It's alive!!, ALIVE!!! [Archive]

Gilk51

02-19-2005, 08:27 PM

Congrats! :chug:

We had a good day, too. Got the GSXR's frame straightened yesterday. Sam and I (mostly Sam - it's his bike) got the magneto, oil, radiator, shift set, clutch lever, and exhaust system all back on & got the engine running, too! Shifts through all 6 gears!

"get your motor running, head out to the highway..."

yeah! :-D (oops - wrong forum - noticed this was a dirt bike spot - sorry) :oops:

Tourmeister

02-19-2005, 09:03 PM

uhh... pics?? :roll:

Tx Rider

02-19-2005, 09:07 PM

http://killer.playnet.com/pics/bikes/KIF_0619.JPG

Look like I have a touch of work left on the carb, the float is a touch sticky when it's not running, just idling shakes it enough not to stick. Nothing a file and 10 minutes won't cure tommorrow.

I have to go get tags Monday, and install a new rear brake light switch to get it inspected and I'm golden it seems.

I forgot how much a workout it is to kick start that monster.

And if I'm going to ride at any highway speeds with you guys I'll have to put my stock sprocket back on and get some tires that don;t wail at 110db at 60 MPH. ;-)

Carb really needs rejetting or replacing, but it runs good enough for now, if a bit rich.

Dirtrideroader

02-20-2005, 11:16 PM

The one problem I see is they put the kick starter lever on the wrong side. What were they thinking?

Tourmeister

02-21-2005, 01:10 AM

I don't think the bike has a kickstand. So you can lean it to the right and kick with your left just as easy as you can lean it left and kick with the right (as on some other bikes).

Adios,

gotdurt

02-21-2005, 08:28 AM

Yeeha! Now, if I could just borrow a bike so we can play in the SNF...

Bagwell

02-21-2005, 08:47 AM

I don't think the bike has a kickstand. So you can lean it to the right and kick with your left just as easy as you can lean it left and kick with the right (as on some other bikes).

Adios,

Yeah, if Im not mistaken.... it only has a center stand.

Tx Rider

02-21-2005, 11:30 AM

Yeah left side kick, no kickstand just center stand.

You can kick it with your right leg standing off the bike, or kick with your left from on the bike.

The important part is making sure it's tuned to start easy, that high compression 620 is mean to kick. If it's on the compression stroke I can stand on the kick starter and unless I jump up and down real hard it won't get it past compression and I'm not a small guy.

It does have a compression release too though.

My ride policy is if you can start it, you can ride it. ;-)

After the carb rebuild, filling the cylinder with oil and cleaner to soak the past 2 weeks and everything I wore out both legs several times to the point of having to take a break and catch a breath, 3-4 hours worth, kicking with both legs alternating before I finally got it started :help: . I'm still a sore puppy.

I'll have to order new jets later this summer, or I may just have someone do it for me. As it is I have to crank the idle mixture in to the stop to get a good idle, but it's a good idle that starts in 2-3 kicks with zero throttle hot or cold even with the battery being DOA.

I thought I had an oil leak and maybe a coolant leak, but it looks like that wasn't the case after riding it around yesterday and checking it out. The oil was gas from the carb washing old chain lube off, and the coolant was just from the overflow hose. With no fan for the radiator it'll heat up and puke some coolant fairly soon if your not rolling.

I ordered a new battery, brake light switch and luggage rack Friday, hopefully it wont take 6 month of backorder **** to get em. I'm sure the switch at least is probably still used on new KTM's so that should at least let me get it inspected.

Bagwell

02-21-2005, 07:30 PM

My ride policy is if you can start it, you can ride it. ;-)

Fancy that.
Thats my policy as well. :)
If you can start it, you can ride it.
It would suck for someone to be stuck someplace because they couldnt get it to start.
heh

scratch

02-22-2005, 08:38 AM

Tx Rider

02-22-2005, 10:32 AM

Fancy that.
Thats my policy as well. :)
If you can start it, you can ride it.
It would suck for someone to be stuck someplace because they couldnt get it to start.
heh

Yep, and they would probably expect you to come and rescue them too. ;-)
__________________

Congrats on getting the 620 running again, John. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at starting it... :eek: :-D

Yeah and they know you would come rescue your bike anyway, if not them. ;-)

It's really not hard to start if you know how, but if ya do it wrong you can really set yourself up for a lot of grief and some really sore legs. It's truly more of a "if you can listen to me and start it like I tell ya" thing than anything else.

I was struck the other day how much it feels like riding Scotts GS, except it only wieghs about 280lbs lbs dry and has over a foot of ground clearance and mondo suspension travel.

Sitting way up high, wide bars, clattery big bore engine, etc. it gave me a flashback of riding his GS.

Got new plates today, calling the parts guy in Waco to see about that brake light switch, I may be able to get it inspected anyway though as the front brake light switch works fine.

I think the trails down at SH would be great, I'd like to get some long trails that aren't as extreme as red river or as crowded as Marshall creek. Though I've made up my mind to ride out to Marshall creek every decent afternoon for a while to get my dirt legs back under me and hop a few jumps, it's only a ten minute ride from my house.

Tx Rider

03-10-2005, 10:10 PM

Well it's official, my radiators came in today so I put em on, routed the new push/pull cables on the new FCR carb and rode down to the inspection station.

As of today I'm 100% street legal on the KTM.

Only issues left are the front brembo caliper really needs a rebuild and flush, and I think the thermostat is almost plugged up. It's getting hot runnng at 65mph for a while, seems like a water flow issue.

Rode out to the thursday bike night in Plano tonight, was nice to get some miles under it. Gonna commute on it for the next few weeks.

I'll be finishing off the front brake rebuild and coolant system stuff this
Saturday and changing back to the stock 40 tooth sprocket instead of the 48 tooth on it now, along with a fresh set of Metzler Karoo DS tires and heavy duty tubes next week that hopefully will run the road better that these desert knobs I have on it.

May even take it on the next pie run! :mrgreen:

Big Bend bring it on!!

Sleepy Weasel

03-10-2005, 10:32 PM

Squeaky

03-10-2005, 10:32 PM

YAY!
Glad you've gotten it all together so quickly. Other than waiting on parts, that was a pretty quick frankenbike.

Tx Rider

03-10-2005, 11:08 PM

I'm sure they made a million of them in that color scheme, but any chance you were out riding up 121 towards 35E in Lewisville around 6pm to 6:15 today? I was sitting at the light at MacArthur and saw a bike just like that go by and while I was trying to think "Ok, who makes a 620? Did that say 620 or 650?" I almost forgot to at least nod.

Yup that would be me, white 620 RXC black jacket and silver helmet. I was toodling up across 35E to hebron, then over toward Plano for the thursday meet.

And that color scheme is probably not very common, they didn't sell a lot of em and they started making em orange in like '98 I think. I don't think I've ever seen another one in Dallas though they surely exist.

Tx Rider

03-11-2005, 08:19 AM

This quitting smoking is paying off.

Couldn't sleep more than an hour, had to do something so I got up at 4am and removed my thermostat, took my front caliper off and worked on it, and tried out some of that honda cleaner on the bike. Half a can later it's lookin pretty sharp.

I stopped short of actually cleaning each spoke by hand, I gotta leave something to occupy me on the weekend. :)

Off to work!

Tx Rider

03-12-2005, 07:51 PM

Changed from the 48/16 sprockets I had on back to stock 40/16 sprockets and did 100 miles today, Hitting reserve at 95 miles and easily doing 75mph cruising.

Ran out to Marshall creek, man it felt good to hop off the road at 50 mph and hit the trails. :mrgreen:

The park cost me $5 to ride in, I just wanted to look and see what had changed since the city of Trophy Club took over managing it.

The closed up about 20% of it from offroaders, basically the lake shoreline part of the park.

Wasn't very crowded today, 10-15 folks our riding, and only saw one jeep out rutting things up. I didn't stay long, too muddy and I was in street gear.

The carbon canister (CA emssions) came loose under the rear fender in some whoops and got torn open while trying to fit between the rear knobby and the swingarm, bringing me into a nice healthy slide in some decent whoops. :shock: it rests in peace(s) in the weeds somewhere now.

I'm outta practice out there on those jumps and whoops. Will be fun getting the feel back.

This thing is a pure hooligan machine :twisted: , I'm so glad I got it up and going.

dower

03-12-2005, 08:31 PM

Couldn't sleep more than an hour, had to do something so I got up at 4am and removed my thermostat, took my front caliper off and worked on it, and tried out some of that honda cleaner on the bike. Half a can later it's lookin pretty sharp.

You can quit smoking at my place. ;-)

gotdurt

03-12-2005, 09:02 PM

I'm outta practice out there on those jumps and whoops. Will be fun getting the feel back.

This thing is a pure hooligan machine :twisted: , I'm so glad I got it up and going.
Stop it, pllleeaase. :tears:

I got permission to take the NX to Waco. You gonna make it? It'll still be fun on the NX I'm sure, just not the same... :-(

Tx Rider

03-12-2005, 10:42 PM

Yeah I believe I'll make it there.

The only thing I find I dislike is the large gap between 1st and 2nd gear, thats why I put the 48 tooth on, to drop 2nd down and use it as first.

I understand there are a fine selection of second gears to choose from in the LC4 line over the last decade though. If I ever have a need to open the case that'll get changed.

I was riding around with Doc on his XV920 he's selling and I gotta say I can see what the moto guys see in these bikes, I was wanting some gumball rubber.

The front Baja tires are awful at speed on the road. Got some metzlers otw for that, hope they still handle dirt ok.

Tx Rider

03-16-2005, 08:25 PM

Gonna be a busy week. But the KTM should be ready for a lot of riding this season.

Got digital water and oil temp guages to install.

4+ gallon tank to finish installing, came in today and fits pretty well.

New front and back tires and heavy duty tubes.

12v wiring plug for my GPS.

Oil change.

Mount RAM mount for GPS for Sunday.

Then I think I'll be all done unless I get a tank bag for it. Time to ride it on down to Bastrop and Alvin and see what longer rides on a paint mixer is like :shock:, couldn't be much worse than my old sportster. ;-)

Tourmeister

03-16-2005, 09:19 PM

I wonder what your range will be with the larger tank? I plan to carry an extra gas can on the Big Bend ride, but it will only be one gallon, yours for $10/gal ;-) :lol: jk.

Adios,

Tx Rider

03-16-2005, 09:26 PM

I should be over 200 miles before reserve, with about 40 miles on reserve with this tank vs 95 miles to reserve with the stock one.

I'll find out when I fill it and see what the real capacity is.

I shouldn't need any spare gas now that's for sure. That is if I don't pump all the gas out with the throttle, the FCR squirts a mean squirt of gas down th throat when ya open it up.

edit: had a guy pipe up over on the ktm boards that it's a 4 gallon tank, so it looks like right at 200 miles. Still double what I had though.

gotdurt

03-17-2005, 08:22 AM

Plastic tanks usually hold a little more than their rating, and even that varies. So, a 4 gal is more like a "4+". My "4" gal IMS tank held 4.4 gal. One of my riding buddies in AZ had the same tank that held 4.2.

One thing you might consider doing is installing a hose conecting the lower-front sides of the tank, so that you have access to all of your fuel without having to stop and tilt the bike when you get "low". Otherwise, when you hit reserve, you may still have over a gal left, half of which is hiding on the side opposite the petcock...

Tx Rider

03-17-2005, 10:21 AM

Yeah I was thinking of just adding another petcock over there.

Speaking of capacity, a guy on the ktm boards said he added even more capacity by filling the tank with very hot boiling water, pressuring it up to 5psi and letting it cool off under pressure. :)

I shouldn't have read that as it's got my mental gears whirling around an image of 3-4 psi pressurized tank and a heat gun and adding another 1/2 gallon or more of space in there. :bigokay:

Tourmeister

03-17-2005, 02:25 PM

Might make the tank more brittle... That could be bad :shock: My GS is bad about hiding gas on one side. Someone on the AdvRider site made a little siphon gadget you install in the tank that sucks the gas over to the side where the feed line for the fuel pump is located. Supposedly, my tank is rated at 5.5 gallons. I put in 5.4 once or twice...

Adios,

gotdurt

03-17-2005, 02:44 PM

Someone on the AdvRider site made a little siphon gadget you install in the tank that sucks the gas over to the side where the feed line for the fuel pump is located.
Something like that would be necessary for a metal tank, since you can't tap sheet metal (duh). The plastic on these tanks is pretty thick, especially near the bottom, thick enough to tap with 1/8 npt (mine was anyway). Just use valves on each side, with a hose between (through the frame). When you want to remove the tank, close the valves and disconnect the hose.

Tx Rider

03-17-2005, 03:18 PM

That's about what I had in mind, I have a spare petcock already so I was just going to drill the other side, and make a plate to match the petcock inside for strength.

The neck opening is pretty darn large, I can easily put a back up plate inside the tank for the petcock to mount through. Then I'll just run the petcocks to a tee and on into the carb.

I accidently ordered 2 tanks, so I think I'll go to town on one and see how the mounting and a little size expansion works out and still have a spare if I ruin it. I'm pretty good with a heatgun and plastic.

I think I'm going to peel my old tank shroud graphics off and stick em to this tank this weekend if I can figure out what kind of adhesive to use.

That should get me all done by this weekend, and hopefully the weather will start cooperating more and I'll be out riding it.

WoodButcher

03-17-2005, 03:23 PM

Make sure you have it on the bike when you try to expand it. Otherwise you may find the mounting bolts and the seat hook don't line up anymore.

Tx Rider

03-17-2005, 03:58 PM

Yup, I think there's a little room for expansion around the frame tunnel, behind the steering neck and in the inside of the radiator shrouds. That's just initial looking though.

I may wait on that for a while though.

Tx Rider

03-17-2005, 10:03 PM

Whew, forgot how much work changing knobbies and tubes with a rim lock is, new tires on though. :) Man I sure am jonesin for smoke after that one.

Squeaky

03-17-2005, 10:52 PM

Whew, forgot how much work changing knobbies and tubes with a rim lock is, new tires on though. :) Man I sure am jonesin for smoke after that one.

MUST.... RESIST.... THE URGE.....

You're going to be in great shape once a few months have passed! All this stair climbing and wrenching on the bikes will surely have your heart and lungs working at 100% in no time!

Tourmeister

03-17-2005, 11:08 PM

Good point WB!

Adios,

Tx Rider

03-17-2005, 11:44 PM

Im feelin awful old right now :-( Aleve, 2 BC powders and a long hot shower later and I can move again. 8-)

No cigarettes though, I'm holdin on 100% so far. :angel:

I think a lot of this bike work is just to keep me busy and doing something so I don't dwell on not havin a smoke.

That's all the hard work, now all I really have left is little wiring jobs etc. and fooling around with the new tank etc.

Good chance I'll eat this Metzler rear up and have to get a new one by Big bend time though. :twisted:

Tx Rider

03-19-2005, 07:17 PM

Well with new temp guage and GPS power wired in last night and GPS in the RAM mount, I took off for a little proving run today. Out to farmersville to look for that chaparral trail.

About 30 miles out on 121 in construction the bike starts bogging out, :shock: at first just when wide open, then eventually all the way down to idle. Any throttle above idle and it dies. :angryfir:

Lights and horn are strong so it's not magneto, gotta be carb.

So I walk along side the bike for 1/4 mile with it idling in 1st to get to a place to work on it, remove seat, remove tank, remove airbox boot, remove carb, remove bowl, and find main jet totally plugged with old gas tarball, more floating in bowl, and float needle covered with it.

Cleaned it all out, I figure it was from old fuel line and I replaced all the fuel line with the new tank. Took abut an hour.

At least 20 bikes roll by, not one stops to see what's up with the dissasembled bike in the parking lot on the side of the road. :roll:

Ok, back to runnin like a spotted ape, :mrgreen: off to famersville. Found trail headed out NE, cool, grabbed a little grub and popped up the topo map. It shows trail heading out SW from farmersville, obviously old abandoned RR track. So off I go running around all the gravel roads looking for access to tha right of way, no dice the land owners have fenced it all in at every crossing.

The new Metzeler Karoo knobies are stable to 80mph, quiet, and nice. The kick gravel rooster tails on the loose gravel roads quite well, shoving the tail around in a slide. :twisted:

Headed back home, the new temp guage quit working about halfway. Found out later the wiring couldn't take the zip tie I ulled tight on it.

165 miles total, the brick KTM seat is gonna kill my butt. :)

I think the bike is now ready for anything though, if I can stand to sit on that seat long enough. Gonna try the ole sheepskin on it tommorrow :chug:

WoodButcher

03-19-2005, 07:42 PM

I got out on my DRZ on the road for about a hundred miles today and have plenty of sympathy with you about the seat issue. I had fun on Lime Creek road, 1431, cow creek and back home on Nameless and 1431 again. Just beat the storm home. Almost no dirt this trip though.

Tx Rider

03-23-2005, 07:44 PM

Got my camera back today, took a couple shots of new large tank with my old graphics grafted on and a sweet touratech tail bag......

http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ktmstuff/rxctank.JPG

And the cockpit coming togethr with combination clock/water temp/oil temp guage and GPS....

http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ktmstuff/rxcdash.JPG

Tx Rider

03-26-2005, 07:54 PM

Nice rainy day wrenching on the KTM...

Added a radiator fan with a manual switch on dash.
Changed both oil filters, cleaned oil screen and magnetic plug.
Changed over to Mobil1 oil, diesel rated.
Added an oil temp sensor and guage, drilled and tapped hole for sender.
Reworked water temp guage sender.
Replaced broken speedometer cable.
Replaced thermostat.
Flushed cooling system and added antifreeze and waterwetter .
Drained gas tank, pressured with air and heated with heat gun to expand it a touch for more capacity and better fit.

All in all a nice day, rode around in the dark rain a bit.

I'll probably go drop a couple hundred miles on it tommorrow as it's supposed to be sunny and make sure everything is gonna hold. :)

Tourmeister

03-26-2005, 08:52 PM

Geez... wouldn't it have been less hassle and money to sell it and buy a new one? :-P

Adios,

Tx Rider

03-26-2005, 10:37 PM

Probably less hassle but all the tinkering keeps my mind off the cigarette urges, and I'm getting the thing set up to go for longer road cruises and commuting rather than just short hard dirt romps.

I don't really need digital temp guages etc., just gadget farkling. That and maintenance with the oil change and coolant flushing. The aluminum rads can corrode easily so I want to make sure I have good stuff in there.

Added a radiator fan as this model didn't come with one bieng meant for mostly offroad riding, something to keep things cooler if I get stuck in traffic.

And getting another bike as low mileage (700 miles), as good offroad with Ohlins/Marzochi suspension, brembo calipers and master cylinder, stainless braided lines etc. basically all top notch kit wouldn't be cheaper I don't think.

backspinnn

03-26-2005, 10:38 PM

Dynasport,

If you need a guide for the Chap trail some weekend, Dennis and I ride out there a good bit.

Merit is the place to start. Merit to Celeste, Ladonia to Wolfe City, and Wolfe City to Pecan Gap is the route I take. I bypass Celeste to Ladonia due to some really scary bridge crossings...

http://greengoose.smugmug.com/gallery/354204

I just fear death too much to attempt those.

fastmonstr

03-28-2005, 10:59 PM

I've been lurking here for a while. Too many forums to keep up up with, thumpertalk,ton, adv,ktmtalk and now this one.

Dyna Sport, you should hook up with us(and anyone else). We will be in Terlingua at the same time as Friday and his crew.April 13-17. That would be a great time to put that KTM to the test. We will put in 200+ miles a day, 95% offroad. I carry a towstrap if you need it :).

We will be staying at Terlingua Ranch.It is just a short cruise on the pavement(if you are staying in Alpine) for you to meet up with us and ride for the day.

Lets ride,

Matthew

Tx Rider

03-29-2005, 09:18 AM

I may do that for a day. What time of morning do you guys head out from Terlingua and can you send me GPS routes?

e-mail is killer@playnet.com

buck000

03-29-2005, 09:40 AM

Dear Dyna Sport,

:hail

That is all.

Tx Rider

03-29-2005, 10:18 AM

Sleepy Weasel

03-29-2005, 10:34 AM

BTW Matt, does that mean offroad as in off even unpaved road? As in trail that jeeps dont dare to tread?

Don't dare what?

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jim.white/Gilmer/111602/sleepywhatever8.jpg
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jim.white/Gilmer/031503/sleepyclydes3b.jpg
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jim.white/Gilmer/041203/colinnosedive3.jpg

Bandit33

03-29-2005, 10:48 AM

Dyna Sport, how did you remove the decals from the original tank and put them on the new tank? Did you just heat them up and carefully peel them up? May try that when I switch to the larger plastic tank on the DRZ.

By the way, I might be up for the extra off roading while I am down at Big Bend also, if I am not too exhausted from the rest of the riding. I plan on being down there the 15th thru the 17th.

Tx Rider

03-29-2005, 12:26 PM

Yeah I just heated em up and stuck em on with some 3m spray adhesive.

The adhesive I use isn't fuel proof but I'm sure you can get some that is.

I just wanted to check for fit mostly, I'm ordering up some new decals for it for the long term.

Bandit33

03-29-2005, 12:50 PM

Thanks, I may just order some new decals, or just leave the tank blank.

Tx Rider

03-29-2005, 12:56 PM

I couldn't stand it blank, it was either decals or hire Squeaky to paint it. :)

If my decals were in better shape I might have just used em and not ordered new ones, but they are pretty discolored already. I just have to be careful with the gas filling it up till the new ones arrive or they could come off out on a ride. :)

fastmonstr

04-07-2005, 01:04 AM

BTW Matt, does that mean offroad as in off even unpaved road? As in trail that jeeps dont dare to tread?

I was gonna wear street gear for the twtex ride, I just need to know if I need to break out the tech 8's etc.

We do occasionally ride some single track, but not much. Most of it is on 5th gear fire roads.

I would reccomend good offroad boots,kneepads,and chest protector, those rocks can break an ankle in a heartbeat. A good off road helmet as well to keep the dust out of you eyes.

I can loan you some gear if you need it.

Rocketman has a good list on how to prepare here:http://tinyurl.com/6d3st

We have 10 riders in our group so far. There are several newbies joining us on this trip.

As long as you can keep a 50-80mph pace on fast fire roads, you'll be fine. Your KTM if the perfect bike for out there. The V-Stroms and GS's would make it with proper tires and a slower pace.