Thanks for the feedback fellas. I’m composing the next few installments, Later today maybe.

Merry Christmas Everyone 

Jamie Galvin

I'd like to start by saying I have used many AllBalls bearing and seal sets and they are excellent quality with OEM bearings and seals. 

Even with the correct bearing on the clutch side it wouldn't make a difference on how easy it went together... 

All the 125/175 enduro/MX engines use a 6205 and 6304 bearing with C4 or so extra internal clearance specs...  last number multiplied by 5 is the shaft diameter.  The OD of the bearing is determined by the "series"...  in this case 6200 and 6300.  (I spent a fair amount of time hunting for new bearings at a job I used to have.) Higher series generally has higher load capacity which generally means a larger OD... 

A kind of rare thing happens with the 6205 and 6304...  the lighter duty 6205 (25mm ID) and the heavier duty 6304 (20mm ID) both have the same 52mm OD.  So it sounds like you used two 6205 bearings. 

I learned to check and match the bearing numbers with what was removed and/or a parts catalog...  including the internal clearance and other special feature markers on the original bearings.  That didn't stop me from mixing up the two crank bearings once on a 125/175... but since I had verified the correct bearings, the crank wouldn't fit into the bearing I had installed in the flywheel side.  

I don't think you can make this same mix up error with the 250/360/400 bearings. 

Hello Mark, 

I think the package from “All Balls” had been opened, and for whatever reason both bearings had the larger ID. I didn’t mean to sound like I was blaming All Balls. I also didn’t want to sound like I was blaming my guys at the bike shop. I should have been more attentive.

Thanks
Jamie Galvin

I know you didn't intend on the bearings...  I just said something because ythe brand mentioned and sometimes people jump to a conclusion when none was intended.  And I'd like to keep those bearing and seal sets a "best seller" so they remain cheap and easy to get.  LOL

I was also trying to say that it's not hard to make the mistake on the bearing on that model. 

‘Preciate you Mark

Hello Everyone,

I’m in digestion mode after Christmas dinner, I’ll try to describe my first ride on a legitimate woods course. The guy had told me 6:00 start, so I wanted to be there at 6:00. I didn’t know how things worked, and I wanted to maximize my chances of not being a jerk. I stopped and picked up a six pack of Guinness and some fried chicken. When I got there, there was some vehicles around, and a younger guy with riding gear on wrenching on a newer bike getting ready to out on the course. I introduced myself, started to unload, and tried to figure out how things went. As it turns out it was casual. Guys would do a lap, stop at the parking area, rest a little and go back out. Everyone had modern bikes, they were all lean hardasses, and effing flew around what I thought was a difficult course. They viewed me and my bike with at least skepticism, and probably more like something resembling pity. The younger guy who was there when I got there offered to lead around the course and wait for me at junctions so that I wouldn’t get lost. I was appreciative, and took him up on his offer. It’s been six months or so since then, and I was in survival mode the entire time on the course, so things are a bit blurry, but what I do remember is how hard it was. Within the first minutes, I was absolutely gassed. I was holding my breath constantly having no idea what was coming next. I’d eventually catch my leader while he waited patiently at spots he deemed prudent. There were all manner of features in the course that I had never encountered, and required me to really stretch myself to over around or through. I finished a lap and was tapped. I took my gear off and was covered with sweat. There were lots of knowing grins from the regulars. I was a beginner on old less capable equipment. I had a couple beers offered them some chicken, and recovered some. They asked me what I thought, I told them I had had fun and would be back. They told me they had heard that before. As it turns out, I did not make it back. There were a few reasons I didn’t make it back. One was I felt like a burden, and I didn’t want to make someone feel obligated to ride slower with me than they would be riding otherwise. Another was I ended up riding on Wednesdays at the other course near me. 

I thought about that first ride for days after. There were things I had done with the bike that I was not prepared for. Water crossings, deep water filled ruts, steep albeit short climbs among other things. There was an old stone wall that had been ridden over so may times that a section of it had spread out so that is was a thirty foot stretch of what was like a very rough cobblestone road. All these things are part of cross country courses, but the first time around they were at least daunting. I made it around without any major crashes, or needing help from another rider, but I couldn’t have done another lap that evening. I loaded up and went home. 

To be continued…

Thanks for reading 
Jamie Galvin

On the ride home, and like I said previously, for days after I reviewed the experience in my mind. At times I questioned my ability to to ride cross country races at all. At other times I was proud of things that I was able to do. The fitness piece had me wondering also, but I felt like a considerable portion of me being out of breath was a product of me holding my breath so often. One of a number of positives was the bike. It ran well the whole time, and started quickly after the times I stalled when I screwed up. I felt like the bike needed to be geared lower, but with only one lap under my belt, it didn’t make sense to make a change at that point. I went to the bike shop a few days after, and talked to the guys, the owner, Rich, and his employee Chuck, about my experience. They both seem happy to see me when I show, and they seem to enjoy hearing my stories. Chuck had ridden at Geers farm many times and implied without derision that he didn’t think it was an overly difficult course. Chuck also offered to meet me at MotoMasters on the following Wednesday to ride around the woods course there. MotoMasters is the MX facility owned by the aforementioned Rich. I gratefully accepted.

We got started a little late, so we only got a lap and a half in. There are a lot of intertwined trails in the woods at MotoMasters. I followed Chuck as best I could and he would wait patiently for me when I got too far behind, or there were forks in the trail. I felt far less pressure to keep up this time. I reminded myself to breathe, I stopped at times to think about how I would approach features, and was generally more relaxed. The bike performed well again, but based upon hearing me behind him, Chuck confirmed my thoughts regarding gearing. It was an improvement over my experience the week before. I drove home satisfied and wanting to do it again. When I rebuilt the bike I had replaced the 15/45 sprockets and chain. I ordered a 50t rear when I got home, and mentally reviewed my experience.

To be continued…

Thanks for reading 
Jamie Galvin