General Trials Talk

Some time ago I read a Trials Central posting by a chap who was trying to decide which trials bike to buy. Somewhat surprisingly, the main thing stopping him making a final decision was the bike's colour scheme. If I remember correctly, the bike he was seriously considering was the TRS, but he was put off by its lemon yellow and grey graphics which I think he found a bit bland and uninspiring. As an ex graphic designer I found this interesting. It made me wonder how seriously trials bike designers take colour schemes. After all the money, time and effort invested in a bike's technical development are graphics and colours just a last minute add-on or are they the result of…

Judging by the comments on numerous posts in this forum, there are widely varying ideas of how often gearbox oil should be changed. That's also reflected in many adverts for secondhand bikes. So I thought I would try to get a better handle on the subject: How often do you change your gearbox oil? What is the reason for choosing that interval? Which oil do you use?

I'm looking at getting a new bike next year. I'm currently riding a 2007 Sherco 290 which has served me pretty well so far. I've got a taste for the 2015 montesa factory rep but I've never ridden one so I'm not sure if moving from 2t to 4t is a good idea as I know the characteristics will be completely different. I keep hearing mixed things about the 4 stroke montesa, one being they're only any good for expert riders and it's pretty hard to progress your skills on one. I'd like to hear some of your opinions (serious please, no p*** takers) Cheers, Gaz

Can someone explain to me how a foot on the ground when stopped is not a fail?

Ok, let's stop going around in circles, each to their own, no one will be happy with whatever rules we have, but let's just see what you all would vote for if you had this as a choice (fun) So here's your choice: 1. No stop as it is. 2. Stop allowed as it is. 3. 1 to 5, one Mark for each of the following up to 5 in total, combing some of the current rules in no stop and stop allowed, i.e. stop 1 (a 5 after 3 seconds?), foot down 1, go backwards (slightly roll back) 1, lean any part of your body/bike (except tyres and sump) against an object 1, etc, etc, up to a total of 5. As a rider, I like no stop, as an observer I would go 1 to 5 every day (it would make my life …

The latest installment of the No Stop/Dynamic saga sees Sammy Miller writing in TMX. Sammy was British Champion for 11 consecutive years, he won over 1100 trials, he didn't believe in being second, he was dominant in British Trials for roughly 2 decades yet in the fairy tale world that is No Stop Land we are expected to believe that roughly 80 % of the 150 riders who turned up at events actually had a good chance of beating Sammy. I don't think so. Yet again we get the fairy tale that the Scottish and the Scott are only good because they are no stop. This is almost like expecting us to believe that if you are riding round some sh*tty ex brick works at a wednesday night …

When me and my mates go out to practice on private land with full permission, we go out for maybe 5 or 6 hours at time and like to take a couple of tins of beer each. The general theme is to dump them in a stream and return there for our breaks. Just wondering if it's just us that do this? Or are we breaking an unwritten rule of trials? All opinions welcomed!

I know my mate Gaz (Bikespace) loves drop-offs (NOT!) .. so I thought I would post this and ask how many of you would have a go at this? Ross Danby - Taken at the British Experts - Carlisle

Hi Guys Reading About all these thefts recently just wondered what everybody is using to secure their bike i am currently using 4 oxford chains and 2 ground anchors, however after watching a few videos it seems some chain can be pick,smashed,or frozen to release the locks looking at getting a almax chain they look like the market leaders..... other than a 12 bore or electrifing the door not sure what else to do ???

I’m hoping to do my first trial this weekend, so some friendly advice would be appreciated I was planning on turning up 1 hour before the start, do I need to walk the sections before the start? I must admit, I quite nervous!

Firstly, hello. New to the forums although been lurking for a bit. Went to my first trials event a couple of weeks ago and got the bug. Went out this weekend and bought a nice 315r. Anyway, it is road registered and after a bit of tlc (wheel bearings, brakes and bushes) I would like to do the odd commute on it between trials when it is dry and preferably sunny... My route to work is mainly country lanes and one single 60mph A road that lasts about 2 miles. Planning on getting the long range seat but I think I should be alright on fuel. So does anyone here have experience riding a modern(ish) trials bike on the road for a few miles? Would I need to change the fuel ratio…

Bought myself a project Trials bike to keep me off the streets. This will be my third and I’m not sure whether to keep it or sell it as the price of older bikes is increasing. Not that I want to profiteer or anything but if the value keeps going up I would hate to ‘get it dirty’ so to speak. There must be quite a few people here that like to rebuild, restore their favourite competition bikes. Just like when you ride trials or whatever your sport is, the rebuilder, restorer is out in all weathers, ....in the shed, damp and cold huddled round a heater, pondering ? a miriad of problems, chrome or powder coat, paint as original. Should I mod it any, leave the footrests where…

Since the Department of Motor Vehicles allowed me to get a street legal tag for my Resto Mod 73 OSSA MAR, it just seems correct to have a speedometer. I do not have the wheel driven type that mounts to the fork leg. I do have on hand an ICO Checkmate enduro computer, but consider it may be a bit cumbersome and is overkill on functions. Considering using a bicycle computer. Curious what brands and models others may have used. Is it possible to use a wieless type, or will the ignition cause issues?

i hear that cabestany has signed for the sherco factory team and jarvis will only contest in a handful of events, anyone know if this true?

What do lefties do with a right hand throttle? Do they just adapt? Do they switch the throttle over to the left hand side? I there any top world or national rider who is a leftie?

Guys can someone set me straight about loosing (or adding teeth) on sprockets. Are you better loosing teeth off the front sprocket or the back sproket to slow things down? What happens is I loose one or two off both? Cheers - Boner.

sorry if this is in the wrong place in the garage i have a big jerrycan full of petrol, and i do not know if it is just petrol or if it has been mixed to make 2 stroke stuff. being a big can of very expensive petrol, i do not want to waste its content or break my bike. does anyone know of a test i could use to find out if it has been mixed 40 to 1? apart from it having a slight tinge because that isnt so obvious. thanks

Wondering if anyone knows of a site with the excel rims as fitted to monts & ragas available. Sick of morads sealing issues & getting 4 sections into an event to have tyre come off rim after being perfectly sealed in the garage. So far I haven't come across anyone but am contemplating respoking my sherco's wheel if cost is not too expensive

I need to know how to clean my chain up properly, I have taken it off ready to do but it has grit and chain lube all over it, as to be expected really... I have tried scrubbing with degreaser, WD40 and a toothbrush with no avail. Is there a special trick to it? Thanks in advance, Lloyd

I was riding yesterday and due to large entry and some of the expert sections, I found we were sat it queues for 5 -10minutes at 4 sections on each lap. Now I dont mind sitting there as it gives a chance to meet a few other competitors.The thing that really got me was most people left there engines running and (especially the youths) held them at full throttle "to clean them out" I think some rule should be in position where only up to the third in line can have the engine running. (unless it was hard to push to the start) What do you think?