For a motocross man, you seem to know very little about your motocross machine! Don't take this the wrong way, but you and your bike need a little quality time together. Your questions are too numerous, and even though I could take a stab at answering them, I suggest you first go and get a good shop manual. Yes, find it yourself. (Hint: Honda dealer.) Then read the whole thing, just for fun. Next, take your bike all apart and fix all the things you find wrong with it, which I suspect will be quite insightful as well as costly, but worth it since that bike can still be a solid mount. Do not think about a four-stroke and don't come near us when we test bikes, as your vacuum for knowledge may render us as dumb as rival magazine editors.-Jimmy Lewis
Keep It Real
Great mag! I honestly have seen improvement issue by issue since Lewis has come on board, though a very important part of the sport is lacking in your and other dirt bike magazines. Someone should cover, report and review realistic riding spots-not Costa Rica, Hawaii and the like, but places a family can go and ride for a weekend. Cover camping facilities, trail difficulties, restaurants, local machine support, etc. In my area we (me, my wife and two children, three KTMs and a Yamaha) ride Allegheny National Forest, Majestic and Mines and Meadows trails, and would love reviews of other areas. Every weekend we see many families riding at these spots, and I can't help but think that this part of the sport needs to be cultivated and promoted, not $15,000 250Fs. If magazines like yours promote and review riding areas so families will be more educated about where to ride, so many other issues of this sport will fall into place. For example, a 10-year-old boy or girl who spent weekends riding with his or her folks will be a lot more likely to support land-use issues as an adult. As this sport in my area is leaning more and more into pay-to-ride parks, we need magazines like yours to review these places for convenience, safety and all.
Paul Wurst
McKean, PA
I agree 100 percent that the local riding areas in the country need more promotion from the media. And I love your theory about younger riders becoming more involved with land issues as adults if they understand the value of a good riding area now. In today's world of shriveling budgets, we can't bounce around the country to all the riding spots (unfortunately). That sounds idiotic after reading a story about Hawaii, I know, but Jimmy actually went there on his own dime! And the Costa Rica story we did was on Yamaha's bill as part of a WR introduction. In reality, we rely on local riders to submit reports about local riding areas. The biggest hurdles we and most contributors face are issues with photos. Good photos are necessary for our magazine and website. So if you think you're up to it, write us a report of your local riding area and send it (with good photos) over! Maybe we can put some motivation into a Where I Ride section of the magazine and/or website. -Jesse
Where Is The Love?
Where did the two-strokes go and is there hope for them in the future? Your website and magazine should include articles, resources and support devoted only to two-strokes. Too much four-stroke!
Jeff
There are a lot of two-stroke fans here at the magazine, and you will see some good two-stroke content from us coming up in the magazine throughout the year. As for where these bikes went, people just stopped buying them. The manufacturers listen to their customers just like we listen to our readers (that sounds sarcastic, huh? Well, it's not, we listen, and they listen). If people start buying two-strokes, the manufacturers will surely keep making them. To be honest, the hope for two-strokes is more in your hands than in ours! -Pete Peterson
Used And Abused
I really enjoyed the articles in the January 2009 issue. I especially appreciate the Used Bike bit about buying an early-2000s CR250 and specific things to look for when buying that bike used. Not to mention the other articles you guys have done on that topic. You provide good info and a touch of reality that the rest of us have to live by. You guys have successfully shown that we in the sport can buy, be somewhat competitive, have fun and enjoy our sport while operating on a budget.
Matt
Please stop e-mailing us about this. I fear the day might come where I'll have to ride a bunch of clapped-out XR400s, some beat KTM 200s and a YZ125 that is currently seized. I like riding $12,000 bikes, or ones that cost at least that much in bolt-on parts. One new one a week and giving them back before the tires are worn much. Only so I can get a new bike with a fresh set. Just stop, I beg you. -Jimmy