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!
Oh yes … I’ll leave your e-mail unedited, for what it’s worth.
Send your questions to editor@dirtbikes.com, Attn: Don’t Ask, or leave your questions in the comment section below.
***
SUBJECT: KAWASAKI KX/KDX HYBRID?
Rick,
Your love of the Kaw KDX is well documented, and I had a ’93 model that is missed. Have you ever seen a late model KX125 special with a KDX motor? It seems like an ideal woods bike, and am thinking about building one because mother Kawasaki has failed to do so.
David Blake
BTW, did the cartel drive you out of Baja?
I have not seen one like you suggested, but it certainly sounds like a winner. If you build it, I’d be happy to run some photos of it. After living in Baja 15 years, I moved to Arizona. In an indirect way, the drug cartel had a big hand in why I left. You see, I lived in Rosarito, which is only about 18 miles south of the border, and when the drug cartel became more outrageous, they had checkpoints along the highway leading to the border. So what used to take the about 20 minutes to get from Rosarito to Tijuana, now took sometimes like six and a half or seven hours. There would be a checkpoint and we spent 2 1/2 hours in line. Then I would drive another few miles and another checkpoint and another several hours wasted. Just got to be a pretty miserable situation. Since my wife had a sister living in Arizona, we visited them and looked around and decided to stay.
***
SUBJECT: HONDA 1981 CR125 EXCESSIVE SMOKE
Sir, I’m restoring a 1981 CR125 and I have rebuilt both the upper and lower end, I have a smoking problem at part throttle and at full throttle which I feel is part fuel and oil. I just replace the original Kiehin 35mm carburetor with a Mikuni 34mm, still have the same problem. The smoke is not rich fuel but appears to be a mixture of fuel and oil like lower end oil. The seals are installed correctly. This is an original bike, with original parts, the previous owner says the smoking problem has been an issue since day one. The plug appears to be slightly wet after full throttle. Could you please take a little of your time and offer some advice.
Thanks,
Jim Bates
What you probably have here is a bad seal between the transmission and the lower end of the engine. With a bad seal, you suck some transmission fluid into the mix and get what you described. Absolutely the first thing I would do is get that seal checked.
***
SUBJECT: IT HAPPENED ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO
Rick,
Thought I would relate a story you might find amusing.
It was an early Saturday morning at Saddleback in 1974. I had just finished college with a worthless degree, no idea what I wanted to do, but absolutely fascinated by a sight I had seen a year earlier of two young kids riding their “dirtbikes” in a vacant lot.
Anxious for college to end, I immediately went out and bought the first bike I saw advertised in the Bellflower news (a very used 1972 yamaha MX 250) and started riding it every day in a vacant lot in Cerritos until the police helicopter drove me off. I then proceeded to go out to the desert every weekend with a buddy, and with every pucker bush handstand, self-soiling wheel swap and an occasional no time to stop and smell the desert flora faceplant…I just fell in love with riding!
I had heard there were races every Saturday morning at Saddleback Park, and so one Friday night after a forgettable blind date, I packed up and headed out to my first racetrack.
Getting there early, I parked my van and started to unload; I was so excited. It was then another van pulled up next to me and a semi-portly gentleman with a distinctive mustache got out. I had heard of Maico motorcycles and seen their pictures in magazines but never in person. This beautiful red and yellow bike with glistening spokes came rolling out the back, and I couldn’t help but just stand there and admire such a stunning machine.
At this point I was just so excited to to enter my first race, it didn’t really matter to me what I was riding. You looked at my bike and came over and asked what class I was riding. I had no idea… “Beginner?”
It was then that you grinned and said something to the effect “You really are a novice aren’t you? You don’t even have number plates!” You seemed to take great delight in looking into your van and finding some paper plates that you taped to my pitiful little sled. You gave me a number, told me where to register and to have fun.
The races were a jolt of adrenaline that have stayed with me to this day. It was only months later when I subscribed to Dirt Bike that I recognized your picture.
Fast forward 40 years and I’m still off-road riding…with my two sons and now a grandson. It’s in my blood and theirs too.
You were a great ambassador for a new sport that was capturing the imagination and hearts of so many young boys back then. I’m sure you’re grateful to have been a big part of it then. You sure were for me on that Saturday morning in 1974.
Thanks,
Ken Marrs (#7T…as I recall your decision)
Racing at Saddleback Park on Saturdays became a rather regular thing for me to do. I was more than glad to help a new rider, and it now seems that you become an old rider. Congratulations and thanks for sharing the memories.
***
SUBJECT: PARTS FOR A 1976 HONDA XL350
Dear Super Hunky,
I recently got a 1976 Honda XL350 that I’m planning to fix up and get running again as a stripped-down scrambler of sorts. The bike was missing the header pipe and I’ve discovered that this is a hard to find part. I’ve seen an over-priced, rusted out piece of junk header pipe on eBay, but that’s not the way to go in my mind. Do you know of any other bikes or quads that have a header pipe with similar dimensions that might work? The cylinder has a single exhaust port, not the seemingly more common dual exhaust ports like on the ’80s 350 models.
Thanks for any help! I always enjoy reading your columns.
Cheers,
Scott Benda
I checked with the great Keith Lynas and here’s what he had to say on the subject: “The only other header pipe that might fit is for a ’76-78 XL250, and this is not certain…’76-78 350s differed from all the other XL350’s…these have a bend that is unique. In this case it may be easier to make a new one, but certainly not cheaper.”
***
SUBJECT: THAT BOOK?
Rick,
I don’t know why a 51-year-old guy waked up and thinks of you, but that happened to me today. I woke up remembering when you broke your back on a supercross track. That was my favorite article. I had a dream that I was in the stands, watching it. My brain acts like one of those old Maicos. When it’s right, its okay, but it takes way too much maintenance to get there.
The last time we talked, I had just ordered your book, The Last Ride. Of course, It had a permanent spot in the bathroom. At the time, my mother-in-law was staying with us. She was dying from terminal cancer. Eventually, we had to admit her to Hospice. Once she got there, she started doing better. One day she tells me specifically, “Get that book.” I figure she is delirious from the drugs. Still, I go to her house and grab any and every book that is sitting out.
When I gave them to her, I got the look. She said, “No, not this crap. I want the book that’s in your bathroom. I have to find out of the kid makes it home, on his “Dirt Cycle” from California. That author is good. Does he have any other books?
So help me, it was the last book she ever read, and she loved it.
Sincerely,
Roland Cannon
Salt Lake City, UT
Wow! I showed this email to my wife and big tears came down her face. A genuine thank you for sharing this.
***
SUBJECT: OLD STORIES ARE THE BEST
Old senior hair scramble rider and hopeless motocross rider. Having owned and raced Macios back in the ’80s I always like the way they turned and handled. Heck, I could ride the whole Florida Hare Scramble season on the same piston. Just check the primary chain and have fun. Also, I hope you get to see this correspondence because I wanted to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed your Dirt Bike story years ago about duct taping the monkey to the gas tank and thoroughly filling him with bananas. Serious Emmy material. In closing, I know of a sorta rare original Maico Motard locally in Florida that a friend has. The only person that was fearless enough to ride it promptly parked it and said it was violent. Anyway, It should be in a proper Maico fans herd. I can send pics if you are curious. Thank You Super Hunky.
Steve in Florida.
Way back then, the Maicos were so superior to most of the other bikes on the track it was almost like cheating. I went from a middle of the pack very ordinary rider to a winning intermediate just by switching to Maico back then.
***
SUBJECT: MONKEY BUTT REVISITED
Thank you Rick for enlightening me about the Feds. Your book, even though it’s over 600 pages, is the only book I’ve ever read cover to cover, twice no less. It’s been about 10 years since I last read it, but I know right where it’s at, so I’m gonna have to break it out and dust it off My favorite part is where you were dreaming about going to court against the BLM and the Sierra Club.
Burney Minard
Glad you liked the book. That part about our legal battle with the Bureau of Land Management was all true and definitely one of the scariest parts of my life I’ve been through.
***
SUBJECT: COIL FOR A KAWASAKI
I stumbled on your website while trying to find a coil for my 1972 Kawasaki. Can’t seem to find one anywhere. Any ideas or know where I could get one?
Matt Gilara
Fryburg, PA
First of all, you should learn how to properly send an email requesting information. What model of bike do you have? What size? You’re not going to get an answer from anybody without the proper information.
***
SUBJECT: 1982 HONDA XL500R
Hi,
The drive chain slider on my XL500R broke. This is the small one held onto the frame by one bolt near the footpeg bolt. I tried finding a new one but no luck and the used ones are, well, pretty much used. Will a slider from an XR500R that bolts into the same position work? As far as I am aware the frames are the same but the XR has a slightly different swingarm and chain sliders.
Thanks
Jerry
Once again, we turn to Keith Lynas for information: “Without having a machine here to test, I would try using a universal chain roller in place of the rubbing block; easy change and the roller doesn’t wear like the rubbing block Another possibility is trying DC plastics (https://www.dcvmx.com/xcart/home.php ) as they do offer chain guide parts for many vintage machines.”
***
SUBJECT: RIDING AGAIN!
Rick,
Thanks to your books I’ve started to ride again. It’s been seven years since I’ve ridden, and I’m out of shape, but it still feels good! First race is September 26, wish me luck I’ll need it.
George
When you start racing again, preferably in the vintage class, you’ll find that it not only is a lot of fun, but it takes you back in time again. Congratulations.
***
SUBJECT: YAMAHA VINTAGE DIRT BIKE I.D. GUIDE
I have a number on the headset, engraved in as #367-511183. Can anyone help as to the model and year? I believe its an 80.
Ronnie
Your bike, according to the numbers, is a 1979 GTMXF
***
SUBJECT: HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THAT?
Rick, didn’t you say you didn’t pronounced Pete’s name, you “burped” it? I know it’s spelled: Szylagyi. I’m going to take a guess and say it’s pronounced: “Slog-E” True or false? You can tell us now. It’s been long enough.
David Furhling
The actual way to pronounce his name is as follows: ZI-LAH -GEE. Now you know.
***
SUBJECT: QUESTION YZ450F 2011
I’ve been having this issue with my bike lately that I’ve noticed. I have an FMF Megabomb on it. This is my issue: When I go to take off a jump that is very steep say my fmx ramp, mainly on lower fuel, it will do this but it has a big [sic] when you snap the gas taking off and that will almost cause we to crash would I need to get the GYTR Power Turner to fix this issue? And the problem with that is that I don’t know how to use it. and I don’t want to f**k my bike up. Thank you!
The only worse communication that I’ve seen lately has been written on a wall in a cave. Consider: I don’t think I understand this language, “mainly on lower fuel it will do this but it has a big…” A big what? Also I do not recommend riding double on this machine….”when you snap the gas taking off and that will almost cause we to crash.”
***
SUBJECT: STEVE McQUEEN FEEDBACK
Hi Rick,
Great Story on Steve McQueen. Another bit of info: Steve was great friends with Bruce Lee and was actually one of his pall-bearers at his funeral. They both had a strong rivalry being in the film business.Love that movie Bullet has to be an all time classic. If you ever come across any Suzuki 1980s DR400 performance or NOS parts, please email me.
Regards
John Wright
***
SUBJECT: IT’S ALL OUR COMMUNITY
Hi there, Super Hunky!
I have always wanted to be able to talk directly to you! I want you to know that I have been a big fan of you and Dirt Bike Magazine ever since i leaned about it…ummm…I think that way back in 1973?! Anyway… You’re one of my “bucket list” people I wanted to be able to say I know. I don’t have that many. I am picky! I would like to thank you for what you did to the BLM and the Sierra Club back in the day. To this day, I despise the Sierra club. I love the results of your struggle and willingness to get locked up by the BLM for standing your ground regarding riding land and the use thereof, the big desert race that was canceled but then happened again–all because of you showing your readers what needed to happen to keep the land leaches at bay. The end result was the creation of teh Blue Ribbon Coalition and then the now famous “Hatfield & McCoy trail riding system.” As a side note here, we are leaving tomorrow early a.m. and heading up to Blue Well West Virginia to stay at the Asheland Resort and go ride the trails!
If no one has said this to you–let me be the first–THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE DIRT BIKE RIDING COMMUNITY.
Keith Bailey
***
SUBJECT: EDISON DYE STORY
Funny story about early MX, Edison Dye, and Husqvarna. I was a pretty good dirt rider 1966. Working at a Suzuki shop on the U of W campus Madison, Wisconsin. Edison Dye was promoting MX and Hallman and had a niece going to the UW. He pulled into the shop and had a new 250 Husky in his van. My boss bought it and told me to go ride it. Pulled back bars, Pirelli tires, relace the front wheel to 18″ and started attacking Pursangs. They were hell on the straightaway, but we kicked but in the corners.
David LaCrosse
***
SHAMELESS PLUG: MONKEY BUTT!
Rick Sieman ‘s 640-page book is now in its fourth printing, and if you’re a real dirt biker, this is for you. Read what it’s all about:
WARNING! STRAP YOUR HELMET ON BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK! IT’S A WILD RIDE! Outrageous, hard-hitting, hilarious, brutally honest, wildly entertaining and loaded with inside stories about the dirt bike industry, MONKEY BUTT! chronicles more than 30 years of this amazing phenomenon. Everything from bench racing and tall tales, to the huge land battles with the Phantom Duck, can be found in these pages.
If you’ve been a dirt biker at any time in the last quarter-century, you’ll find plenty here to make you smile, some stuff to make you mad, and things that will stun you. Want an inside line on who really runs the AMA? It’s here. What almost killed the motorcycle industry? The real story is in these pages.
Want to get behind the scenes of the tests and stories that you read? MONKEY BUTT! tells the amazing saga of Dirt Bike Magazine, from Day One. “… I’m sure there’s a number of things in here that will get both of us in a fair amount of trouble, but this is as close to the truth as you’re going to get. – Paul Clipper /Trail Rider “… Finally, a book for those who remember what it used to be like in the Good Olde Days.” – Rondo Talbot/Mr. Know-It-All“ …. This book is going to rattle a lot of cages, and it’s long over-due. “Tom Fiala
“… A chronicle of the glory years of dirt riding, MONKEY BUTT! takes you through a time of radical changes, from the early days of crude, ill-handling bikes, to the current generation of high-tech marvels. It’s also a behind-the-scenes look at the land use battles, and the motorcycle industry, recounted with humor, honesty, and great insight. You will be educated and entertained, for Rick is a very funny man who tells it like it was.” – Gil Vaillancourt/Works Performance
… You are about to embark on a strange and wonderful journey through the rise and fall of the motorcycle industry, and I can practically guarantee that what you read here will not exactly be what you thought it would be.” – Paul Clipper
Rick has a limited number of autographed copies available for $25. Go for it! Just send a check or money order to:
Rick Sieman
684 N. Pinal Dr.
Apache Junction, AZ 85120
Or if you use Paypal, that address is: superhunky@gmail.com
Send your questions to editor@dirtbikes.com, Attn: Don’t Ask, or leave your questions in the comment section below.
Your Privacy Choices