Dirt Rider . Net Text Version Home
Pages: 1
What kinds of extra stuff do you also need that you don't realize?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: Grissom29---------------------
The time is getting closer... I've got the money set aside but I'm waiting to be employed again. I was laid off in March. 
Got an interview tomorrow though... so we'll see...
What kinds of things do you typically end up needing but not necessarily think of?
For example... I don't think I need a trailer since I have a truck with a full size bed. However; I had not ever stopped to think about how I was going to get it in and out of the bed until today... and I don't want to spend a ton of money on some fancy ramp.
I'm sure there are other things to be considered that I just don't know because I'm new to this. Looking for input so maybe I can already have some of these things before the time comes to buy the bike.
Jason
Posted by: Closet Case Nerd---------------------
well.. i too have a pickup and i usually muscle my bike in. its simple enough, if u have enough clutch control, just pop the clutch and land your front tire on the tail gate, then jump in the truck and drag the bike in by the handle bars. but then again, im 18, so if your older youll probably do it the easier way and use a peice of wood or metal for a ramp. you dont need a 300 dollar ramp, just some creativity and vision 
the things youll need other then the bike itself, is the obvious safety gear, starting with a helmet. dont skimp, because you might upgrade your bike due to skill, but there really never is a reason to have to upgrade your helmet. buy a nice one from the start, and it will stick with you through all your bikes, reguardless of skill. also, nicer helmets are usually lighter and more comfortable, not to mention better built/ safer. if it starts looking ragged in a few years, you can always get it painted, and then youll look like a pro.
beyond a helmet your also going to need a good pair of boots, i have only worn alpinestars, but hear very good things about the fox forma's and especially the sidi's. the sidi's are rebuildable, much more so then the alpinestars and fox's, so they seem like the way to go. try different boots on, but actually buy them online, usually its much cheaper this way. If the difference is only a few bucks, get it at the dealer, because its best to support them as much as possible.
for the bike itself there are a few hidden costs. first off, it wont run on nuthin'. you have to put fuel in it, so plan on spending some bucks on cash. it wont be as bad as a car, but it does add up. also, if your buying a two stroke, you have to mix oil into the fuel, so youll need something called a "ratio rite" and a gas can. also, remember, this is an offroad vehicle.. so your gunna break things. plan on that too. if you ride every weekend, you might break something once every month or two, suggesting your not too crazy. usually its simple stuff like broken levers, perches, flat tires, or a blown fork seal. Beyond that there is the sprockets, chains, and tires to keep an eye on. stay ontop of those things and replace broken parts right away (no half-ass bandaids) so they dont compound with other problems or wear into other things. This also is in direct relation to how big a bike you have. Larger displacement bikes, and race bikes, go through parts alot quicker then a smaller, smoother, "trail" bikes. A 450 thumper, and 250MX'r will go through chains/tires/sprockets alot quicker then a 125 would. At the same time, a 125 will eat clutches and top ends a bit faster then a 250. The 450/250F's are a bit more expensive to maintain with valve jobs and more frequent oil changes.
there are other little things, like you might buy a special tool for some particular maitnence, or inevitably your gunna by some go-fast, or look-good, mods for your bike. but there is nothing wrong with that, as long as your family has food on the table.
it may seem really expensive, but if you have a fairly steady job its really easy to keep up with. worse comes to worse, like you completely blow the motor, it can sit in the garage and wait until you have the funds to fix it. it will only cost you money when your riding it, think of it that way.
have fun, be safe, and enjoy yourself!
:thumb: 
Posted by: Grissom29---------------------
Thanks for the input. To answer the age issue, I'll be 31 in June. I'd better make a "ramp" with some 2x8's or something.
I should clarify that I do understand the need for safety gear for my body. I plan to aquire that also. I've been looking around at what I like for a while now.
You mentioned a "ratio-rite". I had a '83 CR125 when I was a teen, and was wondering if that is the nickname for the measuring cup I used to mix the 2 stroke oil into my gas can? I seem to recall we used to do that at the pump (right into the gas tank) near my neighborhood alot based on the markings on the retail bottle. Maybe that's why I fouled plugs so often? hehe
Perhaps it's not much to worry about, as I don't recall having much more than a gas can, tools (and tire irons), measuring cup, and some oil for my air filter for my bike as a teen. I figure as a teen I probably was missing out some some details though. I just want to make sure I have my bases covered so that I can get out and have some fun shortly after the purchase.
Jason
Posted by: pyrofreak---------------------
The ramp i got is a real nice folding steel one, lol, my dad drives tractor trailer and someone lost it on the side of the raod, i htink its like a $270 ramp, lol, but i scored it free!
Posted by: KaTooMer---------------------
As far as transporting the bike, a 2x12 board just slightly shorter than your bed will work great. One thing I did to the board that seems to work really well is nail a 1x1 (or 1x2, whatever) strip of wood to the underside of the board where it sits on the end of the tailgate. It makes a "lip" on the end of the board that for some reason keeps the board from slipping off the end of the tailgate (it also helps that I have a rubber mat attached to the end of the tailgate - less slippage). I also took a circular saw and cut a bunch of 1/4" deep lines across the board so that the front tire would have something to "grip" as I applied the front brake while unloading down the ramp. For loading, some guys place a crate or bike stand next to the ramp so they can step up into the truck bed as they're loading the bike. I secure the bike with tie-downs, like most folks. If you run oversized bars, the standard tie-down hooks are just a little too small, so you can either search for ones with larger hooks, bend them open wider, or get some of those "loop" thingies that wrap around the bars, then hook the tie-down to the loop (there's actually a name for those things but can't remember).
For measuring gas, I take the easy route and buy the 12-oz bottles of Golden Spectro, pour the bottle into a 5-gallon gas container and fill it up to about 4.5 gallons or so. That gets it pretty close to the recommended ratio and there's no measurements required.
Posted by: Casper250---------------------
1. A good set of tie downs, Ancra are the best ones i ever used. Don't get the cheap home depot ones, there a nice set of 4 rachet style tie downs but they don't last. I've got through 3 sets(bought them in a bind).
2. Spare Air filter. If you have a dirty one in your bike, the spare one just makes it easier to replace. Just clean them both at the same time.
3. Extra spark plugs. When i had my cr125, i would buy a box of 10 from pep boys and put a new plug in every other ride. There cheap and when you got new ones laying around, you tend to use them more.
4. Spare front brake lever. I used to break these all the time but for some reason, i have yet to break a clutch lever(knock on wood).
5. Set of T handles. Not so much a necesity but ever since i bought a set, i use them all the time.
There a probably others but these are the little things that I always end up needing.
Posted by: Grissom29---------------------
Thanks guys, that's the type of suggestions I was looking for. Looks like I'm going to go take a look at a 2001 KDX200 on saturday, so I'll need to try and make that ramp before then.
Jason
Posted by: tnrider---------------------
on my loading ramp board - i attached some old roof shingles for tire grip and i also drilled a hole at the bottom end that i put an oversized nail (about 10") into (step on it will sink it into dirt) so that the ramp will not under any circumstances slide off the truck when i hit the front brake as the bike is rolling down the ramp. if that happens off a truck bed and lands on your leg - could result in a non-riding bone break (can't brag about that and they hurt more too...)
oh, and remember not to leave that nail on the ground or it will end up in my tire!!
Text Version Home
vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2009,
Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2009
- Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser
