Dirt Bike FAQ

You just did a motor job.
-Double check the valve clearence.
-Make sure the valves aren't leaking. Bring the piston to TDC of the compression stroke (both valves closed). Remove the spark plug. With a blow gun, blow air in the plug hole and listen at the air box and exhaust pipe. Any hissing and you need a valve job.
-Double check the points and timing with a timing light.
-There might be water in the gas. Water floats in gas. If it was in the carb float bowl, when you rev the motor, the water would get sucked into the jets, clog them and drop back into the float bowl.
-Drain the float bowl into a cup and see what comes out. Anything bad, drain the tank and install an inline fuel filter.
-Clean the carb and jets with carb cleaner in a spray can.
-The float level could be to low. Remove the float bowl. Hook up an auxilery fuel supply. Turn on the fuel and lift the float by hand. -The fuel should stop when the float is level with the carb/float bowl mating surface.
-Try adjusting the needle height (on the throttle slide in the carb). Adjust the circlip up or down one notch at a time.
-If you can't get it fixed from all the answers you get here, then it's time to have a mechanic look at it.

Axiom and Wellgo both offer good affordable pedals with replaceable studs.A cromoly axle is best.
The best pedal is one that has an owner with a good pedal nut tool.
I always rebuild my pedals with good bearing grease when new.Filling the bearings with grease will help keep dirt and water out of them.My favorite bicycle grease is Bullshot.[red]
The best bearing grease I have ever used came in a caulking tube and is used by long haul truckers to lubricate their trailer connector contacts where the trailer meets the tractor[truck].[it was red]

If your going to get a street bike, get a real BMX bike. Norco makes some really good bike, but good street bikes can come cheaper and better if its street your looking for. If so, get a diamondBack Accoplice or joker. If its mountains your wanting, get a norco trails hardtail. you can use it on trails and dirt if you want. But BMX bikes are better for street.

Go bigger then a 125. for being 13 and 5'9 you can pretty much get any bike you want. your gonna grow some more so the height of a bike isn't an issue. because your age i would stay away from a 450 but maybe try like a crf250r. it has tons of power for a 250 and you won't grow out of it.

Depends if you want to trail ride get a 230 but if you want to race get a 125 2stroke.

While 20" is responsive, 24" wheels roll much better on rough terrain. The rule is the larger the wheel the easier it is to ride over rough stuff especially.

No you cannot drive. Please check the listing photo, there is no left-right indicators. Better look for street bike/scooter for easy travelling to uni. There are many 50 cc scooters available on the same site.

I like, in order:

KTM has the best suspension, lightest weight, most options and the most power. It is the most expensive and parts can be hard to get. The suspension is great but fussy to adjust.

The Yamaha is great for both racing and trail riding. YZF is better for racing and the WR for trails.

The Suzuki and Kawasaki are about the same and are good for both and they have very tough motors.

The Honda has great suspension and is easy to ride fast but the motors wont last the longest.

BTW, Cycle News sucks and I wouldn't put much trust in what they say. They mostly do street bikes anyway.

They are a great bike and could be used for trails as well as motox, but ultimately they are a race bike and set up to race.

I live in northern va. the only place i have found is in george washington forest. its free and plenty of trail. there is a place called gore that sounds good but it costs money. never been there though. out in wv theres some good places too.