Let Dirt Rider Build-Up Your Bike For Free!

Okay, first things first, this is a story that may or may not come to be, so don’t get upset if this doesn’t work out, but here’s the great idea….

We’ve gotten a lot of good response from some of our previous bike build stories (“Buck 25 Challenge” in March 2007, “3000 Reasons” in August 2008), and the next version might be to gather up some of your bikes, fix them up, test them, put them in the magazine, then return them to you all prettied up and famous. Sound like a great offer? It is, and participation is not limited to people in our neighborhood. I’m getting a few bike shippers involved. This is an especially great opportunity for anyone who gets snowed in for the winter - send your bike to Dirt Rider for a So Cal make-over.

If you want to be considered, reply to this thread. Tell us what kind of bike you have, what you think is wrong with it, what’s really wrong with it, what you use it for, and what you’d like to see done to it. Give us any pertinent details, such as if you’re way above or below the rider weight or height the bike was designed for, or any other factors that would make this a cool project bike. Please don’t include your sob story, we’re looking to inform all of our readers on bike mods that work, not help out five or six individuals who are strapped for cash. We’re looking for MX and off-road projects, so pique our interest and you might get your ride totally re-done. If you get picked, we’ll expect you to provide a few web stories for us about your modded bike upon its return and your experiences shipping off your pride and joy.  

I’d like this thread to stay on-topic, so please only post your entries for this project. Please be brief. I’ll likely delete or edit replies that go off-topic in the interest of keeping this thread streamlined.

Okay, this is the first, early step in what could be a really cool story. Remember, it’s all tentative. Tell us about your bike and what you want done to it.

UPDATE: This thread is a bike sign up. Please keep your posts to bike submissions with modification wants. As Jimmy points out in a post below, this is not a chance to refresh neglected bikes, this is a story about focusing bikes and improving them for their owners. Timing for this is up in the air. Perhaps this December.  

Id offer mine, but it really doesnt need much.. How about my brother in laws clapped out 93 kx250??  

Autismspeaks.org
Gilbert AZ
06yz144,05yz85,02yz85

OHH Pete!

06 YZ125 and YZ250 here.

Race MX, 250 B class. Although moving and will be doing some desert soon.

If you have any further questions, ask...its hard to type to be honest.

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EDIT: After reading Jimmy's post, I didn't want him to get the feeling my bikes are junk. I just ride them hard and I am very particular about what I like in my bikes and I feel both have a lot of hidden potential.

I love the 125 but feel there is hidden power in the motor. I want it to be quick and snappy while revving out super far. The suspension does feel tired, but it could also be because I am out of range for the stock suspenders. I want more plushness from the KYB suspension because the stock suspenders have the tendency to deflect and bounce off braking and accel chop; yet I need more bottoming resistance then the stock stuff offers. The stock pipe does alright, but I want more mid and top end power. The Wiseco piston is lighter then stock and the Ti ring is the main point...it is lighter and stronger then a normal ring, this gives a few advantages: Better seal, more snap, and longer ring life.
Paris racing has stated that their turbo crank benefits the small bore bikes better then the big bores and I would love to see what their crank would do to a 125.


The 125 list:
Wiseco GP style piston with the Ti ring
Paris Racing turbo crank
PC Works pipe
Redone suspension for 165 in gear pure MX B rider
Stronger brakes

The 250 is a great bike in stock form, but I would love to do some more all around work with it. I think KTM has a great line-up of XC models that suite a wide variety of riders. I plan on using this bike for both MX and desert. I want the bike to have plusher initial suspension but still be able to take decent hits. The stock pipe is great, until a pebble hits it. I swear its made of tin. I wouldn't mind a pipe that offers more Rev range from this bike that is also stronger. Also pipe protection is probably a must. The YZ250 gears can be interchanged with the WR 3rd through 5th gears making this bike a perfect desert bike. This would be a nice mod since having that overdrive 5th makes perfect sense. An 18 inch rear is an option, and the 18 inch will also act as a flywheel weight, or a 19 inch and a small 7 oz weight would do.


The 250 list:
Pro Circuit pipe
E-line pipe guard
Rad guards
skid plate
Suspension revalve
WR 3rd-5th gears
Oversized tank 3.1 gal.
18 inch rear
7 oz. FWW.

 

my friend Kevin that just got shipped off to Iraq on weds left me his 2001 yz 250 2t and he will be gone for a year (army). Said I could what I want with the bike and it needs some work. Bike has a 4gal tank on it and has been worked for the last year, he just started riding and I was not to easy with the terrain I brought him on....lol Gotta learn somehow. Anyways, would be a great bike to work on adn a great surprise for when he gets home.  
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____________________
MIKE
Phoenix, az
(07 yz250)
(99 yz125)


Every bush has its day (sanders, 2009)
Lack of enthusiasm is for the weak and timid. (alex, a.k.a. yz250 forever)

"I know much about nothing at all"(Maple, 2009)

Does the early bird get the worm??? hahaha

I have an 87 Suzuki DR200, that has been stripped of all it's on road legal requirements. No lights, no mirror, no signals...just the motherlode of stripped wires hanging from an empty hole like an eye that's been ripped out it's socket.

The main thing that is wrong with my bike, other than it's under powered is that is way too small for me.  I am 6'5" and 200lbs.  I got this bike as a hand me down from a family member when my wife and three sons got into riding a couple of years ago.  It has definitely served it's purpose, as it got me out on the trails riding with my kids, and for that I am eternally grateful.  But even with my limited riding skills, I feel it is holding me back from improving. My kids would agree as they are constantly yelling/laughing at me to speed up!  I would love to see if there are any mods to make it physically fit me better, and to improve the performance. I know that it will never be comparable to the bikes I rode at GH, but I do believe that I should be able to stay ahead of my kids on their 85 pingers in the trails...or at least not fall so far behind you have to send out a search team for me.

Restoring the on road capabilities of my bike isn't important to me.  I have no plans on insuring it. I just want to rip it up with my kids in the back forty!  
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WAFNIA!

BC
01 YZ 125
02 RM 85
99 KX 80
87 DR 200

HI! I have a 2004 kx250f that has probably close to 65 hours on it. Its a good bike but could use a bit more power and better suspension. Everything on this bike is stock except the bars, chain, and sprockets. I use this bike for MX racing (250C), and a little bit of trails. The main thing that it could use is more power. I just cant beat those 09s to the first corner! lol. Maybe a little gearing work too, so i wont have to shift as much on the tight supercross tracks. The suspension is decent but a little too soft for me (im 5'8, 140lbs), and likes to bottom out off of bigger jumps.

Thats about all i got. It would sure be nice to keep up with those new bikes! I propose a comparison test between a new 250f(stock), and an older modified one.    

Also, I live in illinois so I would love to see it head out to California over the winter

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af50/MX_316/IMG_2347.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af50/MX_316/IMG_2344.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af50/MX_316/IMG_2052.jpg  

Great idea DR.

I ride an 1989 CR250R in which I do not race what so ever. The bike is used for mainly trail and recreational riding, we have a lot of dirt roads where i'm from and we all go out and play on them. Besides that it's also used in the sand dunes in Waynoka, OK. I love how the bike can still keep up with todays 450's on the straights but in when it comes to handling it's a different story which doesn't truly bother me as long as I can take'm in a drag race. My biggest problems with it is that it doesn't have any lights, the sheer weight of the machine and the fact that it is setup for a 160lb rider (i'm 6'4 245lb). And I should mention I am from Kansas aka the heartland lol.
Thanks.  
Patrick
1989 Cr250r.

Sorry, Goose, but it's time to buzz a tower.

Mount Hope, Kansass

OK I tried the do you have an interesting Bike thread, so I will try this one. Here is my 05 CRF450X
There is nothing reaaly wrong with it. In fact I just sent the suspension to Precision concepts to service and freshen them up.The top end is about to be replaced and New tires are on the agenda.Not much I would change on the nearly 400 hour little friend. But I offer it up as only second thought.
The real offer is my 01 XR650R. A true Offroad machine to be sure. This one has been slightly modified for mid-range adventure riding. This is currently my third XR650R, bought it used and it came with a decent compliment of spares, Not sure of the hours on it, but it runs strong and soon I will be taking it for a shakedown to check suspension and gearing, right now it is running a 15/48. I have yet to ride test it with the Big tank and saddlebags loaded, I hope to at Thanksgiving(that's when the Doc said I could ride again) Any way that is another story, but here is a picture of it as it has been set up.

Any way good luck in your search!
Tim  

1988 honda cr250r. I dont race only ride trails and such. i love this bike. it needs a new pipe and silencer sick of taking the sparky on and off. needs a few engine parts and the front forks rebuilt. i think it would be great to see a old bike get a new life. bring back the glory days of motocross.  there are alot of people out there who still ride these old bikes and would like more info on repairing them and finding parts. im fairly tall (6'1) and weigh more than intended for the bike (236). these bikes still rip. just replaced top end, rear shock, all top end/pipe gaskets, rims, tires, bad plastics, bars, grip, hand guards, graphics, intake manifold. needs case gaskets, kick start gears, reeds and reed box, carb rebuilt. also i have seen where they offer an inverted fork kit for this bike that would look pretty wicked.



 
-Kirk 88 Honda CR250R
ride hard and crash harder

My 2004 Honda CR125. Can you get blood from a Turnip? 125's are not infamous for low end power, but c'mon man, this bike is gutless. Being 180lbs does not help, but my sons CR80 is more exciting. I bought the CR125 bike new in March of 2007 and have no idea how many hours I have put on it. I have not replaced anything, but the exhaust and rear sprocket. I ride trails on the 80 acres adjacent to my lot, the local practice track, state park OHV, and motosports parks.  

Please give it more user friendly power, and tune the suspension for my weight and multipurpose use. Some fresh graphics would be nice too.  
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Stand in the place where you are, think about direction and wonder why you haven't
North Carolina

I all ready thought of a titles for the article if you choose my bike

                                              Diamond in the ruff!!
                                                bring back the glory days!!

well i am going to go out on a limb here with bikes, i have a 1979-1980  IT400 yamaha, its old needs new plastics the suspention and spring in the front and rear are just kinda bad and dont work like they should, like the front forks bottom out alot, it needs new rims, plus the spark arrestor is orginal from when it was made so its all bent and trashed and the throttle and brake cables need to be re oiled or bought brand new. You can get every part for this thing on ebay.it runs great, but it may need new rings too. i would like to see the old bike get shakin and looking good again, so i could do some nice trails and (especially desert riding on the bad boy)!!! i wanted to bring it to the cal city trip this year for most of the DR crew to see,  If you would like a picture i have one, and i think it would kinda make a cool story doing up a vintage bike and making it cool again, I also think old timers would love to read about a bike they may have rode on when they were kids.    it would make a neat story also about how she rides and handles out in the dirt for a vintage bike i think. I am not expecting if you even conssidered to choose my bike to redo all the stuff i said thats what needs to be done to make this thing a jewel again. If some of the things got redone on it that would be great and i would greatly appricate it, plu it would be cool to get some of the pro riders you guys have to test out an old vintage machine in the dirt and see how they like it for how old it is   thanks pete and the DR crew you guys rock!!!!  


here is a pic before i cleaned it up a bit more and re did the seat with brand new material.




O i forgot to put i also kinda want to race this thing in the vitage series all around CALIFORNIA because there are alot of vintage clubs that race these bikes. So ya i would like to Trail, Desert ride, and Race it in some vintage classes if you guys restored it.    
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Autismspeaks.org   check it out
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life in the fast rut!!!!
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my rides- 2008 yz250f fully modified, use to be j-laws bike
        &
IT400 1979 yamaha!!!
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Home: SO CAL

I will offer this bike because I don’t know how to make it any faster or perform any better.  My son has a 04 YZ250F. He should be riding a 450F but can’t afford it yet.  He works all day then goes to college in the afternoon. The motor is tired, the muffler is shot, the swing arm bearings need replaced, and the suspension needs refreshing.
He has had stainless steel valves put in when the motor was rebuilt 3 years ago. It has a new exhaust hot cam.  He rides MX and rides the 250F to its limit. The challenge is, could you make this bike faster than his limits?  
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I love this dirt stuff.

I've got a 2005 kdx 220 there's really nothing wrong with this bike the plastics are a little faded but really its not bad. I ride mostly pretty tight rocky trails. I'd like to see more guards especially a pipe guard radiator guard etc, Maybe a big bore kit, port and polish, bore the carb, boyesen reeds, better suspension, maybe a brighter headlight. I weigh about 190lbs

Thanks,
Tanner  

My CR80 is just too small for me and the suspension is not up to the task of holding my weight (160). The 1994 models didn't come with the expert option so i'd love to have the suspension beefed up all around and get a longer fork and swingarm to allow for bigger wheels. I ride trails which include gravel and sand and the bike as its setup right now isn't able to perform due to my size and weight. I will be getting a 125 also but it would be great to have a back-up thats rideable if the other bike goes down. Here are pictures of the bike. Everything is stock and it runs like a dream. Not sure if you guys can even perform my request but i'll throw it out there.



 


2 strokin till I die. Which I hope aint soon.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

1994 CR80

i would like my 2002  yz426 to be considered id really like to just freshen it up & geared up for the trail.. because of my budget it doesnt get what it deserves haha it could use a suspension set up tires possible a top end an exhaust its got a brazed on fmf road race pipe on it i put a wr over flow bottle on it & shifter & a set of cheap shroud graphics  

i would really love to have some work done on my bike....









please help me out!
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks