400 Tips & Tricks | Part 34

Some riders add grip tape to their bike's side for leg traction. Others use access ramp grip decals available at home centers. Stompgrip makes cool and grippy traction pads.

Inspect your clutch basket and inner hub for notches. Notches will make the clutch drag and engagement feel "sticky."

When mounting an exhaust, put it on loosely then go from one end to the other snugging up the bolts. Front to back or back to front, both work.

Be careful clearing out a clogged jet; they can be easily bored out. Carb cleaner plus compressed air is ideal. A welding torch tip cleaner or frayed bit of a cable can help push out a piece of dirt.

"Having a lubed chain will actually give you more power. On the dyno we'll see it. We'll magically have another horsepower… When you come back in from a moto, throw it on a stand, and the first thing you do is lube that chain; it will be warmer and it will absorb that lube better." —Brian Kranz, Eli Tomac's mechanic

An air leak in your thumper's exhaust can cause popping on deceleration.

To put on graphics, prep old, scored, and scratched plastic with a razor and sandpaper. Prep new plastic with contact cleaner. Some people remove the plastic and lightly burn off the oily residue with a quick pass with a propane torch.

As your bike goes up a jump face keep your body perpendicular to the ground; the handlebar should come up to meet you on very steep jump faces.

Do not use oil with moly in it for your motorcycle's clutch. It's too slick.

After you've adjusted the chain and gotten the axle tightened, then snug the adjuster bolts' lock nuts back against the axle blocks.