Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a classic dirt bike for a while, something small and easy to mess around with. I finally found an old XR80, and man, it’s been a fun project. Here’s how it all went down.
Finding the Bike
First, I searched for local listing, checked, and called up a few sellers. I finally found one that seemed decent – an older guy selling his kid’s old bike. It was a bit rough around the edges, but the price was right.
Getting it Running
The bike was not in the best shape. It would not start. So I got it back to my garage and started tinkering:
- Cleaned the carburetor: This was the main culprit. It was full of gunk from sitting for who knows how long. I took it apart, soaked all the jets, and blew everything out with compressed air.
- New spark plug: Always a good idea with an old bike. I gapped it correctly and screwed it in.
- Fresh gas: I drained the old stuff (which smelled awful) and filled the tank with fresh, high-octane fuel.
- Oil change: The old oil was black and nasty. I drained it and replaced the filter to put some new oil in it.
After all that, I kicked it over, and it fired right up! It was running a little rough, so I adjusted the idle screw and the air/fuel mixture until it smoothed out.
Riding and Fine-Tuning
I took it out for a spin in my backyard, and it was a blast! The suspension was a little soft, so I cranked up the preload on the rear shock. The front forks could probably use some new oil, but that’s a project for another day.
Little Things
There were a few other minor things I took care of:
- Lubed the chain: It was dry and rusty. A good cleaning and some chain lube made a big difference.
- Checked the brakes: They were a bit spongy, so I bled them. Now they’re nice and firm.
- New grips. The originals are worn.
The Result
Now I’ve got a sweet little XR80 that’s perfect for ripping around. It’s not perfect, but that’s part of the charm. I have learned a lot and I had so much fun doing it. I’m already planning my next ride!