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Did anybody suggest that we should pressure people not to ride a trial because they're winning the expert route???? Some people seem to be able to kick up an argument from nowhere Bit of pettiness coming in here I think. That's EXACTLY what I've said in both my replies which seem to have been half read by at least two people. If you're riding for FUN, then ride for FUN and don't take an award you don't deserve. Ride whatever route you want and ride out of class. I'm not answering these as someone who's bitter at not getting some award because of a 'sandbagger'. I'm a (very) near 40 year old fat bugger who rides the expert route. I won't gain from it. I'm trying to be fair to beginners/sportsman/clubman. To explain again - Let anybody ride any route they like. If they want to win an award, then they should place themselves in a class which suits their ability. If they're constantly winning it suggests they've progressed past that class and should look to move up or let somebody else have a chance at the odd award, or name in the paper, or just their name at the top of the results sheet. If they're not willing to ride for no award, then they're really not grasping the sporting spirit that I'd like to think most of the trials community can conjur up from time to time. Disclaimer: This applies to "Ability based classes" like Sportsman, Clubman, Novice, Intermediate etc. That's the whole idea of it. The age related and machine related classes such as over-40, over-50, twinshock, pre-65, you're either eligible or you're not so i can't see any argument about same riders winning. I think it has to be a common sense thing. Just because some bloke wins a few trials doesn't mean he automatically gets thrust in to the class above. Maybe there was a low entry level. But the original question related to the same riders winning all the time and i don't think my replies could have been much fairer.

I had about 16 years off too. The one good thing is that you come back like a total novice, then progress within a few months back to nearly where you left off. If you don't tell anyone you used to ride they suspect you may be the next 40 year old world champion

Maybe I'm missing your point here. You're saying that people should be able to stay in a beginner class as long as they want so that other beginners have someone to beat? It's not us that have gone soft. It's tough love Get your a*** up in to the next group and if you're too much of a pansy to take the next group then stop stockpiling the best beginner awards. If you're there for fun, do it for fun. If you're there for awards then go and earn the next one. Why have ability based classes if the top riders don't progress to the next group?

I agree with your sentiment, but I think even better to allow the rider in the results but mark him as OOC (Out of Class). It lets him see his results, and also lets riders in that group know how they compare with a rider who might otherwise be in the next group up. On the odd occasion I drop down to intermediate and ride OOC, if I have a bit of a niggling injury for instance, or had a very long break. No fun in winning a class you know you shouldn't be in. A trophy means nothing if you didn't work your nuts off for it.

And in response to your thread Eiger, I think a lot of people are aware of the restrictions the police work under. I suppose what people are commenting on is the whole justice system rather than the police specifically. The police are the front end that most people have contact with. I know a few and I understand the difficulties (or some of them at least), but to the public all that we see is ineffective policing (whatever the cause). We're developing a scumbag country. It's not just the thieves who expect something for nothing. If half the country are being supported by the other half then no wonder we can't afford decent hospitals/schools/emergency services. The do-gooders are just making the situation easier for the crooks and layabouts. Rant rant rant

I know what you mean but there is no harm in sharing the run of the mill things people have done to add to security. Most of the thieves will have seen much more than most of us anyway. Eiger's added a few to his thread there, and that sort of things the thieves will know, it does no harm to share. In the end you're not going to stop them thieving from somewhere, but you do need to make it more difficult, even if it makes them move on to someone else - that doesn't sound too neighbourly eh, but maybe they've not got the stash of bikes etc that will attract the scumbags so much as you have. You don't have to make your house impenitrable, for most thieves you just have to let them know you've thought about security, increase the risk enough to make them move on. I think if they really want to get in, they're probably going to manage it, it's just about maximising the risk for them. A little bit of technology can go along way. We have a lot of automatic lights (9 I can think of inside and out) some of them on timers and some PIR so even the cats wandering round the house give the impression somebody is in. Due to messed up shifts we don't have much of a routine so there's no guarantee we will be in or out at a particular time of the day or week which is handy.

Don't know if we can relate this to the Beta Rev50 as they're totally different machines but my lads bike did it for its entire life. I ran it on 80:1 same as my Sherco 290 and it used to flow out of the silencer/exhaust during the week. Worrying at first, but got used to it. My only concern was that if oil was leaking out then maybe the join wasn't quite as airtight as it could be. I did consider drilling a hole in the bottom corner and welding a nut on with a drain screw through it, but never got round to it. Never seemed to do any harm anyway. So I suppose if you don't get any Gasser specific answers it give you an idea at least that it seems fairly normal.

Front wheel in a stand - YOU HAVE USED WORDS OR A PHRASE WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE DELETE YOUR POST/TOPIC. DO NOT TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE FILTERS IN PLACE ON THIS WEBSITE or home made, ratchet from outside foot rest to corner of van roof, padding between bikes. Sofa cushions are spot on. Sorry no pics, I don't have a van, this is how we do it in Gasserboy's van and couldn't be much quicker or better on space.

I agree that it should be over 40 only. Incidentally I'm amazingly still just under 40, despite looking 50 so it would rule me out too. If a rider who is from the pre-65 era wants a ride and has a realistic chance of competing I think maybe they should get a bit of a leg up over younger riders. I also think they should be hammering some of the prima donna's on the modern machines but maybe less said the better or it may change the topic entirely again.

I've been thinking about buying a Navara for a while (among many other things). In fact last time I was looking at a car it was a Scooby, which turned in to a KTM Supermoto when they brought out the new Scooby :-) What's the snug top? How well did the bikes fit? How many? etc etc I've got sick of trying to get changed in a car, so a van was also a consideration as the Navara still doesn't give me anywhere to get changed, I sort of fancy a VW transporter.

Tried to find one of the site sponsors with them for sale, but couldn't. They list them as Dog T here Clicky HERE not sure if they have another name, I'm sure they probably do, but i don't know it. This is the standard way of repairing a tubeless trials tyre.

Welcome on board Martin. I reckon you'll be surprised how much improvement you get (on the Enduro side especially) from a few years riding trials. I've done a fair bit of enduro when younger. The awkward thing about starting trials as I see it is - when you start enduro/motocross, you might be near the back, but from time to time you can still look quite cool to friends/family etc, bit of a wheely, bit of a jump, most people can look reasonable after a short period of time. Trials is tough to look good until you actually are I think the way to go at it is to be determined to get good no matter how much you have to laugh at yourself in the early days. The bonus is that it's a much friendlier sport than the other two. If you're after a bit of fun you can definitely get it. Good luck!

Standard dog turd and glue should do it. I ran one for about 6 months last year as I punctured when nearly new. If it's a long slit, then put a couple of dog turds in. I've never had one be any weaker than the original tyre. Make sure you trim the ends down nicely with a stanley knife. I'm sceptical that any tyre place will understand the use of a trials tyre enough to fix the puncture properly. Nobody except us runs a tyre at 4 pounds where the sidewall is constantly flexing and beding. Was this in the wall of the tyre? Surprised that they would try anything at all if it was as they run a risk?

Obviously I'd say have a look around the site sponsors for a handy one, but I can't think of many near you at the moment. If you get chance the shows/big events are normally good - Hawkstone, Stoneleigh etc Roughly in your area, I know Ian Spence is knocking about at trials with his big van and may be able to help you out. Clicky Here - TrialsTribulations He's South Shropshire based (Church Stretton I think) but I know gets to some of the Midlands events. We've been short of a dealership for a while, especially since David Jones Motorcycles in Newtown stopped the trials stuff. They used to be the nearest at 45 minutes away. No idea where the nearest is now, so Ian's becoming very handy for some of us.

We've normally got too many to choose from but not sure if there's owt on this weekend.

Looking for a trial this Sunday near Oswestry area (within 50-60 miles if poss), so we're talking Mid Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire, West midlands probably. I've not got hold of TMX and nothing in TC calendar - Nettleton is a bit far from here really ( could do with replacing trailer wheel bearings otherwise I'd think about it). Anybody?

Correct - if he was 12 this year he would be B class and officially allowed to ride the 125. As he's 12 next year he sees 2008 out in C class so needs to be 80cc officially.

I like most am hoping that the 2T Beta is the boost Dougie needs. There may be a slight psychological boost in there too. If Dougie wins on the Honda, yep, it's a great achievement but he's got the backing of the biggest and best team in the world, and it could almost be expected. If he does that from Beta, for me it's one of those things that sends the tingle up the back of the neck. Something extra special, that bit of excitement that no matter how good someone is psychologically, you just can't create yourself. I'm not hoping for too much, just in case it doesn't come, but I really am looking forward to seeing what happens in 2008.

A Maths degree and a life's supply of Strongbow :-) Good combination LOL - well spotted ya bar steward

I'd have a try before you buy. I try my lads 20" Monty out now and then, and it just don't work. I'm about 6'3 too. I can still play about on a mountain bike and quite enjoyed the few rides I've had on a 26" but the 20" just feels terrible.

Yep - I agree - the only reason not to move up to the next group should be safety. If you're likely to get hurt because you're not up to it, then don't do it. I suppose the only other reason would be if you really are going to end up with close to 80 '5's for your days toil (4 laps 10 sections). There's no fun in that. If you can look at most sections and reasonably expect to get less than a '3' if you ride it well, then I reckon that's where you'll learn the most. I'm not saying you actually get less than '3' on most of the sections, just that you aim for that and it feels fairly realistic if you have a good ride. See how long it is before you look at the white route and can't believe you were struggling on it. You ask a lot of people to ride one route down and quite a lot of them will drop the stupid marks. They could go on for ever unless you step your level up a bit.

The Scorpa boys are gonna throw **** at me but I really don't see the attraction of the Scorpa unless perhaps you're a clubman who likes the feel of the bike and doesn't care too much about how it transforms your riding. I don't see them as anywhere near as advanced as the other bikes. From what I've seen, riders seem to get on them and think - oooh this feels nice - like I used to on my old mans 4 stroke in the 70's, but I couldn't get the same results as on my own bike. People tend to try other peoples bikes so they don't try sections which test them too much. If you can go to a demo day where you can have a go at some testing sections on a variety of bikes, and you still feel the Scorpa will performa as well for you, then I'd concede that it might be for you. Otherwise I'd edge my bets and go Beta.

So it looks like (from their web site) the chain would have to be the 135 EXBL - 520 And they seem to have a UK subsidiary here: Regina International U.K. Unit 1, Dyneley Road Greenbank Business Park Whitebirk, Blackburn, Lancs BB1 3AB +44 1254 661116 +44 1254 59456 user@regina-int.fsnet.co.uk Maybe I should check out the details/price etc. I've never noticed these through dealers, but I realise that they could be common place, I just tend to use the same place. Anybody used them/bought them/got experience of them?

I've got a KTM 640 Supermoto at the moment and when I see most bikes I've either had one, had simlar, or just plain never been interested (goldwings/harleys spring to mind). But....I think I could get used to that CR500 - looks neat. The KTM is a bit of a bugger to kick, not helped by being a left hand kickstart. It's a big old cylinder to turn over, but....thankfully, it's electric start (if you catch it right before the battery goes).

So looks like they're based in Spain and have links (no pun intended) in the form of sponsorship or supply with Honda/Montesa, GasGas, Beta and Scorpa (oh and Clipic). IRIS Website Just the Sherco on summat else then? Dunno what Sherco come with but the original chain on my bike was VERY long lasting. Just watch - it'll turn out that Sherco fit IRIS too, and any theories will be blown out of the water