Mr know-it-all

CYLINDER DRAMA Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I am doing a top end on my 2006 KTM 300 XC-W and have some concern. While the Nikasil appears to be in good shape, there is an awkward line at the top of my cylinder. Is this where the rings are…
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DO I NEED A SCOOPER? Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I ride in Florida where there’s lots of sand. Would a scoop tire be a good choice for Florida? Mark via [email protected] Well, Mark, that’s like asking will it hurt if my daughter…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Quick question for you. What is in your humble yet stubborn opinion the most overlooked maintenance item on a dirt bike? Jimmy D via [email protected] Well, Jimmy D, over the decades I have had the…
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CHEWIN’ ON THE GUMMY Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m a woods rider, and like every guy with my passion, I want to be like Graham Jarvis when the terrain gets rocky and ugly. My question is this: will a gummy or sticky rear tire make a…
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STICK A PEG IN IT Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a ’21 KTM 300 TPI and have a question. First, the footpegs feel too high. Maybe it’s my 6-foot-4 height, but I’m struggling to sit and stay forward on the bike. What’s your recommendation?…
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SLIPPERY SLOPE Dear Dr. Know-It-All, I know you have answered this question before, but I really have trouble with drops on the trail that are rocky and wet. I panic and usually walk my bike down. I want to do them like Cody Webb and all…
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USED AND ABUSED Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have an older KTM dual-sport wagon that I ride every weekend. I think I have over 800 hours on it, and she’s been quite the mule. My question concerns my chainguide, which broke recently and…
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RUBBED RAW Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I am wondering, what’s the best thing to wear under knee braces? What do the pro off-road guys do to keep from rubbing their legs raw in long races? I have tried the tall socks. EVS and Fly have held up…
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NO FILTER Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m an old guy (60-plus years old) and still am an avid rider. I ride a 2016 Husky FE350. I’m religious with the maintenance of the machine. My question relates to air filters. Several years ago, I started…
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NO TOLERANCE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Hello, sir, I have a 2002 KX85 that I rebuilt top to bottom this winter that is having an issue. A previous owner sleeved it 0.5mm overbore, and the only piston kit I found was a forged Wiseco. I heard…
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WHICH LUBE IS BEST? Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have a 5-year-old KTM 250XC and flat worship this machine. I’m religious about oil changes, filter cleaning—basically all maintenance—since I want this sucker to last. My question is, should I…
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UNEXPECTED GROWTH Dear Mr. Know-It-All, In regards to your response to Mr. Tonks’ question concerning used-bike fitness, I would suggest there are other factors one must consider in the era of ESG and related issues surrounding…
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GET GREASED UP Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2019 KTM 300XC-W turns like it has a steering stabilizer. Only problem is, I don’t have one on there. Why does my steering feel like cement all of a sudden? I’m having trouble controlling my bike.…
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TEXAS TEA Dear Mr. Know-It-All, What is the best oil to run in the current TPI machines? I just purchased a 2021 Husqvarna TE250 and want the machine to go the distance. Ryan Chef via [email protected] Although the current…
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GREEN SPOOGE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’ve cleaned the carburetor and flushed the tank on my kid’s 2002 TT-R125L at least a dozen times, but I continue to get green debris in the jets. The bike had been sitting for years. Where is all this…
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ROCK THE CRADLE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I have been an off-and-on subscriber to Dirt Bike Magazine since 1982. I have a new Suzuki DR-Z125L. Since that bike has no full cradle, it uses the engine case as part of the cradle, much like the…
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Dear Mr. Know-It-All, Why do TPI bikes come with two throttle cables? I’m starting to see aftermarket kits converting them back to a single cable. My specific bike is a 2021 KTM 300XC-W TPI. Steve Baum via [email protected]…
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HIGH OR LOW? Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I am installing some Fastway Evolution pegs on my machine and am wondering which position to put the pegs in? The collar provided allows you to run them either in the stock position or a lower position.…
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DRIPPAGE Dear Mr. Know-It-All, My 2002 CR250R is dripping coolant from this tiny hole under the water pump. What on earth is this hole, and how do I go about fixing this? Max Sheldon via [email protected] That little orifice…
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CHECKLIST Dear Mr. Know-It-All, I’m going to look at a 2003 CR250R. The bike looks fairly clean, and the owner says the engine has never been rebuilt. What are some things I should look for to ensure I’m not buying into a mechanical…
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