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(94 votes) Published: Feb 09, 2008 7:50 p.m. Viewed 327 times
Then I have a solution for you. I know I’m not the only motocross junkie (actually, I’m technically a supercross junkie), as Ive noticed a few forum posts and a few older eggs deal with dirtbikes.
Dirtbikes, especially MX bikes, can be difficult. It is my opinion that they do this on purpose to punish you. So I have constructed this quick guide for you to get the upper hand. Sans pictures, because pictures for some of these methods can be misleadingly ambiguous. Also, they shouldn’t really be necessary.
First, I assume two things. 1, you have an offroad motorcycle that should run, and 2, you know the basics.
A normal cold startup consists of Kicking it over a few times with the choke or enrichment valve open, and if it doesn’t start after 3 kicks (or a few seconds with electric start) turning the choke/enrichment off. It should then fire right up. If it doesn’t, here are some things to try.
Part A: Getting it to start
1. Stand on something and kick it over harder. I kid you not, sometimes it just needs a little more umph to overcome the compression one extra cycle. Most electric starts have kickstarts as well. For those of you who would say "maaah, thats common sense you suck," so be it, but you know that most people lack common sense. This will also reduce the chance that if the bike bites you (kicks the starter back into your foot) you will sustain any injury.
2. Kick it over with the throttle open a little bit. This is especially helpful if it’s flooded. Letting more air in will lean it out, giving you more power when it fires. This does NOT work the same as giving your car gas in the morning to help it start. Pressing on the gas in your car ads gas. This ads air. Just to silence that tangent which I’m sure will still come up.
3. Bump start it. I advice you only do this if you know it will start. Find a hill, ride down the hill in neutral. Either walk your bike to the hill and jump on or hop over, whatever. When you build up some speed, pop it into 2nd gear and throw your weight on the rear tire. *Caution* the front end may jump off the ground when the engine catches and starts. Using second instead of first reduces the chance of this, and also reduces the chance of over-revving the engine. This works particularly well for dead batteries or if you’re just feeling lazy.
*I have done this using smaller bikes by just holding the handlebars and running along side. But there are many bikes that will just cause you pain if you try that.*
Part B: Keeping it running
1. First and foremost, if it starts to bog, give it gas. Don’t wait for it to die and think "Hm, it probably would have run if I had given it gas." When in doubt, just leave the choke on until it’s warmed up a bit. Four strokes are particularly nasty when they are cold, and often need the choke on for a good 30 seconds before the run right. Granted, they don’t actually have chokes, they have throttle enrichment valves. Poe tay toe poe tah toe.
2. Run around in a lower gear that you think you need. There is not faster way to safely bring an engine up to running temp. Leaning it out a little will be faster, true. But the extra heat can damage minor components like piston sleeves and spark plugs.
3. Make sure to always perform general maintenance. No Dur, right? But seriously. Make sure you have oil, lube the chain, check the spark plug, clean the air filter every so often and use good gas. It goes a long way to making sure your bike fires up every time.
Feb 10, 2008 4:50 pm - I had a mini bike until my friend (who cried to my mom because i wouldnt let him ride it!) crashed it into a ditch and the side of a barn!
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