Used Dirtbike Maintenance
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    This is Wyatt here, and I finally sold the TTR and bought a used 2007 CRF250R. I am wondering how to maintain this bike and how to improve the performance. The bike has been sitting for a while, and when I rode it it had a slight bog when going from idle to full throttle. I'm thinking its the combination of old fuel and the jets might be a little dirty. Also, I need to set the suspension for my weight and I really need to know how to do that.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    I thought the 07 was fuel injected
  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,823
    Nope
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    Put some seafoam in it
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    I would take the tank off clean it out put gas back in it with seafoam or clean the carb, change all the fluids on the bike and both filters, I would do that asap
  • NZriderNZrider
    Posts: 5,086
    do the old honda a/p mod. should help get rid of the bog
    *********************
    Winning is 90% rider and only 5% bike, the rest is luck
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Alright. The tank is almost out of fuel and I put some ethanol equalizer and some seafoam in it, so im just gonna let it run out and then put new premium gas in it. And there is a loud whirring noise coming from the cylinder i dont know if thats normal or what, it sounds like the timing chain. I'm not used to the sound of racebikes so i wuddnt know.
       
  • CRWOODS
    Posts: 450
    Has it ever been rebuilt? Market is full of 4 strokes due for a rebuild.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Nope. never riden for more than 60 hours though.

  • CRWOODS
    Posts: 450
    When does the manual suggest a valve check?
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    He already checked the valve clearance recently. It starts on one kick and it runs steadily. Just a loud whirring sound i haven't heard on a trailbike.


  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    I have a 2012 crf450r should it be the same as his? the owners manual says for competition use only, their suggestions is if you're using for competition
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    Let me look in book, there's a troubleshoot section
  • CRWOODS
    Posts: 450
    A whirring sound@60hrs on a race bike would concern me
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    So it's lacking power,bogging
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    not lacking any power at all, it used to bogg a bit, but i think i fixed it by improving the old fuel.

  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    did you turn idle up
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    It only whirrs really loud when i rev it or when the choke is on and its idling fast. And i never messed with the idle adjust.


  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,823
    4 stroke mxers make that noise. It is kinda skeery
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,823
    Think of all the moving parts inside the 4 st engine
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    It says could be,faulty ecm,faulty ckp sensor, dirty not clean frequently enough air filter, meaning sucked in dirt, camshaft, faulty plug, faulty ignition coil, remove and inspect the cam Lube height,valve timing, ignition timing,faulty regulator/rectifier,faulty condenser, exhaust valve,,,,,,,,,,,,that's the troubleshooting for what you described in hand book
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Ya your right, i'm still a beginner, this is only my second bike. Can you tell me how to set the suspension for my weight?
     
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    Turn it up a little see what that does
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    @sean Almost all of that has been checked.

  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    I had 20 bike n im a beginner man,I dont like working on new bike, it has mad sensors, is fuel injected I dont like messing with it, does your bike take two different oils? Tranny right side motor left side
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    Ok im trying to help turn idle up
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Aight. The previous owner says i has been set for 180lbs

  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    the suspension usually is set for just under 200lb,s how much you weigh
  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    You probably just need to release the air there's a air pressure screw on the side, Titan the dampers all the way up,then come down one click intill your happy with it
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Its still got a carb. but its got a accelerator pump in it, and yea honda recommends 10w-30 in the motor and 10w-40 in the tranny. 
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    There is some sag when i let it off the bike stand but its stiff when i ride.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    135lbs

  • sean
    Posts: 3,670
    I use 80/85 Honda pro gear oil in tranny and 10/40 in motor.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Having some trouble bleeding the brakes, any tips?

  • CORNDOG
    Posts: 4
    As far as suspension set-up goes...you'll need to set the sag. This requires two people  First, you need to put the bike on a stand with both wheels off the ground. Measure the distance from the rear axle to a spot on the rear fender(mark this spot with masking tape and marker).  Then, remove the stand allowing the bike to rest under it's own weight. Use a tie strap to hold the bike upright.  With all of your riding gear on, you now need to stand on the foot pegs in riding position with hands on the handlebar, Have a friend re-measure distance from rr axle to same spot on rr fender. Should be 100mm/4in shorter. If it isn't, you then need to adjust the spanner nut on the rr shock. then re-measure. If you still can't achieve 4 inch sag, you'll  need to change the spring rate. Hopes this helps.          
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,282
    Brake bleeding


    Whirling sound is normal (I think) just the sound of Cam chain Cam and valves moving around. Never hurts to check valves. I never trust previous owner when they said there recently checked. If u know ur selling sumthin and its running what would be the point of tearing into a vehicle. They always say that. I actually got to check my quad valves this weekend .....pita.

    Btw the brake bleeding method is how I do it. They sell 5$ tool at advanced auto that works like what they have with clear tube and a bottle. I can completely flush a brake line an have rock solid lever in like 15 min.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Thanks for the advice guys. I set the sag on my bike which was already normal to start with, and finally got the brakes solid and the fluid completely replaced. I used a vacuum pump bleeder to do it. And yea, i wasn't used to the noise of the bike, being that this is my first race bike. How often do i have to have the engine looked at? I know i have to check valve clearance and stuff like that, but when do I have to replace components of the engine?

  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,282
    Only replace parts when they run past there wear limits. Manual goes into great detail how to check each individual part.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Alright.

  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    There is a problem with the front brake handle, i can pull it all the way to the handle bar. We already replaced the brake fluid in the bike, and bleeded it with a professional vacuum pump. And the other thing is the front forks are super stiff only when I land jumps and not when im riding. What should i adjust?
     
  • Mark47mxMark47mx
    Posts: 1,889
    If you feel like you have pressure in the brake line check your front brake pads as they wear you will get more pull at the lever  If you have bleed the brakes and the pads are fine the the master cylinder may need a rebuild.
    If your forks feel stiff on landing try adjusting the compression both softer and harder.  I would recommend setting the compression in all the way  (soft) ride a lap take some metal notes adjust the compression 2 clicks harder and go for another lap. keep doing this until you find a setting that lets you ride the track comfortably wright down how many clicks from soft you are then continue one click at a time until the suspension feels hard wright down that number.  This is your adjustment range once you have a soft and hard setting you can adjust within that to meet the track conditions.
    As you get faster you may want to rework this range you typically find that the faster you ride the stiffer you will need the forks.
    You should use full travel on the forks on bigger landing but it should feel smooth and controlled.  If if just feels hard on big landings it could be set to soft causing you to bottom hard
    .
    .
    Colorado

    2006 RM-250
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    I adjusted the brake lever farther away from the handlebars but the handle still feels super spongy. The brakes still have lots of pad left. And gotcha, the manual goes into detail about suspension adjustments. i will adjust the suspension thoroughly at the MX track next weekend. Looks like I'll be buying a master cylinder rebuild kit. Should i get new springs in the forks? 


  • Mark47mxMark47mx
    Posts: 1,889
    Use this spring rate calculator http://racetech.com/ProductSearch/1/Honda/CRF250R/2007 it is a good resource.
    .
    .
    Colorado

    2006 RM-250
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Alright thanks. That helps alot. Dad rode my bike and said the front brakes were fine, but even when putting all my wieght on the tank and pulling the front lever to the bars still no stoppie.
  • gearman
    Posts: 119
    You need to bleed the air off the front brake line. We have own many CRF 250 Hondas from 2005 to 2008 and the best way (and cheapest) to reduce the infamous "Honda bog" is to lean or drop the needle one notch. The forks also build up a lot of air becoming stiff, bleed out the air by unscrewing the bleed screw on top, or get some aftermarket bleeders. Adjust your rear sag to 4 inches, and back out the high speed compression (red nut on the side of the shock) one turn. We left the other adjustments stock and worked fine. Also check the engine oil (left side) every ride, all CRF 250 seem to use a little bit. On the tranny side we always used ATF Type F oil (750 cc), and it worked great, never had clutch issues and shifting was smooth.
  • Wyatt263
    Posts: 46
    Sweet thanks for the info. I release the air after every ride, and alright I'll work on the bog. One other thing, I have to kick the bike at least 200 times to get it started when its cold, and backfires a few times when starting, but when started it idles steadily and runs great.
  • gearman
    Posts: 119
    To start the bike cold, turn the choke on, give it gas by opening the throttle about 5 times then it should start with 1 or 2 kicks.

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