Drake McElroy In The Denver Dew Action Sports Tour - Dirt Rider Magazine Online

Letter Rip!As the master and commander of our letters section, I am truly convinced that Dirt Rider has the best readers compared with any motorcycle magazine on the planet. Every month, you guys hit us up with thoughtfully technical questions, honest opinions, words of support and encouragement, solid suggestions and the occasionally brash but always entertaining Jimmy bash. However, I am curious about one thing: Why is it that no one bothers to include a bag of Jolly Rancher candies with his or her epistle? This would make letter-answering time so much more fun! Oh well, at least we still have cool readers. Letter Rip!Send mail to drmail@primedia.com or Dirt Rider Magazine, Attn.: Letter Rip!, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Letters may be edited at our discretion. And while we may be too darned slammed to answer all letters we receive, we will definitely read each one.Jimmy Slam of the MonthI have been a devoted Dirt Rider reader for close to 15 years now and have always loved your magazine, but I have recently begun to question this. Could someone please tell me what Jimmy Lewis' column was about in the August issue? There is a lot of babbling about his not being able to get his column in on time, whom to rag on, what consumed his time this month, his horn-tooting, etc. This man has a dream job as far as dirt bike riders go. But he is crying about having to write a short column having to do with dirt bike riding, and he has a problem getting it done. Cry me a river, Jimmy! I would hate to have your job-it sounds so rough. Let's see: You get to (1) ride new and trick bikes and (2) write about them. The last time I can remember enjoying reading the magazine's editor's column was when Ken Fought (Faught-Ed.) was editor (by the way, what happened to him?). He really knew how to connect with the readers, and I remember laughing out loud while reading his column-what a loss for DR.The other issue making me question my subscription is your website. I have been waiting ever since you ran the story on the CRF480 (500-Ed.) in the July '06 issue to see the list of parts and their prices that you put on the bike, but I still can't find it. DR seems to be falling apart at the seams, and I hope that it isn't so.-David Qualls, Hillsboro, ILThanks for the input, David. What was I doing all that time? Well, I was thinking up new story ideas while being pissed off 'cause I wasn't out riding. Sound familiar? It is a task of balancing work and play, and sometimes my work and play get confused and the column reflected that. If you think it is so easy, write me a Vent Hose! Sorry I can't fill Ken's shoes in your eyes. I don't know where he is, but you could try looking at go-cart tracks in the Corona, California, area-you might find him! As for the web issues, we were swapping through the whoops and have just regained control. Pete Peterson is at the helm, and you will see an improvement soon. Admit it: You just love to hate us! We do have the best jobs in the world! -Jimmy LewisTube TroubleAbout 10 years ago, I sent in my suspension to Race Tech and they called to say that I needed a new upper fork tube due to a rock dent. Four hundred dollars later, I had awesome Race Tech suspension; however, I still question the need for that tube.Last week, I took my suspension into a local Honda service shop since my fork has been leaking at the seals for some time. I have replaced the seals three times, and they still keep leaking. The shop called to say that I need a $300 lower fork tube. Wow, that sucks! Two in 10 years and I don't really ride that hard. I was wondering, since you test so many bikes and all of the staff ride all the time, how often do fork tubes need to be replaced? Do you see this a lot? I have fork-protector stickers applied. The bike comes stock with fork guards. What's up?-Kyle, Seattle, WAKyle, late-model lower fork tubes are very thin, since we all keep saying we want the lightest bike possible. I have seen a Showa tube dented right through the plastic fork guard. The tube does not have to be dented, though; it can just have the chrome messed up and it will need to be replaced. Stickers won't cut it if the upper tube takes a major rock hit, either. A 450 four-stroke throws rocks like bullets. I run super-thick ABS upper fork protectors from Dicks Racing (www.dicksracing.com; 916/722-2373), and one of those looks like it was shot with an arrow! I'm sure it saved an upper tube. If the lower tube was rock-dinged on the back, the dings came from the front tire throwing rocks at the back of the tube. In Seattle, you get that clay mud that holds rocks onto the tire until you get up to speed, and then they fly off and really smack the lower fork leg. Ouch! One of the neoprene-type fork guards for lower legs will end most of that damage. I use ones called Shock Sox (www.shocksox.com), and SealSavers (www.sealsavers.com; 951/244-6475) also has them. -Karel KramerThe Most Popular QuestionHow do you pick your test riders for the magazine? -Brandon GillespieThere are three major components to being a good test rider: First, you must be a good photo model. Second, you have to be extremely tuned in to the hows, whats and whys of a motorcycle's performance. And third, you have to drop everything and come running when we get a test bike and need your assistance. Having a job, girlfriend, other hobbies or even a life gets in the way. And best of all, it doesn't pay a cent. -Chris Denison