dgshannon

Yeah. I think the tires come stock with a different air pressure in the tires as well.

We still don't have all the details, but one change that is confirmed is the header pipe. It is now plated, or coated, stainless steel. You can see it in the photo and it is different from the gold tint of the previous models. Also, the decals on the forks and swingarm were added last year for greater protection. This year, the material for those decals is supposedly even tougher.

Now these will make you ride better... http://www.tryalsshop.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=TS-0003

Don't know how much time and money he had, but the history books show that he certianly didn't take long to pull it off. In contrast, when the same "engineering genius" of Sammy Miller was applied to the challenge of the 4-stroke in the TL250, it proved to be a different animal and the results didn't come so quickly. He invested years of time and money in research, prototypes, variations on long stroke vs short stroke, larger displacement vs smaller displacement, etc. We may never really find out, but it would be interesting to know how much of the design knowledge Sammy helped develop back then has gone into the development of the new engine.

Likewise, I think Sherco had done an incredible job of making their mark in the trials world since 1999. Their bikes seem to be a quality item, they have offered a wide range of displacements, and are seemingly on their way to success as a manufacturer of other types of bikes, as well. The noise may very likely be due to being a prototype. This distinct possibility is exactly why I placed the word "IF" at the beginning of my sentance: "If the rattle and clatter, you can hear in the video, is the norm..." No recent trials bikes made in Texas, but nothing of impact recently from your place of residence either, so I'm not sure why you bring it up. Regardless, it likely doesn't effect the ability for you and I to make some assessments from the photos, videos and information. In fact, I think you have made a great assessment yourself: "Sherco do not have a bottomless pit of money or time for development." You have provided a great point to consider for those that will attempt to make a desicion between the first model year of the new Honda/Montesa vs. the Sherco.

If the rattle and clatter, you can hear in the video, is the norm, I would guess it would not be for very long!

Looking through the Tryals Shop's online catalog, the sprocket don't appear to ge interchangeable. To be sure, just use their online technical request form and you will get an answer to your question: Link: http://www.tryalsshop.com/page-tech.htm

What connection is there between a "little bike philosophy" and "cable brakes and clutch, twin shocks, and drum brakes?" Whatever "Birkett" is, it seems as if you may be trying to sell a little yourself in an attempt to paint some logical connection between small displacement with old technology. Riders who run up 4 to 7 foot steps do not represent the "Club Riders" we are talking about. Although, as you noted, "there was a guy 2 routes harder on a 125 and he was getting up 7 foot steps comparitevely easily", so it is still not outside the little Scorpa's "limitations". Ishy got the point - "The bike costs a grand less new over here and many riders who are new to the sport would be served better by riding a lower cc machine, but it's the good old USA and bigger is better" As did Marky G - "I think what DGShannon is saying your average club rider (see you and me) wont do any worse riding say a 125 Scorpa (or any other small cc machine) in the type of events that "WE" are likely to enter."

I suppose it all depends on whether those "limitations" are above, or below, the rider's skill level. By all accounts of those who have spent time on the bike, those limitations are not a factor for the average club rider and in fact, may promote better riding skills. The act of compensating for the smaller engine forces a thought process which helps keep them out of situations that they used to rely on power to get out of. Not to mention the situations that power got them into. The high end Scorpa 4-stroke is now rumored to be postponing it's debut until a 2005 world round. In the interim, some interesting flavors of the 125 are on tap. The factory built 150cc bike is scheduled to be shipping at the end of this month. With a bigger piston, stroker crank, trials spec camshaft, new CDI ignition, all the billet aluminum bits off the 250, handlebars off the 250, and supposedly more, it should prove for an intersting addition to the model lineup. I will be getting a new Scorpa as the first batch appears in the US in late August or early September. Currently, I am on the fence on whether to go with the 150 4-stroke or the 250 2-stroke. I guess we will see what ends up in my garage in a few weeks!

If you read the Sherco press release, it states that it will debut at 5:30 PM, I believe. This leads me to think it will be on display only, and not in competition. Hopefully, there will at least be some demo rides that someone can capture on video for the rest of us, as was the case with the Honda.

If you check the Scorpa France website, their accessories catalog includes the parts for the 150cc kit for the current 125. The 2005 model lineup will include a complete 150cc bike. No information yet on whether it will be more akin to the current 125, or the 250. The 125 could benefit from a styling exercise, but I don't think you have to jump over the the current 250 as a starting place. The current 125 just needs some tweeks here and there to improve the look.

You are probably correct on this as I have met a large number of people that moved to the US from the UK!

It makes it tougher when you are reminded as to what you are capable of.

As the new model year approaches, I am very curious to see if Scorpa will release a larger displacement 4-stroke in both air-cooled and water-cooled versions. I could very easily see the air-cooled TTR-225 engine showing up in a bike, along side a newly developed water-cooled 250 or 300, for those that just absolutely think they can't live without the latest technology. Everyone is freaking out over how much maintenance they think the new 4-strokes will need. Instead, consider how little maintenance the trailbike based TTR-125 and TTR-225 engines need, plus no radiator, water pump, hoses, fluid, premix, etc. The little 125 has already proven that it is up to the task, with rider ego being it's biggest challenge to overcome. For us "larger" folks, who would like a little more displacement, the 225cc engine would probably be spot on. Heck, I would almost prefer that they don't come out with a water-cooled engine!

I know there is a great deal of controversy over using WD40. One of my riding buddies calls is one of the "best cutting fluids" around. One of my obsessions is keeping a clean bike, and I am always looking for ways to cut down on the effort involved in maintaining it. I always hated having to clean up the chain lube that slings all over the rim, tire, sprocket, etc. After trying a wide variety of chain lubes, and chain wax, I could never find one I was happy with. About 3 years ago, I made the switch to using WD40 instead. After cleaning my bike, I will spray the chain down well. Later, after letting it soak awhile, I take a shop towel and wipe off the excess from the outside of the chain. (Basically just grip the towel around the chain and rotate the back wheel.) The result is that the internals of the chain are now lubed with no sticky residue on the outside to collect dust & dirt. I would have to concure with the thoughts above and say that my chain wear is no worse than when using chain lube. WD40 is cheap enough, easy to use, and if you wipe off the excess, as I described, it will not sling all over the bike like chain lube does. I am definitely sold on it for a trials bike.

Interesting idea Steve. It is a shame that the trials arena doesn't contain the buck necessary for one of the distributors, or bike manufactures to supply a stable of equally prepared bikes for such an event. It would be great fun to watch for sure. Think about the old IROC events, or even the Toyota celebrity races, and how many bucks go into that just for the sake of advertising. It is a shame our sport is not on that same level. Isn't the Scorpa 4-stroke neat? Everyone is quick to offer negative opinions, until they ride one. It is definitely not just a "trailbike", as many of the nay-sayers want it to be. While competitive stock, the 143cc kit with B&J Racing mods (http://www.bjracing.com/sy125f.htm), really bring it to life. Spoke to Bob Ginder, of B&J, at the Mid-Ohio AHRMA event, and he said that he will soon be testing a 160cc mod on his. It will be intersting to see where this goes. It is amazing how closely this parallels the modifications, and even displacement levels, done to the old Honda TL125. Only this time, we have a competitive weight and chassis. Bob was quite convinced that he would stay with the 125 vs the 250 2-stroke, listing the ease of not dealing with premix, no water pumps to go out, no radiators to drain and clean, no radiator hoses to damage, etc.

Such moral correction from someone who brings large bouncing breasts to every posting!

And $250 worth of drive chain to fit around it!

Signup starts at 9:00 am with the sections open at 10:30. We are still on for now, but this blasted rain just won't quit. It is not that we are opposed to a trial in the rain or mud, it is just that this particular location will hardly let you drive down the road to get to it, much less ride on it!

The Speed Channel is an actual channel and goes under that name. The hotel just may not have it in their cable package. Since you are in a hotel "in Houston", you are aware of the major rain storms we are having so far this week. Stands to reason, as we have an event planned for this Saturday! The kind of dirt (mud) that we have at this particular location is typically not ridable under these conditions, so we may not have it. Provided you can get web access while you are here, check out the Texas Trials website (www.texastrials.com) for directions, and updates as to whether it is still on, and maybe you can make it out.

Somehow, I would think that the camera would no longer be in very good condition, so I hope he is selling it cheap!

Good looking bike. Interesting that it has knobbies instead of trials tires, considering the low front fender and trials influence otherwise. BTW, the 200cc version of the Alp is also a 4-stroke Suzuki engine, and not 2-stroke as stated earlier. If you go back a few model years, the Alp did have a 2-stroke 250cc Beta motor.

I took this picture looking down on Fuji. The observer was directly to my right, also looking down. There was another observer at the exit of the section, which is behind Fuji and a little lower down, (You can see his yellow bib behind the tree.) but he did not really seem confident in scoring and was instead just parroting the number of fingers the observer next to me (or elsewhere in the section) was holding up. From the viewpoint of where I took the photo, I would have easily scored it as a 5. It did happen fast, but if your experienced at judging, it was easy to pick up on. Regardless, I did not see inconsistancy on the observer's part when it came to calling this particular motion at this portion of the section (throughout lap 1). What Fuji did was about the only way to get through it, to that point. However, once the front end was swung around to the left, and back onto the ground, the riders had to prepare to leap 3 to 4 feet up onto another rock ledge that would be to Fuji's left (where the minder is squatted down). I did see many riders roll back drastically, and repeatedly, in their attempts to make this next leap. I was even more dissappointed to see the observer not call a 5 for those.

Agreeing with me? No wonder I missed the point! BTW - I have also owned several Montesa, and still do! It just happens to be an old one. (74 Cota 247)

Count the spokes and you will find another, not so obvious at first glance, change. Wondered if they would go to 32 spoke wheels, and if so keep that wonderful rear rim design.