Helmutt

Herpy Berfday!!!

Now THAT'S how you scrub in a tire.....'Murica!

I recall tv news blowing up over the blizzard of '78. I was 4 going on 5 at the time.

Make it live again!

I dont know all the fancy dancy lingo like you hardcore bikers! I tossed it up while at work earlier, I had to thumb through the books that came with it when I got home....couldn't remember exactly what was what on it LOL. Still don't know THAT much about it, but was told repeatedly it was really good equipment back when it was new.

Wish you weren't so far away, I'm considering selling my Diamondback X6 DBRseries....really need a hardtail since I'm not in the dirt much. 1 owner, I bought it new in '00 and will provide all paperwork, manuals/booklets for each component, even the sales receipt if you want it. The bike is still all original, could use tires eventually but these still grab soil pretty well. Hasn't been used much for the last decade until recently when the wife and I started biking the local city path again....still rides silky smooth. It's a large frame size, and was professionally setup when I'd first bought it, but I've never used this bike remotely close to it's full potential. $300obo? Wheels and Tires Hubs: Formula disc Rims: Mavic X223 Disc Tires: 26 x 2.25inch Geax Sedona Spokes: Stainless steel, 2.0mm Components Brakeset: Shimano Deore XT Disc Brake brakes, Shimano Deore XT Disc levers, Magura HS 55 Louise hydraulics. Shift Levers: Shimano Deore LX RapidFire SL Crankset: Shimano Deore LX, 22/32/44 teeth Pedals: Wellgo clipless Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-ES70 Rear Cogs: 9-speed, 11 - 32 teeth Seatpost: Thomson Elite Saddle: SDG Comp Satellite Handlebar: Koski butted Handlebar Stem: Koski Headset: Tange Seiki DX-2 Fork: RockShox Judy Race Hydracoils Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Adjust

Suffering through some rehab is a small price for a new lease on life....that's stellar news. Welcome back John

That's great to hear! Welcome back John!

Awesome. Hopefully he stays on the mend and comes out just as functional as before.

Well, add the wife and I to the list of quitters. Her Mom is now scheduled for knee replacement surgery that weekend, so Jen is heading to TN to help out around the house the whole week. I'm trying to get more time off so I can go as well, but we're definitely out for this....sucks, but family is always first. You all enjoy and speed safely!

Being this bike is going to be a completely different feel to you Jim, there's really no bad choices outside of Shinko and ContiMo's. I've seen guys run good pace at trackdays on Angel ST/GT, and I'd done my first trackday on my ZX14 using Dunlop Roadsmart 2's. You'll be fine with most all options listed, just pick one and go with it. You've got some adjustment time with the bike anyway, and most all of the tires recommended will be confident inspiring enough while you adapt. I pick the Pirelli Angel GT's over the Roadsmart 2's.....but haven't tried the new RS3's yet to know if they're any better. Let @RidersDiscount hook you up for now, then once you're more savvy on the FZ....tire swap for something more befitting your style next year?

Thanks for the update @DerekClouser, and thanks @whaler for taking time to check in on John. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

Happy the damage wasn't worse Tim. Obviously could've been much worse. Hoping that was the only glitch for this mission

Horrible to hear this. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Hopefully he pulls through this ok. Will watch for updates here.

I was hoping to break that trend and get through it with minor drippage, even took my sweet time, but the cartridge cover gasket dilemma had my OCD pinging bigtime since I'd torn the old one, did a little anaerobic sealant rebuild on it, reinstalled....THEN I found the spare you gave me. Which, in "anal bastard" is code for tear it down and replace it again LOL....so by then, all my fucks were used up and I got careless with cleanliness Hit me up once you get to the track man, wife and I will be there all 3 days

@2fat2fly

I believe KTM did this to allow a smaller crankcase on the old bigbore. Not sure the later model SMC's share the same design or not, but I'm not a fan - just more leak points in my opinion.....but I only have to change it every other season, so it's not a deal breaker

Nice little couples adventure - thanks for sharing B

If he's running recaps on that bike, he got what he deserved

This was my maiden voyage with KTM, and my first rodeo with a bike that uses a frame oil bag setup, but it's the burping process that made the mess. It's totally my fault it happened since I didn't actually measure the oil amounts, so I'd put in 1/10 quart too much into the system.....but I'd assumed it would work it's way out during the burp....and that it did, all over the floor LOL. I was lucky that the po gave me surgical tubing to make it easier to fill/burp, but my inexperience was the key part of this messy puzzle. Next time will be much simpler for me, but it's good to know that this isn't just an orange bike design.

FINALLY got to the oil change interval on my KTM Saturday. Made a huge fucking mess. Those silly kraut engineers decided to use the frame's breast bone as an auxiliary oil tank/cooler so the engine case is only responsible for a quart. From what I gather the common practice for most owners is to burp at least half a quart during the initial process before learning how to do it cleanly. Oh well, she's up and running clean again

Nice adventure. Too bad you had to do it all solo, but that probably makes even more adventurous. Thanks for the share

Welcome to the forum - and nice Trophy

Not to beat a dead horse, and this is mainly aimed at new riders here.....but anyone looking to extend their skillset SAFELY......seriously, take in a couple trackdays. Sure, it can be expensive, but the lessons learned on a prepped race surface with medical staff on site....priceless. And those techniques can translate to street riding WITHIN REASON. Speeds on the street should never compare to the lap times you managed to turn at MidO or the like.....but some of the TECHNIQUES can be used to keep you at a safer level than just trying to keep up with a much faster group.