It's about the same here in Wessex centre most clubs buy a "drink" in some way or another for the observers but what most observers want from the day is a sense of involvement with the trial. At the very least all riders should try to be polite (not obsequious) .. it's just the simple things in life like hello, good morning, how are you, youv'e got a good section here etc. clearly you can't all have good chat or else it would take ages to get the trial done. Like Rappers I have been either riding and now more frequently observing over the last 40 years and am more aware than most that bizarre things happen in sections. some of the more "aspirational" riders will only ever communicate with an observer is if they are unhappy...i.e negatively. For example I was "in charge" of a hill at the SSDT a few years back when a situation arose.. the rider who to this day doesn't want to get a real job lashed into the observer who thought he was being kind (giving the benifit of any doubt) with a tirade of abuse; "I.ve spent thousands of pounds getting here,don't you know who I am? etc. culminating in I'm never coming here again!!" (expletives omitted). The point he seemed to miss whatever the right or wrongs of the individual case was that it cost the observers best part of a thousand pounds to be there also...and that they are people too.. whatever level or amounts of money are involved it is only due to the positive comminication from the other competitors that involves observers in a way that they will want to come back and do it again and maybe even bring a friend!
Having enquired direct to ACU and as yet recieved no response ; Is there anybody out there who can summarise the one day road insurance "deal" for trials? i.e what are eligibility rules, how much is it , who offers it
I reckon you've hit a rich vein here Rappers as always you present a balanced perspective; one of the reported gripes regarding not being able to find or follow the section you should be riding reminded me of trials I've done in France usually at least four routes (but up to six) red .blue, green, yellow, white and black are the normal method of delineating the vatious routes laid out above in order of severity. At least they are consistent in this even if old codgers like me gets lost more than once a day in these conditions (usually having walked the section etc, mounting up and like being pulled by a magnet diving twixt a red on the right and a blue on the left). The other problem we seem not to adress here is making it clear for the observer to identify which route the rider should be following, in other words like many older riders I hanker after single route trials but understand that this limits the field however it would be sensible if at least we adress the points I have made above at a national level.
I know nothing about Betas exept they all seem a bit like that to me ..it's almost as if they are awash with unburnt fuel getting sucked in from both sides of the "flow" I also am aware that they are prone to flooding and carb overflowing etc. I guesse you should be investigating these areas. sorry not to be more positive but lets face two stroke trials bikes are like people they are all different.
Just last night we had a discussion as to how to improve the standard of riding in our centre and one of key issues was to get our youngsters out riding in national standard events; However when the cost of finding insurance for them came up this idea was dropped like a hot potatoe.
Surely the Acu (who appear to me to be agents for insurance companies anyway) must be aware of this problem and able to offer something that doesn't run into telephone numbers and hours of administration for already overworked organisers of events.
That Lifty Thing for 15 quid + post has got to be a good buy! I couldn't make it for that I'll get my Bro to order me one via ebay (i cant do all that computer shopping stuff ...too old to understand it!)
I had Gassers for 12 years (thats 2 bikes a year My girlfriend also rides) They are nice bikes to ride with some quality issues (probably due to being built to a price!) which usually surface within the warranty period if they are going to.. out of over 20 bikes in that time I had to strip engines 3 times which is not rocket science just inconvenient. You do need to fettle/ love the gasser a bit i.e. simple routine maintainance like cleaning the carb out regularly. We now have a Beta rev 3 200 's which I would say are generally a little better build quality.. I have yet to remove a carb and they continue run really sweet. The only "problems" we have had (and it may be down to bad luck.. certainly dodgy riding skills) is breaking clutch and brake hoses we have broken one of each in last 5 months and none previously (been riding in competition for over 40 years now!) Even so we have found a reasonably cost effective repair using Goodridge 600 series parts If anybody reading this has similar experience its worth Knowing that all clutch & brake master cylinders are M10 thread for the fittings. I have a mate who 's just bought one new and he is currently on his 3rd front exhaust pipe due to pinholes in the welding (built to a price again?) Hope this helps in your decision making process
I just wish the european manufacturers generally would use a decent plastic for mudguards and design in some shear or break points for those of us prone to crashing!. It seems the trials world is really waking up to cost of O.E.M spares .just heard of a clutch hose costing
A most excellent and impresive performance I watched him robbed of a result in France a couple of years ago and he took that with exeptional good grace..... it takes more to be dignified in those circumstances than to be praised for winning. If Michael reads this please accept a word of advice offered as an an old lag who has to stand on the sidelines observing more frequently, is to be aware of his "image / personna towards us... please at least recognize the officials presence and please do not spit in the section. It's not too late to change your ways and remember a little charm goes a long way. It's really standard advice to all sporstmen to be nice to everybody on the way up and you will be surprised how many returns can come from this on the way down.
Picked up my new 250 yesterday, but without the manual (to follow apparently).
Does anybody have a pdf copy, or know where I can download one.
The pdf's on the Beta wbsire look like 2007 versions.
Many thanks.
aT Least you've got your new un.. I'm waiting paitiently for new 200 rev 3, we been riding mont 4rt t's which are great bikes just thought we'd have a complete change,trouble is I've prepped the monts to sell twice and got em out and rode em again. It will be interesting to see if the turn petrol off and on at every section problem is resolved with new carb and just how easy they are to ride.
I.ve Always used Castrol GTX 5/40 dont get any Clutch drag with that mind you with the 02 you are going to have to learn to whip the cover off and change the o rings (behind the cluth actuator"top Hat") if it's all original spec. I,ve Always used synthetic at 75% currently using Repsol mainly because I had a good deal on it prior to SS taking on the distribution! One of the pros I had snapped a kickstart return spring a bit of which got dragged into the gearbox and chewed at one or two of the gears which may account for youe noisy gearbox. In my experience of Pro's the 02 was the fragile/dodgy one ..first ones usually are. Hope this helps
thanks for your thoughts mattylad.. if only you knew! Its the resellers who do the "marking up" In fairness they literally have to put this money on the shelf untill we (the punters) want to buy it. I can assure you I,m not in that ball game. You should note that it is two springs nuts and bolts and bushes. If you (Or anybody else out there) want to quote me less than
I'm the guy who makes control footrests. Both Steel and ally. However both types are costing me more to make than I can sell them for; so I'm hopeing to have available for sale by first week in May what I think are the ultimate in design and cost. The first published view will be in the SSDT programme. I would be interested to hear "punters" views on wether I should supply full set of bushes bolts and springs ,this will add about
I did one recently; I fitted new rimtape even though old one appears perfectly servicable. I just looked carefully at how it worked before tearing it apart and put it back together carefully after cleaning out loads of crud (I think this crud must be what causes the leaks and I think it comes from pressure washing, i.e. gets pushed in through spoke nipples) I think the watchword with this job is cleanliness, and of course lubrication.
The Michelin tyre is the problem for that kind of going try an IRC! Scorpas probably rate quite high because they'r so heavy but you still can't beat a gas gas with a slow action throttle
Week 59 - Cash, Biscuits Or Nowt?
in Centrally Speaking
Posted
It's about the same here in Wessex centre most clubs buy a "drink" in some way or another for the observers but what most observers want from the day is a sense of involvement with the trial. At the very least all riders should try to be polite (not obsequious) .. it's just the simple things in life like hello, good morning, how are you, youv'e got a good section here etc. clearly you can't all have good chat or else it would take ages to get the trial done. Like Rappers I have been either riding and now more frequently observing over the last 40 years and am more aware than most that bizarre things happen in sections. some of the more "aspirational" riders will only ever communicate with an observer is if they are unhappy...i.e negatively. For example I was "in charge" of a hill at the SSDT a few years back when a situation arose.. the rider who to this day doesn't want to get a real job lashed into the observer who thought he was being kind (giving the benifit of any doubt) with a tirade of abuse; "I.ve spent thousands of pounds getting here,don't you know who I am? etc. culminating in I'm never coming here again!!" (expletives omitted). The point he seemed to miss whatever the right or wrongs of the individual case was that it cost the observers best part of a thousand pounds to be there also...and that they are people too.. whatever level or amounts of money are involved it is only due to the positive comminication from the other competitors that involves observers in a way that they will want to come back and do it again and maybe even bring a friend!