Don’t Ask!
Go ahead, but if your question is stupid, you’ve been warned…
If you choose to email a question to this forum, then you must conduct yourself accordingly. Therefore, the following rules are in order:
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!
Send your questions to editor@dirtbikes.com, Attn: Don’t Ask, or leave your questions in the comment section below.
SUBJECT: REAL OLD MAICO
Hi Rick,
Thought you may like to see these pics,my friend tom bought this recently to restore. A load of work for sure but it’s a Maico 250 from 1956. Rare indeed!
Anthony Wilde
Very rare indeed. I’d like to see the bike when it’s all done.
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: AM I A MOVIE STAR?
Howdy from Avis, PA.
It’s 20 degrees out tonight and I’m wishing for spring and bike riding weather. Got a basket case Bonneville that’s finally getting paint and put together after 35 years. Life gets in the way.
Anyhoo, looking at Netflix movies on any kind of riding be it dirt or street, and I watch (for the first time ever) CC Ryder with Joe Namath in it, and there’s a guy that looks just like you in the motocross part. You? 1970 movie, desert track someplace, I’m thinking Could be?
Hope you are doing okay, and thanks for all the great memories that thinking of your column brought back.
John Crossen
I’ve been in a few movies, but don’t believe I was in CC Ryder. I was in On Any Sunday and some others, but I don’t think that makes me a movie star.
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: REMEMBER THE BANDIDO
Rick, did you know Easyriders Magazine also debuted in June of 1971? Small world, eh?
Dirt Bike, though a higher quality magazine with a readership including riders of [a] generally higher I.Q; suffered only in its lack of women baring their chests.
Honestly, If I wanted to slaver over women, I’d look at some vintage BSA or Norton ads. Now, that was average Easyrider reader would have described as “showing class!”
As far as some motorcycles beautiful enough to bring a “rise to the old Levi’s,” two of them would have to be the 1968 Bultaco El Bandido in black and white. The other would be a Triumph/Rickman “Metisse” (french for “mongrel”). However, I’d rather gaze my bloodshot eyes on the motorcycle themselves, not some naked chick leaving “snail tracks” on them.
I know the El ‘Dido wasn’t good for much more than power line sliding but, man, what a look! Maybe you could come up with a couple pictures for the “Don’t Ask!” readership.
You think the riding youth of today would even know what an El Bandido or Rickman is? No? They certainly should have known. (a wink and a nod to “Rondo” and Vic)
Easy,
David “TT500” Fruhling
There was a lot of arguing in the early days as to whether the bikes should be spelled El Bandito or the El Bandido. Most people tended to go with the ITO ending. The bike was truly amazing looking and was very fast. But it wasn’t all that reliable and contributed even more to the Bultaco notoriety.
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: RICKMAN KITS
Greetings Rick,
As a kid I anxiously awaited the latest Dirt Bike to read the latest from Super Hunky… now I’m 60 and penning a note to you for dirt bike advice – here’s the story.
While you were enjoying the California sun, me and my pals were slogging through east coast muck and grime on Long Island, NY. I had a Pursang that loved to spit me off regularly. I switched to Yamahas (a buddy owned a dealer) and custom frames for short-track (Long Island is flat). Then on to Rickmans; I had a BSA Victim Metisse for a while, then a MkIII with an A65–I still have that bike parked alongside another A65 Metisse I purchased from Kirk F. White in 1983. I like thumpers and my father worked for BSA during the war years… What can I say?
I’ve always kept a few bikes around, but the currents of life drifted me into a clean fingernail career. I wound up in Washington and the world of knife-fighting; I served as an advisor in the White House for a time (which made me wish I was back in the garage with a wrench!). Yet I always kept a project or two in the shop so I could periodically regain my sanity. I’m probably the only DC suit who can TIG weld. I should have used that skill to make myself some body armor, but that’s another story.
Anyway, I was sitting in a mind-numbing meeting a few weeks back and had arranged myself so no one could see my laptop… to prevent drooling from boredom I was digging around for another garage project. I had just finished a CT70 restoration for the neighborhood kids and needed a new challenge. What I tripped across turned out to be very interesting.
I read an ad for a modified Rickman frame that fit a Yamaha DT engine. Gee… always wanted one of those. I’ve never actually seen one though. I’ve read they made 22; 10 sold as complete bikes and 12 as kits. Unfortunately this was a hack job, but it looked clean and the price was super cheap, so what the heck. When I got around to opening the boxes I had bought it was quickly obvious the frame was not modified. The seller had gotten a bum steer from some folks in the UK when he tried to check the records. I tried different sources and confirmed that this was a Steen’s kit package manufactured Sept. ’68. The history is foggy, but apparently the kit was purchased by a collector and never assembled. Oh boy!
The kit was mostly complete; a MkIV frame and fiberglass missing only the airbox. A little elbow grease and the frame appeared new again. I had a bunch of Rickman stuff, which is making it easy to put it all together. The previous owner had some interest in putting it together and had procured 3 DT engines and ’68 Pursang MkIV forks and wheels. There were some missing Bultaco bits, but a quick call to Lynn Mobley solved that problem. I now have everything I need to complete the project except two things: a MkIV airbox and an exhaust pipe.
I’ve found a few pictures of these bikes, but none have the detail to reveal how the pipe and airbox setup was arranged. I’m guessing that Rickman did not use the standard MkIV airbox. I can understand the basic routing of the pipe, but not what happens as it disappears in the area over the airbox, through the frame, to exit through the left side numberplate. I will have to fabricate an exhaust and that’s not a problem, but I’m hoping to get some more facts before diving in. Finding an airbox is probably as hopeless as finding a NOS exhaust pipe so I’ll probably wind up making one of those too. Technology comes to the rescue, though, because I have a new-fangled 3D printer and can make anything I’d like if I know what it looks like.
This thing has been waiting 50 years for the breath of life and I’m happy that it found its way to me. As I approach the last lap on this project I’m wondering if your travails brought you into contact with anyone who owns one of these things. If so, it’s hopefully someone with a kind soul willing to let me sneak a peak to fill in the last missing pieces of the puzzle.
Thanks for many years of dirt bike wit and wisdom. I’m very thankful for any suggestions!
Cheers,
Liam
PS: My brother-in-law grew up in Tuscon, and I did get to ride the desert once… I think the Prickly Pear spine is still lodged in my right cheek. Maybe mud ain’t so bad after all!
The best we can do is publish your email in here and hope there’s someone out there who can assist you. Good luck and when you finally get it completed, we’d love to see it. Lan Sibbles
***
SUBJECT: COLOR CODES
Rick,
I was very impressed with the restoration you did on the Yamaha Mini Enduro! I am in the middle of restoring one myself, and was wondering if you still have the paint code. I would be glad to pay for the code or compensate you accordingly. I’m pulling my hair out over trying to get the paint to match… Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
James Abell
Sent from my iPad
James,
I can’t recall doing a resto on the Mini Enduro. Can you tell me the year of the bike and when the feature ran? But here’s something that might help. This is a copy directly from an ad from ColorRite:
ColorRite is the leading provider of paint for your motorcycle, personal watercraft, snowmobile, ATV, or outboard engine. Known for a spot-on-match for your vehicle, ColorRite has been recommended by thousands of motorcycle dealers and enthusiasts since 1988. We offer a variety of paint products for your touch-up needs; each filled with the absolute, highest quality O.E.M. paint available.
Whether you need to repair small dings or chips, or re-spray your entire vehicle for a return to new, ColorRite can help. We manufacture paint for models going back as far as 1990, and can provide exact factory colors for some vehicles built as long ago as the ’60s. If there’s a specific color you need and you can’t find it here, drop us a line and we can probably find it for you.
ColorRite offers motorcycle paint, watercraft paint, marine paint, ATV/UTV paint and snowmobile paint for just about any brand vehicle you own. All of our colors are available in touch-up pen, touch-up jar, aerosol, ½ pint, pint, and quart sizes for your larger jobs. ColorRite is committed to your achieving results, staffing a dedicated team of specialists to support you.
West Coast Sales Office
800-736-7980-Phone
661-266-1944-Local Phone
661-266-0286-Fax
346 Grand Cypress Ave.
#404
Palmdale, CA 93551
Email: support@colorrite.com
East Coast Sales Office
800-358-1882-Phone
610-588-7355-Local Phone
610-588-1570-Fax
ColorRite Dist. East
123 Blaine St.
East Bangor, PA 18013
Email: support@colorrite.com
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: PHANTOM DUCK BOOK REVIEW
You have a new product review waiting.
Product: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PHANTOM DUCK OF THE DESERT
Reviewer: Christina Trujillo
Rating: 5
Review Text:
This is a great book, and I learned so much about my grandpa Louis. He was a great man who changed America. I encourage everyone to read this book. Its a story about how one man can change America through peaceful protest and banding people together.
***
SUBJECT: DIRT BIKE JUNKIE
Rick,
Thanks for being here for us dirt bike “junkies.” I am wondering if you can help me. I am writing a book on my racing “career.” I raced from ’69 through ’79 out of Las Cruces, NM: flattrack, nationwide in the summer, and desert in the winter–mostly in NM, but also at the Gila Bend GP and Salome 100, both in ’79, and at the Cal City GP ’73 and in the “biggest In The World,” the ’74 B2V.
I have always loved history. After my intro into desert racing, I became really interested in the history of this sport. I want to introduce the reader to this history also. In my research, I have gotten a good handle on some of the early “big” races, and some of the “stars,” but there is one that I am having trouble finding any info on, the Jackass Enduro. I know that Max Bubeck started it in ’55 and the winner that year was Bud Houseman. Max turned it over to the Foothill Hawks in ’58. And I have gotten some stories about course location, layout, terrain, and uniqueness (Balarat and ‘Seldom Seen Slim’!). But I can’t find out how long it ran or find a list of winners. Would you have any knowledge of this or lead me to someone who does? Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Also, Rick, I want to ask you a question: I am going to give some info on motorcycle clubs. My favorite is the Checkers. I really love your article on them in your stories. It is great!! I want to include this info to my readers. I like your story so much! There is no way I could beat that. I want my readers to get your words, the “real deal!” Could I have your permission to include your article, verbatim, in my book? I of course would site authorship and include links to your sites if they want to read more or buy your racing mementos.
Thanks,
Robbie4m
Absolutely, Robbie. Go for it with my company permission. Just make sure I get a copy.
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: AIR-COOLED MAICOS. HOW MANY?
Hi,
I wonder how many types are there of Maico engines that are air-cooled ?
Best regard from Tommi Fohr
All of the Maico engines were air-cooled until they switched their names in 1984 to M-Star.
Rick Sieman
***
SUBJECT: HODAKA MODEL 96 DIRT SQUIRT 1973
Pumping in new life. Question: How much grease in the zerks? One at the brake pivot? Steering head until it starts to come back out? Eight or so at shifting mechanisim? All others until it starts to come back out?
I don’t want to blow out any seals, and think that would not be the case but don’t know for sure. The bike has been idle for years. Hodaka 1973 100cc model 96 Dirt Squirt.
Name Withheld
For years I’ve always put grease in the fittings in one way: punk in enough of the fresh grease until someone old grease comes out the other end and then stop.
Rick Sieman
SHAMELESS PLUG
My new book, The Last Ride, is at now out. It’s fiction and starts in 1969, when an 18-year-old kid just out of high school gets a chance to ride his Yamaha 250 DT1 from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles… all off-road. His adventures are truly amazing. The book then jumps 40+ years where the same person, now in his 60s, wants to get that old Yamaha back in his possession and return it home by riding it all off-road across the country again. The book is $15 plus $2.75 for mail anywhere in the US and for more information.
The email is: superhunky@gmail.com
Paypal address: superhunky@gmail.com
Website: www.superhunky.com
Your Privacy Choices