heffergm

Why would someone call (and have your number?) to tell you something that doesn't benefit either party? I don't get it...

Nothing on any of the bikes I've heard of. Probably just the usual subtle improvements to make something that already works well a bit better.

Well, if this Busto thing is true, I think we're going to see Fajardo as Busto's only teammate, and Dabill will be back at Beta (since we already know Casales is at Vertigo). It's the only way I can imagine not being supremely upset with GG spending way too much money to go racing... although how they convinced Busto to leave Honda might be just as painful.

I think GG going after Busto would be a bold move... and would definitely indicate they put a lot of emphasis on the bikes, GP and the results, which I think would be great for them as a company. But as mentioned, carrying three guys on the payroll seems crazy. Has Dibs been confirmed for 2018 already or no?

Having said that, there is a great post on Instagram by Fuji of all the 'off-road' guys, including Marquez, but Busto isn't to be found. I'm sure the conspiracy theorists will enjoy it...

Nah, I don't buy it. Busto and Bou seem pretty happy together, with Busto the clear successor, and they both know it. I can't imagine GasGas can offer Busto more money than Honda, so unless he's dreadfully unhappy there, I can't see any reason he'd leave. Guess we'll find out!

Matteo posted something semi recently on Instagram that gave me the impression he was leaving GG. I guess we'll see.

I doubt any of these guys have multi year deals.

80:1 if you ride it like a trials bike generally gets ridden. Feel free to use the 60:1 you have mixed.

Yikes. Was it Darren?

I popped mine apart without one... I'm trying to remember how. I think I wrapped the caps in electrical tape a bunch of times then used a pipe wrench just enough to get them loose, after which you can unscrew them by hand. Fork caps really don't need to be more than hand tight, so putting them back together is no big deal, and afterwards they come apart easily with no tools. Be careful with the internals, those forks are a nightmare. EDIT: actually, I remember now. I didn't use a wrench, I used a hose clamp. Tightened it down so it was only covering the top cap, again with some electrical tape around the cap, then just unscrewed it by hand.

Yeah, as mentioned above, there are a variety of Reiger shocks... the one with combined rebound/compression adjustment, as found on the GG TXT Racing (at least it was last year, this year as yet unknown), the one with separate rebound and compression, the one with separate rebound and individual high/low speed compression damping, etc. I think as they get more expensive and the separate adjustments increase, the potential for making a mess of your settings just goes up I'm hoping the Ohlins is better than the Reiger with combined compression/rebound, since it's good but not quite as bottomless feeling as I'd like.

I haven't had a problem. I just got a a few oddball parts ordered a few days ago, they showed up within a week.

The r16v is an Olle. I'll let you know on the Reiger /ohlins front when my GP turns up.

A bunch of smoke out the back of a 2 stroke after a blast down the road in 5th and 6th is normal. I think you're looking for a problem where there is none. You're just burning up all the premix that had built up in the exhaust from all the idling that trials bikes do.

I'm no immortal and I can tell. I weigh 140lbs on a heavy day, so carrying around 16 extra pounds of bike fat (which is 12% of my total body weight) isn't on the list of things I want to do in an event. Even if it's only because I have to push the stupid thing around if I get stuck somewhere.

FWIW, with the GG, you can also affect the clutch progressiveness by the volume of oil you run. Run it up to the top of the sight glass (400mL) will be more progressive than down at the bottom (~350mL or so). Tech tip from Raga

Fair point. I still think he'll be well served to start on anything clean, 290 or otherwise, and then just slow throttle it if it's an issue. But given he's got a long motocross background, I suspect he'll be fine.

It's fine. I started on a 300, and I'm tiny. I actually think it helped in that I learned really quickly that good throttle and clutch control are paramount in keeping you from hurting yourself If it makes you feel more comfortable the slow throttle makes a huge difference.

What year(s) bikes?

My impression is that a solid manufacturer with a good product could skip the WTC entirely and still sell a ton of bikes if they invested all the time and money into a well supported and promoted local dealer network. More than just about anything, around here anyway, people want something they enjoy riding first, and that they know is going to be taken care of when it breaks second.

There's a chasm of difference between putting something on a scale and getting an exact yes or no with regards to it being a rule breaker and a person watching a rider who's almost constantly in motion and deciding on whether or not his forward motion did in fact cease.

This is why we almost always run split starts. You have groups A,B,C (i.e. whatever classes) start at section 6, everyone else starts at section 1. Or you just assume people aren't morons and allow them to start at any section of their choosing, which also typically works well. I don't think I've waited in a line longer than 3 or 4 people all season.

80:1. 1.6oz per gallon. Unless you ride it like a motocross bike, then I'd say stick with the manual.

There is no manufacturer of trials bikes that specs an oil easily accessible in the US. Honda does the ELF dance, Vertigo an ATF that doesn't exist here, etc. etc. Of all the trials manuals I've read through, GG's is one of the better ones. I'm not entirely sure what you're worried about in any case. Lots of people run ATF Dexron III in them, or a 75W gear oil. Take your pick of any of the good ones. This isn't something that bears a lot of worrying over.