My son is almost 7. Been on his 2001 XR50 for over a year. The last 4 times I've taken him riding, he has spun 5 tubes. At first I thought it was some burr or sharp edge near where the valve pokes through the rim, but there is nothing there and the entire rim in now got a layer or 2 of duct tape. Last ride, same thing, after a little bit, he gets a flat and the valve stem is at an agnle.
Is there a way to put a rim lock on his wheel? He likes to jump and I'm thinking it is when he lands that it is spinning, but he's not very heavy and not going too fast. Am I the only one with this problem? Anyone else getting flats?
XR50 Getting flats every time we ride
Started by
krook250
, Mar 06 2012 11:34 AM
17 replies to this topic
Posted 07 March 2012 - 07:52 AM
Don't jump an XR50. It's time to upgrade to a bike that can handle that kind of abuse. My first instinct would be your pressure is too low, that's what's causing the tire to spin on the rim and the angled valve stem.
You could add a rim lock, but I don't see the point, your effort is better spent researching and obtaining a bike suited to the rider. At seven, unless he's really short, he's practically outgrown the bike anyway.
You could add a rim lock, but I don't see the point, your effort is better spent researching and obtaining a bike suited to the rider. At seven, unless he's really short, he's practically outgrown the bike anyway.
Edited by Smacaroni, 07 March 2012 - 07:53 AM.
Posted 08 March 2012 - 06:26 AM
you fix that problem with a kx65, if you don't know what that is, it's a green part you buy and put under your kid's butt to help him become an accompished rider 
Sounds like your boy is moving to the real bikes, I remeber when my boy was 7, in that summer he went from a crf50 to a 70 to a kx65. first ride on the kx and he never wanted to ride a crf again.
He's 12 now, and an accomplished little racer, racing 3 classes this summer, going to be a busy little man.
Sounds like your boy is moving to the real bikes, I remeber when my boy was 7, in that summer he went from a crf50 to a 70 to a kx65. first ride on the kx and he never wanted to ride a crf again.
He's 12 now, and an accomplished little racer, racing 3 classes this summer, going to be a busy little man.
Posted 09 March 2012 - 05:58 AM
true...upgrading to a different bike is a choice but many people ride modified CRF/XR50s and never spin tubes...I have many and never a problem and even have motors more powerful than stock....a rim lock will work fine.....run correct air pressure to ensure no pinching....if your son is jumping the bike, investment in a higher quality rim and spokes should be on the agenda
Posted 10 March 2012 - 10:08 AM
Check to make sure your spokes are tight. On the CRF50 they are real light duty and it could be that you are getting some spokes that may be moving around.
Posted 14 March 2012 - 09:51 AM
we raced our CRF50 a couple years back and after every moto i had to change out a rear tube, because my boy was jumping the bike so hard. even after a rim lock, we would still get blow outs no matter what we did. so after each moto, i knew as soon as the bike came in, i was tearing the back wheel off.
Posted 14 March 2012 - 10:01 AM
Where is the hole in the tube? is the stem torn out because the tire went flat first? Check the inside of the tire, really get in it and look for something poking thru. Maybe a thorn or a piece of wire.
Posted 20 March 2012 - 08:47 AM
thanks guys. I had started a thread in here a while ago asking about upgrading his boingers because the size fits him well but he's jumping the bike too much. I was directed towards a klx110, took him to sit on it and it was too big. The kx65 is cool, but I would prefer a bike without a clutch. He is 6, turning 7 on 3/30. I hear the little mx bikes require a lot of wrenching, ie, the ktm clutches go, etc.
I will check the spokes tonight and see if anything is up, but I've given the wheel a pretty thorough check before I mounted the last tire.
Shorty, I feel like you, I know every time I send him out, he's coming back with a flat.
I guess I will look for another bike.
I will check the spokes tonight and see if anything is up, but I've given the wheel a pretty thorough check before I mounted the last tire.
Shorty, I feel like you, I know every time I send him out, he's coming back with a flat.
I guess I will look for another bike.
Edited by krook250, 20 March 2012 - 08:48 AM.
Posted 21 March 2012 - 02:53 AM
we put my boy on a 65 at 6 yrs old.
kids pick up the clutch real quick. they only use them to start and stop. being on the CRF50 will help them pick up shifting faster once on the 65cc, since they are already used to shifting.
kids pick up the clutch real quick. they only use them to start and stop. being on the CRF50 will help them pick up shifting faster once on the 65cc, since they are already used to shifting.
Posted 21 March 2012 - 08:54 AM
clutch should be the least of your worries, Shorty is right about kids picking that up fast.
The KX65 is a very relaible bike, just re-ring every 30-40 hours and replace piston every 60-80max, everything else generally lasts a long time with poper maintenance.
The KX65 is a very relaible bike, just re-ring every 30-40 hours and replace piston every 60-80max, everything else generally lasts a long time with poper maintenance.
Posted 21 March 2012 - 09:17 AM
And when the big end bearing goes, it's not anywhere near as bad as I expected it to be to replace it. But take it from me, buy a case splitter, making one myself worked, but it was a lot more work than I expected since I don't have the ability to harden steel... yet.
Posted 21 March 2012 - 10:16 AM
alright fellas, I will check out a kx65. I assume based on your comments that I will wrenching on a kx65 less than a ktm. I was also looking at the ktm 50 sx junior or senior, but I hear the clutches are a s.o.b. and lots of the CL ads for then say, "needs clutch"
Posted 22 March 2012 - 03:06 AM
krook250, on 21 March 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:
alright fellas, I will check out a kx65. I assume based on your comments that I will wrenching on a kx65 less than a ktm. I was also looking at the ktm 50 sx junior or senior, but I hear the clutches are a s.o.b. and lots of the CL ads for then say, "needs clutch"
if you are looking at 50cc KTMs find the newer models. they have far less clutch problems than the pre 09 models. either way you will dump money into them hand over fist. we were at least $100 into the bike each time he threw his leg over it.
depending on what he wants to do, would determine what bike he could use.
once in the 65cc class, your beer consumption goes down ten fold from the 50cc's.
the KX65 is super reliable and is like old faithful. although it lacks a few features the KTM has, it still makes a great starter and race bike.
the KTM 65 is fairly low maintence as well. however it will require a little extra maintenance than the KX.
Posted 22 March 2012 - 07:52 AM
thanks shorty. Kid has been begging me to take him racing. So I am gonna let him race his 50 once or twice and also swoop up on another bike to start riding.
I was checking out the polini's last night with him, saw some pretty sweet ones. Saw a deal was $1400 for two of them, I don't know much about those.
I don't want to drop $100 each time he rides, I'm not trying to take him pro or anything.
I was checking out the polini's last night with him, saw some pretty sweet ones. Saw a deal was $1400 for two of them, I don't know much about those.
I don't want to drop $100 each time he rides, I'm not trying to take him pro or anything.
Posted 23 March 2012 - 07:53 AM
I am gonna take my boy to the track tomorrow, so I'm gonna have to deal with another flat for now. Any recommendations on what air pressure I should run? 12psi?
Posted 09 April 2012 - 10:26 AM
Check out my thread about the difference between a "good" rimlock and a "cheap" rimlock. Sounds like exactly what you need to solve your flat tire problems...... and save you money!!
http://www.thumperta...__fromsearch__1
http://www.thumperta...__fromsearch__1
Posted 10 April 2012 - 03:29 AM
I didn't know Emgo ventured into the rim-lock market. Every one of their products I've ever used has caused me problems, if not right way, a few miles down the road. And it's always simple stuff they don't do that would be the difference between a functional, lasting product and a piece of crap.
I avoid them as much as possible.
I avoid them as much as possible.
