Motocross Mania

Dust. I’m a freak about clean goggles. I want to see what I’m about to plow into, because nobody likes a surprise. My method of helping you see in the nasty is a lot cheaper than a front wheel or a visit to your neighbor hood bone-fixer.

Photo Gallery: Dust Goggle Prep Tips – Dirt Rider Magazine

Tommy Thomson / Belfair, WA

A dirt bike’s brake bleed screw rubber caps have a habit of being torn off or damaged. This allows water (then rust) and crud to get inside the bleed screw, thus making it impossible to bleed your brakes without first removing them to clean the stuff out. My solution is to remove the brake bleed screws, throw away the rubber thingy, tap the end of the bleed screw with a No. 6-32 tap and then install a screw about 3⁄8 inch long, and the problem is solved forever. It isn’t fancy or super trick, but it is very effective.

Photo Gallery: Long-Term Brake Reservoir Fix – Dirt Rider Magazine

At the Phoenix Supercross, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was transferring to a seated position in mid-air over the finish-line jump in order to more quickly transition to the flat, left-hand turn that followed. He talked us through when to use this move and how to pull it off properly and safely.

Photo Gallery: How-To With Ryan Villopoto: Sitting Mid-Flight Before A Flat Corner – Dirt Rider Magazine

Every year when the new bikes start to hit the marketplace and show up in magazines, I look at what each manufacturer has done to their bikes. Some years you see completely new bikes and other years you see Bold New Graphics. Each time I see a new bike I like, I go out to my garden to see if my money tree is growing. I must be a horrible gardener or my kids like to raid the money tree. Either way, each year buying a new bike is out of my budget. Fortunately, I’ve been able to find quality used bikes to satisfy my addiction to single-track.

Photo Gallery: Budget Makeover, Take Two – Dirt Rider Magazine

By Aaron Cooke
Huntington Beach, CA

Photo Gallery: High Temp Touch Up – Trail Tips – Dirt Rider Magazine