Madhatter wants a dirt bike….

Madhatter

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barkbusters are next on the farkle list for the bike .... just got my boots last week , knee braces are my next personal protection farkle.
 
B

ballisticexchris

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I rode dirt bikes untill I was 57. I still have a 96 cr500. I didn't use body armor until I was 45. I'm paying for it now. Crash damage took its toll on me. I considered all that "stuff" for candy asses. WRONG
I was in my mid 30's before I started wearing it. I remember 2 (of many) hard crashes that put things in perspective.

Test riding my brother in laws late model (about the same year as yours) CR500 after I did a subframe repair and jetting changes. I forgot I was not on my XR600, grabbed a handful of throttle after hitting a rock in a sandwash. It spit me off the back and broke my back. Chest protector probably would have saved me.

2nd incident made me a believer of steering dampers. I was in the NV desert by myself in the middle of the week. Slammed into a hidden rock on my XR600 in a high speed wash. Knocked the bars out of my hands, pitched me into the ground, and knocked the wind out of me. I remember laying on my back looking into the hot desert sun praying to god I would be able to start my bike and get out of there. The very next day I plopped down my credit card and bought a Scotts damper and weld on mount. I still have that Damper ready to rebuild again and put on my next dirt bike. My Beta got its own when purchased.

Thank you Tenmen for reminding us how important proper gear and safety protection is. Funny how a lot of us are alike!! I'm 57 and still ride dirt bikes. Although the rides are getting less and less in the dirt. I'm actually thinking of getting a new Husqvarna TE150 in the next year or two. After selling my KTM300 I realize that bike made my a very lazy rider on the tight trails. I figure a 150 will be light and easy to handle on the trails. It will be nice to get back into using the clutch and not relying on the Rekluse. And yes I'm a candy ass!! Electric start on everything I ride these days.

Happy New Year to all!!
 

Tenman

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I took my CR out in a field for a little preride warm up. I hit a deep rut in the tall grass and went down. The first thing I saw when I came out of the stunned state was my helmet on the hood of my truck. Got a big ass grass burn on my face.
 

Madhatter

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so the day I pick up the new 450x it rains for 3 days , after 2 weeks I finally take it to the off road park find some mud and crash , ouch. so Christmas is over and a new year is here, and its rained 5 days out of seven , going to be wet for awhile . looking like no rain in the forecast the next 7 days , but back to work on the night shift for the next two weeks . so no riding. also son getting married in 10 days , then son and new daughter in law packing to move to Seattle at end of month. see no free weekends till February . have plans to take Tenere on a short weekend camping trip at least one weekend in February . bike looks pretty sitting in the garage.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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As in:
"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans" (Allen Saunders and used later by John Lennon)
 

Madhatter

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the neglected tenere is in the driveway for a wash and a ride today , pavement is dry and the temp will be 65 for a high . have a series of errands to run so it will be the tenere. and as for not riding the honda , its ok just to look at , originally did not believe or planned to have a bike before april or may. so I tell myself I am ahead of the curve anyway , so its all good. if it dries up in a few days I might be able to put around in the back yard with it.
 

Madhatter

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so today I did this.... put my crf450x on insurance ….. if stolen or it falls out of the back of the truck its covered , if I crash into you on the trail you are covered , and most important of all if I get hurt ( again , but in need of Dr's ) that's covered also and if I can not work because of injury they will pay me money. peace of mind and a happy wife that I protected the wallet . so now when I ride I am not so concerned I might destroy my finances while having fun.
 

Madhatter

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buda texas
ordered a jet kit for carb..... something new to learn..... im thinking there is a reason FI is the way to go..... but I want the full experience ….. (to cheap to buy a FI bike )
 

Madhatter

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since this topic of mine is under other bikes I had a peek at the 2019 super tenere . one ugly bike to me . who came up with the paint scheme etc. frost white tank , Yamaha blue wheels (I like these rims , they rock . but not with the paint scheme) rest of bike in black etc. looking like left over parts bike.
 

Madhatter

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buda texas
an update on the 450x , a very cold natured bike . seems to take forever to get it off choke to a normal idle. have a brand new jet kit which I hope to install in the next few days.... what I have read in the jetting chart is that stock the 450x is jetted very lean.... the recommended main jet for my altitude is a 165 . that is 0 to 2000 ft. for 4000 ft. altitude a 162 main is recommended . for 9000 ft. elevation a 155 is recommended . so the stock 145 main jet is for the 'moon" . it seems that what ever jet I choose that is greater than the 145 should help it run better. so I am thinking maybe I use the 162 , not the ideal for this altitude but for sure it has to be better than the 145. and if I go to the higher elevations it would be already set. those are my thoughts tonight.
 
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