How To

Dear Mr. Know-It-All, At one point in time, I got myself some brake pads that had an extra piece that I assumed was some sort of thick heat-reducing pad. It went between the pad and piston. This was several years ago, and I have continued…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2005 KLX300 has been running horribly, and I have nowhere else to turn. I figured the carb was just dirty and have cleaned it spotless. But, even still, the bike’s idle is inconsistent, and when you get on the gas…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2020 KTM 300XC has been making a horrible mess right around the power-valve cover. I’m not sure what kind of oil it is, but I’d expect that a new bike shouldn’t be leaking this bad. Please advise. Hoyt Oswald Via…
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CLOSED UP TIGHTER THAN A… Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m sick and tired of trail closures. Every time my buddies and I go to our local zones, there are always more trails fenced and closed each time. We ride respectfully, and most riders in…
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SAGGY Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Recommendations on rider shock sag are specified to the millimeter, yet my rider shock sag varies 5mm or more depending upon where I sit. Is shock sag measured when all the way up on the tank for cornering or…
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300 LACKS SNARL Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I purchased a 2020 KTM 300 XC TPI, and while I love the machine, it feels a bit docile when trying to get up on the pipe and revving the bike out. The bike has plenty of power, but lacks that snap and…
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PRODUCT: Engineered in Germany, the Xtrig preload adjuster is a mechanical replacement for the two rings used to make sag adjustments on your rear shock. The ingenious design uses a worm gear that travels the full length of the shock body…
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FUEL QUERY Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I can’t remember a time before your column was in Dirt Bike, and I have been a reader since before Super Hunky left, yet I have never before asked a question. What is the order of preference concerning…
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Off-road testing products, plus trail tips for the trail rider.
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HOP AND BOP Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m sick and tired of watching my trials buddy hop over anything and everything on his enduro bike. I’m also tired of him having to ride my bike over every log we get to, because I just know how to plow…
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THE 300 MYSTERY Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Why are all the current large-displacement two-strokes 300cc? I see that 250s exist because of racing-class rules, but why don’t we have 350cc or 400cc two-stroke off-road bikes? The old Husky and…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2008 WR250F has been sitting for over six months, and I had drained the fuel in the float bowl before I stored it. I’ve never had a problem with clogged jets, but this time when I turned on the fuel, gas was…
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HERKY-JERKY MAN Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have been a fan of yours for ages, and I finally have a problem I can’t resolve, so I am humbly reaching out to you for help. I have a 2000 XR650R Honda that was stolen and was gone for two years. I…
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BIG-TIME LEAKER Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I recently performed a complete rebuild on my ’02 CR250R. While all turned out great, I have one stinking issue. A few hours after throwing the bike on a stand following the break-in ride, I began to…
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FATTY FRONTS Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m an off-road rider who is older and chunkier, but I love to ride in the desert. I have been seeing a lot of coverage on these “fatty” front tires. What do you think? Would one of them be a good choice…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I recently bought a Beta 390 RR-S dual-sport bike. I love the bike but don’t care for the handlebars or the cramped riding position. The Beta top triple clamp has three holes for bar adjustment, plus the bar clamp…
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BETA OIL SPILL Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 2020 Beta 300RR. I recently noticed after my last ride that there was a bit of oil seeping from behind my countershaft sprocket. I confirmed that it wasn’t excess chain lube and was indeed…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 2020 Beta 300RR that is oil injected, and I love the bike dearly. The bike has almost 200 hours, and I want to replace the reeds when I do my first top end. Since the oil line routes directly into the…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I run a Tubliss system on my Husky dual-sport bike on both ends. My main reasoning is that I can change tire pressures to improve traction, and if I puncture the tire, the bead will (or should) stay on so I can ride…
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To the honorable and all-knowing Mr. Know-It-All, I am the proud owner of a 2003 KTM 525EXC. It has been very reliable over the last 17 years and has been through thick and thin with me. One thing that has never worked as well as I wish…
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