It was right where I left it :nod: .
Let me start by saying that I haven’t ridden my dirt bike (2004 CRF450R) much in the last 4-5 years. It always seemed that besides the weekly trail riding trips, I’d get one or two big rides in and maybe,a camping trip to go ride somewhere every year. That had all pretty much stopped. If I got three real rides a year in over the past 3 years I'd be impressed. Sadly, most of the easy to get to riding in RI has all but dried up; trails blocked off, tracks closed, etc. There also seems to be few people my age in the area that are interested in trail riding. Driving 3 hours to ride is good once in a while, but for a regular ride I’d prefer something closer.
Then there were surgeries and injuries. There was this tree. . . shoulder and ribs. There was a rock. . knee. There was old age rearing it’s ugly head. . . elbow, and lower back. Couple all of that with the lack of riding areas and my general lack of interest in getting out there means my bike spends a lot more time idle than it does being ridden.
Enter my nephew Dave and his son. Some of you might remember them from DW04. They have been riding motocross for a couple of years now. Dave has been after me to ride the MX series with him since he got involved. This year I agreed to give it a try.
The rider:
I’m 300+ 40+ . Surprisingly, I’m in great shape except for the boat load of fat I truck around. I can run a 5k without calling the paramedics, and I’m more flexible than my 20 something kids. I’m a middle of the pack C rider in the woods, yet on the track I’m a neophyte. I’m eager to learn but I’ve still got a mortgage to pay for and other obligations that preclude me “going for it” on a 100ft triple.
Somehow, someway, suddenly my desire to ride the bike has been rekindled. I kinda feel like I’m back.
The bike:
I am ashamed of the shape that I’ve let this bike deteriorate to. Sure it ran, and the oil and air filter were clean, but dayumn! Just about everything else has been left to flounder.
Here’s the list so far:
I’m sure I’ve missed something on this list. I’ve been scrubbing and scraping so much I’m getting punchy.
All in all I’ve been at it almost every night for a week and I’m still not done with the cleaning and repair. And, honestly, I still won’t have it Bling-lou clean even when I am done. But I’ll be closer to clean than this bike has been since I took it off the showroom floor. :cool:
Now if I could only ride it faster. . . :whoa:
Let me start by saying that I haven’t ridden my dirt bike (2004 CRF450R) much in the last 4-5 years. It always seemed that besides the weekly trail riding trips, I’d get one or two big rides in and maybe,a camping trip to go ride somewhere every year. That had all pretty much stopped. If I got three real rides a year in over the past 3 years I'd be impressed. Sadly, most of the easy to get to riding in RI has all but dried up; trails blocked off, tracks closed, etc. There also seems to be few people my age in the area that are interested in trail riding. Driving 3 hours to ride is good once in a while, but for a regular ride I’d prefer something closer.
Then there were surgeries and injuries. There was this tree. . . shoulder and ribs. There was a rock. . knee. There was old age rearing it’s ugly head. . . elbow, and lower back. Couple all of that with the lack of riding areas and my general lack of interest in getting out there means my bike spends a lot more time idle than it does being ridden.
Enter my nephew Dave and his son. Some of you might remember them from DW04. They have been riding motocross for a couple of years now. Dave has been after me to ride the MX series with him since he got involved. This year I agreed to give it a try.
The rider:
I’m 300+ 40+ . Surprisingly, I’m in great shape except for the boat load of fat I truck around. I can run a 5k without calling the paramedics, and I’m more flexible than my 20 something kids. I’m a middle of the pack C rider in the woods, yet on the track I’m a neophyte. I’m eager to learn but I’ve still got a mortgage to pay for and other obligations that preclude me “going for it” on a 100ft triple.
Somehow, someway, suddenly my desire to ride the bike has been rekindled. I kinda feel like I’m back.
The bike:
I am ashamed of the shape that I’ve let this bike deteriorate to. Sure it ran, and the oil and air filter were clean, but dayumn! Just about everything else has been left to flounder.
Here’s the list so far:
- Fork seal replaced. Fork oil changed.
- Every linkage, steering head, and wheel bearings inspected, lubed, and/or replaced
- Spokes tightened.
- Surprisingly enough the chain and sprocket are in pretty damned good shape
- Chain slider replaced.
- Brake rotor (rear) replaced
- Brake shoes replaced
- The air box: This is shameful; I must have pulled about 2 heaping cups of goey sticky muck out of the bottom and the sides of the airbox. Sure the filter was kept clean but the box was left to rot. It took me about 2 hours of scrubbing and scraping to get down to the plastic.
- New KW valves springs keepers, etc all around
- New piston and ring kit with new gaskets of course
- The swingarm: Another “dayumn” The level of crud built up was incredible. I ended up using a scraper to get under it and pry it off in layers. A couple of hours later and it was looking almost new.
- Pipe. The pipe has been a redish brown color since my last trip to cooperland. I thought it was just rust. Nope. I took a wire brush to it and lo and behold there was the pipe underneath . Who knew?
I’m sure I’ve missed something on this list. I’ve been scrubbing and scraping so much I’m getting punchy.
All in all I’ve been at it almost every night for a week and I’m still not done with the cleaning and repair. And, honestly, I still won’t have it Bling-lou clean even when I am done. But I’ll be closer to clean than this bike has been since I took it off the showroom floor. :cool:
Now if I could only ride it faster. . . :whoa:
