Motocross Mania

When the ground freezes and the snow falls, do you find a place in the corner of the garage to store your favorite dirt bike? If so, you are like the majority of off-road riders that live in the frozen climates. Unfortunately most people haven’t had the opportunity to ride in the snow. Thankfully, there is plenty of riding gear and accessories that make winter the most memorable time to ride a “dirt” bike. Much like anything outdoors, preparation is the key to enjoymentinline_mediumwraptextright28196836/tech/141_1003_winter_and_snow_riding_tips141_1003_01_z+winter_and_snow_riding_tips+riders.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: Winter And Snow Riding Tips – Dirt Rider Magazine

Photo Gallery: Winter And Snow Riding Tips – Dirt Rider Magazine

Despite being part of the tech-savvy Generation Y, I’ve not yet allowed myself to be completely swallowed by the digital monster. Case in point: Land navigation. From the time I was a tenderfoot, I was taught how to properly read a map and operate a compass, and my trail navigation has typically followed this simple knowledge. However, with GPS technology so sophisticated that you can pinpoint your location down to the meter while simultaneously finding the nearest Starbucks, I knew that I had to embrace the future. My catalyst came in the form of the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro, which served as the proverbial Lion’s Den of satellite navigation for off-road racing where the course was only marked by a cookie crumb track log on the screen of my GPS. For four long days I stayed glued to the Garmin on my handlebar, acquiring a solid foundation of basic GPS skills along the way. After the race, I jotted down a list of the key tips, tricks and tidbits of information that I picked up throughout the ride, and we’ve decided to print them below. If you consider yourself an experienced GPS user, these tips may seem a bit basic. But for all you old school, non-tech navigators out there without a clue where to start, I hope this helps expand your knowledge of two-wheeled digital navigation:inline_mediumwraptextright26646152/tech/141_1002_gps_basics_17_key_tips_for_the_two_wheeled_digital_navigator141_1002_01_z+gps_basics_17_key_tips_for_the_two_wheeled_digital_navigator+joint.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: GPS Basics: 17 Key Tips For The Two-Wheeled Digital Navigator – Dirt Rider Magazine

Can You Really Do Your Own Suspension? For years Race Tech has offered Gold Valve suspension kits that it claimed would allow folks to fully modify their own suspension at home. We were curious whether the claims were true, and if they were, does it make sense to do your own suspension? We ordered up the parts and then installed them with the help of my better-equipped-than-normal home garage. Some riders are more likely candidates for modified suspension than others. For our test we chose DR and Mini Rider test pilot Sean Foos and his 2009 Honda CRF250R. Foos is 5′10″ but only weighs 120 pounds, so modified suspension is mandatory for him. Before we started with the Gold Valve conversions, we installed Race Tech springs in rates suggested by the spring rate calculator on www.racetech.com. With Foos being so light, the suggested rates were significantly lighter than stock. In spite of the softer springs, the bike was still too busy and harsh. What suspension experts like Race Tech said was true: the suspension needed internal modification for such a light, fast rider.

Photo Gallery: Race Tech Gold Valve Kits – Dirt Rider Magazine

Photo Gallery: Race Tech Gold Valve Kits – Dirt Rider Magazine

Michael Boyd
Richardson, TX
I’m a reader from back in the early ’80s and really love the mag. We mostly ride in Bulcher (home of the Last Man Standing), Texas, so there are always plenty of big rocks on the trail. One unfortunate day I smashed the header pipe on my WR. The factory guard did nothing to protect the pipe. After replacing the pipe, I wanted a better protector. The available aftermarket guards did not inspire my confidence, even the $100 carbon-fiber guards. The only option was to make my own.

Photo Gallery: Any-Stroke Guard – Aluminum Pipe Protector – Dirt Rider Magazine

Running a 110 tire on your 250F to get more traction? You might be running the wrong 110-there are two, the 80 percent height and the 90 percent height. The 110/90-19 tire is designed for the 2.15-inch-wide rim of a 250 two-stroke/450, and spooning one onto a 250F’s narrower 1.85-inch-wide rim will actually squeeze it which increases the tire’s diameter (raising the rear of the bike 12 to 15mm-and that’s a lot-which affects the bike’s geometry and weight balance), puts more crown radius on the tire (resulting in a “sharper” bend and about the same contact patch of a 100 tire) and adds unsprung, spinning mass to your nimble little thumper! If you want to run a 110 tire on your 250F MXer, run the 110/80-19. And obviously if you ride a 250 two-stroke or a 450, stick (pun intended) with the 110/90-19.

Photo Gallery: 110 Tires, Not 110 Tires – Trail Tips – Dirt Rider Magazine