breagh

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.

Don't think the words have been invented yet to describe how bad it looks. Even Gok Wan on steroids couldn't help it.

I feel though the bikes are well made they cannot put up with sustained use. Once a modern bike has had a couple of hard seasons it's well past it's best and making things lighter will not help this.

Didn't seem to bother some locals at the Japanese world round on the Yam/Scorpa type thingys. A point I would make is that if the weight limit was a bit higher perhaps the makers could leave a bit metal in there bikes.

Are these limits enforced or just a red herring?

Just as a side issue I'm more than deeply suspicious about synthetic oil in 2 strokes. Anything that doesn't break down naturally is bound to have an impact on the environment. The quantities may be seem small but it soon adds up. Don't know if any studies have been done?