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

I would like to know where I can buy a power valve band for my 1982 KX 80? Happy Trails.

Pitdog: I think you are trying to say "power band." For a more complete answer read down to some of the other Pitdog answers. In the mean time, I'll bet your friends are telling you that your bike does not have a power band. It does, It's just not as strong as it was because of the bike's age and newer bikes have power valves. Even a good running 82 KX80 would not be close to a late model in performance. Don't despair however, if you are just getting into off-road riding any bike is better than no bike. I'm sure with it you are having "happy trails."

I just moved to Tennessee. Got any ideas where I can find info on where to ride Enduros around Bristol? They tell me a mountain there has 10 miles of trails you can ride for a few dollars but no luck in finding it.

Pitdog: SERA and SE&TRA both hold Enduros in that part of the Southeast. Check Cycle News and the Internet for contact info. The Daniel Boone National Forest has a number of riding areas I am told. I will be checking them out this summer. In the mean time be resourceful and ask around the bike shops or look on the Internet for clubs in your area. I've been desperate enough to follow bikes on trailers to find out what's up in a strange area. Put your ear to the ground and listen.

Sir Mister Pitdog; I've been asking questions about Enduros and getting comments about lots of water. Are they marked out like Harescrambles, or are they really that wet? It all sounds good, anyway I am curious about being prepared. Besides drinking water, what else do most riders take along in their packs? Tools, parts, tubes, air/co2, etc.? Tell me more. I am planning on the Alligator. Mike from Miami / XR650. Thank you.

Pitdog: Some years back Mike, you would do better on a Jetski! Lately, it's been a problem of too dry. So if I was speaking of lately, I would be talking about drinking water. Yes, Enduros are marked like Hares except there are no green double arrows. You should stay within 20 feet of the orange arrows in either event but an Enduro trail will be harder to follow. Enduros are laid out for mileage over 60, while a Hare usually has a 7 mile loop. An Enduro course covers many different types of terrain because of the total distance so water crossings become part of it. In one of my other answers I told a story of help from Ashley Brewer because he carries a lot of stuff. Me, I just carry a spare plug with wrench, a pull strap, towel, small screwdriver, goggles, gloves, and a power bar. These are the things that I have needed more than once so that's pretty good odds. Since I usually ride on a row with buddies, if one of us had a major problem we would encourage the rider who needed the most points. That's just how things go sometimes.  For the Alligator you will need luck, and more luck. DDR has been doing that event for some 30 years and has the reputation from Cycle News as the narlyest event they every rode. Being said, I would call in all my markers.

Dear Pit Dog, I'm not the young pup I once was. However I still love the snarling competition of Hare Scrambles. Being a little older I find myself running out of juice near the end of the battle. I now have a full time job and can't ride as much as I'd like to keep in shape. However, I do have a lot of free evenings that I'd like to devote to training. I've been looking for some publications or video tapes which outline proper exercises and training techniques but haven't had much luck. Do you have any recommendations?

Pitdog: Boy I love it when a plan comes together. You sound like me talking to myself about 4 years ago. I had a nice scooter but could not find the time, or the funds to do the practicing that is needed to compete off-road. I tried running and weight machines and all kinds of stuff that did not give me the training I needed to race to the finish. Then I started working with a bunch of guys that all rode scooters but also rode mountain bikes after work. They all dragged me and my all steel mountain bike out one evening for an hour session. The hook was set, but the steel bike had to go. Since then my economy aluminum bike has seen most of the premier mountain bike areas in the Southeast. It has given me more than the hardest workout I have ever had. It's increased all my skills as a motorcyclist without riding a motorcycle. After dark we run a helmet light to make it more of a challenge. Basically I've stumbled across the training secret most of the world class racers use and it's more fun than anything for what it cost. But hey, don't spread it around. Nobody will go to work. We all will just eat, sleep, and ride.  

Pit Dog, does "FTR" include ATVs along with the scoots and if so how do I become a member?  Also I have not found any popular places to ride in my area if you know of any places to ride in the Lee County area please tell?   It would be greatly appreciated if the pit dog could help.    
Limited in LEE.

Pitdog: Dog gone right FTR has ATV action in our events, and good times along with it. Look on this site for the club listing and get in touch with Southwest Florida Trail Riders for more information on the club in your area. I don't know much about Lee County but the Crooms Off-Road Park is in the middle of the state at Route 50 and Interstate 75. In the mean time, E-mail our General Manager for more information about joining FTR. (DBJ@TOTCON.com). You could also pull up the flyer for the next Hare Scrambles and look at the agenda for the weekend.  Welcome.

Pit Dog, I have had all my off road suspension mods and service done at Performance Engineering. I feel they have done a great job and feel they have always welcomed FTR members. Are you sure Performance Engineering is not into off road stuff. 

Pitdog: Thank you for your personal input to the readers. I have used P.E. twice and have been disappointed. A third time will not happen. They only know me as an old trail rider and that is how it will remain. Could I be over reacting? You bet! P.E. supports a lot of top riders in FTR, Dusty Morgan for example. They also bring a huge amount of support to our magazine and the FTR banquet. However, I have also been witness to a number of mysterious failures. As I said before this column is focused on riders coming into the sport with a light approach to serious questions. My personal experience at it obviously commands my opinion. With the legacy of the Keylon family and now Kenny's work with Pro Action, I would hope you can see why I recommend them. Finally, since this is an open forum, I would imagine our words will get back to P.E. Here's hoping they will be viewed as positive input to their continued success.

I have a 98 KTM 300 e/xc and don't like the valving on the shock.  Does you know (i) if I can throw a 99 shock on my KTM or (ii) a shop near Orlando Florida that can revalve my shock to 99 specs?

Pitdog: The only shop in Orlando is Performance Engineering and they are not into off-road stuff. The earlier the KTM's without linkage the worst they were. I would use Pro Action (ad in the FTR mag.), for local suspension work. A new 99 shock is big bucks.

Would you like riding if you were a person and not a dog, and do you think riding is dangerous?

Pitdog: The Pitdog is a writer in this column and a rider on the track. Fortunately he is a person on his scooter so his tail doesn't get run over. Now, the answer to the next question is, heck yeah! Dogily, I have broken collar bones, shoulder rotators, and back disc just from racing. Some of these injuries I will never completely recover from. It seems like every time I come home with an injury my wife asks "Are you done racing now?" But she already knows the answer. If it comes to the point when I can't open the throttle I'll make a gas pedal, or a device for my teeth. I will never stop because of the so called danger. Just look at all the amateurs that come to a Hare Scramble weekend or Enduro. How many get to ride away in the meat wagon? Most of the time nobody. So what does this tell us? Is off-road racing dangerous? Of course it is. What I do recognize is that the clubs are controlling the events with an eye on safety. The riders are wearing the protective gear that allows them to compete at their given level without high odds of injury. We are having more fun than the majority of the people in the world that think it's too dangerous for them. We as racers say, let them be couch potatoes. What we have means more than us than the thought of the danger. I think the danger is driving to the event without my gear on.

Pit Dog,  I am considering getting into dirt bike racing.  I think I would like to race in Hare Scramble's.  I can't afford to start off with new equipment. What should I look for in a bike?  What brands do you recommend, and why?  2 Stroke or 4 Stroke?  I weigh 200lbs.  What size bike do you recommend?  What protective gear is required to race?  I realize this is a lot of questions but your expert opinion would be appreciated.

Pitdog: Well, first of all, you will need to hire someone to cut the grass and paint the house because your couch potato life will be history. The best part is, you will be in better shape, you'll sleep better, you'll like your job again, the kids will magically be angels, your wife will constantly be looking for a place to hide, and your dog will guard your stuff. Basically heaven on earth. Considering your 200lbs, I would not look under 200 CCs. The Kawasaki KDX 200 would be a great bike to start with, but it will need spring help for your size. You could ride a Honda XR600 with no changes. To keep the cost down start by looking for a used bike. When inspecting the bike look for loose shifter, brake, pegs, and other levers to give you an idea of the hours  on the unit. Looks can be deceiving because plastic is cheap, hard parts are not. Ask the owner if there is an area where you could take a small ride to test the transmission and listen to the motor. If you have a buddy that races, maybe ask him to go with you. Your race bike will need aluminum bars, soft tires, O-ring chain, and bark busters to get started so count those as  cash. A new bike may not be the best investment at this time because you may not like it's design or you may want to ride in another class. As far as protective gear goes, get a copy of the FTR Rule Book for what's required. (E-mail for a copy to DBJ@TOTCON.com). I wear, thick socks, bicycle shorts, MX jersey and pants, knee pads, chest protector with drinking system attached, MX full face helmet, goggles sometimes with roll-offs, MX gloves, and MX boots. Overall, make a plan for what you will need at least to get started and set a budget. Understand the weekend cost for an average event. Try to buddy up to share the cost. Decide on the Beginner class on Saturday or the C Class on Sunday. Get ready for a lifetime of fun that will rock your world forever.

Hello Mr. Pitdog. Are there any Hare Scrambles or Enduros during bike week? I never rode an Enduro before. How do they compare to Hares? Thank you for the set up tips on my XR650l for River Ranch. Mike

Pitdog: Using the schedule listing on this site, The Suncoast Trial Blazers have their Hare Scrambles on March 4&5. And the GNCC will be run on March 7. Or you could ride the Alligator Enduro on March 9, but you need to get your entry in because Rows are limited. Use the club listing to contact Daytona Dirt Riders. Plus there's a SE&TRA Hare Scrambles in South Carolina if you're into driving on March 12. If you could do all of that, then you could hold a candle for guys like Larry Walls, but you might wear out those gloves you're getting for Christmas. (Oops,dog out of the bag!)  Comparing Enduro to Hares, to ride a Hare you start on a line with a bunch of riders and ride as hard as you can for about an hour and a half then you're done. To ride an Enduro, you start on your minute with up to four other riders and try to stay on a set pace so that you get to a certain place at an exact time while riding for three to five hours. Sometimes you can't ride fast enough, sometimes you ride to hot. It's a race of strategy, endurance, and all your skills mostly out of site of another rider. Which sounds like more fun to you? Uh huh.

Hey Dog; What is the proper way to oil an air filter?   Should you dip or pour? How much is too much, and what should it look like when it's done? Thanks for your help.

Pitdog: You should dip with your thumb and forefinger, but that's another story. I punch a hole in the air filter oil bottle seal so I can squirt the filter around the side and a smiley face on top. My objective is to waste as little oil as possible while the filter material looks colored completely after squeezing as hard as I can. To much oil can foul the plug and block air, while to little doesn't help stop the dust. Some riders wear latex gloves to protect their hands from the cleaner and oil while working also. Oiling is important but a clean filter is more important. I use mineral spirits to cut the oil out of a dirty filter then laundry soap to clean the dirt. Keep soaping and rinsing until the filter is squeaky clean. Oiling it right away helps to disburse the oil in the foam. A K+N filter would require spray oil of course because you can't squeeze them.

Mister Pitdog Sir.  I ride a XR650l and know it is a little heavier than other bikes. I love riding it hard off road and am planning to run river ranch in Jan. Can you give me some bike set up recommendations the suspension is all stock still.

Pitdog: I've ridden many XR650's over the years and yes, they are "tons" of fun. As we have watched Scott Summers win on similar equipment over the years, understand he is a tall, strong guy with a very trick bike. River Ranch has traditionally been a tight track with some straight sections. If it is the same this year you should be OK. If it gets whooped out you're in trouble. The bike is not bad on its springs because it weighs so much already. If you are over 175 lbs the front will need some help. You could add spring spacers and oil but that would make the weight taller still, and that's a trade off. Set the rear spring to 3.5 - 4 inches sack, and tires to 12 lbs. Watch the rear end come back up when you push down with your arm so that you can see the rebound working slightly. Overall, since the XR650 is such an excellent long distance play bike, you should plan your race with that intent. Come and have fun for as long as you can and save your serious racing for a serious bike.

Dear Pit Dog, I have a 97' KDX200 stock except bars, tires, and a WER steering damper.  When racing Harescrambles the front forks do nothing for me on the whoops and braking bumps.  The damper makes the front end feel half as light and I can  manage to keep the front wheel up for a short while. But if its a long whoop straight I almost always go over the bars by the end while I'm getting slapped by my fender pouch.  What can I do to keep the front from dropping in every whoop without spending the big bucks?
Nicholas Frey B200

Pitdog: I've addressed some KDX shortcomings so also read down the column. Forks need a lot of spring action as the whoops get bigger and the stock KDX has little. You could start with 8-10 MM PVC spacers under the springs for help there, plus adding fork oil (check your book for maximum amount), as much as 12MM. Be sure to reset the rear spring preload after you make changes to the front. The KDX has a short frame design which works great for turning but gives up a little going straight. You can't change that, but you could drop the fork tubes down to maximum in the triple clamps. Also test using more rebound in the shock. You say you get slapped by the fender pouch which tells me your legs are not straight at that time. Let that bike work under you by extending you arms and legs in the whoops,( think of a shot of Ricky C.).

I have a 1999.5 KTM 65. The bike will jump into gear when you push the bike forward with the engine off. Neutral is almost impossible to find engine running or not, hot or cold. I have adjusted the clutch per dealer instructions but no help there. At the last race my son fried the clutch. I use Golden Spectro oil. Please help me!

Pitdog: I'm guessing Golden Spectro oil for the gear box which is fine. He probably fried the clutch because he was having a hard time with the shifter. I suspect the shift linkage is bent at some point and that all gear centers are off. I have no idea what the linkage looks like on that bike, but some bikes you can see the detent pawl under the clutch cover. If you could start there, you could inspect for binding and alignment, otherwise, a case split and full professional inspection is in order. Call Greg at K+P Cycles (407-656-9686).

How do the fast guys slow down when coming into a section of large braking bumps? Front Brake - Rear Brake - Standing Up - Sitting Down. What is the best way?

Pitdog: Definitely not sitting down but all the rest apply. Fast guys use their heads in combination with their talents to find the best line into a turn. When you walk a section of braking bumps you will see that they are larger in the center. Not as many riders will have the confidence to ride the edge of the trail so faster riders look for that line. Gearing down instead of applying brakes is the best way to loose speed in rough sections. Use light pressure on the rear brake only when you are forced to. Your legs and arms should be straight and your body position back to force your momentum to go straight. Front fork set up makes a big difference during braking. (Read some other Pitdog answers.) Try to plan your serious braking before or after the bumps. The more you try to brake over bumps, the more the bike will shake and wobble which will cost you time and energy. Get a little help with your fork set up. Then go find an area that duplicates the scenario you have a problem with and practice, practice, practice.

Dear pit dog: I was a member of the South Jersey Enduro Riders. Recently I was transplanted to Florida, where are the trails? I am a member at Pax Trax and have enjoyed the MX. However, I do miss the trail riding. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.  Mike Collins

Pitdog: If you go all the way to the bottom of the column (on page two), you will read about some areas we ride here in Florida. Cya out there.

Pitdog, My son has a 1995 KTM 50.  The bike starts fine when cold or hot, however, if it falls over, it does not want to restart.  It does eventually start but it takes quite a bit of time.  I have replaced the spark plug but it has not helped.  I am using the factory spark plug (B8HS) and run 40 to 1 premix.  Any suggestions as to what is causing the problem?

Pitdog: Recently I was talking to a Peewee parent that commented that all 50cc racers should only run a 15 minute race because the 50's get too hot. Is it possible that you are having this syndrome? The basic diagnostic action for any internal combustion motor is to prove fuel, spark, and compression. Simply looking at the spark plug will tell you if there is fuel and holding it against the block will show the spark jumping the gap when you crank it. Your finger over the plug hole will simply test compression. Because the 2 strokes clear their combustion chambers quickly after a tip over, I'm suspecting an over heated primary ignition to be the culprit of the "50cc syndrome." This could be the pickup coil or the ignition module. I would try to duplicate the symptom and do the basic test. If there was no spark, I would first let it cool and then see if it starts right up. Solutions to overheated ignition parts are going to take some real engineering. Talk to Greg at K+P Cycles (407-656-9686) for your best approach. 

I punctured my new Enduro gas tank with a small hole on the bottom right.  Can it be fixed with chemicals?  Would I be better off to buy new?  (Just paid $160 for this one!)  Your help would be most appreciated.
Twilah
Pit Dog: Never fear my dear, Pit Dog is here. (Oh, that even hurts to type it.) But yes, the best guy around for plastic and paint repair is Bikes Only (407-298-1556). Bondo Bill is right here in Central Florida and does paint and plastic repair for customers worldwide. I know that it takes a special process to fix certain types of plastic so give him a call. Tell him hi from the Pit Dog with the tricky Turbo.

Pit dog, I ride Harescrambles and Motocross, but at the Harescrambles I always have to make a gas stop. Most of my competitors in the Jr.B class have a large capacity tank or a front number plate tank, and I have lost races because I was at a gas stop. I really don't want to use the number plate tank and no company makes the large capacity tanks for my bike anymore. Do you know of any company that sells a large tank for my '96 RM125, or anyone that has a used one for sale? Thanks a lot.

Pit Dog: Have you made an accurate test of your fuel mileage or are you guessing? To do a test, top your tank before practice and then top it again with a jug that's marked off. You will be able to get real close to race mileage. Also your stock tank should do about 30 miles. Try calling Dorsey at Apopka Motorcycles (407-422-2383), for the latest in aftermarket fuel tanks. In the mean time, practice pit stops with your crew using the gallon milk jug. You could add 1/2 gallon of fuel in less than 5 seconds when a crew member cuts the bottom open. I know you can battle back the 10 seconds lost in the pits if you change goggles and put on your race face. Pretend I'm chasing you and nipping at your ankles. 

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