fantastic

All excellent advice so thanks everybody. I have decided to look for a Beta 200 Rev 3 but they are a bit thin on the ground so will probably up my budget to 1200 or so. And as for the wine, I find that you can't go wrong with Baron Phillipe Rothschild's Mouton Cadet. Unless anyone else has anything to mention then I'll consider this matter closed. Thanks again, and special thanks to whoever runs this fantastic site as the speed of responses has been FANTastIC (must change that name).

I'm thinking that if the UK economy was based on trials bike sales then we would be in far better economic health than we are now....Take note Mr Brown (username OneEyedWobbler). I've lost track of the number of bikes I've watched or bid on or contacted the owner only to find they are sold ! I think that Montesa was one of them ! I had 3 bikes for sale last week and they went within hours and I had dozens of calls and emails each wanting to buy straight away. So if anyone knows of a post 2002 Rev 3, Sherco, Gas Gas, Montesa etc for under a grand that isn't sold then let me know !

many thanks for responses so far.... Tony I like your answer as it seems the Sherco 290's are very good value and I would get a later bike than a comparable Beta or Gas Gas. Maybe asking for a definitive answer was a bit of a stretch but maybe if I ask what bikes were mostly winning in 2001-2004 ? Also, there have always been bikes of every genre that everyone at the time would want if money etc were no object.... what were these in early 2000's ?

nope, sold em. Sorry to see them go but 3 less "projects" now.... need to change my username I think !

I've never competed in a trial before but I've been pottering on mx, enduro and 80's Fantics for over 30 years now so I don't consider myself a "beginner". With this in mind what is the most suitable bike I can buy for under a

As I have 3 air cooled monos in various states of repair I am always checking out ebay as a source of replacement parts. In recent weeks I have seen mediocre examples of 201,301, 303 and 305's go for stupid money, ie