Service
Service
RAY NIERLICH
ADV LITE PROJECT
Q: I recently purchased a 2017 CRF250L Rally. I’m truly in love with this bike. However, the 250 engine isn’t quite enough. I was wondering if you could recommend a custom shop that could bore out the engine to a 350, add some much-needed suspension performance, and turn this bike into the lightweight adventure bike it’s pretending to be.
My intentions are twofold. First, I’ve always wanted a custom bike that could grace the pages of Cycle World (like the Yamaha DT-07 Street Tracker). Second, I’d like to show the Big Four what they should be building: a lightweight dirt-bike-based adventure-touring bike.
ART SERNA
CYCLEWORLD.COM
A: The $4,999 Honda CRF250 Rally is a stomping deal, but we are more than happy to lead you down the rabbit hole to spending more money. The CRF engine is borrowed from the CBR250R, with some changes for its dual-sport role. A Dynojet Power Commander is the simplest upgrade like-minded folks should do. But you sound serious, so for you Takegawa makes a “Hyper Bore Up 305CC” kit that includes a new 84mm cylinder, 13.0:1 CR forged piston, sport cams, and FI controller. As of this writing it’s about $870 but will need installation by you or a qualified mechanic.
As to suspension improvements, Dan Kyle at Kyle Racing that the stock CRF250 Showa suspension bits are a decent kit. Upgrading to Ohlins components would allow for the best tuning to your weight and usage (kyleusa. com). Be careful—peering down the rabbit hole you may easily spend more than if you just cheated and traded up to a WR250R ($6,699 MSRP) or even a Husky or KTM 350 ($10,499 and $10,399, respectively). But do it anyway because we want to see what you come up with.
NOISY NINJA
Q: I own a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300. When I am on the throttle, I hear a whistling-squeaking noise. When I let go of the throttle, it goes away. Wondering what that is? Is it a big concern?
SHAWN BALON CYCLEWORLD.COM
A: Go back and look at whatever was the last thing you had apart. Modern bikes are super good, so chances are you or the last mechanic left something amiss. My best guess is your air filter or airbox is adrift.
FUELING DOWN UNDER
G’day from Australia! My query concerns a desire to put a carburetor on my XB Buell so that I might ride without all those sensors interfering with things. See, I’m not up with the computer side of these neat bikes, and since Harley-Davidson flushed Buell away, its dealers seem uninterested in dealing with us Buellsters.
Harley-Davidson also doesn’t seem interested in releasing software to blokes like me so that we might try to work issues out ourselves, alas. So, Cycle World, could you help with info regarding putting a carby on my Buell or perhaps tell where I might source software allowing me to work on my bike?
Yeah, there are six XB Buells in my shed, and my two sons have three more.
BRUCE LINNELL AUSTRALIA
A: Fitting a carb would be a big step backward. Those sensors aren't interfering with anything and in fact help the bike run its best from cold start at sea level to high altitude and at any reasonable temperature. Fuel-injection, in general, will allow an engine to make more power and use less fuel. The XB also uses a downdraft intake, so fitting a carb would be tricky. The OE Dynamic Digital Fuel Injection (DDFI) was reliable and worked well. Direct Fink Software from technoresearch, com allows ECU tuning. There are also a number of add-on tuners!
WHEEL-BEARING WOES
Q: My 2013 Harley-Davidson has 30,000 miles on it. Recently I felt a sudden violent shimmy as the rear wheel began to wobble from a worn bearing. I have friends who have 100,000 miles on their HarleyDavidsons with the original bearings. On Facebook, others tell me they change them every other tire change as part of routine maintenance. What would you recommend?
PHIL CENCI STATEN ISLAND, NY
A: You don't mention if you pressure-wash your motorcycle, but if you do, stop now and never do it again. The vast majority of wheel bearing “failures” are due to corrosion caused by water forced past seals into bearings. On recent models, HarleyDavidson recommends checking wheel bearings for play or roughness at every 5,000-mile service. You certainly may replace them every other tire change (your mileage may vary), but given proper checks, why not save money and effort by continuing to use perfectly serviceable bearings?
A SIMPLE QUESTION
Q: I have one of those Chinese 15OCC scooters. I rode it about 40 miles and did the first oil change myself. I put in too much oil, right up to the very top. Now the scooter won't start. Did I screw up the scooter?
ELISHA BLOCK CYCLEWORLD.COM
A: It’s likely to be hydraulically locked by excess oil. Your best bet is to drain the oil and refill, using the right amount. If you don't have a manual, the oil volume is sometimes shown on the engine casting near the filler.
