atomant

Jeez what is the matter with you people ! If you can't see that bike looks impressive FOR A PROTOTYPE , then you must need a trip to specsavers ! Also, comments like "Well, now we know the vertigo can run for more than 5 minutes and do what Dougie could have done 10 years ago on a Beta." sometimes I wonder why these people who invest millions of their own wealth ( and lets face it, will never get it back), bother sometimes.

After just watching that vid, I think Raga would be good on that bike ( if they can't get Bou) . It looks the dogs danglies very very impressive

After seeing that for the first time, I have to say that bike looks outstanding - The power delivery looks incredibly balanced and powerful - It looks elegant and flows over the obstacles so the suspension is working well - it looks lightweight too and It has blown me away - Simply the best prototype bike I have ever seen and will easily be a threat to the other marques. Great Job

No-stop could have been done so much better. The problem I have always felt is in the section design and suitable terrain to create incredible non-stop sections. Taking the skills of the top riders and watching them do their tricks whilst in motion could have been much more of a spectacle than stop - brrrrraaaaapppppp - Splat - Repeat ad infinitum ... It's skilful yes, but it's tired .... and my thoughts were making sections that gave new opportunities to develop new skills whilst on the move was the way to go. That doesn't appear to have happened.. such an opportunity missed I feel

With reference to the electric water pump. If it fails, then what indication does the rider get that it has failed and how quickly would he/her know ? I was just thinking that if the water stopped pumping whilst at speed across the moors, you would want to know pretty quickly that there was a problem don't you think?

You mean nothing else around right now on a trials bike?

My first impressions are that the team who worked on it have done a fantastic job. I suspect it is going to cost a few bob though as the mention of a Vertigo club suggest to me they are looking at the top end of the market. Lets see ..

OK the show is open so where are the pics ???

Yeah well both my legs fell off and then I had the best clean round of my life after that

How do electric trials bikes fair in this argument with the landowner about noise and pollution?

It's interesting seeing what Arthur is wearing. A full face helmet too

I agree. What exactly can be 'high tech' on a trials bike? I will say that the geometry of the machine will be a virtual carbon copy of the others so not expecting anything different there. Note : If the frame is made from titanium, that doesn't make it high tech by the way

I'm not suggesting trials changes for the masses who ride now, I was just asking why Lampkin/Bou aren't more popular than they are.. after all , I read somewhere that Dougie Lampkin is the UK's most successful sportsman of all time. Simply because he has won more world titles in his chosen sport than anyone else has in theirs.. but still , he isn't a household name

The 'set' of skills displayed by a top rider are now all too familiar. Wheelies with a foot out.. boring , Endo's , boring back wheel hoping, boring - These are all skills I first saw Steve Saunders do on a Beta in the 80's and then it was impressive. And it still is impressive as it's skills I can only dream of possessing, but as a spectator, it's just so boring I don't go and watch it any more. There is the odd piece of sheer brilliance ( normally from Bou or Fujigas) that makes us go wow ( as the video below), but otherwise it's predictable and boring for the general public.. Maybe instead of people talking about innovation on the machines, what about innovation for the sport ? sadly lacking maybe? Although , how could trials ever compete with this ?????

It does look like the fantic frame in the image..

No-stop or stop allowed won't make much difference to their popularity outside trials though will it ? ....

Yes mate where have you been ? hope you are well too ...

You are talking about this - Robbie Maddison - The thing is, as much as I admire the skills of the elite trials riders, I am more Impressed by the feat of Robbie in this video. Now that's what you call a drop off !

Nelson Mandela is sitting at home watching the telly when he hears a knock at the door. When he opens it, he is confronted by a little Chinese man, clutching a clip board and yelling, "You sign! You sign!" Behind him is an enormous truck full of car exhausts. Nelson is standing there in complete amazement, when the Chinese man starts to yell louder. "You sign! You sign!" Nelson says to him, "Look mate, you've obviously got the wrong bloke. Push off", and shuts the door in his face. The next day he hears a knock at the door again. When he opens it, the little Chinese man is back with a huge truck of brake pads. He thrusts his clipboard under Nelson's nose, yelling, "You sign! You sign!". Mr Mandela is getting a bit hacked off by now, so he shoves the little Chinese man back, shouting: "Look, push off! You've got the wrong bloke! I don't want them!" Then he slams the door in his face again. The following day, Nelson is resting, and late in the afternoon, he hears a knock on the door again. On opening the door, there is the same little Chinese man thrusts a clipboard under his nose, shouting "You sign! You sign!" Behind him are TWO very large trucks full of car parts. This time Nelson loses his temper completely, he picks up the little man by his shirt front and yells at him; "Look, I don't want these! Do you understand? You must have the wrong name! Who do you want to give these to?" The little Chinese man looks at him very puzzled, consults his clipboard, and says: "You not Nissan Maindealer?"

Before I got through to Seaworld, I had to say "Jump through the hoop! Do a flip!" They said my call may be recorded for training porpoises. So I met this bloke with a didgeridoo and he was playing Dancing Queen on it. I thought... that's Abboriginal. Phrases from, and for, the Golfers among us... An Adolf Hitler - taking two shots in a bunker An Arthur Scargill - a great strike but a poor result A Kate Winslett - a bit fat but otherwise perfect A Rodney King - over-clubbed An O.J. Simpson - somehow got away with it A Condom - safe but didn't feel real good A sister-in-law - up there, but I know that I shouldn't be A Paula Radcliffe - ugly but a good runner A Kate Moss - a bit thin Taking a Gerry Adams - hitting a provisional ball A nipple licker - a shot that opens up the hole A Maradonna - a very nasty little five footer A Salman Rushdie - an impossible read A Rock Hudson - thought it was straight, but it wasn't A ladyboy - Looks like an easy hole but all may not be what it seems Putting like a gynaecologist's assistant - shaving the hole

Thanks for all the relevant contributions to this post.. This topic is something that has for a long while intrigued me and obviously no one has sussed it yet and done anything about it so it must be elusive.... ?

Back on topic .. I think the most obvious point is the way trials is marketed. As I mentioned earlier, the way the riders dress in lycra is just not manly is it? I think trials probably has a huge gay following due to Lycra ( Andy can tell you about that ) The other thing is people regard Motorcycles as being dirty, noisy, non environmentally friendly things and they do not look at home in an environment like the Isle of Skye.. If Toni Bou did most of that video then there would be an outcry of damaging the beauty of the landscape.. However, in a metropolitan concrete type location they do look like they have a place. So a motorbike has an industrial image and a cycle a naturalistic image. how can that be changed? Also, some friends I have spoken to think it's the machine that helps them to be able to do those tricks, yet on a cycle, they think its all the skill of the rider.. There is a misconception. The thing is for me, it is in the interest of all of us if trials were more popular. More competitive machines ( If they sell more they can be more competitive) . More 3rd party parts available at good prices (as the market is bigger). More money in the sport will always help a bit... etc etc . what do you think?

To all you language snobs..... do this quick test and if you honestly know all the answers and get 10 out of 10, then fair play.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22512744 - if you don't... accept that you're not perfect ( like me ) and deal with it

Honda have sponsored Toni's videos - Redbull have sponsored Dougies videos -- They aren't short of a few bob.. and yet the videos haven't done anything in viewing figures.. Its not about money...

This possibly has something to do with it ? COOL UN-COOL This outfit simply doesn't relate to people - even in trials itself, only a few people wear it. - For the videos, the look of the rider needs to change and become more urban, more earthy. Something that people can relate to maybe?