How To

ROCK AND ROLL Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I can’t seem to figure out how to ride through rock gardens that are basically fields of loose boulders. Each time I attempt one, the bike just deflects and flounders beneath me, which makes me dab my…
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BOILING UP Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I hope all has been well with you. I have a 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R that I use for light adventure touring and moto camping. With a stock 3.5-gallon tank, I knew I would either need to carry fuel or add an…
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WHAT A KOOK! Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I was in the middle of a rather large race last weekend, and midway through, my 2021 KTM 300XC started running like somebody stuffed a softball in the intake and wouldn’t idle or rev out. Upon trying to…
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SQUEAL LIKE A PIG Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 2020 KTM 250XC TPI. Love the bike, really happy with it, but when I start it after it has cooled down, it makes a horrible squeal for a few seconds after the motor fires (electric start).…
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DEs’ SETTINGS Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m setting my 2014 300 up for desert racing and have a question about tires. To help in the high-speed sand washes, I’m thinking about switching to a Fatty front tire with a mousse. Is one brand better…
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RANDOMLY BIZARRE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Now I am ready for an all-new motorcycle. One I can buy and not fix it. I just want to ride it tuned to me—sag, tire pressure, fork oil, seat grip and handlebars, actual pull on the pipe and off,…
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YELLOW BOOST Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Hi, I’m looking to get some updates on the latest way to uncork the 2019 RMX450Z off-road bike. What is the latest way, parts, mods, to unleash the beast? You guys ran some tests and mods back in the…
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BRAKE TIME Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Should I beg for you to impart some of your great dirt bike knowledge? The way readers had to beg for a response from Rondo Talbot in the mid-’70s? I have a Husky, a KTM, and a new GasGas. When braking, I…
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DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT DEEP Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I just bought a 2021 KTM 300XC-W and rode it stock on day one. I thought the Xplor suspension was surprisingly good. The next day I swapped the OEM tires and tubes (Dunlop Geomax AT-81) for…
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MY HEAD HURTS Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I just purchased an S3 head for my 2020 KTM 300XC and have a problem. I opened the kit, and I see the included head O-rings and crush washers, but I have one extra O-ring; it’s a smaller size. Where on…
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BOXING WITH AIR Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Can I delete the airbox on my old Aprilia (Rotax 277cc) two-stroke (trials bike) and just install a clamp-on K&N air filter to the back end of the carb? Some people say the box is there and can’t…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My new-to-me 2007 RM250 won’t run properly. It runs super rich and stalls on every downhill. I can’t keep the thing running for the life of me. It has fresh fuel and a clean, well-jetted carb. It is a new issue that…
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STUCK IN THE MIDDLE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My exhaust valve in my 2017 300XC was absolutely stuck shut. Lacking snarl was an understatement. I was using Maxima Castor 927, partially because I liked the smell. You can’t use that oil. Darn…
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DRAINED Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 2004 YZ250 two-smoker that is set up for off-road. I am unable to access my carburetor drain bolt to drain my gas out of the carb at the end of the ride. As you know, the quality of gas we now have…
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The late ’90s to mid-2000s Suzuki RM250 two-strokes might just be the best used motorcycles out there. They feature a strong engine and a great handling package that makes the bikes fun to ride. This is probably why we don’t come across…
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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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