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Hello From Perthshire & Questions.


marc512
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Hi there. My name is Marc and here is a quick story about me. For the past 11 years now I've been into kart racing. Throughout this year I've been getting quite fed up of going to the same track over and over again... I felt I needed to do something different. I thought about going to other tracks but that would cost a bit since other tracks are further away. So after my last race I've decided to calm down a bit by selling most of my karts and just keep one for fun. I didn't want to give up motorsport completely. I was thinking of trying supermoto or maybe motocross if I could pick up a bike cheap enough. But sadly they are to far out my price range for something decent. A few days ago we got told where a trials bike was sitting, ready to be bought. I've never really looked into trials. My dad used to do it when he was younger and he has always wanted to try it again. We went to look at the bike and immediately I fell in love. The next day we went to collect it. For £480 we bought a 1995 250cc Beta. It's not the prettiest of bikes but it just had a full engine re-build and it starts every time. What interests me in trials is the fact I know absolutely nothing other than what the bike are capable off in the hands of a good rider. Even though this bike isn't the latest and best, it's perfect for me to learn on. Yesterday was the first day I could have a good look at it since I started work at 1pm that day. I went out to try and do a few basic balancing techniques I learned online. I found myself practising for a few hours without realising it. I found it quite enjoyable! At this very moment I'm trying to find a pair of second hand boots to buy. I'm going to find a cheap new helmet since I wouldn't feel safe buying one of them online. You never know how many times they have been dropped lol! Hopefully once the weather clears up, we will find somewhere to take our machine to give it a test run! Hopefully it will last the day ;)

If the time comes and I feel I'm good enough, I might start entering local trials. I like being competitive and I don't want to give up karting just to find myself just pottering around with no real aim! As I said, I know nothing about how to ride a trials bike and I'm interested to see how well I will pick it up over a year.

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I have a few questions about the bike. Is it easy to get parts for? Where would you recommend I look for spares?

At the moment it needs a sticker kit. The previous owners took them all off, leaving the glue still on the frame work.

It also needs a front fork adjuster? The front right fork has a screw I can twist but the left one doesn't. It isn't leaking any fluid. It's like it just needs the adjustment screw.

After reading tutorials, they say it's best to have short leavers that you can control with two fingers. The leavers on the bike are fine, the front brake needs adjusted but nothing to stop me having fun. Is this more of a personal preference or does it make it easier for everyone?

For transportation, we have bought a bike rack (here). As for all motorsport, there are always essential equipment to take. What would be the best tools to take? Our karting tool box weighs a tonne and we would prefer not to drag that around with us lol! We're like a portable garage when we are off karting.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Any advice, tips and recommendation for anything would be much appreciated!

Marc

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Hi Marc your bike looks like a 1999, the forks have a different adjuster on each leg one to compress the spring, the other to adjust the oil flow in the leg. Try adjusting them, remember for trials you want them soft.

eBay has some 1998 sticker, that I have used I just cut the Beta part out. Plenty of new and used parts available on eBay or beta uk or other dealers, exploded parts diagram available on the net, enjoy!

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Hi Marc,

you've got one of the best clubs in Scotland on your doorstep:

www.PerthAndDiistrictMC.co.uk

I believe they're planning to run training sessions for new riders too.

I certainly wouldn't be advising anyone new to trials to turn up at the Perth DMCC trial. Dunfermline white route, Wobblers B route, Montrose DMCC B route.

Whereabouts in Perthshire fella ? it's a whore oh a big area.

Edited by thedbf
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Thanks for the replies! I never expected to be many clubs in this area. More the merrier I guess :)

Interesting to know my bike is a 1999, not 1995. It should help source parts a bit easier.

A question about all of the clubs. Can you arrive and ride at any time or is it just on specific dates? Our kart club allowed anyone who was a member to use the track any day of the week, providing that you still follow the rules of course.

It would be nice to get experience on an empty course rather than in a field or other places.

Whereabouts in Perthshire fella ? it's a whore oh a big area.

I'm from Blairgowrie :)

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A question about all of the clubs. Can you arrive and ride at any time or is it just on specific dates? Our kart club allowed anyone who was a member to use the track any day of the week, providing that you still follow the rules of course.

It would be nice to get experience on an empty course rather than in a field or other places.

I'm from Blairgowrie :)

No, specific days only I'm afraid, we don't want people riding where and when they shouldn't be :popcorn:

We have a trial on just outside Forfar tomorrow if you want to come up and have a nosey, bring yer bike, pay a tenner and have a ride round, try what you fancy, miss out what you don't. We also do trials out by Lintrathen so not that far from you either, failing that, come to the wobblers trial in a couple of weeks over in fife.

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No, specific days only I'm afraid, we don't want people riding where and when they shouldn't be :popcorn:

We have a trial on just outside Forfar tomorrow if you want to come up and have a nosey, bring yer bike, pay a tenner and have a ride round, try what you fancy, miss out what you don't. We also do trials out by Lintrathen so not that far from you either, failing that, come to the wobblers trial in a couple of weeks over in fife.

We were planning to go to a trial to watch tomorrow but I never got told where. I don't think I'll bring the bike, we don't have any safety gear yet! I've not had a proper ride since buying it, I would prefer to ride around somewhere just to get the feel of the bike before I let anyone see my silly mistakes ;)

Also transporting the bike is an issue. Until the bike rack arrives, it will be difficult to transport it around safely.

Edited by marc512
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OK I understand that, you have two options to go watch a trial tomorrow locally. One at Glenlomond in Fife, pretty hard to find if you don't know where, may be Breagh can supply a postcode or out one at Aberlemno, up Finavon hill out the back of Forfar, and err.....I don't have a postcode for it, again, may be Breagh has that to hand ?? but here is a google maps link to where, the B9134 and turn left at the sign for Finavon Hill in the link, follow the road up and you'll see all the vans sitting in the field.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.686632,-2.7906954,3a,49.5y,67.6h,65.62t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1svvrHPRcp4GNjiKtQsfMGJg!2e0

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Postcode for Glenlomond KY13 9HF is the nursing home at the bottom of the road and the Montrose website gives Aberlemno as DD8 3PD.

Map on the Montrose site.

Glenlomond is open for a play at the discretion of the owner,

I'll post details but they're in my wallet and it's missing!.

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Thanks for that breagh! Do you know what time they start and stop? We will be busy in the morning and most of the afternoon.

Yeah the area is quite flooded. Blair to Alyth has been closed a few times this week and Blair to Coupar Angus is on the limit of being closed. Just saw some aerial footage and the whole place is just water with a few bits of land poking out.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152798405264043

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Ah well. If I can get the hang of it in the dark, I might find it easier in the day ;)

I might get a chance to have a go on my bike tomorrow morning for a few hours. Our friend who also bought a trials bike is off to an old quarry for a bit of fun. He will come pick me and my bike up to go out for a run. I have old bike boots I used on my motorbike and a spare helmet (full face). Looking forward to getting out on the bike :)

I have a go-pro camera I use for the karting. I would like to capture the footage of every outing and see how well I progress over time... Maybe people can show me where I make mistakes with the footage? It helped me a lot in the karting.

My youtube channel

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