scorpa3

I gave up on my 04 Rev 3 after the second new stator packed in completely within 5 trials, luckily it was covered under warranty however that doesn't make up for missing two events. It is so frustrating getting to a trial, signing on and the bike has died. BVM gave me a brilliant price for the bike against a new Scorpa, even though it wasn't running. They had the puller in stock, as I remember, they posted one to me next day for

Perfect, just add in one word to the start of the fourth line: Stopping,..... Now we're there. Easy & Simple to explain.

At one time I would have said the Beta's have the best build quality, but they do suffer badly from electrical failure (if you get a bad one like I did.) A good rule to follow is; 'have a look at everything and buy by condition.' A well looked after Gas Gas is a better buy than a thrashed and abused Scorpa, although the Scorpa has very good build quality when new.

If you have a photo on your current 'licence' then you don't need to send another. The form does need to be signed and stamped by your club.

Have I got this right then? If the FIM decide to go full non stop and the World Trials Chappies all start riding non stop (which they of course would, to great effect, no problem)many people would refuse to ride and observe and club trials would suffer?

Interesting idea. AM & PM trials, that makes for a long day. As a regular trial organiser, I just can't imagine asking our experts to turn up and observe the Clubmen at 10am when they aren't going to ride until 2pm. Then asking the clubman to finish riding and stand around soaking wet, muddy and cold for another three hours in the rain observing the Experts. I might be wrong, but if I tried this idea I have a feeling I would be the only person to turn up. Plus I would be clearing the course in total darkness at the end. Still an interesting idea though. Anyone else think it could work in the UK?

Spot on Ish, let the circus also know as the World Championship do what they like & let the rest of us ride no stop. Make the rules straight forward & the riders will come. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep, and the newcomers and Youth riders will all learn to keep moving otherwise they will get a five. AND... the best riders will still be the best riders.

I insure my trials bike as a second bike along with my road bike, so I can't say how much it would cost to insure on its own. It is only 3rd party fire & theft though. The theft bit is the imortant bit for me as I only ride on the road maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

Wow thats cool! Network to the secretaries lap top, then onto the web site for instant access via spectators mobile phones. Brilliant! Even better, riders can then have head up displays on their helmets to see their positon in the event. Seriously, what a good tool. This would be ideal for our National which requires the observer to communicate with the punch card marker at the end of the section.

My local dealer had no problem finding insurance through Norwich Union for my Scorpa SY, however there is an exclusion which means that I am not covered if riding in an event. In the mean time I take out the ACU's 3rd party insurance for road trials which is only

here here!!

Nothing stops you from making your own rules for a trial providing (for ACU events) your rules do not contravene the 'sporting code' of the ACU. eg If in your regs it states 'riders must do the first lap of the trial on foot carrying an egg on a spoon.' Then that is what happens.

I am a huge admirer of Doug and he should be given the praise and encouragement which he deserves, especially from forums such as this, however please allow me to play devils advocate here for a minute; As a mere club rider, occasional observer and regular organiser, I don't give a squat about Doug riding in this country. Perhaps he is forced to ride in Spain, so what? Like so many hundreds (maybe thousands) of riders across the country every weekend, although I admire the World Championship riders, I know I will never be able to ride like them. What I do know is, that I enjoy riding in club trials in my area. With this in mind, we need to make it as simple as possible for the people who organise, run and ride in these events week in, week out. It will do the vast majority of riders no good what so ever to be allowed to hop skip and loop the loop with yet more complicated rules, it is likely to make the organisers job far harder. Like many of you reading this, I regularly have to try and find 10 (or more) willing volunteers to observe at one of our events. Finding observers is the only job worse than actually observing. I feel that straight forward no stop rules would make observing easier and perhaps (I say perhaps) make observers easier to find. This is worth far more to me than the prospect of Doug riding in one of our events because we have the same rules as the world championship. Now I'm in trouble I guess....

Riders (including me) hate to get a five for stopping in non stop trials, that is true. A 1 for stopping is far preferable. However, under the stop = 1 rule, a stationary sideways bounce is a five. How many observers (also including me) have ever given a five for this? And be honest, we see it all the time don't we? What ever rule is applied, we are going to have disagrements, it's the nature of the sport. We have to loose marks otherwise there is no element of competition. In my opinion, the simplest rule to employ is non stop. The best riders will still be the best riders.

I agree Stuart. Full non stop is the answer. If the front wheel ceases moving in a forward direction then you have failed. Simple to understand for both riders observers and spectators. Don't blame the ACU though, they adopted FIM rules then the FIM changed them again. Now even the FIM are talking about non stop again. They are the ones messing us about.

Ohh you got me there, I just went to have a look at page 89! Duuuuh

I'm jealous! I was really pleased to find a new venue on the Cotswolds to hold a trial which is 50yds x 500yds. Just look at those views. Gonna go and cry now. ps I believe there is a thicker head gasket available for the 300 which softens it down a little, also grease the rear suspension linkeage right now and do it a couple of times a year without fail. Once they squeak they are shot and they cost a fortune.

John, thank you for your honest reply. The points which you mention more or less sums up the thoughts and concerns of myself and many of the replies on this thread. The Clerk of the Course is responsible for the risk assessments, even if he/she doesn't carry out the assessment in person. I appreciate that the members of the Trials & Enduro committee are not professional risk assessors, and therefore do not have or can not give the full answer to the issues that have been raised. However, I feel that licenced Clerks of the Course need to have more detailed information on the type of risks that we are being asked to assess and the method of assessing those risks correctly. Correctly being the important word. As you have no doubt read in some of the well informed replies on this thread, many if not all of the risks which will need to be assessed are generic to all trials events. I am sure and I suspect you agree, that full risk assessments (and the corresponding 'safe systems of work') will be with us fully at some point in the future, so to ensure that the assessments are done to the neccesary standard we have little choice but to look to yourselves for detailed guidance and training. This is an issue that will not go away no matter how much we all wish it would, but unpaid volunteers can only be expected to do so much off their own back. I for one trust that the ACU will give us the best help and advice possible, I just hope that help and advice comes soon.

I must say the black wheels look good on the 06's

I have spoken to top man (and his no2) in the Trials & Enduro committee about this, in person. They are trying to play this down but agree that it is inevitable that every event will at some point in the future, need a full risk assessment to be carried out and signed ny the Clerk of the Course, who then takes on the responsibility in law. Yes they are taking advice but at the moment are not in a position to give us any, other than to say "anything is better than nothing." It is also correct that "insurances may be void" if the paperwork has not been completed and acted upon correctly. The Trials & Enduro committee also said that if anyone has a better form for risk assessments then they would be happy to consider using it. It's no good thinking that this will go away if we ignore it.

I started this thread because I spoke to some ACU Trials & Enduro committee members recently following the inclusion of a RA form with every set of permits issued for an event. They (the ACU) have put the system in place but their guidance is very, very limited but they HAVE done their bit. It's now up to the Clerk of the Course at each event to do the rest. That's where my main concern lies. My signature on a RA makes me reponsible despite having had no training. What happens then when things go wrong? I am seriously concerned about all this.

Well thats the obvious thing then to please everyone. Where possible, run an event on the saturday before remembrance day and donate the funds to the people who fought in the wars.(Not just WW2 either) Sorted! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Perfect solution. Gets my vote!

I really like my Scorpa. I had a good second hand one in 2002 and kept it for two years with no problems. Following a season with Gas Gas and a brief (electrically challenged) time on a new Rev 3, I've purchased a new 05 SY250. Being an old (over 40) club rider, I find that a slow action throttle helps me in the muddy sections which we get in the Midlands. I really rate the Scorpa, and there are few quality problems to worry about. It's not exactly cutting edge and it certainly isn't the lightest but after 12 months it won't look like an old wreck unlike some bikes I've owned. For me, it will do much much more than I will ever ask it to, and it flatters my very limited ability.

Just my personal thoughts about the 250-300 question. I tried both the '06 250 and 300 back to back recently and found the 250 to be far easier to ride. I am not an advanced level rider, but would describe myself as an average clubman, but I can honestly say - for me- I would loose a lot more marks on the more powerful machine. That said; I also tried the 290 Sherco and that was so forgiving in the low to mid range that I could ride that ok. So the big engine thing has a degree of perception.