atomant

That would be interesting - have a WTC over 6 days like the SSDT in a different place around the world each year. Only need to go to one place then and would be way cheaper. Lots more riders could attend and ride against the top boys. Possibly worth televising too . One week of intense world round excitement! That should do it!! Sign up here

However, the US seems to have adopted golf which is IMO as eccentric as trials. Go figure. Golf has 3 main things that trials doesn't have - Its clean - Theres big money in it and you can drink beer when doing it

Speedway is easier to market than trials I would guess. Its in a stadium - easy to set up cameras and film it etc - and its fast and exciting. All motor sports which have a speed element and generally well supported - I wonder why that is Trials is exciting but non hardened enthusiasts only seem to like watching it when someone falls off in spectacular fashion from some great height! I was showing one of my sons friend some vid of Toni Bou doing his stuff and he was watching. When it ended he said, " Damn.. he didnt fall off. That would have been cool if he fell off from that big rock! [HA HA]" WTC is moving in that direction I think. Theres been quite a few injuries this year.

You been reading some of my earlier posts

Nice pics !! This lad has got some potential me thinks

The site of that belly getting too much for ya then

Thats the thing about the 320 2005 model - it was quite docile if you rode it like that and thats why I liked it so much. Have a go on a 2007/8 4t and see what you think. You may like it!

I too had one of the first 4t's 2005 model. Contrary to what has been said above, I think the motor was absolutely spot on. I did however change to a Keihin which made a difference and it was certainly my favourite bike I have ever had. If it wasn't for the starting problems I would still have it. (I traded it in before the upgrade kit came out). I don't think it felt heavy either. I am not a great rider so I tend to try and ride as smoothly as possible, and for the type of sections I was riding it was just spot on. I could ride it with no clutch and it would pick up easily and when you let rip it flew. I also dramatically improved my scoring on this bike Compare this to the 2007/8 one I rode recently for about an hour or so and it was a completely different beast. I didn't notice anything different in the geometry although the rear shock felt pretty responsive. The big change was the motor. I really didn't like it at all. Much more fiery and lumpy at slow revs with the clutch out. For someone of my limited ability, it wasn't for me and I was extremely disappointed that they messed with it so much when the motor was virtually right first time round. Maybe the top boys prefer it like that I don't know, but it wasn't for me. IMHO

what is that Aluminium bar across the handlebars? Edit. Just seen another pic further down. Looks like a knuckle protector. Does it work ?

Cant quite figure it out? If gas gas is so bad and has realibility problems then why year after year the suport line at the nationals (the line that is not factory sponsered) is dominated by gas gas(count them). I guess when you make a bike that is lighter snappier and handles better then you have to find somethg about it to bad mouth. Seriously i have no problems with any of my gassers and could have spent more on plastic alone on my other bikes than i have on my gassers total. Yes, Gassers are always getting stick but there is a price to pay when the customer wants a lightweight bike. Components have to be made on the edge of functionality over durability. But yes a lot of people have them p.s. It might also be due to the fact they are easy to ride? p.p.s I thought those 3 spoke wheels on the Xispa had been outlawed. I hope they dont use these bikes at the WTC

Geeez, why are you boys getting all excited over some new stickers

Two guys and their wives decide to have a round of golf and as they walk onto the first tee, the ladies suggest they will walk on down to the ladies tee and wait for them to tee off. The first guy sets up his ball on the tee and lets rip with the driver. The ball flies forward and hits his wife clean on the back of her head knocking her forward to the floor. "Oh my god" his playing partner shouts! The lady is rushed to hospital and is in surgery when after a while the surgeon comes out and says to the man. "Its ok, Your wife will be fine but there is something that's puzzling me!" "What's that " the golfer says. "Well, we found a Titleist 1 embedded in the back of her head, but we also found a Titleist 3 up her backside" The golfer says.. " Well, I had to hit a provisional didnt I "

Impressed to see the complete opposite of the normal 'head in the sand' mentality associated with problems like this! Great job to everyone involved Hopefully other trials clubs with similar problems (and enough money) can read this and use it for inspiration

I agree with you...it shouldn't. In fact, I wouldn't have bought a four-stroke without EFI. The computer bails you out of so many mistakes, it's amazing. The computer is programmed to not let the engine die, and it does its best, within the program's parameters, to make sure the engine continues to run. If we didn't know about computers, we'd call it "magic". Remember the old days of carbureted four-strokes, where they'd die if you wicked the throttle wide open from idle? Those days are gone with EFI. The system is designed to not let that happen, and it does its job both incredibly well and wholly transparently. A carb is to EFI what points are to a CDI. Spot on (big fan of EFI ) Ian640, your post sounds like you are trying to find every reason you can think of to justify NOT buying a 4RT! Not sure why you specify the Motor has to be Japanese? As you cite nostalgia as the reason, you may want a motor that feels more like a conventional 4T and for me that would be a Sherco 4T

I wont be riding as you know Im in the Maldives then And if I weren't, I still wouldn't ride it as it requires more skill than I have I have 'officated' at the last 2 and they are great events run by the best club I know of in this area. The venue is superb as you know so feel free to have a go

We have been conditioned all year to think Doug will be retiring at the end of this season but he can still cut the mustard! Would love to see him give it at least another year

Glad to hear your back on the not so straight and narrow again matey

If that's the case, someone else will be paying! He aint daft

endless mapping options for tunability . IMHO Which is completly useless in the hand's of novice's and probaly allways will be. Think we might be getting mixed up with people buying the montesa for it's Hi Tech gadget's which does'nt make them a better rider in which case it's not the best 4 stroke. I have to admit montesa played a blinder there they thought how can we sell more bike's,ohh let's put a Hi Tech map onit people love that kind of thing. I beg to differ as its far from completely useless and far from being a gimmick either. Its just a very very simple way of adjusting ignition timing etc without getting your hands dirty. Also, some guys can do the mapping themselves and for those that cant, they can take it to someone else who can do it for them. (If you can use a computer, you could learn how to connect up to the bike and map it. Honest ) Its not even Hi-Tech! Its been around since the 60's and digital EFI become mainstream in 1985. Today, 95% of cars have EFI.* *source :http://www.sdsefi.com/techtheo.htm

As you know, it takes more than the bike to win the championship My reasoning on the 4RT is simply its quality of build, virtually no reliability problems, endless mapping options for tunability and more and more people are buying them Always a good sign of a good machine if more peeps are buying them. Compare that to the Sherco 4T and there's no comparison. (even the new one ) . The Scorpa hasn't become very popular either. The beta 4T could be the next best but there isn't enough of them about to give a fair comparison against a 4RT to say its better. (I am aware of a top local rider who had one but he said that it was underpowered so he has sold it now although It would probably be fine for most of us ) IMHO

Agreed, however, I would say that the 4RT is currently the best 4 stroke trials bike. I would also say that the 4RT sales this year have done better as a percentage increase than any other bike! obviously to the detriment of other makes.

Does it help you balance better?

Ok, I have read all the above regarding what is at stake with all the big sponsorship and riders positions etc etc , but what positive effect to the outcome has there been now the volunteers have been given fines? Nothing I doubt! I expect though that it has completely alienated the hundreds of people who give up there free time to do the job for no reward. Absolutely great decision.

Sorry to hear that and hope that Jack recovers soon