micm

Still going and the bikes are cheap!

Turns fine, grips well, generally considered powerful although different issues of the bike (ie by year and by versions, works or standard) have quite different 'black box' settings so there is some year by year variety but quite subtle, the latter or even the 'works' ones not always more 'powerful.' f you have two or three similar Scorpas of different iterations you can swop the black box and you will feel the differences, mainly at the bottom end. There is a perception by some expert riders that they are more 'grounded' and less 'bouncy' than their Sherco sister bike although the differences in the two machines appear to be physically relatively minor. They are old school, simple, plenty of go, reliable and really do grip, far far better than older Shercos. I can't say I have noticed the 'cramped' riding comment by Lineally and I am average build 6 foot. The 300 has loads of go, maybe too much for fiddly stuff unless you are good at hopping etc. Much quicker off the mark than a Mont of either size (which catches up later!). Later clutches are lighter.

As our Spanish Cousins make the bikes and, I understand, aren't to shabby on them either, what about a more 'hispanic' name, how about Las Motos Fiascos or maybe Motos Gymnastico or Motos Equilibrio!

Whoops... 'Worthwhile Contestant'

OK, A bit of an outside chance, but you can join me in nominating Ms Emma Bristow as the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year. Surely a worth contestant. Here.... https://sportswomenoftheyear.co.uk/awards

I used a variation of the rev and go, as suggested already, on my 2011 300 gasser. Put the bike in second gear, rev it a bit and lightly tap the gear lever downwards with the ball of your foot, I stress lightly otherwise you end up in bottom gear. It usually worked for me.

In this recent French World Round I noticed that the Mecatecno Dragonfly E bike only cleaned the first section, all the rest being 5s with one section missed out. Obviously I know how that feels! and hope it was actually due to some sort of machine gremlins or the £10,000 retail asking price might be looking more than a bit speculative. Anyone know anything?

I suppose a cup of tea with one sugar from the catering van is still OK?

Thanks also for the link. I don't see it mentioning what might be a bit of a deal breaker in that blurb. That is their new PELS system. It is said to be a progressive electronic version of a clutch and so the left hand lever is no longer an off/on switch. Quotes from the EM factory recently ...'The new PELS is a real improvement, it doesn't work anymore as an ON / OFF switch, it is progressive, you can adjust it.' And Masso, Salt Spring Island, a great name.

"Had 02 Expert non turbo diesel, flat as a witch's tit and thirstier than turbo" - Sirdadalot Interesting simile, but wrong engine. The HDi common rail motor in the Dispatch etc is more economical, more powerful and pretty reliable. Don't have any passenger/2nd rider complaints either as they are usually travelling free!

My '04 Citroen Dispatch has been pretty good though before I got it it had not been well looked after. Alternator, starter motor, half exhaust and battery in about 6 years. The locks are rubbish and I replaced them. I am advised by my garage that the next version (08 ish?) earlier models are not as reliable, electronics apparently. Mine always goes, there are 2 different engines fitted, one newer (HDi) and more economical than the other. 2 bikes fit pretty easily. Two and three seater versions about, some with steel bulkheads. Heater not bad!

I understand that the likely price of the new electric Mecatecno Dragonfly has increased to, in the region, of £10,000 UK. That's not far off the cost of the Gas Gas TXT E which appears to be much more powerful. Perhaps the forthcoming 'Mark 2' Electric Motion bike, the EPure will come in at a lower price. It was announced yesterday by the company that the EPure prototype will appear at the French GP on 14/15 July in the hands of Takumi Narita and Christophe Bruand and in Belgium a week later.

Even more interesting now that Mecatecno are said to be increasing their purchase price to just a shade under the TXTe's.

How about a nice two stroke Honda!

Neither. A three year old bike is governed a lot by its use and its maintenance and even the number of owners sometimes. I have personally had several Shercos although I avoided the back tank models. My 2016 Scorpa is made in the same factory with the same components and is first class. Personally all my (2003, 05 and 07 all new) Shercos were fine construction wise, with no issues. A 2015 Sherco is the first year of the 'normal' design again. It has the slightly irritating but normal Gasser style air filter fixing screw (tail on a donkey) now thankfully changed on the latest bikes. I think the engines are pretty much bulletproof with a bit of normal care ie filters oils coolants etc..

I was the 'bouncer/passenger at Gordon's first car trial at Longmoor Hampshire in about 1964 ish. I didn't know who he was, I read about trials every week in Motorcycle News but I didn't go to events so I didn't recognise him. He was just introduced as Gordon, needing a passenger. To say he was a natural is understating it! I thought 'My god this guy's so good.' At the lunch break (in the pub) I asked him his second name and it all fell into place. We came 4th overall I think.

The front spark plug front axle rule was clearly intended to control weight distribution. I believe it can only be a 1/5th of the wheel base behind the front axle. The cars can suddenly rear up when climbing also when reversing from a climb on a steep hill when the back brakes are on. Yes the transaxle is for the same reason as is the lead in the spare tyre centre. Ballast is OK but must not be changed during the event. All cars must use the same named tyre and at each event a tyre pressure is announced. This event it was 5psi. No supercharging, so carbs or FI, the engine size being around 1500cc as in Honda or Suzuki. This trial car design is a 'Sherpa'

Couple of photos of the trick style sporting trials cars at an event near Petersfield in Hampshire over the weekend. Like the two and three wheel variety there is a thriving 'Retro' car scene but the rules on altering original parts (think Ford 1172 side valves and BMC A series motors) are pretty strict. The latest cars (photos) have transaxle gearboxes and elaborate suspension setups, but all the cars cannot shift their engines back beyond a certain point. Also they are not allowed to fit limited slip diffs. All sporting sections are what we would call graded hills, often with many turns.

Is it single speed ?

That came out of nowhere! Looks good.

The Beta 200 is a bike which is discussed quite often on TC and at trials etc between older riders especially. In Blighty they are pretty rare. If anyone has a 'road' test a link would be appreciated. The engine of the 200 is now based on the 250 not the smaller engine so it is now considered a shade more robust. The right answer, as always, is for you to try them both. The bigger engine will surely have more torque which would be helpful, but probably not enough to pull your arms out! The 'Factory' might look a shade more 'trick.'

Batteries need to be replaced more often than pistons and they cost a lot more... Good point, batteries are expensive I agree, but if we are talking running costs don't forget, petrol and 2 stroke mixture is I suspect is dearer than recharging the batteries, judging by what local Nissan Leaf owners tell me. So there is a balance. My main point about electric trials bikes is they are quiet and non smoky and in more densely populated areas that is a big plus, especially for regular practice.

Sounds like the e bikes won't fry your brains or any other parts except maybe your toes! And no worse than the petrol jobs, don't think we have hydrogen or diesel ones...yet. ...from Phys.org "The intensity of magnetic fields in seven different electric cars, one hydrogen car and one petrol car were measured in order to ascertain whether they approach the recommended limiting values for human exposure. The measurements were carried out using real cars in a laboratory and during road tests. The highest values in electric cars were measured near the floor, close to the battery itself and when starting the cars. In all cases, exposure to magnetic fields is lower than 20 per cent of the limiting value recommended by the ICNIRP. Measurements taken at head-height are less than 2 per cent of the same limiting value. In the case of petrol and diesel powered cars, exposure was measured at around 10 per cent of the limiting value. In other words, there is little difference between electric cars and petrol and diesel cars." Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2014-05-danger-magnetic-fields-electric-cars.html#jCp

Well I guess if you have a secret section in Central Park NY and live across the way up on 5th Avenue there, you can afford the bucks! OK it's for the better off rider like the Tesla Model S is to the similar sports car buyer. Although in my neck of the woods there are 4 titanium framed Vertigos sculling about and they weigh in at Uk £10,000.

"I don't think numbers are important here" With respect, I think they are. Watts and Kilowatts in E bikes are comparable to cubic capacity in petrol engined ones and for example the Tesla cars are rated in BHP as described by Jeremy Clarkson road testing one. The Gas Gas with it's15 KW motor is going to pack a considerable punch in any language.