HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tim@intrepid.gsfc.nasa.gov (Tim Seiss)
Subject: Re: springs
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 19:54:49 GMT

>What is an A-trak?


It's two brackets welded onto the swingarm at it's pivot point, one above
the pivot on top of the swingarm, one below the pivot on the bottom of the
swingarm.  There are small rollers (maybe even little sprockets) at the
ends of these brackets which the chain rides on.  The swingarm pivot and
the rollers above and below the pivot are colinear.
  
The purpose of the brackets and rollers is to keep the chain consistently
parallel to the swingarm through the wheels' travel.  The chain is always
the same tension and it's relationship to  the swingarm pivot never changes.

In a normal chain/rear sprocket configuration, as the chain is rotating
the rear wheel, their is a component of force parallel (or tangential)
to the swingarm (this is what moves you forward) and a component of force
perpendicular (or normal) to the swingarm, pulling the rear wheel down
towards the ground opposite to the direction it needs to move to go through
its' suspension travel.  So when the back wheel hits a bump, there is a
force pushing the rear wheel up into the shock absorber, while the chain
is supplying an opposing force trying to pull the rear wheel away from 
the shock.  A contradictory situation.

The A-trak attempts to eliminate this chain-induced normal force which
opposes the natural direction of motion of the rear wheel by keeping
all forces from the chain parallel to the swingarm and in the forward
direction that moves the bike.

I've never ridden an ATK, so I don't know how they work.

-Tim Seiss
From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: JT..top of my list!
Date: 22 Dec 92 08:38:24 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

In article <1992Dec22.024720.25727@spdc.ti.com>, baxter@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Baxter) writes:
> As most of you know, I'm begging for sponsors.  I received my first reply today
> from JT USA.  They are going to help me out.  This may well be one of my better
> X-mas'. One down, many more to go.  

  Just how many resumes have you sent out and to who?  Inquireing minds
  want to know. :-)

  By the way, I did see your name in the TEX-MX News.  They didn't give
  you a deserved write up but atleast you were in there for the last
  round at Mosier.

_________________________________________________________________________
mark frampton....O/30 NOVICE   |    I just broke a screw off into infinity.
X-Country?!? What next?!?      |      Anyone got a real long/short easyout?  
frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com    |    If you'll try it, I'll try next. NOT!
                               |  
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Landuse Mailing List
Date: 21 Dec 92 11:19:15 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility



   /*  Lots of Legal jargon deleted  */

  I guess I'm guilty of not paying more attention to public land use
  issues/wars.  In our part of the country most of our events (I assume)
  are held on private land.  Except for military bases (Kileen, Tx).
  Hence, I can't recall a naturalist group stand to be taken.

  In dealing with anti & control groups it is human nature to be
  closed minded and skeptic.  I understand Jeff's need to find a 
  compromise between users and controlers.  I can only hope that
  it will happen that way.  I also understand that the skepticism 
  is from the "Foot in the Door", syndrome.

  I probably have no place in this discussion, but would it be an
  unfair question to ask that, "If you give an inch, do you honestly 
  think that you would not end up losing a mile?".  I'd like to think 
  not, but I'm afraid so.

  Good luck..
From: mcclend@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Mike McClendon)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 16:23:07 GMT
Subject: Re: More winter riding concerns (MTBE)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt

I also noticed recently that pump gas doesn't smell like good 'ol gas anymore--
it really stinks!  So that's MTBE?

The various brands don't seem to stink equally, at least so far:  Shell is
so pungent you have to keep your face away from the tank when filling, while
Union-76 still smells normal, and Exxon is inbetween.

-- Mike

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: masys@nlm.nih.gov (Dr. Daniel R. Masys)
Subject: Re: EZ clutch
Organization: National Library of Medicine
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 01:06:49 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.114119.878@skitzo.dseg.ti.com> frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com writes:
>> to just use one finger on it.  Has anyone tried one of those EZ clutch
>> gadgets that puts a gear reduction in the clutch cable or any other
>
>  I saw one on a CR500 once. The guy was offering to give it away to anyone
>  who wanted to tryit. Evidently he was not impressed.  But how much could
>  you help a CR500 anyway?
>
Our "new" '88 CR250 came with an EZ clutch.  One of the CR afficiandos at the
local dirt shop was a little puzzled why one would need one of these gizmos
on a CR250, so we took it off.  The lever pulling force really seemed about the
same without it, and the lever travel between engaged & disengaged was sub-
stantially less.  Not a wonderful accessory, IMHO.

On this same subject, we (this we is my son & I) have noticed that the clutch
effort needed for our '88 is more than on the current generation of CR250's.
Did Honda change this, or should we be looking for clutch maladies?

Dan Masys
Red Rooster ReCRuit


Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: tim@intrepid.gsfc.nasa.gov (Tim Seiss)
Subject: Re: FMF pipe and silencer
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 14:35:44 GMT

Andy,
  Thanx for the comments about the FMF pipe/silencer.  I've been thinking
about getting one for my '89KX250, too.

-Tim Seiss
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: jjb@dtc.hp.com (Jim Brewer)
Subject: Re: CR500 and recreational riding -
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 20:18:08 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: HP Design Technology Center, Santa Clara, CA

In article <1992Dec21.083249.3097@peanut> andym@bvc.edu writes:
>Maybe that was in Clear Creek, CO?  Could the altitude have had an impact?

 Sorry, it was the Clear Creek Management Area (BLM land) near King City,
CA.  Altitude ~3000ft.
From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: technique
Date: 29 Dec 92 11:41:19 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

> One thing that makes this difficult for me, is the stiff clutch on my 
> bike.  I have to use two fingers to pull it in.  Either I'll have to 
> strengthen my fingers or get an easier clutch.  I'd like to be able 

  I noticed that your clutch feels like that of an open bike...

> to just use one finger on it.  Has anyone tried one of those EZ clutch
> gadgets that puts a gear reduction in the clutch cable or any other

  I saw one on a CR500 once. The guy was offering to give it away to anyone
  who wanted to tryit. Evidently he was not impressed.  But how much could
  you help a CR500 anyway?

> ways to get an easier clutch?  I've already put on a new Motion Pro
> cable, slid the lever in on the bars, and the clutch basket looked smooth.
> Do other brand pearches and levers give more leverage?

  I'm sure you have already made such an adjustment.... But look for a
  longer lever and work from the end of it or move your existing perch
  more closer to the triple clamp, that will get you out to the end of
  the lever.

  Wanna trade clutch springs? :-)
_________________________________________________________________________
mark frampton....O/30 NOVICE   |    I just broke a screw off into infinity.
X-Country?!? What next?!?      |      Anyone got a real long/short easyout?  
frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com    |    If you'll try it, I'll try next. NOT!
-------------------------------*-----------------------------------------
 For sale:  Bomber class special. 1986 RM125g with LCS cylinder mod.
            Recent P&R. Bottom end from MAC Racing. Eyecatching condition.
            Bought new in March 1989.  Gently raced :-).  Scott plastic
            boots and JT front and back. $950 cash neg. Sorry, can't ship.
            Reason for sale:  I need a 250 or open, BAD!
From: cooper@kdx200.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Story - "So THATS why they call it Enduro" (Long)
Date: 30 Dec 92 22:41:16 GMT
Reply-To: cooper@kdx200.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


I'll trade Colorado rocks for Red River mud ANY day.

The rocks are BRUTAL here!!
:-)


+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
                    Jeff Cooper - Cooper@KDX200.enet.dec.com
          Digital Equipment Corporation - Colorado Springs, Colorado

                            Thats *DOCTOR* KDX200"
                                   To YOU!!

President - DIGITAL Equipment Corp. Trail Riders Assn. (DECtrail)
Member -    Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit - AMA - MIDI Rack Puke

       No one cares about my stupid views and opinions, so why bother??
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver)
Subject: Re: technique
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 21:42:13 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.190900.12211@hubcap.clemson.edu> hubcap@hubcap.clemson.edu (System Janitor) writes:
>
>I have a properly adjusted EZclutch and a lubricated Terry Cable on my
>CR500, and I can tell you it is deluxe, practically as easy as my
>pal's 92 YZ250, and quite reminiscent of my 89 RM125. An EZclutch won't
>fall out of the package onto your bike, it takes some adjustment.

What kind of adjustments are there on it?  Once you have adjusted the cable
so that the clutch is fully engaged while the lever is released, that's 
about all you can do, isn't it?  Or is it a variable reduction in the EZc?

What's the cost of the EZclutch?

Andy
From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: springs
Date: 21 Dec 92 08:14:53 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

In article <1992Dec18.211512.26711@spdc.ti.com>, aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver) writes:
> In article <124510164@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> jld@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jeff Deeney) writes:
>>
>>With a stiffer front spring, you can push the front end into bigger holes
>>and bumps without worrying about bottoming.  With softer springs I worked a
>>lot harder to unload the front end for the big bumps.  This leads to
>>blistered hands.  As someone else mentioned, the drawback to stiffer springs 
>>is that they will hammer your arms and shoulders more on the chatter bumps. 

  So what about putting some gas pressure on the front forks?  Would that
  not stiffen the damping somewhat?

> 
> This is just what I wanted to hear.  You are describing my problems pretty
> good.  I find myself yanking back hard before big slams to try to unload
> as much as possible.  This takes tons of energy and leaves bilsters, 

  About the same boat.  I am used to trying to keep the front end 
  unloaded and try to carry it over chop.  Let the rearboinger handle
  it.  I might not tire so easily if I didn't have to work at it so hard.

>>I prefer a softer rear suspension to soften the blows on the spinal column.
>>For the smaller bumps where you are sitting down, you want a soft spring
>>anyway.  For the larger bumps, power can compensate for soft suspension.

  Something that Andy had pointed out to me that I'm now very aware of
  is that a lot of "cush" takes a lot of energy to stand-sit-stand-sit-stand-
  sit-stand-sit.........  My scoot corners fantasticly (mainly because I'm
  sitting on the pegs :-)  I'm willing to sacrafice a little just to get
  more endurance. So now I'm looking forward to adjusting the sag to 2.5"-3".
  Might even help me get a little more air without having to pray for a 
  little more acceleration.  I'm going to need it. The doubles get longer
  every year. :-)
_________________________________________________________________________
mark frampton....O/30 NOVICE   |    I just broke a screw off into infinity.
X-Country?!? What next?!?      |      Anyone got a real long/short easyout?  
frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com    |    If you'll try it, I'll try next. NOT!
                               |  

  BTW, sorry about the weather Saturday, Andy.  I know you wanted to roost
  real bad.  Promise I'll make it up to you.  Be sure and stop by Lucky's 
  and fill out an entry form for a $300 suspension mod giveaway. :-)

Framp..
From: ryang@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu (Robert H. Yang)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: KDX200 jetting
Date: 30 Dec 92 12:15:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: drycas.1992Dec30.171526.2810
Reply-To: ryang@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Organization: CMU Alumni External Account

Hi,

	I'm screwing around with the jetting on my KDX and I was wondering
what experiences you've all had.  I just now set it at the stock settings :
needle at #4, pilot 25, and main 320.

	Before I put the aftermarket exhaust & reeds on, it had a 310 main
and needle at #3.  It seemed to run a little rich, but that was on a rainy day.

	Most of the riding I've done on the KDX has been at around 50 deg F,
and "low" altitude.

	I notice that at idle it runs rich enough to ooze black slime
out of the muffler, even after the pipe & silencer change.  Maybe I'm just
worrying about nothing.

	When the needle was at #3 and main at 320, I noticed a flat spot
around mid-to-top range (?), but I still need to test ride it with the needle
at #4.  It seems logical to say that since the exhaust is now more free-
flowing, the carb should be jetted richer, but I'm not sure why it idles so
rich, as I haven't changed the pilot.  But if it's not fouling plugs, maybe
it's no big deal.

Rob
--
   Rob Yang (Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A) RYANG@DRYCAS.CLUB.CC.CMU.EDU
                          Systems Engineer
                 AMA 642916   DoD 0593   FSSNOC 1721
'92 CBR600F2 (Hon)   '79 XT500 (The Bitch)   '87 KDX200 (Moose)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver)
Subject: Re: CR500 and recreational riding -
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 16:32:01 GMT

In article <BzH4t8.FIM@news.dtc.hp.com> jjb@dtc.hp.com (Jim Brewer) writes:
>In article <1992Dec17.050301.24314@selway.umt.edu> mtrhead@selway.umt.edu (Josh Harmon) writes:
>>  Rear sprocket enlargement will lower 
>>your speed on logging roads, from 95mph down to 89mph (no I am not
>>entirely serious, fifth gear WFO doesn't occur much for me,  I am 
>>somewhat uneasy about power wheelies at 75mph!)
>
>  Just as an aside, a stock geared CR500 will go about 70 topped out.
>Last sunday I followed a friend of mine down a paved road (coming back from
>the bar at Clear Creek) on his '92 and he could only muster 70.

He should have shifted out of third!
From: donald@dvinci.USask.Ca (David Donald)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: springs
Date: 21 Dec 1992 14:26:06 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
NNTP-Posting-Host: dvinci.usask.ca

aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver) writes:

>What is an A-trak?

Hi, Andy.  Been following yours and Jeff's commentary on suspension, and while 
I don't have much to add about fork springs and such, I do know what an A-Trak 
is... 

Make by Horst Leitner (sp?) of ATK, it's a "chain torque eliminator"... somehow, through the use of two (three?) levers, it manages to maintain a constant 
amount of torque on the chain through the full amount of suspenion travel.
Apparently, it allows better traction to be maintained... I believe he
orginally made them for a few different kinds of bikes (Hondas?) but I haven't 
heard to much about them since ATK took off about 5 years ago.

Merry Christmas, everybody!!

-- 
David Donald - donald@dvinci.usask.ca	| "Get rich quick, or poor slowly."
Communications Systems Research Group	|		- R. J. Bolton, Ph.D. 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.	| (Who, incidentally, also spent some 
"The Great White North" (tm)		| time in the land of Oz...Coincidence?)
From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Tunes to Roost by....
Date: 31 Dec 92 14:08:20 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

In article <1992Dec28.230757.20259@spdc.ti.com>, aweaver@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Andy Weaver) writes:
> In article <124510170@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> jld@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jeff Deeney) writes:
>>You poor Texans.  The vast land of Texas, and no public lands to ride on?
>>Come out to Colorado for a trail ride.  Really, I'm serious.  Is anyone
>>interested in a 4-5 day ride in Colorado next summer?  You could return
>>home a shadow of your former self.

  Kind offering.  But I'm afraid I'll have to gracefully decline until I 
  can graduate.  But it does sound like something I'd like to go off and
  do.  Do you have to fool with jetting a lot?

>>  Of course I'll understand if you're too
>>busy racing to get out and enjoy yourself :-).   Mike Sturdevant is
>>planning a combination Mountain Bike/Motorcycle/Horsie trip to our great
>>state.  Come and see the XT Valdez.  You won't see him for long though.  
>>
> There is a break in the Texas cross country season for a month or so during
> the summer (something about racing 2+hours in 100+ temps), I guess that
> some people are just soft :)  This would be a good time for a moto-roadtrip.
> I'd love to go blastin around in the mountians.  I'd also like to haul
> my mountian bike up there to ride it down some ski runs.  Let's see if
> we can set something up.  Mike? Mark?

  Geeee.  I don't know man?  I'll bet he's trying to get us to drive all
  the way up there just so he can ......... "ROOST US"!  :-)

> 
> How far is it from Dallas?

  I don't even know what part of Texas that Colorado is in.  :-)

> 
> Andy
> 

Framp..
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: frankb@sad.hp.com (Frank Ball)
Subject: Re: More winter riding concerns (MTBE)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 00:25:50 GMT
Organization: HewlettPackardSantaRosaSystmsDiv,RohnertParkCA
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Mike McClendon (mcclend@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com) wrote:
& I also noticed recently that pump gas doesn't smell like good 'ol gas anymore--
& it really stinks!  So that's MTBE?
& 
& The various brands don't seem to stink equally, at least so far:  Shell is
& so pungent you have to keep your face away from the tank when filling, while
& Union-76 still smells normal, and Exxon is inbetween.

Chevron stinks pretty bad too.  I was in one station (forget what brand),
and they had a sticker on the counter by the cashier.  It said they add
7.? % alcohol to their gas.  This is about 1/2 the percentage people
in other states are reporting.  It said the EPA requires 2% oxygen in the
gas.

--
Frank Ball   1UR-M          frankb@sad.hp.com    (707) 794-4168 work,
Hewlett Packard             (707) 794-3844 fax,  (707) 538-3693 home
1212 Valley House Drive     IT175, XT350, Seca 750, '62 F-100, PL510
Rohnert Park CA 94928-4999  KC6WUG, LAW, AMA, Dod #7566, I'm the NRA.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: baxter@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Baxter)
Subject: Re: Getting to know the CR250
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:44:28 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.133827.25362@nlm.nih.gov> masys@nlm.nih.gov (Dr. Daniel R. Masys) writes:
>Well, I survived my first 30 minutes on a CR250, and had a good time.
>
>The main event was firing up the 250 CRitter--I let my son go first since
>he has no fear and heals quickly :-).  I rode as the safety chase as he
>took off down the trails.  Took about 15 minutes for him to make a mistake:
>adding some power to get through a puddle at the same time that he stood
>up on the pegs, the bike went vertical, and he exited in a sitting position
>landing on the sand.  The bike continued up about five feet, then executed
>a graceful hammerhead stall, and came down on its side about six feet
>away.  Reconfiguring the handlebars with an interesting new bend...
>My son was fine, since he and the bike parted company at relatively low
>speed.  He quickly acquired a case of Respect for the CR, and proclaims
>that it is the first bike he has ever ridden which "doesn't need more
>power" :-).

Remember to keep your foot on the rear brake while trying to carry the front
end thru or across anything.  One tap and the front comes right back down.  


>
>Now a question for the CR afficianados.  We changed the gear oil just
>before riding; the old oil had a silvery sheen which says to me that
>the gearbox is making metal.  Just after the ride (about 2 hours total)
>drained the gear oil again.  What went in as clear amber 10W40 came
>out as black stuff with silver sheen again.  My son says this is normal
>wear from the clutch plates.  Is this so?  Does this bike make metal
>dust every time you ride it?

Yes, it's normal wear from the aluminum clutch plates.  I suggest changing 
to steal plates when you replace the clutch.  10W40 motor oil is to heavy
for your gearbox and may affect your clutch action.  I have been using 
BEL-RAY 80W gearbox oil, but plan on switching to Dextron II transmission
fluid. like George C.  It's cheap and seems to work for others.  




>
>Anyway, as the Honda Christmas commercial says "Oh what fun it is to ride..."

Thanks Dan, you to.

_____________________________________________________________________________
DoD #359                    '91  CR250 |         Mike Baxter   
AMA #607249                      #P61  |              
TCCRA  #P61  "Team D."                 |      baxter@spdc.ti.com
Pro Class	                       |
Texas Cross-Country racing series      |   Texas Instruments, Dallas Tx.   
50 miles of off-road Hell (FUN)        |  
_______________________________________|_____________________________________
Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed above are my very own, becuase 
             if they were worth anything TI would patent them.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: baxter@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Baxter)
Subject: Re: EZ clutch
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 13:39:23 GMT

In article <1992Dec31.010649.3321@nlm.nih.gov> masys@nlm.nih.gov (Dr. Daniel R. Masys) writes:
>
>On this same subject, we (this we is my son & I) have noticed that the clutch
>effort needed for our '88 is more than on the current generation of CR250's.
>Did Honda change this, or should we be looking for clutch maladies?
>
>Dan Masys
>Red Rooster ReCRuit

The reason that the clutch action is stiffer on the '88 CR250 is that it has
more horsepower.  It's just like the difference between a Mustang GT and a 
Mustang 4-banger.  Every year the new bikes supposedly get a better clutch.
This means that it is easier to pull, doesn't fade as much as the previous year
model or both.  There are several things that you can do to improve your clutch
action. Here they are:

#1. adjust the clutch play.
#2. adjust lever position.  more leverage at the end of the lever.
#3. lube the cable. may need replacing.
#4. check clutch basket.  plates should not be digging into the basket, but if 
    so replace or repair it.
#5. clutch springs from a CR125 can be substituted, but clutch will wear
    faster.
#6. buy a Suzuki RM125.  It has a super easy clutch.



_____________________________________________________________________________
DoD #359                    '91  CR250 |         Mike Baxter   
AMA #607249                      #P61  |              
TCCRA  #P61  "Team D."                 |      baxter@spdc.ti.com
Pro Class	                       |
Texas Cross-Country racing series      |   Texas Instruments, Dallas Tx.   
50 miles of off-road Hell (FUN)        |  
_______________________________________|_____________________________________
Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed above are my very own, becuase 
             if they were worth anything TI would patent them.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt