Boo

I compared a CRF250R front brake master cylinder with the XR250 BAJA (MD30) original (276 g vs 360 g, about 23% lighter) and trial-fitted it. The switch wiring and a rear-facing hose outlet are the two problems.

A 43 L top box raises the XR250 BAJA's (MD30) centre of gravity, so I looked into side pannier racks. I found Mmoto racks from Ukraine and weighed up the pros, cons and costs before deciding.

Four quick jobs I do on my Honda XR250 BAJA after every ride: tyre pressures with an electric pump, oiling the chain link by link with an AZ oiler and A.S.H. gear oil, and wiping the screen and headlights with Plexus.

The XR250 BAJA (MD30) front fork springs came back from WPC treatment by JAMS. How they were packed, the new silver-grey finish, and what happened to the rusty spot, with before and after photos.

Part 1 of assembling the XR250 BAJA (MD30) front forks after re-plating and blasting: laying out the new consumables, replacing the centre bolt O-ring and preparing a new copper washer, until the rain stopped play.

Before assembling my XR250 BAJA (MD30) forks, I found rust on the springs and measured their free length. The short A springs were past the service limit and discontinued, so I sent them for WPC treatment.

The metal collar in the XR250 BAJA (MD30) seat fixing hole has no separate part number. I measured it (11.99 mm OD, 8.75 mm ID, 6.08 mm long) and used two 8 × 12 × 3 mm stainless spacers instead.

Part 3 of assembling the XR250 BAJA (MD30) front forks: measuring 332 cc of A.S.H. #11, pouring the oil in slowly so it doesn't overflow, and bleeding the air with a Technix TGR bleeding rod.

To match Honda's 16.2 fork oil on my XR250 BAJA, I mixed A.S.H. #11 and #30 at 7.2:2.8 by a simple average. Recalculated with the Refutas equation (ASTM D7152), that blend is about 14.5; roughly 6:4 gets closer to 16.2.

On a BMW G650GS the battery sits under the centre cowl. Remove 10 Torx screws and the oil filler cap, disconnect the negative first, and don't forget the breather hose on the vented battery. It took me about 10 minutes.

With Rough & Road handlebar covers, mesh summer gloves were fine for me in December and late February. Fitting them to a BMW G650GS and an XR250 BAJA with hand guards, reaching the switches inside, and the downsides.

Before selling my BMW G650GS, I removed the sat nav, USB charger, Daytona D-UNIT and dashcam I had fitted and put it back to standard. It took about 2 hours; the routed wiring took longest, and wiring through a D-UNIT made it easy.

Washing my Honda XR250 BAJA, I found oil seeping from the base of an oil hose under the engine. What I did about it, mud baked on by the hot frame, a dirty rear linkage and the three cleaners I use, with photos.

I found five STAHLWILLE 20-series 75° offset ring spanners at a second-hand tool shop for 3,800 yen. How they cleared parts and held high-torque bolts on my Honda XR250 BAJA, with photos.

I bought a used genuine high seat for my BMW G650GS (F650GS) and compared it with the standard low seat: photos of both feet and one foot down at 167 cm, plus less soreness, less knee bend and less radiator heat.

A short photo summary of removing, cleaning and greasing the rear linkage (deflection lever and tension strut) on my BMW G650GS: rust on the collars, the greases I used, and links to the detailed posts.

Stripping and cleaning the rear linkage (deflection lever and tension strut) on my BMW G650GS: a crooked oil seal, smearing marks, fine scratches and rust on the bushes. Part one before the bearing replacement.

Removing the Napoleon Ridge mirrors from my BMW G650GS, I found the 8 mm hex bolt was a reverse thread. How to spot the notch on the adapter and loosen it clockwise while holding it with a 17 mm spanner.

How I removed the front forks from my Honda XR250 BAJA (MD30): hanging the bike from a frame stand, removing the caliper, speedometer cable and axle, measuring fork height and undoing the clamp bolts.

How I removed the front brake caliper on my BMW G650GS, cleaned the solid pistons that piston pliers can't grip, worked them in and out with Metal Rubber, and how the brake feel changed afterwards.