Semi-Noob, Now with a Ride!

[twerth]

I’ve been lurking here for a few years but haven’t been much of a contributor due to the fact that I didn’t have a bike. Years ago when I was young and immortal, I used to race motocross and always thought it was about as much fun as a person could have. Since that time, I’ve always kept street bikes in my garage, and I restore/customize old bikes as a hobby. I guess you can never really get riding out of your blood.

Now that I have kids old enough to ride, I’ve wanted to get back into the dirt side of the sport. I’ve been pressuring the wife on the issue for a few years, but she’s been less than enthusiastic. Then a few months ago, friends of yours bought a four-wheeler and a dirt bike to ride on their relative’s farm. They invited us out one weekend, and that turned out to be the tipping point. My son enjoyed it so much that my wife wasn’t able to withstand the combined force and finally gave us the official okey dokey.

I started shopping for some inexpensive used equipment that would fit our budget. I finally found a 1998 Honda TRX300ex for the wife and kids to ride and a 1990 DR350 for me. They both needed a little work, but for less than $2k, I was able to get both of them into good shape.

So, about a month ago, my son and I went to Oakland for a shake-down cruise. We had a blast! It’s all my boy could talk about for a week, and it was a great bonding experience. He’s hooked. Then a couple of weeks ago we packed up the family and our friends who got us stared and went to Finger Lakes for a weekend of camping and ORV action. We had perfect weather and the trails were excellent. We also took a few turns on the motocross track. I think that was my son’s favorite part, and it took my back to my glory days. However, I think my old ’83 YZ125 had better suspension than my DR. I don’t recall bottoming that hard (ouch!).

But it wasn’t all good. About half way through the last day I had a low speed crash. I got my front wheel caught in a deep rut on a steep downhill and dropped the bike on myself. I didn’t know it at the time but I broke two bones in my right foot, one a compound fracture. It hurt a little but I finished the day, even took a few more laps on the track. I can’t imagine kick starting that pig was good for it though. Also, on the way back to camp on our final outing, my bike died and I had to be towed in. It’s not getting spark, but I haven’t identified the culprit yet. I guess there’s no hurry since I’m out of commission for a few more weeks.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello, and I hope to run into some of you (pun intended) on the trails in the spring. I know a couple of the forum members, and the rest seem like a pretty good bunch.

[Hayden]

Hey, welcome. Cant go wrong with an ol DR 350. Its a great start and a fun bike to chase the kids around on. But be careful with this bunch of hoodlums on here. They will have you bleeding Orange in no time.

Hayden.

[twerth]

But be careful with this bunch of hoodlums on here. They will have you bleeding Orange in no time.

Hayden.

Only if I'm lucky!!

[twerth]

I had a little spare time today, so I tore into my bike to try to find out what was causing my lack of spark. First, a little background is in order.

When I bought the bike, the kick starter return spring was broken. It was pretty easy to fix, and while I had the engine cover off, I tried to find the piece that had broken off. I couldn't see anything, and I even fished around with a magnet but couldn't fine it. I figured it had lodged itself in a safe place or better yet, had been flushed out in a previous oil change.

Wrong!! That little half inch nub of spring made its way into my rotor and tore the hell out of my stator and put a couple of nice gouges in the rotor. Looks like I'm in the market for some new parts (pff!). I think I can get everything off ebay for about half of what I paid for the bike in the first place. You can see the damage to the stator windings and the rotor in the Photobucket pictures below. The screwdriver is pointing to the culprit in the first stator photo.

I was wondering though, if anyone has a rotor puller I could borrow. I hate to pay $40+ for something I'll hopefully only use once. This is getting expensive fast enough as it is.

[tcarlgren]

There was someone selling a 91 DR350 on craigslist a few weeks back. If memory servers right the were asking $300 and it had some top end issues. I think I might have written down the # if that would be of interest.

When you get back up and running look me up as I'm at I-29 and 64th Street and always looking for like minded folks in the area to ride with.

Good luck with the repair.

Todd

Found that add.
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/2621111390.html

[twerth]

Thanks for the lead, Todd. I was able to get a used stator and rotor for ~$75 total, a lot less than I initially expected. Just waiting for the rotor to come in the mail, so I might have it back up and running this weekend. Too bad, I've still got three weeks left with the boot on my broken foot

On a separate subject, Todd. Does your wife teach at Hawthorn? If so, my kids know her.

[tcarlgren]

Yes my wife does. Heal up and we will have to get together to ride.

[twerth]

My new rotor showed up last weekend, so I slapped it back together and it started on the second kick! I'm still a couple of weeks from healed, but I might need to get the DR out for a little bit this weekend. Whoo Hoo!

[Bob Morgan]

When you get back up and running look me up as I'm at I-29 and 64th Street and always looking for like minded folks in the area to ride with.

Good luck with the repair.

Todd

Hey Todd, have you been saving your money so you can up-grade to the DRZ?

I haven't put it back to stock yet.

We need to get out one more time before the snow flys !!

[tcarlgren]

Somehow my DRZ fund keeps getting whipped out with diaper purchases. Perhaps a ride is in order for next weekend, if the weather will hold out. I got tied up with other things this weekend.