Mr KIA

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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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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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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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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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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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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