Letter Rip!
As the official Letter Rip dude, I have one humble request. Will you all please stop sending us e-mails written in uppercase letters? On top of being a bear to transcribe, caps are typically used to signify yelling in the virtual world. Every time you are writing with the caps lock on, you are essentially yelling at me. I don't barge into your work and start shouting and screaming at you, now do I? (Unless you are the moron at Northwest Airlines who lost my gear bag last month.) So please, hold off on the uppercase, quit yelling so much, and let's all make the world a better place. Oh yeah, one more thing: LETTER RIP!
Send mail to drmail@primedia.com or Dirt Rider Magazine, Attn.: Letter Rip!, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. All letters may be edited at our discretion. Unless the planets align just right in the near future, we will still be too busy to respond to every letter. But you can bet your best pair of socks that we will read each and every one.
We Hate It When That HappensMy CRF230 has been running great. I have changed the oil and cleaned the air filter, and I have done all the right check-ups on it. But I rode through water a couple of weeks ago to get to my track, and after I got through, I couldn't get any power. I shifted from first to second, then kept on it all the way to fifth. I gave up because it didn't go above 7 mph and I didn't want to hurt it. I waited four days, then checked it again. It had the same problem, but now it was only in third and up. I checked it today, two weeks later, and now it happens fourth and up. I have no idea what the problem is or how to fix it. Can you please give me something to work with?-Charlie Spencer
It sounds like you have water in the airbox. Check to see if the drain-out hole is plugged. Water most likely got in the carb, so clean that, especially the float bowl and the air passages in the rear bell area. Use a good spray carb cleaner to force the condensation out of these passages. It would be a good idea to change the oil in the engine, too, because sometimes water can be pulled in through the case breather, but I'm pretty sure the CRF has a baffle that makes it difficult for the water to make it all the way to the motor. Good luck! -Jimmy Lewis
Too Tall?
I'm 11 years old and am big for my age-I'm about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 130 pounds. I currently ride a TT-R125, and I'm ready to step up. I'm getting a YZ85, but I need advice on how to make it a little taller for when I grow as I won't be buying another bike for a while. I've heard about a tall seat. Is there such a thing? And maybe custom suspension? Also, how much would a big-wheel kit cost? I'd really like a list of some things that will help. -Zach Jacobson
I'm not aware of any tall seat kits for 85cc machines. Most riders on 85s want the bike to be smaller, not taller. At 5 feet 5 inches tall, you are already what I consider too tall for an 85. A 125cc two-stroke or a 250cc four-stroke might be a better plan. If you are that tall at 11, I think it is safe to assume that you aren't going to get smaller. Take it from me! -Karel Kramer