A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

First of all, I really like my new (to me) 2000 TTR-250.

But, is there a modern, small bike on which this is a more difficult task to do well?  First of all, little bay in which the plug is placed is a terrific place to collect dirt leaves, small rocks, sand, etc.  Second, you can't see what is there to make sure that it is OK to remove the plug without having debris fall into the cylinder.  So, you remove the tank, which makes it a lot easier to access the spark plug for removal, and you bring out the shop vacuum to remove the dirt and debris, but the space is so small that the end attachment of the shop vac can't get close enough to the dirt to suck it up.  So, with duct tape, you attach a section of old garden hose to get down close enough to the dirt to suck it out.  Then, after you have started to remove the plug, you notice that there is still more dirt under the hex flange of the spark plug, which you must suck out before completely removing the plug. The U.S. owner's manual simply says, "Remove the spark plug."  

Is there an easier way to accomplish this maintenance task?  What do you guys do if, God forbid, you have to change a plug out on the trail?  Perhaps the dependability of the TTR makes that scenario an unlikely event?

Anyway, I thought that I would share my experience (and surprise) in the hopes of eliciting some suggestions to simplify my procedure, or to confirm that, indeed, that is the way of the beast.