rr62

I very nearly bought a KTM Freeride about three years ago but after a fair bit of research was put off by the niggles. They look lovely but I read lot of negative reports on maintenance (especially starter motor on the earlier models). Know it's not a 2T, but the Montesa 4Ride is a great fun bike for your brief and really well built.

Any new news for 2020? I ended up keeping my 2016 - still immaculate, starts every time and needs next to no maintenance. And that sound when blasting across trails! And it's RED (so no motivation to go for the current bland colours). I have considered other bikes but if you scan forums it seems that there's a massive bias towards their niggles and problems. Some of which just sound like poor attention to detail, bad engineering or short cuts to losing weight. So the money's in the bank waiting for the 2020! News anyone? Will it be red again?

For what it's worth, I run my TY175 at 50:1 on a low smoke trials 2T oil. Even that smokes a bit - I'm pretty sure I could take it to 60:1 with no ill effects.

Down in Cornwall for a three week break and nipped in today. In this day of online everything, thought I'd give a shout out to a proper off-road 'bricks and mortar' store. Excellent! There are so few 100% off-road stores now (I am old enough to remember Windsor Comp Shop, Comerfords et al from my time in the south) but we should all support them. Do support your local (or not so local for me) trials shop!

The side stand sucks. Maybe a new version will be the big new step forward for 2020. Agree on not wanting to spend a fortune on a Mitani stand. The neighbours probably heard my expletives the other day when my bike fell over in slow motion on the driveway....

I'd def argue against the 4RT being a 'heavy old bus'. It might weigh more than some of the newer strokers but it's still very agile. And built properly. The only pain is the oil filter change (covered elsewhere so not for here). I love mine - it starts first time once you work out it's a long push and not a kick. Also good for technical trail riding. Oh, and much less depreciation than any other modern trials bike. I suspect I'd do better on a 200 Beta but I know which bike I like best for now. Looking forward to the Montesa ET whenever that might be...

7. Hydration - You should not only be drinking during a trial but you should be fully hydrated at least 12-24 hours before the event and maintain good hydration throughout the event. When consuming liquids do it slowly and let your body catch up and tell you it's had enough. If you just gulp down fluids you can start to feel a little bloated/tired/full. Love this comment (thanks JML and not sure if any irony involved...) - most trials in England are on a Sunday morning. So always pre-match preparation on a Saturday with pre-match 'sports beers'. I'm always well hydrated at least 12-24 hours before, but may well have gulped down fluids and will definitely still feel marginally bloated/tired/full. Mind you, I've never knowingly drunk during a trial.

Hello Reg & welcome to the forum (not that I post much but saw some common ground). I also moved to Herts from God’s Own but when I was 15 and a million years ago. I’d only owned a clapped out Peter Gaunt Suzuki 125 (it was a wreck) before we moved down here so zero talent. But then got well into trials down here as a kid and have dipped in/out several times over the years between family/work/other sport stuff. Some good clubs and a few decent blasts round. Having stopped for about 12 years due to other commitments, I bought a brand new 4RT from Herts MX at the beginning of 2016. It’s exactly what I need - 10 trials or so a year, nothing goes wrong (Honda), easy maintenance (except the oil filter change). I did ride a Repsol at Inch Perfect about a year ago - on the button but, to be honest, at a ‘getting back into it after many years’ stage the standard 260 4RT is probably the way to go. Plenty of punch and very well built. Also good for local trail riding if you get registered. I will def get another one. nb you’re dead right about the clothing now - it sucks. Worse than the Lycra clad cyclists round here...

Blimey - thanks Section Swept! Some great food for thought there which should stir up a proper response. Wonder if things might change when it all goes electric and we maybe end up renting the batteries from manufacturers/dealers with relevant upgrades as the tech improves. My 4RT is a mint 2016 model and has done pretty much nothing - but 'new' is always nice (as it was when I bought it new) and I always reckoned in the past that if you hadn't trashed the bike, etc. then the optimal time to part company was maybe after 2 years. Oh well, guess I'll keep it for another year or so. I also prefer my Montesas in red rather than the current 4RT colour scheme. At various times since 1978 have had (all red) a 172, 311 and x2 315s before this 4RT with various other bikes in between and breaks (kids, work etc) along the way. Red is the colour. nb. Herts is where I am but was born in God's own country until my folks moved darn sarf here when I was 15 (think the 172 was a parental bribe to placate my anger...). It's all good down here though apart from the beer! Sounds like I should wait until 2020 tshock250- will be great if it loses about 5 kilos and only comes in red and the Brexit factor doesn't make it cost 12,000 euros...

Will there be a new 4RT for 2019 and if so when? Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

nb. having not had a 2T for a few years - mix for this 50:1? I bought Putoline TT Pro (Strawberry flavour which is pretty weird and not planning on drinking it) - will this do the trick? Also, will it be OK on regular 95 unleaded or should I go for 98? Thanks for any help!

Here we go - my most recent acquisition and trying to keep as bog standard as possible. IMO buy a modern bike if you want modern bike 'stuff' (know some of them look terrific but I like them pretty much as they were). Rest of 'fleet' there too in the world's messiest garage. Z50 clearly my favourite. I had a TY175 in about 1983 and it was my main means of transport back then but I then competed on it at the weekends. Nothing like carrying a petrol can in a backpack! Think it's 1976 - about to get registered. I've cleaned it up a lot added a few new stock parts (or best replica versions). First trial this Sunday (and I have literally not ridden it yet apart from on the drive at home). Could be interesting...

That's great - many thanks for your help. I used to spray old minis with cans when I was a kid (my own I hasten to add...!) so just having the bottle to do it again! Good tip on the heat shield too. Doubtless be back for more TY advice soon...

I've recently bought a nice 1976 TY175 with a view to doing the odd twinshock trial. It's very clean and original but has a nick in one of the graphics on the tank and the heat shield is a bit off colour. I've ordered new graphics and a local paint shop will do the respray and lacquer etc. Two quick q's. 1. Does £200 sound about right for this job? Back in 1980 I did my own respray and lacquer with cans but I need a better finish than my lack of talent will deliver. 2. Does anyone know the colour code (it is a white model)? Cheers.

About to buy a new bike after 10 years out (but 15 bikes before) and have 2 questions. Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but... 1. Looking for something I can ride, jet hose, WD40, go to work on Monday and then ride the next Sunday. My last bikes 10 years back (315 Monts) did this from new to 2 years each time, no problem. OKish clubman rider, don't need to climb cliff faces (wish I could though). Always ridden 2 strokes. Prefer something light but well put together and with really good dealer/spares support. 2. Might sound random, but given I am looking for a new bike, why doesn't TMX have a proper bike guide/review section. Having read/subscribed since the '70's, they totally sit on the fence on pretty much every review they give ('all modern bikes are the same...blah, blah, etc') - any other sports journal I read (be it surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking or whatever) is perfectly capable of having a decent point of view with real positives/negatives. . And there's no excuse to say 'well it keeps the importers advertising' - any other newspaper doesn't have to placate advertisers through 'soft' editorial. Not running TMX down in any way - brilliant journal that I've bought for last 35 years, but more editorial integrity on bike tests would help. So 1) what bike should I get?; and 2) where can I get a decent and unbiased review on the trials bikes in the UK. Thanks all for any help. Cheers. Rob