anyone have any good ideas to keep mud from collecting under neath the bike? I raced a mud race yesterday and my bike collected tons(well ok, many pounds), of mud, so I was wrestling a bike that weighed 1.5 times the norm, and that is too much for an old man that is out of shape..LOL
Get in better shape!:D James
If there is a Rain-X equivalent for mud that you can spray on your bike..I haven't heard of it.:)
With the twin downtube frames (my Six Day and MC5) I use lots' of duct tape above, below, and on both sides of exhaust. Another variation of this theme is to run duct tape from your gas tank down to the frame - we have a former nationally ranked Hare Scramble guy in our area that does this with his Can-Am. It's effective.
There are various suggestions, solutions for the controls on your bars..but in really muddy conditions...THEY HELP.
Of course, this just helps with these areas and does nothing for the rims, rear underside, etc.
Finally..since I do some MX races (i.e multiple races)..I have bitten the bullet and now have a HP washer (gas) and plastic tank/reservoir set-up for 2010. I have watched longingly at my fellow racers in the pits at some Mudfests as they sprayed their bikes down in about 10 minutes and were ready to go. When you go to a "modern" MX race in the Northeast, all of the kids/families have this set-up.
I know..it's only money. ;)
Bob,
I have a $1.99 solution that works fine and washes off easy afterwards. Get a can of PAM or Spray Olive oil. Does the job, its cheap and washes right off.
KD
Kevin J. Donovan
Foster, Rhode Island
72 Jack Piner (My Ride)
72 Six Day (Wifes Ride)
Thanks KD-that is what I was thinking-a teflon based spray-or something like pam where food does not stick to the frying pan..I will try that..
LOL, james I am working on that, I am not in bad shape, but the it490 I was riding-whew, when I crashed one time and was stuck in the mud-it took all I could muster to pick it up, then of course fell on the other side-all this in really sticky caleche(spelling of REALLY sticky texas mud) that was deep enough when the bike fell over the whole bark buster, grip, lever-all disappeared under the mud...then trying to kickstart that beast for about 50 kicks all the while with mud packed on the boots, bike, gloves, and everywhere else..oh yeah this was all after the throttle cable burned on the exhaust-of course the throttle stuck wide open and I am trying to ride it back using the killswitch, and going through creek crossings, mud puts, ruts about 14 inches deep, then when the kill switch did not work anymore we crashed spectacularly:D..Then I had to push about 1/2 mile to pits, fix the throttle assembly(new housing and cable, barkbuster...etc), the the aforementiuoned crash in the mud took place after all this...
WD 40 and armor all after washing the bike and WD 40 under fenders, on the frame, and on the engine on race day..
JC Hubbard
2008 KTM 250 XC
1985 Husqvarna WR 400
1984 Maico 250 SC
1983 Husqvarna WR 250
1979 Maico 250 GS
Harry Taylor told me to spray the whole bike down with WD40 after a good cleaning and then let it sit a few days. Next time you ride, the bike looks like new and dirt/mud doesn't stick near as well. The WD40 oil slick kinda goes away after a few days too so no wiping is needed.
Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS
Well there ya go...now didn't anybody mention PAM to me at my Mudder races? So..I modify my advice...duct tape, controls covers, and PAM.
And an HP washer for between the motos. [8)]
I recall seeing some interesting anti-mud efforts applied by Scott Summers to his big XR's. For example, he stuffed cheap, spongy foam (like from old couch cushions)into areas like between the frame and the engine cases (above the bash plate, or above the swingarm pivot). He also duct-taped what looked like nylon stocking material (don't laugh) between the frame tubes and even on top of his helmet.
The idea of course is to create a non-solid surface, one which mud either will not stick to, or will fall back off of. I have also seen foam sections placed into the cavities of shouldered, akront rims.
When all else fails, just be sure to take the deepest line through the water crossing each lap. Oh, and ride fast. It's a proven fact that the faster you ride, the less chance mud has to stick to you and the bike (at least that's what I am told).