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Thanks for giving this a bit thought Andy. My old pal Kirsty from lothian Trials Club helped me out and has put our next event on your calendar. I'll try my best to sort things out myself but a new computer is arriving next week. We should have had a trial at Knockhill by now as we've been offered the ground,there is one in October,but it is a good shop window. Crail was an option before we even started as a club,but I said it was no good for trials. As a venue for a demo great idea as it's on our doorstep. Great advice,suddenly I like Crail. Much appreciated.

Funny we've got a few ex roadies,TT winner Ian Duffus is keen and he's brought his Buddies Terry Rymer and Rod Mac up at times. Another crossover is Gordon Shedden from the touring cars fortunetly he's not as good at trials. You would think there would be a bit MX crossover but no,maybe it's a macho thing about being humiliated by a 10 year old on a Beta 80.

Cheers Andy,I'll get a friend to put the next Trial on,I tried with our 2 day and made a dogs breakfast of it. No offence,but most lads on your site are already converts and really what I'm aiming for is "Trials Virgins" if you pardon the expression. We've got a site but like every other club up here the banter is to put it nicely pure dross. We run another wee site which is a bit of a laugh that keeps us AMCA types amused. Cheers.

I help run a local trials club and it concerns me that entries/membership has tailed off a bit recently. At times I feel the trials world in these parts is like a secret society,how do other clubs help promote themselves to the wider public?

The Scott unless you want too get run over by 170 bikes. Sorry,couldn't help myself.

Hi Brian,looks like I'm going to have to bring my ear defenders to Kidlaw on Sunday.

You may have heard of a company called Honda which is very keen on World Championships. Maybe Michelin would manufacture a tyre or two specially for them?

Apart from being totally unsporting. That's what comes from letting these continentals ride our trials. Sammy Miller will be spinning in his grave.

Modern bike all the way. Best thing is they have brakes that work. It's enough bother learning the basics without worrying about the bike.. Personally I would go for an sy250 Scorp with Betas being my second choice if I was buying an older bike. Dont see many old Gas Gas's or Sherco's in our area.

Sound right,I've an 07 one and the drain plug looks a bit odd,but the filter is straightforward. Never gave it a second thought. Pretty odd bikes but a hoot to ride.

This isn't oneself? Normally manage a similar display getting the bike off the trailer.

Arguments aside,they are great bikes,out last any other bike and next to no maintenance. I,ve got a 17stone son that trials one and he just can't break it. The SSDT committee use them for setting the course. Fantastic on fuel. and hold there value so a few £ spent on one may be worthwhile. Again great fun to ride.

Easy answer is do what I did ,set up your own club.

A deeply worrying prefix on that plate given it's 1941?

Have to agree,I've run these 163 s on and off since late 06.. Never in a million years look at a decent 250,but well made and great FUN to ride. Totally stock,never even removed the baffles as I like it quiet. Biggest problem is they've NO ground clearance. I,ve ridden a few modded ones ,all felt worse than mine.

Here's one. A few years back I entered a Trial up North,I was a member of the club in question at the time. A few days beforehand a friend phoned the club in question to offer to observe and would be travelling (about 100mls) with me. The secy informed him I was not entered. I enquired and was told that as the club didn't have my entry that was it. I went up nevertheless with my bike hoping I would be offered a ride but to no avail and observed. I must have been misguided in thinking being involved with Trials for over 30 years would cut any ice. The entry turned up a few days later as I'd put the wrong stamp on it. All I can say is that since then if it's not enter on the day I'm not interested with the odd exception. Just to rub salt into the wound rumour has it a rider just tuned up on the day and the steward let him ride.

I like this 4 yearly idea. One massive trials event every 4 years to settle who's any good. Save a fortune. Can the factorys/teams really afford an annual WTC. As a Scot this idea sounds fantastic.

I help runs a club up here in Scotland. We seem to get plently over 40s and older and a good sprinking of Schoolpersons. However we get next to no riders in the 20/30 age range. Is this the norm across the country because in 10years time all the older guys will be packed up and I can't see the youngster filling the gaps. Maybe it's just a Scottish thing.

Long shot,reservoir not to full? Piston in master cyl not returning fully or not enough clearance in lever.

A little more mechanical sympathy would help a lot,these are lightweight transmissions which need a bit respect. Riding like a Mxer,banging into gear,overloading gears wont work. Also the amount of damaged gearlevers I see on bikes,whats that doing to the internals. As a Scorpa rider I don't know how you could catch a Gas Gas gearlever on anything as they're so slim,but I,ve got pals that break them regularly.

Got an 07 which I ride now and then. Starts dead easy and easy to kick, def no shortage of power. Unless you run a very fast tickover and run higher (10/50 I think) gearing it feels a right puddin. Think suspension is great,bit quirky to work on and runs hot as hell so fan is wired constant. Sounds superb,but a very acquired taste I love mine.

The depreciation on new bikes is bad enough,if they start getting much lighter they will eventually be disposable. Look at superlight mountain bikes,you wont get an empty crisp packet for an old one.

While I believe you can help rides attain a certain level very few have that something special. Only a few times in a generation do exceptional riders come along. I would suggest that the best way of increasing the chances of getting these riders is to broaden the sport at grassroots.

If Gas Gas beefed up the box and it was 2kg heavier and 40mm wider would it sell? No,everyone want's the best even at the expense of a bit reliability,though there hasn't been a bike built in years that 99% of joe public can even remotely ride to its potential. What a shallow lot we are. You'll find the riders that get problems are the ones that get problems with whatever bike they own.

Totally agree,remember when I did a bit of mountain biking you could get gaitors to help keep muck out of the headset. All it did was seal all the moisture in. Personally I don't like my bike to have the Ena Sharples tights look.