General Trials Talk

I rode dirt bikes as a teen, road bikes in my 30s. Now I'm in my mid 40s and have been racing road bicycles and mountain bikes for 10 years. I've always been fond of trials (motorcycle and bicycle) and recently found out there are some active clubs here in Michigan. So I'm thinking about giving it a shot. I've been keeping my eye out for used bikes for a few months now. It's winter here so I haven't had the chance to get out and talk to the locals. I did chat with one on the phone and he gave me the impression that 250s are great for everyone and 300s are a "handful". I'm just looking for a second opinion. Unlike Europe, trials bikes are a little harder to come by…

Would an absolute beginner be hindered by the exra power of a 270, 280 or 300cc bike over a 250, I weigh 16 stone and keep getting conflicting advise ?

I'm after a modern trials bike to ride with my son when he's practicing at our local club. I've just sold my Beamish that I had owned and ridden for two years, but I have never competed. But I'm hoping to change that. People I've spoken to have recommended I go for a 250 as they're much easier on the inexperienced but I'm unsure wether to go with beta or gasgas, and then there's the jotagas. I'd ideally like to spend around the £2000, but could go a bit higher for the right bike. I know I'm probably opening a can of worms, but your advice would be much appreciated.

Hi guys. Just looking for any feedback as to the difference you would feel on the 300 compared to the 280. I currently ride a gasgas 280 txt pro but looking at a the 2019 gasgas 300 racing? Any advice etc is very much appreciated. Thanks, liam

I'm not a novice to bikes, having raced motocross for 25 years, but am certainly completely new to Trials having never lifted a leg over a Trials bike. So, in my quest to find a decent second hand machine I have come across a 2009 Sherco 290 that someone local to me owns and has genuinley never used so it's as good as new. Looks great, sounds great and seems to ride fine given the short pootle up and down his driveway. i'm very tempted as will be a genuine bargain but my concern is that it will just be too much bike for my zero Trials experience. My plan will be to practice for a few months and then enter a few club trials - i certainly have no plans for World …

Does anybody know of any decent 2/3day trials in france spain etc ? thanks

Hi guys, i am looking to venture into trials for a year or two in between a break from motocross and i'm looking to spend max £2500 on my first trials bike. i have settled on a 250 but i am just needing to sort out what brand. I am currently looking at a 2011 sherco 250 which is within my budget or a 2010 gasgas which is more than i want to spend. Are sherco's unreliable or inferior to gas gas as i have read some things on the net some love em and some hate em. (we get this in mx aswell) is there anything to look for in buying a second hand trials bike? similar to motocross second hand? are sherco traditionally alot cheaper than gasgas? thanks in advance. and any oth…

Hi All, I have raced both 125 and 250 2T trackbikes in the past. A honda RS125 produces about 44bhp from its 125cc and the 250 (which is pretty much 2x 125s on the same crank) makes about 85bhp. Despite running high octane blue AVGAS and Castrol 747 oil, i would change piston rings after every meeting, and piston kit every 3 outings. ( I wasnt married at the time!). This helicopter style maintenance was the only way to not blow your motor, and although Ive been out of racing for a few years i cant think that racers do anything different currently, even with current materials advances. I appreciate that a trials bike doesnt run WOT for anything like the percenta…

Just thought I'd clarify a few of the common petroil mixtures - do please someone check my maths! Ratio Percent Oil/Petrol 80:1 1.25% 12.5ml/litre 66:1 1.5% 15ml/litre 60:1 ~1.7% 17ml/litre 50:1 2% 20ml/litre

Hi All, im v new to trials with Beta 2T 250. So far its only been riden in circles in the yard. However this activity so captivated my 15 yr old daughter, that she also had a go, and after previously only riding a mini moto, was rather competent. So now im being badgered for a bike for her. I have read in the 'ladies forum' abou the fun being had on 80's, but they seem thin on the ground. From my rudimentary viewings of trials 80's they seem to have a tuned pipe exhaust system, ie a divergent-convergent cone, much like a racing MX bike or a Honda RS125 i raced previously. This leads me to believe that they wil be peaky in power deliery, not something i think m…

Considering buying a 4t, more just for the hell of it rather than actually to do trials on but was wondering other than heavier weight what else do I need to know about riding them ???

normally we only tow with one are two bikes on our 3 bike trailer but next week we are taking a mate to a trial,and the 3 bikes will not fit on the trailer together without the bars interferring with each other,what can i do to fix this problem? thanks,sam

Well I thought I might try something new... but wanted to check if anybody has done anything similar... or people with more experience than I might be able to give some advice. For the last 2 years I have worked with a local outdoor sport and RV show to put on a trials demo. The first year I had about 5 local riders and I brought in an old car and some junk I found in the parking lot and we demonstrated different trials techniques. Last year we had a much higher level rider from Quebec travel down with his Son (also an awesome rider) and daughter (novice rider) and we had a few local riders join them. They showed what a trials bike can really do by riding over much large…

I would probably have put this in SSDT 3 or 5 post had Andy not locked it. Watching the SSDT videos, other trials videos and my experience at quite a few trials it seems to be common practice to have sections on the hardish side which cause momentary stops and then mark them leniently as a 3. On the SSDT videos (thanks they are excellent) there seemed to be a lot of riders legging or stopping rather than riding. What do riders favour - hard sections with lenient (strictly incorrect) marking, or Easier sections marked stringently. I favour the latter

I have been running my 300 pro @ 80:1 mix for quite a while and it runs fiine however it always seems smokey when going up hill. Sometimes ends up with the plug fouling also. Have tried screwing in the air mixture screw a bit to make it run a bit leaner. Anyone got any ideas, thought about maybe jetting up / down any thoughts / experiences with tuning for optimum performance from the 300 pro?

Hi guys I’m having problems with rough running on the old 305 Iv cleaned the carb but it runs and idles with the choke out but rough and lumpy when I’m so I stripped the carb again to clean the 2nd idle jet the little tiny one but it’s clear I can’t get the slotted screw out the choke lever but all else is spotless in the carb also Iv notice it has a two stage reed valve which are a little open on one side think it was on the bottom do I mess around trying to clean and possibly turn them around or jst replace? And could the choke lever have anything to do with the rough running and again if so shld I replace or try n drill out and repair ect new carb is £195 and reeds are…

hey all just got into trials n jus got my new bike..now some dude that had it before me needed to replace carb parts, but the mechanic he had workin on it changed out the choke jet with plyers and striped the numbers off the end , im jus wondering if anyone has the bike or knows what the number jet is i need to be running, the dealer said thers millions of diff ones and without the number its guessing blind, he sent me one he thought would be best suited to my bike, but still doesnt idle down correctly , bike works fine and is ride able its jus annoying listenin to the idle when i grab the clutch, thanks for your time also my bike is a 1994 montesa cota 314r 250cc if im n…

Hi, This will be my first bike which I will be buying from 'TOR MOTO'. Has anyone had any dealings with them before? They're located just outside of Halifax. I've got my eye on a Montesa 315R 250 or a Beta Rev 3 250. Both look in good nic. I'll only be taking it easy, clubman trials ect so I don't need anything special. I just want to have fun. What would sway your decision? Anything out of the ordinary I should look out for? What're your experiences with both? Thank you!

looking at getting a mono ty 250 in place of my 2001 315r i am new ish to the sport and the monty feels a bit bitey !! will the ty250 be much different ? thanks in addvance.

Hi recently got a 349 the problem is I can only get it to start, after I have dismantled the carb and cleaned it with carb cleaner then it starts ok over and over, but when I let it stand overnight then it will not kick over and I need to strip it down again clean it and it’s ok for that day but next day same thing, any help appreciated. Cheers