[James RookyardMember]

Id just like to thank my partner, my mechanic…… bike ran like a dream and my partner and me pulled off 1st place in clubman class!

[James RookyardMember]

I holed a case not long ago. I have a B&B bash plate but it didnt protect the bottom of the clutch case…. and a stone went through it. Solution, cut a piece of thick rubber to size, glue it to the case with sikaflex. Case protected.

[James RookyardMember]

Finaly got it all back together and started 3rd kick, once I hooked the battery back up….

Had to replace the linkage bearings while I was at it and fitted a new chain and sprokets.

Off to race a pony express tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[James RookyardMember]

I remember TK had an article in Sidetrack years ago on this subject. About the only thing I can remember is that when you changed from one to the other you were meant to remove the glazing from the disc, or they didnt perform properly. Dont ask me anymore details, cause I cant remember.

[James RookyardMember]

On the crf you can undo lower subframe bolts and top shock bolt and flip the subframe up, it takes the carb to airbox hose with it. Can you do that on an xr?

[James RookyardMember]

Good luck getting between $4500-5000 for a 7 year old MX bike. Second hand bikes sell like a Gillard election promise at the moment.
I have a 450X for sale at the moment. Just having a complete engine rebuild at the moment. 08 and $6000.

[James RookyardMember]

Pawtectors for me at the moment. No real loyalty to any brand though. I tend to wear em right out and I reckon grips are at there best when they are worn down to the bars on the ends. Its all personal I suppose.

[James RookyardMember]

Never know what you will discover at Belangalo………. hope its only good riding.

[James RookyardMember]

Yeah, wont be any good from new lol!

[James RookyardMember]

Scotty wrote:

jimmy wrote:

Just having a whinge about the trade off for performance over reliability. I love the way my CRF450X really gets up and goes, has good suspension and is nearly all the things I wanted in a dirt bike.
However, a motor completly destroying itself within 3 years isnt in my wish list. I have never had any dramas with a Honda engine before (I did have an xr200 do a gearbox but it was a 15 year old farm bike).
I would take a trade off of a few more kg’s in thicker engine cases and a slight performance drop for reliable valves.

3 years is not a bad run for a race bike. From what I read in your engine failure thread Jimmy your CRF has seen it’s fair share of hard and fast desert and pony express racing.

I note people are pointing out the DRZ as a reliable trail bike, and it is, but if you were to use the DRZ as a race bike at some of those desert races I doubt you engine would last too long.

True, maybe I am expecting too much. It is the bike I reckon they should have been making in about 2000 and its what we got. I dont want to go back to an XR/DRZ style bike. I think I just have to accept that one season out of a new bike is acceptable.

[James RookyardMember]

They should have just put stainless valves in them and forgotten about the titanium. The power loss is pretty much un-noticable. I havnt had a valve issue since fitting them.
I agree its the hard surface of the valves that lets go, as to the causes I will stay out of the debate.
On an aside, my bottom end has just failed, due to running too lean according to my dealer. Perhaps this may have a bearing on the valve issue on standard CRF valves as well?
Sorry to go off topic.

[James RookyardMember]

I use kero. I have a bucket with a lid and in the bottom I have a raised bottom made from an old truck airfilter (the mesh on the outside). This way the dirt settles out of the kero and it stays clean for ages.
I have a second bucket with a lid and I have my filter oil in this. I drop the filter in and oil it in there. I also make sure I roll the foam around in my hands to get a good uniform coating right through the foam.
the biggest killer of CRF-X valves I reckon is the ridiculously designed airbox. Why did they make it so hard to get the filter in there????????????

[James RookyardMember]

Got one! Only 150km from home too.

[James RookyardMember]

Agree with above post, apart from the ladyboy talc. I use mans cure-rash talc…..

I have never run a mousse but at $120 its a possibility. However as tyres wear out so quickly I couldnt be bothered with the hassel. A properly fitted quality heavy duty tube is good enough. Not real hard to fix a pinch flat anyway.
Dont use nuts on your tubes, ever. Use talc. Use quality tube. Increase pressure for rocks. Use a rim band/tape. Dont expect someone else to carry the tools for you to fix a flat.
The other thing is, always change your tyres with the tools in your bumbag so you are used to using them.

[James RookyardMember]

I agree on the availability of the brand in your local town. I was interested in a euro bike earlier this year, but the nearest dealer is 250km away. That really only leaves the Japs and pumpkins as my choices.
The quickest bike on our local MX track is a 250 2 stroke. But really I think the rider would be fast on any bike. Its the rider after all who makes them go fast.

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