Mr KIA

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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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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NEGLECTED Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m truly annoyed! I just opened my regularly scheduled Dirt Bike Sunday e-mail to find you gave a spot-on answer to one John Barnhart about his issues with the 2020 KTM 250XC TPI. My bone (rage by now)…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2017 GasGas  300 has been giving me a headache lately. The problem lies in the rear brakes; they keep locking up from getting too hot. I’ve adjusted them and made sure that the pedal isn’t too high up. While riding…
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WR450F PISTON REPLACEMENT? Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I am a slightly overweight, 50-plus-year-old slow guy who has enjoyed my 2005 Yamaha WR450F since purchasing it new in 2004. I religiously service the bike myself, including regular oil and…
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STUFFED POTATO Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2003 KX125 has started running as if someone stuffed a giant Idaho spud down the throat of its exhaust. It’s super rich and loads up badly. It has a fresh motor all around from top to bottom. I…
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BAFFLED Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 2002 KX250. I love the bike, but recently it has started running very rich. It’s not losing transmission oil, so I know the crank seal is okay, and I’ve played with a million needles and pilot jets…
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