jj65

The standard 2012 bike is excellent, BUT :0) you can improve it, depending on how deep your pockets are, BUT, you really don't need to do anything. Most of what I've done is bling/farkle ;0). Have a gander on BANYERERS site if you find the need to spend some more :0), Josep was Fuji's minder and mechanic and is still involved, so knows a thing or two about Monts. The way a bike is set up can make or break how it rides.

Your lovely new Repsol Rep, is nothing like the Factory bikes, apart from looking very similar. Each works bike is hand built, most of what you cannot see, is custom made, buy either HRC, or a 3rd party, of either titanium, magnesium alloy or carbon fibre. The frame is stock as far as I know, but the suspension is nothing like a customer bike, the engine is completely custom and the bike weighs less than RAGA's bike. There quite a few stock parts on it, but all the important bits are much lighter. I've had mine for 10 months now, love it, even though I am completely unable to ride it to a decent standard (novice over 40). Ive spent a bit changing to a flat tank, Colomer levers ;0), renthal grips, Mitani 27mm front pipe and 9 - 43 sprockets to gear it down (slows the bike down in tight sections). If you haven't got or had a 2 stroke, you should find no problems adapting to the 4 stroke style. Just make sure you adjust all the controls to how they should be and how you like them, don't open the throttle when you start the bike and if you have any problems with it starting (there a bit harder before there run in), don't keep kicking it over, just reset the throttle and it will start first kick. (Piddocks do a mod that improves starting, speak to Mick). It's a great bike and seen a bit of a revival around these parts lately, it's not like any other bike and is a bit like marmite, but virtually everyone I know who has one thinks it's the best bike they've ever had. Hope you do too.

I'd say there off an old MX bike, judging by the length of the extension of the leg beyond the axle.

Ohlins gold is a good replacement for half the OEM price.

Yes, a £1000 is alot of money, but, if there Air Cadets, Army Cadets or Sea Cadets, then that's there interest, not motorcycle trials, why would they want to commit to 10 Sunday's a year for trials when they could be shooting with the Army, flying gliders with the Airforce and sailing with the Navy, it would have an element of cost too. Now if it were a one off motorcycle experience weekend, where they got a chance to try Trials and learn observing as part of that, maybe their parents would be happy for them to take part. If you pay observers £10 or £20 in expenses, surley your not employing them, they are volunteers and it would be their responsibility to declare what they have been given, to the tax man. If you only have that choice, as in not enough observers and do not want to scrub sections, then I am not criticising you, it's your club and you run it how you see fit, I'm just saying, it kinda makes Observed Trials, a non competition, if the competitors are scoring themselves, as the temptation to cheat is there for those that are that way inclined. Every trial I've ridden, there's been people watching, we just have to find a way to encourage them to join in and hopefully they may wish to start observing. I know it's very difficult and I don't have a good answer to it, but, we the riders have to decide what we can do to rectify the problem. Maybe many on this sit would be happy to pay £25 to £50 to enter a trial knowing all the work involved in the trial is covered so they can ride, but I have my doubts, it's a cheap Motorsport, or relatively cheap, but many people have alot less spare cash, so we have to find other ways of keeping our sport, fun, cheap and with enough volunteers to run it. Everyone needs to do their bit to keep it going and I know that most, if not all who have commented are doing their bit. THANKS

If you want: Reliable, Mont. Not loud, Beta, although the new Monts are quieter than the pre 09's. Sweet bottom end, either a Mont with a Laia sanz fuel map, or the 2012 mont, only had a quick go on a Beta, so not sure on that one. Good grip, Beta is very good, but so is a lower geared Mont, with a good fuel map (as above). You can get a good long ride fuel seat combo for the Monts, not sure about the Beta. Try and get a good go on both and then enjoy your choice ;0)

Bloody Ballsy riding, but he still fived it though ;0) New move for Mr Bou, me thinks :0)

no ! I didn't mean it :0) I wouldn't ban anything, choice is a good thing, it would be boring if we all rode the same thing. But the 4RT rocks ;0). Electric, no thanks, hydrogen powered Honda 4RT H2o, yes please, although the liquid hydrogen tank might be a bit of a problem ;0).

Don't hold back, say what you mean, Justin :0)

Grimbo is "The Man" and he's just such a nice bloke too. Hope you have a great year Graham. Thanks for the vid Johnny.

Yeh but, "it's kind to your hands" and will do 49 air filter washes more than a cheaper brand ;0)

I use genuine Honda filters, but clean them with fairy liquid and water solution, haven't had any probs with mine. I have got a 4RT filter and alternate between the two.

Anyone got any news, I understand he's damaged his knee.

I'll have a Fiver on Ross

There is no them and us, experts, clubman, observer etc, etc, we're all in the same club, we all have a passion for the sport we enjoy. The problem is, people are competitive , some more so than others, so want to win, or beat a mate. It doesn't matter what rules we ride, the observer can be strict or lenient, what we all must do, is accept things will never be perfect, observers aren't robots, their humans, get distracted, make mistakes, etc, etc. as a rider, I've had marks given that I thought were wrong and a 5 is a hard penalty if you thought it was incorrect, but I have never questioned an observer over it, it's a bummer and I've just accepted it because, I know that he can see things that I can't, he can see if I've moved backwards, whereas I am fighting trying to keep moving forward and think I'm still moving forwards. When a rider drops down a slope and hops their rear around a tree, most I saw on Sunday that did it on a particular section, stopped, some did it with the front wheel still moving, but the majority of the riders didn't even bother to hop, they just rode with both wheels on the ground and moving forwards for a clean. Maybe the answer is not to use punch cards that the rider carries, just a board with the observer. Then no one gets angry, argues and rides off in a huff, the atmosphere is better at the end of the trial and the results are published at the end of the trial. I hear people moaning about no stop, it's boring, it takes away the skills we've learnt, no it isn't and no it hasn't, you just need to learn some new skills and combine the two. You can still hop, pivot and jump, you just have to keep moving FORWARD without STOPPING, please, because otherwise, don't be surprised if an observer gives you a 5 for stopping in a NO STOP trial. I find it quite hard when observing, to concentrate on observing, rather than watching the trial, I really like watching the riders as a spectator, but observing isn't that, observing is concentrating on the bike, has it stopped, moved back, what's their feet doing, are they using that tree to lean on, can those riders please move so I can see etc, etc. I not hard, but, it can be challenging and you don't want to give a wrong mark, but you also don't want to see riders taking the pee, (sometimes the section gets cleared like a main road by the riders feet, I sometimes feel like bring a shovel ;0) ) I also don't want to have an argument, it's my day off and I want to enjoy it, just like the riders do. I could be out riding my own bike in a club trial, but I feel and want to put something back into the sport I enjoy, I see Stuart and all our club friends working their nuts off to get this trial ready, every year, it takes an awfull lot of hours for the NBMCC to organise and prepare the Wallace and if you haven't got 36 observers, CoC, secretary etc, etc, there's not going to be a trial. So let's stop arguing about the rules and just all agree to disagree on everything, cos it ain't ever going to be perfect, it's an amature sport, just enjoy what you've got.

I'm just doing my local TSB over, then it's all mine And I'd ride it too

As an experienced rider, you already have a good understanding of the rules , go to your club and volunteer your services, you could stand with another experienced observer for a day, or move round the sections watching and scoring for your own purposes and compare them with the observer on that section (tell them you are going to do this because you want to become an observer). Once you've done a few trials and feel confident, speak to any of the clubs that run a trial you want to observe at, (there is always a shortage of observers and helpers, at club trials, but the some are quite popular). The main thing, be consistant with YOUR scoring, as long as you treat everyone fairly and equally, you shouldn't have too many problems. it's not an easy job, well, it is, and isnt, it just depends on how thick skinned you are, the guy on section 35 of the Wallace, will tell you that. Well done Johnny for thinking about doing this after reading the thread on the Wallace Cup. This sport would probably not exist if it wasn't for all the volunteers, who help run the club, national and WTC. Thanks to you all.

Well, going on what I've seen, if Dan rode the whole trial like that, he is a worthy winner, "the best man on the day, won". Well done Dan Thorpe

No matter what the rule used, stop or no stop, a rider can benefit from a particular observers interpretation of the rules or how strict they are on observing those rules ( there are many reasons this happens) this is a fact of life, each rider has at sometime, got away with a clean etc, etc, they don't mind or complain then. We could have professional observers, fully trained and accountable, if riders are happy to pay about

These people maybe able to help you: http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/

Let's see it then Johnnyb :icon

The price is not unreasonable, for a quality product, which is what JotaGas have stated it will be. Any product is priced at what a company thinks the market will accept and their price is at the top end, just below the OSSA. They are a small company, making a small volume product and expect to make a reasonable profit and cover R&D costs etc, etc. It looks like it has been made well, but will probably have a few little problems, as has just about every new bike that's ever been made. It's how JotaGas deal with them, that will make or break the sales. The first test confirms its a quality product and has what it takes for a great ride, how it stands up to everyday use, well, we'll find out once they start delivering them and the owners will soon either be singing it's praises or not. We should commend JotaGas for being brave enough to proceed with the product in such hard times, I wish them and Steve, all the best of luck and hope its a great success.

Justin Just finished prepping me bike for tomorrow and just sat down to relax and get mentally intune with the task of beating Bro tomorrow just surfing my favourite sites and read the great news about Jonathan May the 4orce be with me, I need all the help I can get

Great news for Montesa fans, Jonathan Richardson has just signed a 2 Year contract to ride a factory supplied 4RT With Pidcocks Montesa which means Honda and Montesa will be around for atleast 2 more years.