michael_t

Didn't want to guess as to admit to having similar types of experiences... but one of the nice things about trials is you often don't know what is going to happen next, could be epic could be a fail... but always fun .

Drool...

Using the clutch is more involved in trials riding that regular riding. I wouldn't really call it riding the clutch but you are using it for more than just changing gears and stopping. Another thing to consider is that although trials is WAY slower riding compared to street riding things tend to happen REALLY fast when you least expect it to so having a finger on the clutch lever at all times helps with the required split second response. As mentioned above you can adjust the contact point so the clutch doesn't engage until you have it pulled in almost all the way so you are riding with the lever pulled in but without the clutch engaged then when **** happens(and it will) you only need to pull the lever a couple of centimetres to engage it. I should note that even with your finger hovering at the ready you can be too slow to react as seen in this picture of Barry on his new 280 a few years ago...

I posted on http://www.trialscanada.com/smf/ That there were not many used bikes for sale in Canada in a hope that more would get listed in their classifieds, an old TY got posted but was gone in 3 days... you got to be quick . there are a few on craiglist in BC. You only need to be launched into the trees once or twice before realizing a 300 can be a handful. First event is May 3rd but it is in Berwick so a bit too far for you to drive anyways, although the fellow who bought my 200 is driving 6hrs to be there - great to be young and keen. Hopefully the snow will melt a little faster this week as this is a picture of the venue last week

pictures... action shots... maybe a little video... come on guys lets see these beauties in action

I think it is also worth pointing out that 4 bikes in a year (assuming they are selling them when they are done with them) isn't huge money compared to people who buy their kids cars when they turn 16 (not always cheap ones either). Lots of people let their kids travel for a year just to "find themselves"... so I guess it is all relative.

Having somebody investing heavily to raise the bar can't be all bad IMO. It may not seem fair but who said life is fair? If you take a look at just about any Olympic sport you see the same thing there will always be rich kids that get flown all over the world to excel at their sport and there will also be people who struggle to make it on their own. Most sports pour there funding into the top 1 or 2 athletes does this mean that everyone else gives up and goes home? If it does they are obviously not doing it for the pure fun of it and if that is the case they most likely won't do well anyways. pouring money into the sport doesn't guarantee a win you still have to work damn hard for it, doesn't matter who you are. Who knows maybe he is wealthy enough ns realizes he would do much better if he had a team mate to push him who would he pick? What if with all this support he does raise up to the Toni, Raga level and it drives a whole new excitement in the USA for the sport... you just never know where things can go but as I said at the top I really can't see investing in the sport (even if it is focused on a single person) being a bad thing. Just my .02

Funny thing is I once saw a guy drive up on a motorcycle with out any problem but when he got off he was obviously wasted and could hardly walk I asked him why he was driving and he said he couldn't %@#ing walk - True story -

Awesome, it really seems like the sport is getting some traction! We have our fingers crossed on the East Coast as our first event is on May 3rd but there is still a lot of snow in the woods... hoping for a nice warm spell for the next few days. Also hoping my new bike will arrive in time but I will ride my X-Ride if I have to, might be fun to lay on the horn when I clean a section .

heard nothing but good things about them... I almost bought one this year but team Sherco made me an offer I couldn't refuse. there are a few comments here: http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/54192-last-200-for-2015-is-that-true/

as per "guys" question did you stop it and restart or did you just shift gears to fix it? Either way I think you should get it sorted sooner than later.

Sounds like Putt has been working his butt off to improve his riding and it is paying off - great to see a young up and coming rider able to dedicate the time and energy to really excel at the sport... Congratulations to Putt and to MotoTrials USA for what should be a great season of higher level competition. just my 2 cents.

I didn't think they where shipping anything but parts for the time being.

more info... https://www.ohlins.eu/en/motorcycle/technics/Setting-up-your-Bike-part-2-spring-preload--3554/ and another decent explanation of preload... http://www.worksperformance.com/html/tpl_desc.html

We don't have Citroen inn North America but the Berlingo seems like a great trials transport rig if 2 bikes fit. Of course taking off the front wheel might make for a better fit. Dimensions of a bike are: Overall height: 1,120 mm (44.1 inches) Overall length: 1,990 mm (78.3 inches) Overall width: 850 mm (33.5 inches) Ground clearance: 310 mm (12.2 inches) Wheelbase: 1,310 mm (51.6 inches)

this might help... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpN4Iix_fkQ

Another piece fro you puzzle from the Arial owners forum... Competitors are buzzing all over the place on their bikes as, with 181 starters, it can take a couple of hours to get everyone away. Here No 84 – Colin Bailey from Whitby heads to the start on his ‘HT’.

Always enjoy a puzzle... a quick google search finds that Colin does ride an Ariel at times. Not definitive proof but another piece for your puzzle . Colin Bailey muscled his Ariel round to beat the little maestro of the 1970s and ’80s, Brian Johnson, by three marks. Jack Peace cleaned up in the youth intermediate category while siblings Zac and Claire Collinson took the youth B and D class wins. The event was used to raise funds for Comic Relief. Expert: Andy Chilton (Beta uk.com) 9, Ollie Kendra (Gas Gas) 22, Josh Sprintall (Gas Gas) 63. Intermediate: Isaac Gale (Beta) 33. Clubman A: Shane Monkman (Gas Gas) 9, Ben Myers (Sherco) 17, Mark Cameron ( Sherco) 19. Clubman B: Colin Bailey (Ariel) 14, Brian Johnson (Sherco) 17, James Wainwright (Beta) 19. From this article: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/speedway/whitby-trials-ace-andy-chilton-3665460

This has been a really strange year for us we would typically be snow free by now... I have never even seen a map like this before but what it is telling me is our first event (May 3rd) is going to be a tough one...

I'm in Halifax and it would be great to have you join our club... our first event is May 3rd (hopefully the snow will be gone by then) . What are the chances we are talking about the same Halifax - LOL !

Are the same ones that Lewisport is selling... In stock--We have received a few "WORKS" (XIU-RDI) Gas Gas "Pro" trials and OSSA TR trials i electric water pump kits http://www.lewisportusa.com/

I'm also still to new to have any "style" but what I do find is, whenever I plan out what I am going to do in a section it only takes about 10 ft or so and my whole plan is out the window and I spend the rest of the section just holding on for dear life and trying not to 5. My only advice is to keep trying every possible thing, you never know what might work for you. It is great you have some people to ride with but what works for them might not work for you and your bike. I am a little worried that after 7 years riding my 200 when my 250 arrives it will be back to square 1 again (but that is half the fun of it). I did sell the 200 this week and could have got almost what I paid for it 7 years ago (you have to love this sport)!

Thanks very much for the info... I love these forums for this sort of information - funny how some things don't get mentioned in manuals. Any and all tips and tricks are greatly appreciated

Seeing as I am going from being very happy with a 200... the fact that the 250 sounds manageable is AWESOME news !

I would also be interested to know... mine should arrive in a couple of weeks