garrym

the wheels will still have spokes and the sprocket will still have sharp teeth, so I don't buy the safety aspect, and were the sprockets not strong enough before? I've never known one crumble.

I agree, Thats_A_five, I need three pairs of hands for a job like that and I can see the first aid kit coming out if I try! Time to admit defeat I think. BTW, I disconnected the kill switch in the forlorn hope that it was the culprit. Many thanks to all for your advice.

Thanks to all for those nuggets! I guess the next step is to remove the flywheel. There's a nut in the centre that seems to be impossible to remove, it just turns the wheel when in gear and the brakes aren't strong enough to hold it still to loosen it, Will penetrating oil help? Looks like I may have to shell out for one of my local bike shops to have a look, either that or put the kid up for adoption!

We've had an electrical issue on my lad's GG TXT 70 Rookie, 2003. There was no spark, so first things first, checked the plug, it was fine, so digging a bit deeper, all the earth connectors are ok, the HT lead is fine, as far as we can tell. My dad checked these with a multi meter, I know nothing about electrics but the meter beeped so he was happy with it. Next, we checked the resistance on the wires coming up from behind the flywheel to the little control unit, and we didn't get a reading on the meter when I kicked the engine over. Does this sound like the stator? The wires disappear behind the back of the flywheel so we can't check the connection at that end. Is it possible/advisable to get the flywheel off to look. And is the stator something that we can replace ourselves? Any wisdom gratefully received.

I agree with Lockie. My 14 year old has been on a 125 for a year, and should have been sooner really. His riding will improve in no time on one.

My lad went from a PW50 to a Rev 50 when he was 7 and did ok on it after three or four outings. Changing gear whilst moving was the hardest bit for him to learn but he got there in the end. He's on a 125 these days. My 8 year old lad is now on a GG TXT 70 Rookie and loving it, but he can't pull it round a tree or over a rock like he could if he was on a Beta Minitrial or a GG 50, so he can't enter trials at the moment. I like both the Gasser and the Rev50 but I suspect the Gasser would be more reliable, and the smaller size would make proper trials riding easier, important if he wants to compete. If you can afford to change bikes regularly, then get the GG for now and move up to the Rev or the bigger GG later. If like me you can't chop and change, he'll probably manage with the Rev50 if he's tall enough. PS. Don't confuse the Beta Minitrial with a Beta Rev 50, I've seen that mistake on ebay loads of times, 2 very different machines.

Can anyone recommend an insurance policy for my kids bikes? The bikes are not road legal or registered and never will be. The kids haven't passed any tests nor do they have a no claims bonus, they're 13 & 8. The bikes won't be going anywhere near a road except on the trailer. We just need them insuring in case of theft from storage. All the policies that I've looked at so far require the bikes to be road registered or SORNed and/or the rider to have a licence. The bikes are a Rev3 125 and a GG TXT70. Any help gratefully received, I feel like I'm on borrowed time without it and did lose a couple of bikes a while back and the missus is still giving me earache about it.

Phil Disney used to do trials displays at Bradford Speedway years ago. I guess he wasn't available for Cardiff so they had to go with Bou.

Bumpy is the Birstall Urban Motorcycle Project for Youth (geddit?) and is based south of Leeds, just off J27 M62. They do On-Road training and have a 9 acre trials park with various terrain to suit all abilities. They have excellent facilities, a small shop, loos, changing room, jet wash etc. and can provide tuition bike hire and trials training. Well worth a visit. It was set up as a charity by the police in 1989 to provide somewhere legal for youngsters to ride and has developed into an excellent facility. http://www.bumpy.org.uk

My 2 kids have had plenty from Bumpy over the years, and they've both done well out of it. They don't come much better than Dan Thorpe. He used to do training days during the school holidays. not sure if he still does. Julian Ford and Chris Waters both know what they're doing too along with the young volunteers, who will follow the less confident riders around the course. Bumpy has been a great place for us over the last few years and continues to be. All the staff there are terrific, and the facilities are great. Not been to Cowm yet, but hopefully this year we will.

My lad got a rev 3 for Christmas and I replaced the decals beforehand. Heat gun or hair dryer to remove the old ones but be careful you don't melt the plastics. Once off, clean the area with white spirit or something similar. The new ones need to go on with warm soapy water to get them just where they need to be, slide them into position then use a squeegee or a cloth the rub the water out from underneath Use the heat gun to help 'em stick. Plenty of videos on YouTube showing how to do this. Was more of a success than I expected it to be. Good luck.

All those pictures and only one shot of the girl! What a waste.

There's a 04 Rev 3 on TC classifieds for less than you're planning to pay, Surely that's a better bet than a Techno?

Just got my 8 year old a Gas Gas TXT70, replete with clutch and 6 gears, He had a Beta mintrial, but he needs to be doing it properly now. Can't help thinking that I should've got him the Gas Gas 50 with clutch instead of the auto Beta, But we like Betas in our house, but reckon the 80 would be too much for him.

That's great news. I really hope the proper owners can be found and re-united with their bikes and the scumbags that stole them get what they deserve. Shame none of em are either of mine that were stolen last year.

My garage has been broken into overnight on Tues/Wed 3rd/4th October 2011. My two lads' Betas were stolen! The bikes are a 2004 Rev 50 with a black rear mudguard and a silver number board with the Beta logo, frame number 1000283, Vee Rubber Tyres, and red handlebars, with the yellow Beta bar pad. The second is a 2007 MiniTrial, red, frame number ZEMMF2TC55A100153. The Rear mudguard has been riveted, with a RAS Sport sticker over the rivets. It has/had a small Putoline sticker on each side and a Ras Sport sticker on the Number Board. Both bikes were still muddy from the weekend. They were still strapped to the trailer, but they left that behind. The bikes were taken from Mirfield in West Yorkshire. Any info gratefully received. I've got 2 very upset lads here. I can't afford much of a reward, but I'll do my best. Thanks Garry. West Yorkshire Police Crime Number 13 11 04 56 156, tel. 0845 606 0606