Dirt Bike FAQ

For future reference, always give year, make, engine size and model # when asking questions. We need all of that info to give an informed answer.

Some aftermarket companies offer "lighting coils" for specific bikes.
A lighting coil is attached at the flywheel and produces electricity the same way as the magneto.

There are units for quads that use a small amount of power from the CDI and amplify it to operate a headlight.
Those companies would surely have kits for bikes.
But each kit is model specific.

Don't know about the price differences between different countries, but I'd expect you can buy a Japanese bike in Japan. The actual models offered also may differ in different countries.

Whatever you do, don't listen to the idiots that say it's about the color and the price. All bikes ARE different. Those should be the last two deciding factors when you buy a dirt bike. Do some major research, each manufacturer makes different styles of bike for different types of riding. I.E. Yamaha makes the YZ line for track riding, The TTR line for trail riding, And the WR line for desert/adventure riding. These bike lines can cross over and be ridden in the other environments but they are engineered to excel in those specific areas. Each manufacturer, as a generalization, has different riding characteristics in their bikes. Some feel like they turn easier than others. Some feel like they start faster than others. Etc.
Each manufacturer also makes many different size engines, from a small 50cc(cubic centimeter) to upwards of a 650cc.
Do your research. Figure in your weight, where you are going to be riding the most, and experience. Not necessarily in that order. Don't be afraid to go to several dealerships and ask questions. Find the bike that fits you and your needs. In the end you will have a much better experience and come back to ride again and again.

You should go to a bike dealership and try sitting on some of them. people are recommending 80's and 100's but i think they may be too small for you, not enough power. you should look into getting a 125, hondas are great bikes, ktm also makes a great bike. also keep in mind that you can lower the suspensions on some of them to fit your height, just ask the salesperson about it and they should be able to help you with it. is this the first time you will be dirtbiking?? you will LOVE IT!! i just started riding in dirt recently and it is so much fun! way better than riding on the road. good luck, be safe and have fun!

Here's an official factory service manual. The one dealerships use.

http://www.motocom.com/motorcycles/

Check this web site out.

http://www.dirtbikingtrails.com/scripts/search.asp?type=DIRT.

and if you like to travel a bit there are some wicked trails around the batemans bay morua area. might also pay to ask some of the bike dealers around your area. good luck and have fun.

You can buy from an individual, who may or may not have taken care of his machine, or from a dealer who can stand behind what he sells. Individuals with bikes can be found at cycletrader.com and there are dealers that sell dirt bikes on every street corner. If you're planning on riding in SoCal, better think about a four-stroke instead.

From the sound of your "blue seat" the CR80 you have must be an 80's model. Back in those days, if a "big wheel" 80 existed, it was probably a factory bike or the previous owner decided to try the larger wheel on the front because of a "new" idea.
The bigger wheel on the front makes for better turning and handling for those kids who have gotten older and larger and faster, but were not ready to move up to the 125cc class. Also, the larger wheel has a larger brake rotor, which in turn means better front brake system and better stopping power for those "faster" kids.
It's been some time since i worked for a Honda dealership, but I believe in those days the paint color was accually called "Honda Orange". I could be mistaken. Get the frame number off the steering yoke and call it in to your nearest Honda dealer to see what year the bike is if you don't know. They can also tell you the color and can order you the paint in a spray can. This color used to be available through an after market company as well such as Tucker Rockey or Parts Unlimited. As far as I know, the color is still available. Good Luck!

If your bike is a 2-stroke, you need to buy 2-stroke mixing oil to put in your gas. You can use regular gas, or premium. go to your local motorcycle dealership and get a Ratio-Rite. It has markings on it to tell you how much oil to pour in different size gas cans. How your bike is running will determine what ratio you use. Is it smoking a lot, is it really blowing the oil out heavily? A little oil out the tail pipe is normal. Your local motorcycle shop can help you with this. It doesn't matter if it's a Suzuki shop or not, any of the Big 4 Japanese dealers can help you choose an oil and give you some advice on mixing, and you can pick that Ratio-Rite up.

Honda, yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki, and ktm are the common dirt bike manufactures. I've riden them all and everything depends on what you want out of a bike. For used you can't go wrong with honda and yamahas if it's early 90's, newer bikes I'd go with anything but for 4 strokes I'd go with yamaha's and suzukis, price ranges vary everywhere but a used 2 stroke is going to be cheap under $2000 for anything year 00 and under, you can buy a 1999 125 2 stroke for 1500. dirt bikes just dont hold value if you're going to pay $4000 for one it better only be a year old because or hardly used, I wouldn't expect to pay 4000 for a 2005 2 stroke unless it wasn't riden at all. As for 4 strokes which I think is the way to go thye'll cost more but upkeep on them is very minimal. you need to do better research that yahoo answers to find exactlly what you're looking for so go search the web or call some dealers. good luck