neils on wheels

Yes we are and we also learnt more about trials bike design from looking at pictures on the internet than Jordi Tarres did from winning seven world titles.

Is double spark ignition possibly just the same as the dual map switch some other 2Ts have? I think Hidra also make the Sherco ignition. Other new entrants Ossa & Jotagas entered the market at a premium price with novelty/rarity their only advantage. Performance, quality & reliability were no better, arguably worse than established brands. Everyone is also expecting the Vertigo to be premium price. If TRS can enter at a mainstream price & not feel they have to have the biggest truck in the paddock or a huge factory full of expensive working capital they could take some decent market share & make a go of it. I expect to see Raga on one next year & his results this year riding out of the RFME truck have been the same as when he had half,of the Gas Gas factory in the paddock.

Thanks

Its good to see what the bike will look like. Not surprisingly it is rather like the Jotagas. Perhaps not as innovative as they could have been with the carb & mechanical water pump versus the Vertigo with fuel injection & an electric water pump. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with proven technology. Anyone know who is the rider in the video?

Honda are still in Spain through a manufacturing & assembly alliance that means Honda avoid paying import duty on bikes brought into Spain due to their local manufacture.

Indeed it is and I agree that the 2015 4RT at £4,999 looks relatively good value.

I think you've just answered your own question there Jimmy

Which permutation of: black frame / white frame / red frame with red plastics / white plastics haven't they tried yet?

Well that clears things up then! When two respected figures of the trials world, Jordi Tarres & Steve Saunders, cannot work with this company, it does not bode well.

It's a competition, not a charity event.

There seems to be more optimism that the mountain bike forks & shocks could survive. If you look at the Singletrack website there is a statement from the UK Marzocchi cycle importer.

They might have to rethink that one! I imagine unpaid Gas Gas debts would not have helped.

It seems that this week the holding company of Marzocchi (Tenneco) has announced the closure and liquidation of the business. Their press release is here: http://www.tenneco.com/tenneco_announces_intention_to_discontinue_its_marzocchi_suspension_business/

That's not how liquidation works, Biffs. Whatever a buyer pays for any or all assets will be used to pay-off the debts. The likely shortfall to €37M will be lost by the creditors and Gas Gas wound up. If one party buys all of the assets & starts a new company then the financing of the company will appear on the balance sheet. It is plausible that if some party felt the assets & goodwill were worth €20M, they could raise finance & the new company would have €20M debt on the balance sheet from day one.

Is that as standard, or does it have any weight saving bits?

I agree Montesa have very confused branding in what is now a three model line-up. 4RT 260 is the entry model Race Replica is the middle bike 300RR is the top model The factory HRC team riders have a bike that looks like the mid-level customer one (but we all now it's very trick) The Montesa supported riders such as Karlsson ride the top model that is disguised to look like the entry model customers can buy One thing I would like to see is Montesa and indeed others, offering the chance to configure a bike as we can do when buying a new car, a van or a bicycle. For example, I might like the chassis mods & the weight saving of the "RR" but without the extra engine power. Or I might like an "RR" styled like the HRC Repsol bikes, why can't I specify that? Surely at the low volumes and hand assembly of these bikes such customer configuration to order could be easily achieved.

You can buy a small metal fuel bottle from a camping store. Somewhat more robust than a coke bottle! Just don't mix it up with your water!,

On what basis?

Adding weight to the bike isn't cheating. Taking it off again in a competition might be.

Addict, I've read this from you & from others. Could you have a go at describing the different technique compared to a two stroke?I mentioned the high tickover because on the occasions I've ridden a 4RT I've found it difficult to trickle along smoothly on no/low throttle. I'd be happy to concede my technique being at fault as I've not had extensive experience on a 4RT. Nonetheless I am attracted to them as I fancy doing some more road based trials like the Normandale series.

Raga finished where you would expect, 2nd, despite no factory truck.

Lower the weight by 10% Lower the tickover by 30% Keep the rest as-is. Job done

I doubt that he would... ...but it would be interesting for us to find out.

Because the other guy has got one ;-)

Grim, but not unexpected, news. It is unclear from all statements so far whether Gas Gas Motos insolvency is based upon lack of liquidity (i.e. they don't have cash available to pay the bills) or negative assets (i.e. the value of debt is greater than the value of assets, the business thus has negative value). This is significant in determining whether the business may, or may not, survive as a going concern and may, or may not, attract a potential buyer. Notwithstanding the financial issues, I feel for Shirty. He & his family have been huge supporters of the UK trials scene for many years & whatever happens to Gas Gas Motos, I hope he still has a business, though that must feel far from certain right now.