Motocross Mania

Photo Gallery: Tied Together Tiedowns – Dirt Rider Magazine

Jimmy Lewis
Dirt Rider Editor

Fill your hydration system half full with water and freeze it, then add water to it just before a ride. It will stay cold and as the ice melts you’ll have more cold water during the ride.

Photo Gallery: Cool Tricks: Hydration – Dirt Rider Magazine

Ramone Palladini
Simi Valley, CA

I’m a flooring contractor, so I have a lot of carpet samples lying around. Each sample is big enough to stand on, and has finished edges so it won’t unravel. I keep a couple of them in the truck for riders in our group to stand on while changing into riding gear. It keeps you from burning or freezing your toes and dirtying your socks. You should be able to pick one up cheap at a home supply store. Or check with carpet outlets. They may have discontinued styles they no longer need.

Photo Gallery: Island To Stand On – Dirt Rider Magazine

John Brasch
Kawasaki Technical Services

Changing a tire with a foam insert instead of a tube can be very tough on the finish of your bike’s rims. The common practice is to fasten multiple locking pliers to the rim edge to hold the bead of the tire down. Many modern bikes have colored rims with an easily damageable finish. I wrap the jaws in duct tape to protect the rim finish. You will be able to see when the teeth of the jaws start to come through the tape. That means it’s time to replace the tape.

Photo Gallery: Soft Jaws – Dirt Rider Magazine

Want to keep those fingers from freezing on a frigid ride? Wrap electrical tape or plumbing insulation tape on your aluminum clutch and front brake levers. Not only will this keep the extreme cold of the exposed levers from transferring to your fingers, but if you wrap the tape in strips you should be able to get a little extra grip on the lever, which is especially helpful on snowy rides. And if you find yourself needing some tape for a trailside Jimmy-Rig, it’s right at your fingertips!

Photo Gallery: Anti-Freeze Fingers – Dirt Rider Magazine

Photo Gallery: Anti-Freeze Fingers – Dirt Rider Magazine