good although i wouldnt recommend it for a first bike. yea def change the bars, you dont have to change triple clamps unless you get oversised bars. the oversised bars are a lot stronger.

Sean_Brinston · Posted: May 07, 2003 1:58 pm Post subject:

Like the others have said a 4 stroke is alot easier on up keep, but you suffer in the speed department. What i mean is that a 125 two stroke is alot fast then a 125 4 stroke. Even still the new fourstrokes are very agreesive. I would deff recomend a honda. All my bikes have been honda.Good luck

DCovington · Newbie Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 48 City: Richmond, VA

I can't believe how many people neglect their bikes! I work on my bike all the time. Granted I ride a 2 smoke, but in the end a 4 stroke will cost you just as much. Every time I ride I break something and I ride at least two days a week. A 50 may be another story, but be sure not to be very tough on it. Those little bikes aren't designed to cart around a full grown man!

Let's see, I recently replaced grips, jets, pipe, throttle cable, throttle body, top end, all gaskets, cleaned the power valve, replaced the reeds, replaced the gear oil, replaced the coolant, replaced several bolts that looked suspect, and various other things. All of this was just last weekend. Next weekend I'll probably lube the swingarm assembly and replace bearings as needed.

If you don't keep up with your bike it will go to crap fast!

ohsix · Posted: May 07, 2003 7:40 pm Post subject:

ohsix · Posted: May 07, 2003 7:43 pm Post subject:

RYDOG · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 163 City: NOR CAL

That is just part of riding. Bikes are high maintenance. They are fun to take apart and put together.

DCovington · Newbie Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 48 City: Richmond, VA

wes, I have a 2001 YZ 125. One of the best bikes built that year. It is meticulously maintained and runs perfect. I'm talking about usually small stuff. Like when you lay it down in a turn and break a clutch lever or blow a fork seal or something. If you don't have these sorts of problems then you aren't riding very hard. Everyone has these problems and they are part of moto-x.

Most people neglect their bikes and then get hurt and wonder why. For instance when your brake pads are gone and you wonder why you can't stop Rolling Eyes

. Or how about when the rear suspension is shot and you land on your head on that 70 ft. double Mad

.

Safety begins with bike maintenance Exclamation

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

Seth,
I know what you mean, I rode that thing all around Saturday night at the guy taught my how to wheelie it hahaha. I really want to get one now...I called the Honda dealership and he said they are $1000 new and it would be hard to find a used one because most people pass them down in the family. The ones at LSF were like $2000 cause they had all those mods on it.
Later,
Brad

Seth Martin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 891 City: Orlando

yeah Brad - i had never seen anything like that. That table top they had set up was crazy.