micm

And on behalf of those same easy to spot ace Gas Gas Southern Centres riders and their dog 'Ziggy' (who is a Sherco fan) I say 'Woof Woof.'

I would appreciate a bit of guidance on marking riders attempts at sections in an event like the recent Brian Fowler Memorial Trial. If a rider slides backwards, let us say half a metre or a couple of feet to be clear, in control and feet up, on for example one of those big sloping rock sections what should the observer score? Is it a failure, a 1 mark penalty or nothing? The riders certainly expected no penalty at that trial for example. Secondly if a rider has a clear failure in the middle of the section should they then immediately leave the section without trying to complete it as they are no longer being 'observed.' I am generally referring to the elite riders and I am not asking about a rider caught on a log and rocking about a bit or indeed a section with the ends cards close to the point of failure. If you can point me to the relevant rule refernce I would also appreciate it. Thanks.

The Mont front suspension is so cool even Cabestaney allegedly uses it!

As far as the kick start is concerned I have found personally that Gassers, especially the 300's are tricky to start. That is, they are much more difficult than a Sherco 290. I suggest you should feel the engine compression through the kick start and turn it to the optimum position before trying to kick. Also it may be easier in neutral. Good luck.

That's just solved a birthday present problem! Thanks

The Keihin carb on my Paxau 290 works a treat and is reliable over 2 years regular use (twice a week). Clean it through look after the air box - no more servicing than usual. I think it's much better at the bottom end than the standard carb which feels rough to me if I ride a bike with one nowadays, even quite new bikes. Further up the revs - tons of go. Even further up - mad. Float did jam once during a trial and fuel poured out I recall - wacked it professionally with a lump of wood - cured.

Looking through the Regulations Available in last weeks UK national press there were 28 separate trials on Sunday 22 November on the UK mainland. Anyone seen a Sunday with more events? With Sundays weather that's a lot of wet riders and observers!

Like waiting for a bus, it seems ages and then several turn up at once.

The rain in Spain falls mainly in Scotland perhaps. By the looks at least they have had a go. I just hope the bloke who makes the rear shockers has run out of wood.

Ossa 'flash' style - website = gotta be a twin shock!

No pre load on the spring? With a bike like the Sherco rear shock do that mean it should be set so that at rest there is almost a bit of slack in the rear suspension before it is loaded? I must confess to having my rear suspension pre loaded with almost no damping and it was described by an expert rider who borrowed it for the day as having dead rear suspension. It is the standard 08 Olle adjustable with a standard spring. It seems to be said that if the Shercos have an Achilles heel it is in the rear suspension set up or damping. Any comments would be appreciated perhaps I have just made things worse.

Looks perfect! - Especially when the moss has scrubbed off. No fat bars on the Sherco then?

No regular problems I've heard of with later Sherco's. In fact I would dare to say they are pretty reliable! From 2008 onwards the 250's are sold in UK in 'UK tune' as requested by MRS. Most riders choose the 290 but I suspect few have actually ridden the later 250's. Which you choose depends on your skills, also fitness as the 290 can be tiring, your own weight and the type of sections you ride, 250's are rarer then 290's. I did ride an Evo 250 at a Steve Saunder's test day and I thought it was quite a decent bike. After a Sherco I found the steering lock extreme. Like the Raga Replica Gassers there is usually a 'Replica' Sherco 290 each year (Cabestaney Replica or Racing R), these are usually a bit quicker still and more expensive.

If you mean a bike with rigid rear suspension I don't think Bognor MCC would hold the style of events you need. Bognor is for modern solo or solo twin shock machines I believe. Though you would be welcome to come and see for yourself. There is usually a trial every month.

You are right they are pretty identical.

Mine is I think a slow - medium, overall you don't turn it as much as a slow one. The style of throttle is not always in line with the bikes power. My daughter's Txt 80 has a mega quick one fitted standard!

Actually they make 3 different ones, all slow start but different 'speeds.' They are very low friction and as far as I can tell do the job. At lowest revs it seems like a slow action one but picks up more without having to turn it so far. Has a solid end to keep the crap out - Solid ally billet perhaps. Seems OK on my Pax Sherco 290 which is pretty lively. Good delivery from the company too. I will keep it on the bike. Took about 2 minutes to get used to!

And I suppose you would get reported to the observer if you did a pivot turn or a small back wheel hop. I see a lot of regular riders of all ages on modern bikes use some techniques you could say are modern and car park style. Some clubs orientate their trials to 'technical and some to 'traditional.' It is enjoyable to try some modest versions the techniques of what the top riders do. If you want old fashioned trials ride a twin shock and enter the traditional championships.

So you are saying that to start a recent Gasser you still have to find neutral and be very careful how you kick them, otherwise, no go and worse, you can break the kick start innards. My 07 250 was just like that, a crappy starter but the dealers just said I was unlucky to have a bad one and it was quote " just a weak spark." In fact no non expert rider could start it at all. It is a good job that this make of bike rides well. I dreaded stalling mine. I sold it to an expert rider who when warned said "yea I know" and fired it up first time. I went back to Shercos, at least they start easily.

Is the preference for stop/no stop an age thing? Younger riders seem to prefer 'stop' but older ones generally want a return to 'no stop.' What has been lost visually in the 'stop' is the kind of flowing riding much admired by the older enthusiast. The 'stop' rider has terrific skill for aligning the bike to get as near to a right angle as possible before steps, but it is a bit boring to watch the build up. I disagree about queues there have always been sections long and slow or with difficult exits that have caused queues but somehow a road based trial often strung out the riders more and reduced bunching.

Prato got screwed in the Xispa deal... tell us more. And of course...Penso que Shercos siguin molt amables de conduir!

Maybe the confusion is that they are Catalans, and they speak a kind of Spanish French! As for the graphics etc, the factory is quite close to Barcelona a city that is famous for design and style.

I did understand that the 250 Shercos pre about 2007 were not ideal for Uk conditions being instead set up for dry sections of Spain. The UK importers MRS asked for minor changes and the more recent 250's imported to UK have a couple of small adjustments for wetter ground and are great. It may be apocryphal but it is what I heard. I suggest the usual TC advice, join a local club, and if you can, try all sorts of bikes. A 2004 250 Sherco, if it is in reasonable to good condition, sounds cheap at

Scorpa 250 2 stroke

Montesa is generally a very reliable bike. I would say the older 2 stroke 250 is a bit out of date. The Sherco you were offered was probably a 290 and that would be a handful though I found mine to be reliable. Of the 2 I would choose the Sherco, but I am biased. All the makes are good. The 250 Scorpa is reliable and would be easier to ride for a re beginer, its engine is rather old. The Beta say about 3/4 years old has many followers though the riding position may not suit everyone, very tight steering though. Finally the Gas Gas perhaps the most likely to need TLC but probably the most agile lightest and up to date. Try them all. Ask around at trials you may find a bike for sale. you want a clean original one whatever is.