Pit Dog answers questions about Dirt Bikes and Trail Riding in Florida - where to ride, how to prepare, bike setup.

Dear Mr. Dog,
Please help with my scooter problems, oh wise one.  I have a 1989 Kawie KDX200. My bike runs pretty good but it smokes a lot. This blue fog coming from my tailpipe is very annoying. My dad says that I am burning oil and need a new set of rings and maybe even a bore job.  I don't think this is right because I keep checking my oil level and it is always full up to the top. If I was burning that much oil I would surely run low, don't you agree. I have tried to use good oil like Castrol (good enough for John Force....good enough for me). My riding buddy Brandon says that I am putting too much oil in my gas tank, but I think maybe I should be using a lighter weight like 5W30.  Also how come Brandon's CR 125 can roost my 200? Shouldn't my 200 kick ass on any 125? Is it slow because of the smoke? Also I am thinking of asking for riding gear for Christmas, could you tell me which brand has the best protection in case I crash (I want to look cool also) I ride behind the 7-11 near my house and some of the kids always say "Hey, do you race that thing?"  I want to tell them "Yes," and I WIN because the Pit Dog is my bud.
Thanks, Roached in Rockledge

Pit Dog: The Pitdog hates two stroke smoke too. Especially at those race starts. The Pitdog has always run 50:1 fuel mix in his scooter because good mix oils don't need to be at 32:1. This will make jetting rich on gas so the jetting may have to be adjusted. I covered jetting in some of my other columns. By the way, are you putting 5w30 in your fuel tank? It takes premix oil.
    A KDX200 has always been a good choice for woods racing. Any 125 MX bike will roost by a KDX but the story changes in the trees. Your KDX is an excellent scooter to learn two stroke riding and will be less maintenance than a CR125. And yes, proper jetting will let your bike run much better.As far as gear, the Pitdog has always liked the jerseys that are low in cotton. To me, cotton doesn't wash up nice, rips easy, and is heavy when wet. I purchased a Thor jersey recently that looks and feels great!
    You speak about wanting to be a winner, my young pup you already are. It takes a lot of courage and family support to even throw a leg over a motorcycle. That is why FTR racing is so important to us. In our view FTR racing is the Mecca of family, friends, and fun. Practice your riding skills all you can. Be deserving of the support you get from your family. One day you will be called to the trophy table to pick up your first place and will remember the words of the Pitdog. 

Yo Pit Dog!!  Don't you get some kind of points for starting a HS Race even if you don't finish?
Jr.

Pit Dog: If you are asking about FTR Hare Scrambles, all official questions go to them. ( DBJ@TOTCON.com). You get points from me for just being there with your race face on.

I just recently got a new bike and I know the stock graphics don't stay on to well. Is there something that can be placed on top of them to keep them looking good and won't peel?

Pit Dog:You can buy the clear cover material from you friendly dealer parts department. They buy it in rolls. It is also available at sewing material shops but may not be as thick. When you put the stuff on, precut it to fit perfectly and try not to go to the edge of the panel. If you have graphics on the fuel tank, like an XR, nothing will help. Clean all areas with mineral spirits and buff dry. You will want to have corners where water cannot get under the material. . To get a better idea, find a support rider at an event and look at their graphics setup. I don't use the stuff because off-road racing is so hard on the scoot. I like that lived on look!

Dear Dog, I was wandering what the average width is for handle bars for Harescrambles racing. I'm afraid to take to much off and ruin the bars. Also you mentioned earlier about getting professional legal help for letting people ride on personal property. Do you have any ideas on what or how to protect the property owner. Thanks and see you at the races.

Pit Dog: I don't cut my bars, 31.5" stock, 32.5" with back busters, because of weak shoulder rotators. I need all the leverage I can get. Your decision to cut your bars should depend on where you lose the most time in an event. Doggedly, I want my scooter to handle the best on fast straight-aways because that's probably where I'll make my passes. On the other hand, if you are coming to a complete stop or are slowing way down in the tight stuff, then maybe cutting your bars will work better for you. Maybe you could take your old steel bars, I know you took them off the first day, and cut them down to test the ride. I would start with an inch, total. Also, I don't think there is an "average."
    If you are a member of a club within FTR, talk to them about how we handle riders on personal property during an event. This will at least open your eyes.

Pit Dog, I checked the air in my tires before the race last weekend at Mayo. Both tires were low on air. One of the older guys said not to worry about it. He said to let all the air out and to refill my tires to 12lbs. He told me that the air goes stale in the tires and they loose pressure. He said that every now and then you have to let the stale air out and put some fresh air in! Maybe fresh air does give your tires better bounce? What do you think?

Pit Dog: I think you got worked, big time! It's funny how us older dogs can say something and still keep a straight face. The only tire air that goes bad is in road race bikes because we use Nitrogen which is lighter than atmosphere air. I'm sure if you also checked the air in your hauler tires that morning they would have been slightly low too. When the average temperature starts to drop all tire pressures will drop with it. That's called contraction. After that chilly morning, I'll bet your scooter tires were at their lowest pressure for the day. The Pitdog knew that Saturday morning would be cool for his scooters so he prepped them with 13lb's the night before. That way in practice I would have 12lb's to go out on. Guess what they were when I checked them? I also turned my air screws in, but that's another story. Overall, I need to add air to my scooter tires every few weeks to keep them right on 12lb's. Where does it go you ask? Through the rubber. Hint; Get a good low pressure gauge that shows every lb.

Pit Dog, Where is the Power Band on my 2-stroke? Everyone says I have one, but I can't find it anywhere! My bike is a nice 1997 KX 80 . Thanks

Pit Dog: If you read way down my column I covered what a Power Band is and why we call it that. Anyway, it's just a way we talk about how a two stroke makes power. When you are riding in deep sand I know you can feel when the motor is lugging and when it clears out and starts to pull. That is when the motor hits the power band. If you want to be really silly, you could wrap a rubber band around your gas cap and tell all the guys that's your power band, and they better watch out or you'll put in on!

HEY PIT DOG, GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. I RACED ENDURO IN 1982-87 HAD A GOOD TIME. WELL, TIMES HAVE CHANGED, AND NOW I'M BACK, MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO I SET MY BIKE UP FOR ENDUROS? I MEAN THE TAG AND ALL. WE HAD TO HAVE  A TAG BEFORE. HOW DO THEY DO IT NOW WITH NO TITLE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK INTO RACING AGAIN. I TRIED THE HARE SCRAMBLES. THE STARTS ARE KIND OF SCARY, NOT LIKE THE ENDUROS. MY NEW BIKE IS A 1999 KDX 220, GREAT BIKE. BY THE WAY I HAVE 25 ACRES WITH APPROX 2.5 MILE TRACK THAT SOME OF THE SUNRUNNERS HAVE RIDDEN ON AND HELPED LAY OUT. ITS LOCATED IN NORTH LAKELAND. THIS WEB SITE IS GREAT. THANKS FOR GIVING US A PLACE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. JAY ALLEN F.T.R #48177

Pit Dog: In the thirty some years of Enduro racing here, not much has changed. In most areas we still need to show a tag and headlight so we will "appear" to be street legal as we ride on public roads during an event. It used to be that you could get a tag for your off-road scooter fairly easily. Now it's pretty tough. Almost all tags at Enduros are not matched to the scoot. This has been an acceptable tradition for many years. The Pitdog has to wonder how long will this will last. I just run a tag off one of my other bikes, zipped tied to the back of my chest protector, so it doesn't get damaged. The KDX220 will be a great bike for getting back into Enduro racing. I think you are going to find the front end a little soft for the whoops, however. I would add 10MM of oil to the front forks and maybe 8MM of spacer to the springs while I was at it. Be sure to set the rear spring preload again after the front adjustments.   
I'm sure you ridding area is a great thing to have, but if it's your land you need to protect yourself. I would say get some professional legal advice.
Thanks for the complement on the column.

Dear Pit Pooch,
My son just ran in his first Harescrambles. 9th place out of 18 in his class (mini c , 80cc ) . Pretty good !!! Anyway my question is about his scoot, an 86' YZ80 that is almost pristine in condition. Fresh motor, tight susp , mild mods & gobs of power . Will he be able to compete in this type of racing with the kids on the newer rides ?
             Thanks, JAB

Pit Dog: Ninth is great for his first time out. That's just one reason why FTR racing works for all of us. I would imagine that the 86 model would be more of a handful but afterall, it is the C Class and he did good already! I start my puppies out on entry level bikes because they need to develop their skills, not their level of bravery. The down side is that an older bike will be high maintenance and you will be over that quick. Keep an eye on what the other guys a running at the front of the class and you will know what steps you will need to move up.
You're welcome, DOG

Yo Dog Dude---A previous question said there is alcohol in gas.  My bike has been acting funny the last 2 rides.  No top end power and hard to start.  I just disassembled the carb and found what looked like orange water in the bottom of the float bowl.  Funny thing, I haven't been riding in water.   It runs fine now.  Could this be caused by the gas/alcohol/oil breaking down?   If so, how do I stop this?  This also happened last year but I figured it was me washing the scoot or something.  What does the dog think?

Pit Dog: Hey, Yo. Alcohol is in gas if you put it there. Fuel manufacturers are more sophisticated in their fuel additives. Riders add alcohol to fuel because it will mix with small amounts of water and get pulled through the engine. It makes sense that removing fuel bowl sludge would restore top end performance because the main jet pickup is low in the bowl.
For hard to start, cover the basics. Check compression, spark timing, and also look at the reed plates. Water can run down into the carb from funny places, like the throttle cable. Most of the time you buy it from the gas station and it ends up in your scoot. I never pour the last bit of fuel from my container into my scooter. I pour it into an empty drink bottle and dispose of it later. My suggestion to you is to use as little water, and pressure, as possible to get cleaned up. The Dog likes the garden hose with the nozzle set on mist.

Pit Dog, When I fall down on my four stroke I can't get it to start very quick. Some of the older guys said I need to get a vapor lock clip installed, And the guys at my dealer tell me they are on backorder, what do I do? Just what does a vapor lock clip do anyway?

Pit Dog:The Yamaha 400 now has an air vent knob to assist tip over restarts. Is this adaptable to your scoot? I don't know. But you could call Greg at K+P (407-656-9686) and ask him the same question. Without one, hold the throttle open with the decompression lever held, and kick the bike through maybe ten times. This pulls that splashed fuel from your carb through the cylinder and dries it up. The Pitdog had to say cya to his four stroke years ago because restarts were costing him to much time. 

I would like to enter the Alligator Enduro. Would you tell me how to do that?? Thanks, Peter in Wisconsin

Pit Dog: Here's an email address for Kevin Moyer from Daytona Dirt Riders ddr26@aol.com
He should  be able to help you with the form. There are limited entries so act now.

Last weekend several bikes in our group had what seemed to be jetting problems.  It wasn't cold (82°, no real difference from summer in Florida) and the bikes had run OK previously.  One of the riders blamed it on "winterized" gas.  He said they add alcohol (water) to the gas to make it burn differently in the winter.  Is this true? What changes should be made to the bike to allow for this? Do certain 2 stroke oils react better?

Pit Dog: If the scooters in question all had a lean condition, they would idle high, ping, and lag on acceleration. This would be the result of more air in the mix during high humidity or low altitude. If they all sputtered, had slow acceleration, and wanted to foul plugs, then the air was low in the mix during a clear day or high altitude. Some people still believe they need to add alcohol to gas to absorb moisture during the cold season. Major fuel manufacturers adjust their fuel for climate conditions automatically for our convenience so the alcohol thing is not necessary anymore. Savy riders winterize their fuel in their scoots that are hard to drain, mainly because it will not be started for several mouths. This stabilizes the fuel to control evaporation and separation. Yes, alcohol will make your scoot run differently because it also leans out the mix. As I've said perviously, smaller displacement motors are more difficult to tune, and keep tuned, than larger motors. Cool dry air and high altitudes can make a huge difference in two stroke jetting. The Dog knows it's easier to add straight fuel to make the mix richer, or more oil to make the mix leaner, than it is to make major adjustments to jetting that just have to be changed back. Also, yes different mix oils do react differently. This is another reason to run a synthetic blend. Finally, if you're ever wondering what your motor wants to run correctly, READ THE PLUG.       

What does the Dog recommend for tires here in sandy er sunny FLA.? At the Enduros I see a lot of the SETRA riders running Michelins. I have always run Dunlop 752s or Bridgestone M39/M40's. What does the all knowing Pit Dog suggest?

Pit Dog: Racers like the Michelins because they have light casing and last very well in all types of terrain. I have been running the S12s for years with good soft and OK hard surface performance. Recently, I mounted a M25 Bridgestone on my front because a S12 was not available and I needed a tire. The M25 is a very good sand tire but poor on hard pack. This tire will open your eyes BIG when slowing from speed on a road, but for me that's just big fun. The 752s have also been popular with off-road racers because of their soft to intermediate performance. I've never used a M39/M40 setup so I can't report (all knowing huh?). As far as what I recommend, I would suggest you run tires that give their best performance in areas where you are fighting the bike the most. Just remember, it will be trading off in areas that are the inverse.

Dear Dog, With the cooler weather approaching jetting changes on a 125 are almost a must. I ride a 93 RM and would like to experiment with some jetting changes. Since I bought the bike new I've been running the factory specified plug, but at $10 a shot I hate to use them for checking jetting. I have heard rumors that running anything but the factory specified plug for my bike will damage the ignition system. Is this true and if not what type of plug should I use for jetting?

Pit Dog: From the price, I think you are buying the gold resistor plugs for your scoot. The resistor is what's important for ignition protection. The gold is for durability. On two stroke motors, most riders have found that the gold is a waste of money because the plug gets dirty way before it wears out. Therefore, a steel or copper plug will work just as well for the time it spends in use. These cost a lot less too. Please read some of my other comments in the column about jetting so you will experiment with some understanding about the results. If you can find someone with a sand blaster, you could clean some plugs for practice use and jetting test. In addition, a 93 motor will probably have a lot of wasted cylinder action because of wear. This makes it more difficult to find safe jetting. It would be best to spec. the compression and timing so you know what you are working with. The Dog would look at the plug after every ride.  

How can you tell where "Free Zones" are?  2 miles before any gas and finish?  And, what about those RESTARTS at Tallahassee? Was I confused!  Good thing we had a LEAD DOG on our row, but what about next time...

Pit Dog: I want to stay away from interpreting the rule book, but I think you'll find the rulebook very clear. There is a chapter devoted to enduro rules. If you don't have a copy, contact Dan George at dbj@totcon.com  If you would like help understanding a rule, the FTR officers are your best source for info.
The Pitdog knows that Free Time is when he does not have to worry about riding hot into a check and costing points. You are "free"! It's like not being on a leash! He also knows that a Restart is like a Known Control except riders will not pass on through, you wait just like at the start of the event. The Pitdog has said before that knowing the rules of Enduro racing is more of an advantage than being fast. It you understand them completely it will be your magic carpet to a championship. See ya in "free time."

Dear Dog, I have been running 100 Octane racing gas and 100% synthetic two stroke oil at 32:1 in my 125 for a few years now. The motor is basically stock with the exception of a rad valve. She really runs great except, it's lacking a little on the low end, up top is fine. My jetting is slightly leaner than by buddies bike which is identical except for the rad valve and he uses pump gas. However my plugs always look black, not too oily, just very dark where his looks the desired brown color. Is this characteristic of racing fuel, synthetic oil or am I still too rich? I know you can teach an old dog new tricks, how about some tricks to a little more low end from my 125 without spending too much cash?

Pit Dog: Without knowing your model or year, I'll bark about 125's in general. It's forever been a desire in 125's to get the motor to pull down low compared to the way they get it on after. Yes, race gas will make a plug look darker than pump gas because it has a more controlled flash point. Full synthetic mix oil does not burn as easily so it will be a factor in combustion temperature. Any time the combustion temperature is below optimum, you are wasting horsepower because after all heat generation is what the motor is doing. I would first check the compression for correct spec. Then I would check spark timing for spec. If those were OK, then I would start working with pilot sizes while doing plug checks. As I mentioned before, smaller displacements motors are harder to tune. They also are affected by air conditions more than bigblocks. Being rich on your jetting without fouling plugs is safe. Being spot on is cutting edge but risky.

Dear Dog, I have a Croom trip planed from 11-10 to 11-13. I would like to leave from the Croom to the Hilliard MX track. If you could help me get directions you'd be a big help.

Pit Dog: How's this? Looks like a three and a half hour drive, without walking the Dog, from Brooksville.
Start on I-75 at Croom.
I-75 North for 82 miles
State Hwy 121 North for 2 miles
State Hwy 331 North for 3 miles
State Hwy 24 North for 13 miles
US-301  North for 72 miles to Hilliard
The track is 5 miles North of Hilliard on West side of US301/US1

Pit Dog, who are you?

Pit Dog: Well, well, well. The Pitdog talked to a number of riders at the Capital City Enduro who knew who he is in person. The Pitdog uses FTR history in his answers to make an example of what he is talking about, and does not try very hard to hide his identity. The real purpose of the column is to answer serious questions for riders with a light approach. If everybody knew who the Pitdog was, the column would loose its entertainment value and that's the secondary aspect. The Pitdog knows that veteran riders already understand what's needed to fulfill their needs for off-road riding and racing. He wants to help those that have questions and that in turn is entertainment. The Pitdog is asking riders to keep it under your hat so the show can go on.

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