dirtbike for 'bubs

[TripleTaco]

For woods riding at lower tire pressures the HD/ultra HD tubes are worth it IMO. If you've never compared a standard cheapie tube to an HD there's a difference. Rim strips just cover the spoke ends. I've been using a couple wraps of duct tape, seems to me thats what a lot of guys do.

[nhbubba]

I just got a plate for the bike. Reg fees on this thing are going to kill me!












It cost me $56 for the next 8 months. Actually, that includes the $25 title fee.

Here is to cheap thrills.


The gas leak is kinda buggin' me. My whole garage reeks of gasoline now.


Also just bought some nifty racks for it. My inner adventure geek just can't help himself.

[Chippertheripper]

Nice ninja edit.

[Sheppo]

Make sure you shut the gas off and run it out of the carb... No smell

[nhbubba]

Can't shut the gas off. Automagic vacuum driven.

I washed the bike and tried like hell to clean the carb. Still can't figure out where the leak is coming from. Bah.

[nhbubba]

Took the bike to PT tonight. Then for a little rip around town afterwards. This years' crop of underclassmen are quite choice! I need to get to town more often.

Hooked up a few of my favorite local twisty routes, plus some dirt. The dirt is hard-pack from the rains recently. But yeah... I think this bike and I are going to get along quite nicely. I can just barely get the rear to step out, just like the 'strom.

I can easily launch the bike in 2nd. It is geared a little high for me. Maybe that's a godsend off-road. We'll see. Current gut instinct says I'd have it geared higher.

Speedo lies. Typical Japanese motorcycle; off by about -10%. 40=>~36. 70=>~63. Etc, etc. This means it tops out at like 60-65 with me on board. Bah.

Threw a panic stop or two in. Rear gets really, really wild when you stomp on it with knobbies on. ... I'm gonna need street tires/wheels on hand to be happy.

The engine is a sweatheart. Nice torque where I want it. Power band feels narrow. But it's fun. Not as much engine braking as I'd expect. It runs pretty good. Idle is a little low, I couldn't reach the adjuster from the seat. It quit 2-3 times at stop lights. Yay electric start!

Seat is actually pretty nice for rips around town. Nice and firm.

Suspension is fun. Jumping up and down on the bike while rolling at 35-40 MPH is fun.

Oh, and Houston, the front wheel has liftoff! Can't believe this shit is legal. Oh, wait.

I think this thing is going to be just what the doctor ordered. Good call NESR. Thanks again to all for encouraging this.

[breakdirt916]

Whoaaa...I take a couple days from nesr (ironically visiting MA/CT from CA) and this happens...NICE

This looks like the right bike in so many ways...right size, street plate, e-start, ...aright price...all things worth. having

[nhbubba]

Yeah, I kinda jumped at it. I think the price was right considering. Part of me thinks I should have held out for an -E model DRZ. This is NH and plating that would have been easy. It sounds like I am going to wind up with a Vapor dash before long anyway.

But patience isn't my bag.. and really, this'll do.

I kinda get a kick out of it having a Kawi badge.

Woman at the town office ran the VIN to setup the regs. She asks "Is this a 'KLX' or a 'DRZ'?!" I lol'ed.

[nhbubba]

..shinko tire of choice for more of a road bias too (the one with the big block pattern, streetish tire, I WOULD run it myself)...

Looks like Shinko 700 or 244. Looking at these tires, I think they may be more my speed. They are clearly a much more street bias. But maybe this is my way of tip-toeing into the world of off-road riding. And I like the price; half the cost of the Pirellis.

Thoughts?

[Chippertheripper]

I just went and looked, I was thinking of the 705 when I posted that.

I would run the 705 as a street/dirty road rider.
Looking at the 700&244, they're probably worth a shot for your first set of tires...but part of me feels like you'll end up going a lot of places you'll want a real dirtbike tire for. Just a hunch...
In which case I revert to: get the 606's and enjoy.

[nhbubba]

Maybe Kenda K270? They are also reasonably priced @~$100 for the set.

[Chippertheripper]

I'd run the rear, I hate that type of mid knobbie front.

[TripleTaco]

I'm running the shinko 700's now. They're *fine* for a mix of dirt roads and light trails although I kind of wish I'd gone with the 244's or even something a bit more dirt oriented.

[ZX-12R]

But maybe this is my way of tip-toeing into the world of off-road riding.

I'll reiterate my thoughts that the more you explore off-road, your riding habits will shift away from the street.

...but part of me feels like you'll end up going a lot of places you'll want a real dirtbike tire for. Just a hunch...

See! I'm not the only one that thinks so too.

Get a dirty tire!

[nhbubba]

Fuggit... a set of D606 on en-route. Go big or go broke trying, eh..

Thanks all.

[GearHd6]

Sounds like you've figured it out. I was going to suggest checking out the Full Bores. I've got a set on my Tiger and really like them for mild off road use.

[Chippertheripper]

Fuggit... a set of D606 on en-route. Go big or go broke trying, eh..

Thanks all.

Dang!! Don't forget the case savers. Let me repeat: don't forget the case savers.

[nhbubba]

Yeah. Too late. I knocked it over washing it after work yesterday. You weren't fuckin' kidding about that.

[Chippertheripper]

Jb weld. THEN case savers.

[csmutty]

Honestly I don't think a set of street tires will help with the rear brake THAT much. The rear brake system is much stronger on dirty bikes than on street whips.

[breakdirt916]

on the leak - is it on the carb, from hoses dripping onto the crankcases, or on the petcock?

mine also came with a vacuum petcock...I switched to a manual one and I like it a lot better since I can always switch it off when I'm pulling the line to yank the carb for cleaning (which I seem to do a lot)

[Chippertheripper]

I expect to see this next weekend:
http://brotocross.com/videos/mx-vide...o-demonstrate/

[typeone]

I expect to see this next weekend:
http://brotocross.com/videos/mx-vide...o-demonstrate/

i love the dude in gray/black... oh no he di'ent

[breakdirt916]

wow...2t pipe ftw

[AVI8_636]

Nice buy! You're gonna have a blast on that! My poor 636 sits and collects dust while I ride my DRZ everywhere.