mags

Ok! Thanks! I can get on with my normal day now! I was searching net trying to find it! Hehehehehe Mags

I removed the rear brake switch completely. The front I removed the inner and left the outer shell that adjusts lever. I had fitted an hour meter under body section on top of Throttle Body. I got sick of having to start bike for 20 secs when cold to read meter when home. I have a new position for it so I can read it on last shut -off of the day and record motor hrs. Fabricated a simple stainless bracket that mounts off tank bolt. I checked valves clearances at 3 hrs. They were all in spec! You need to remove tank and injector to gain access to valve covers. I used feeler strips and bent them to suit. I cut an allen key and mounted it in a socket to torque bolts to spec for injector housing bolts. Make sure you place a touch of lube on the injector O ring tapered receiver when replacing injector. I keep spare O rings but have used original 3 times in/out so will replace next out. Drop the oils at 3 hrs, I got a fair metallic looking oils at 3 hrs. Torque the drain bolts. If reusing the copper washers check they are flat, if not, rub on 1000 wet and dry on a bit of glass if you can, this flattens for re-use and no leak. Ideally you would heat the washer to anneal it (soften) as it work hardens in its tightened state. The filter is a pain but an art worth learning. I didn't have to replace case gasket for first filter change but had two spare ones just in case. If you are careful it comes off without breaking. I cleaned motor side gasket area with lint free cloth and brakekleen and just put cover back on... no leaks. Be careful, stator magnet grabs cover when near home. I didn't replace O rings in filter housing because they looked good! Will replace every second or third filter change. Filter is hard to manipulate in and out but can be done, Take ya time. Be really clean when removing cover... wash bike first. Torque the cover bolts in pattern suggested for best practice to not distort cover and/or have a leak. I use an inch pound wrench to be more accurate there. Be careful around harness entry into cover. I've gone up two teeth on rear (to 43) to slow bike a little and was a good improvement for me. I'm using aftermarket air filters to have a few on hand to swap out. I get all parts from Tarp in Sydney. Mount filter on cover tangs before installing on bike. I went over the bike and generally checked fasteners, found couple loose. Also tidied up wiring around coil et ecetera. Enjoy the Cota.... I love mine! Pic of hour meter.... Disregard above if you are already into the mechs of them! Mags

Wow! In the spirit of Fujigas! "Son of Fujigas" could be nickname! Now hang on a minute... MMMMMmmmm! I'll ask the question... It looks like a Honda motor in a Beta frame with Showa forks, with 2015 JTG colours... WHAT!!!!!!!?????? Or just a coloured up Cota, but where is tank and tail looks different? Can some one enlighten me to what the bike is... Mags

I wouldn't say "EVERY" person who has organised a trial comp is a fool... absolutely far from it! But to say there is no foolish behaviour on trial committees is not right either. Take my experience... no observers available you self observe, I got through 15 sections of 40 and gave it away... some were pretty dangerous for novices, in my opinion. No call for any beginners at rider meeting. I ran through most sections by myself, looks like I was too slow for most to hang around. Say I joined, then got elected to committee as they are short com members... then I suggested as a committee member... can we set sections for novices as well, look after new people like gold (they are the new observers, committee members), a call must go out for beginners at comps and we should organise an experienced rider to take 1-2 each under their wing and run their first trial with them. I state my case to help bolster falling beginner numbers. I imagine riders put back and do their share of observing. Mr Five Year on committee or founding committee member says... sorry mate, you've been here five minutes don't know what you are talking about... that won't be happening. (They have forgotten they were a beginner once). If any committee member doesn't want to look after people new to the sport they are a fool... and I've been on enough committees to have learnt not to argue with them anymore. The better the committee, the better the club, the better the club the more members, the more members the more chance of a big observer pool, the bigger the observer pool the better the quality of observing. Lets see what happens at our next comp when two people with sparkling 2014 trials bikes (in their fifties) turn up, keen as mustard for all aspects of the sport. Maybe we are the fools... Mags

Is the allen head fastener that sits against the adjuster clam in the rearward hole? If not you can gain some adjustment there. You can test the 98 link by moving rear wheel fully forward in the adjustment slot and try the 98 links half way up the rear sprocket. Just fold two rollers out of the way to try 98. When testing keep an eye where the tensioner is positioned. That is... the 98 may work but wheel fully forward the tensioner may be too hard against chain and you can't go looser because wheel is fully forward? Chains can be a bugger when changing sprockets because sometimes you need an odd chain length... a 101 or 99!!! You could use a half link maybe? Mags

Thats a shame! I assumed that observing at WTC level was very professional. Another balloon burst... I have found over the years that anything I get involved in I get fairly passionate. I have learnt to stay away from the politics or any committee positions as thats when it goes bad for me. Too many arguments... usually with fools who can't see the big picture or are on power trips. I like stopping in my imaginary sections where we ride, I even stop against a tree then pull bike backwards a foot to then go around it, the stuff of pure 5's! I have so much fun though.... and a grin like a Cheshire Cat! Hehehehe I will conform one day!! Hehehehehe One thing I may do is observing at comps. I'll need far more experience and carry 3 litres of professionalism... but one day I'd be proud to observe an event! If I was paying good money to attend a WTC event and saw biased observing I'd feel let down and somewhat anticlimactic . Maybe its best I never go near one! Mags

No wonder I'm having trouble... I have a beer in both hands! (XXXXWink) Mags

I used to fabricate car heater lines for a show car or two when younger. It was to rid the engine bay of ugly, long rubber hoses. I used 1/2 copper water pipe with 90 deg elbows or plumbers pipe bender to fab custom angle. It polished up well... joints were silver soldered. I made the pipe terminate 1/2 inch before heater nipples and used a 1 inch or so length of suitable hose to join copper pipe to nipple or fitting via two jubilee clips (ring grips). So hose bit was straight and copper pipe did the turns. Just an idea if you don't get some hoses? Just check copper is compatible in the glycol type before you start? Might not be? Don't want to accelerate cooling system corrosion. Mags

We pretty well exclusively ride Gap Creek Farmstay property. Beautiful trials country! Check it out if you have not been there. 750 acres, $25 per bike per day, not per person. Much closer to you than us! We are outer northside. Yeah, moto park is a pile of dung! I have never been there on principal. When we first got the first trials bike in Jan (14) I rang motopark and they wanted $90 for both of us to ride the one bike for one day! We had to be charged extra because we did not live in the council shire motopark is in???? WTF! Talk about discrimination! We hit Gap Creek 2 to 3 Sundays a month.... down from 4, hehehehehehe! 140 k's from front door unfortunately so 280k for a trials ride. My plan or more correctly my idea for Fishermans would be... Land is donated by whatever level of gov owns it. Even a 2-3 yr lease as a start. Land is fenced and gated. Trials Practice Club of Qld is formed and Inc. No formal comps. Liability Insurance is sourced and divided amongst members as an annual fee. There are no other fees? There is zero charge to ride there. No bike other than trials are allowed. Hours are 9am til dark Sat, Sun. No other days... lower insurance. Maybe school hols extended days. Needs 100 people to pay $50-$100 per annum minimum to get ins cover. As membership rises ins fees divided. Hume pipe seconds are sourced? Second hand boulders?? Hehehehe Concrete slab spoil. Include local member and get their pic in paper... and to open it! I can dream can't I???? Mags

Whilst I've been riding for decades I've only had my first trials bike for 6 months and can offer a few tips on how "we" go about the art of trials. Like an old ad says... an art worth learning! We started with static balance. Motor off, tyres pressures down to 2 in front 1 in rear, hard surface like tiles or concrete. Turn front wheel fully one way, rise up on pegs and balance as long as possible. We you dab turn wheel the other direction and get up again. When you get to 5 minutes start bringing tyre pressures up to normal and go again. We started at seconds and I've now done 10 minutes with tyres low and around 4 minutes with tyres normal. Legs give out on the old bones!! Hehehehe We practiced this 5-6 night s a week for 1/2 hr or so for first 2 months and now its about 3 times per week. We ride most weekends to put during the week static into practice. While motor is warming up I practice static and do a 30 sec or so on return to base depending how buggered I am!. Next.... We did figure 8's til we got dizzy!!! Hehehehe Then tighten them up, until, now I'm on full lock static and can move wheel forward 4 inches and brake to stop, hold and move 4 inches again until you complete one revolution then turn the other way and repeat. This took a few months of practice 3-5 times a week to get to this level. Start the fig 8's with clutch fully out and scribe a circle in the 8's suited to the bike speed. As you tighten them up you'll need to fan clutch and this will improve clutch control markedly As you do fig 8's counter balance you backside a fair way out to opposite side. This is good technique for turning later on slopes. Once you get reasonably competent with the above try going down a reasonable hill. Stop 6ft down by feathering brakes and hold static with wheel turned to almost lock...static for long as you feel you have to and return bars straight and go down another 6 ft and do again. For clutch control try the same but uphill.... then some 180 deg turns on hillsides, clutch out and then slower and fan clutch. You can also practice rear wheel balance by riding along a flat bit of ground slowly with clutch fully out... hit front brake momentarily to compress front... apply throttle and pull back on bars to raise front wheel a foot or two.... apply rear brake just enough to bring front down or reduce throttle... static balance and go again. When accomplished at clutch control... try static with wheel turned... straighten wheel and release clutch with throttle to raise front wheel from static position... rear brake it down and pull up to static...go again! Baby steps, baby steps... the slower you learn and the more practice you get gives the fastest result with minimal bad habits you might have to correct later. Some beginner rules to try and live by... One finger on clutch, one finger on front brake at all times... no more, no less! Always cover the rear brake i.e. boot always just above it. Knees bent and apart... arms relaxed and slightly bent. Look further ahead than you think you should as a beginner, it seems to keep the bike on a straighter path and go where you want it to go rather than bike dictating. One thing I can't go without is my dedicated trials boots... first bit of kit after helmet. I've also fitted lanyards to both bikes so if I and bike part company the motor is killed instantly... goes around wrist. As I said... this is only my perspective as a beginner others will have good advice as well, especially the more experienced riders. Many learner vids on the site.... have peek at those, very informative! Mags

Well done! Another vid I have to send on... Love the line .... Where old men can be happy!! Hehehehehehehehehehehe Cant wait til I'm old in 15 yrs and hit 70! hehehehehehe (noViagraYetWink) Mags

Europe is the biggest following (?) going by the World Champs and many vids I watch... and then there is the Spiritual Home of Trials, Scotland! Love the SSDT in the spirit of the 1910 era. Love to see the sport get a good enough following in Brisbane that we could a 5-10 acre practice ground that is not 2 hrs drive! All that industrial land laying waste at Fisherman's Island... but oh no! Don't ride there or we'll put you in jail, take your bike or give you a massive fine or all of the preceding!!! I'm not a criminal you idiots (guys in gov depts).... I just wanna practice my trials for my health and mental wellbeing! Its not complex. For those that don't know... Australia is the size of the USA and only has 21 mill people in it, not 300 mill like USA.... we are NOT allowed to ride a trials bike in any area that is NOT private property. And the Gov was kids out from behind puter screens!!! Yeah right! Ok! Off my soapbox now... Mags

Great work by the girls, Jeff! Beth Watling taking a tumble there, we were both watching it and my wife gave a medium loud, ouch, ouch ... I reeled back from screen! Hope she was ok! We have all been there! I'll big screen it for the girls tonight after dinner! Loads ok at 360p but in HD (720p) takes forever or stalls? Any ideas there? My download speed is not great... about 3.1 Mbit per sec on speedtest. Mags

Once open can you take a pic? I have only done the oil change case have not seen inside the clutch yet! Mags

Dont despair too much Jim! I've spent 2-3 hrs fabricating something... welding, grinding, machining only to realise as I'm painting it... needs a big mod or a total re-think... in the "bin of mark 1's" it goes"! I look at like this these days.... I'm working on my motorcycles! The immense pleasure far outweighs the pain! (Dot4Wink) Mags

Thanks for posting vid guys! What a pleasure it to watch Dynamite Bou.... I aint his trials little toe nail but him and top boys inspire me somewhat. Mags

Love the pic of the bike in tent!! Hehehehehe I have my road bike in the house! My wife thinks its normal as her dad did the same thing when she was a little girl. I kid you not... he restored his Vincent Black Shadow on the kitchen table when they lived in England. She ate her porridge every morning looking at sparkling Vincent coming together. Mags

I purchased wife's 2014 Beta 4T locally (1 hr drive) and Kale Reed (2 time Aussie Champion) couldn't do enough for us. Total gentleman! Puts parts and spares in the post and sends invoice later. Has been a pleasure dealing with him. My 2014 Montesa Cota had to be purchased interstate as dealer is not in my state (about 1000k's away) so had to be placed on transport. Dealt with the only Montesa importer, located in Sydney. Another gentleman in the trials industry and a rider. Cota was transported by National transport company for $200 and not even a mark on the crate when it arrived at my local depot. Montesa Aust now send parts and spares and invoice comes in email later. This is totally at odds with my 3 new enduro bike purchases in last 5 months! 2 shops I walked from because of the elitist attitude. It was like pulling teeth and guys half my age treating me like I must be new to riding. I was pushing bikes hard on track and off-road before they were born. Trials, I've discovered, is a totally different animal! People are willing to help at any stage of the trials experience. I have asked questions of experienced riders at practice days and they are all so willing to help. Never had one "issue" with the trials scene since getting the first ever trials bike 6 months ago. It also seems a little more family orientated. The trials comp I entered had the wives in the background doing the entries and anything to help where needed et cetera (if they were not riding, some did behind the scenes and still rode the sections) and the kids riding trials bikes was inspiring. As a husband and wife...we have found our "together" hobby! Like my sig says... Balance your life... ride a trials motorcycle! Mags

BEAUTIFUL! 6 months your place... 6 months mine! OK??? Mags

I was just thinking today..... buzzz, whirr, bing, clank, vroooommm, boink, (my brain sounds) WTF (thats where!) is Dylan! Hehehehehee And you came through with a post! Excellent!!! Pic 1... caption! I think we need more oil in the fuel mix??? Hehehehe Pic 2 Bou could do it! I got much further than Mags could!!!! Hehehehe Pic 3 and 4 Beta rules!!!!!!!!!!!! And RED colour!!!! Hehehehe Pic 5 Don't tell anyone on this forum but I'd like a pic with Bou! Pic 6 Official night huh! Excuse to have a good time... and drink some alcohol!!! Hehehehehe Pic 7 Mate!!!!!!!!! That camp looks a bit tidy for a Trials rider!!! And hogging the barbecue!!! Hehehehehehehe (redCoalsWink) Glad you had a great time! Two wheels and dirt.... can't go wrong! Mags

The family is generally happy... I thought it was me causing it but it must be the motorcycles!!!! hahahahahahaha (cheekyWink) I do "worry a bit", Nelly1, but my girls (like most girls of the new millennium) seem to be modern, confident and willing to try most things that 25 yrs ago was not done... and MORE power to them! I've told both of them.... a trials motorcycle is a fine art of balance, clutch control, throttle control and confident braking! If you ride a trials motorcycle you can ride any motorcycle in the world, If you ride any other motorcycle in the world you will not be able to ride a trials motorcycle. That statement has hit home with them! Mags

My wife and I watched the vid last night! Really enjoyed it!!! That poor bugger (in red) that went down really cracked his knee! We are pretty happy with Wulfsport gear. Have pants, boots, helmet and gloves in that brand. I noticed the pants are actually made in Scotland! Scottish trials pants... no wonder I'm improving! Mags

Thanks! Yes, it may get expensive but what are you gonna do when your child comes to their motorcycling dad and says can you teach to ride now! The little TT was not too bad at $4400.... my Cota was over$10,000! I gave the bill to their mum! Ahahahahahahahaha The girls were allowed to ride around in first gear with helmet and boots. Once the elder one wanted to change gear and go from training area it was full armour and full face helmet as well! They borrowed mum's gear for now but I'm taking older one to motorcycle shop this week for her own armour and pants. She like the looks of the Rjays Dakar helmet I use on the enduro so one of them as well. We were discussing standing up on the pegs last night at dinner so I've decided to lay out some witch's hats in a slalom pattern for her to stand and ride through. That should get her used to standing and therefore closer to trials position. Her mum often puts the hats in a fig 8 pattern to practice her fig 8's on the Beta.... she can have a go at them as well on the TT125. Mags

G'day all, My kids finally had their first go at a motorcycle, yesterday . After seeing their mother having fun and the trials girls from Zona videos they wanted a go! I decided a trials bike was too difficult because of the standing position so we have started them on a Yamaha TT125 4T enduro. They can sit down somewhat relaxed and feet touch the ground on both sides at same time. First gear only for the day and for the younger one I taped the throttle closed with gaffe tape (just in case she turned throttle) and turned up the idle a bit. The elder child is already talking "a go on the trials bike" when she feels comfortable.... baby steps!!! I'm very proud of them for having a go, they were both quite anxious but by days end both we're able to go around in first gear by themselves! I think the dragon has been released.... they may become addicted! I may have to shop for a 125cc trials bike! I've put in a couple of pics of their mum as well... she is coming along nicely on her Beta! She does have fun!!! My dream is for both of us to ride some" novice class" comps together. That might not be far away. Thank you to Jeff2012 his time and effort to post the girl's comp vids.... I think it swayed them, mate!! Mags

Firstly, Can I thank everyone for their advice, it gave me some incentive to try the drop-off in question yesterday. I have some pics below. Oh yeah... a trails rider removed my rocks I piled up a week before...Hahahahahaha save me doing it!! Secondly, A pic of the lift front wheel practice so I may try obstacles bigger than distance to bash plate... in the future! Need more practice but I'm very happy with progress. Thanks once again! Pic 1 is drop-off approach. Pic 2 is going over. Pic 3 is what just after the drop-off making lift front to drop off very difficult at my beginner level. Pic 4 is lift front wheel practice. Mags