micm

From my 'new' Ossa experience I thought the K battery less ignition was very poor as it only worked now and then and was v going work to start, maybe the later bikes were better. It only came to life consistently when a couple (or more) AA batteries were wired in to the circuit. I agree tho' the bikes might easily become collectable, put it in the museum with your Sherco 320

The whirlpool throttle has saved a lot of awkward moments as have decent disc brakes. And chain spray is so much nicer than boiling oil.

Did you change the o rings? Even if they look OK they can still be knackered and the effect will be the same, the coolant weeping out.

Teasing us eh? No photos for 6 months? So no point in looking at a Dragonfly thread till then I guess! Suggested retail price UK for a Dragonfly E, I have been quoted by a UK dealer £5,700, same as the French EM.

Nobodys mentioned the Spanish Inquisition. They make them there or at least assemble them, so surely they are a bit cheaper en Espana even with all the Vat etc.

"Even Mecatecno Melcior Estorch turned up" (cheers Gas Gas 249UK) Melcior? Isn't he the cycling wizard in 'Harry Potter and the Slippery Shallows ?' Personally, I quite like the 'cheap' frame ones ('my bikes a Vandal') and the 'works' brown crankcases would certainly match our local mud!

"I want a bike I can ride tidily, hose off, then go to a week or two later and repeat the process, whilst always giving me the smile factor. I'd have the 4RT" Funnily enough that's exactly what I do with my 2011 Gasser. Maintenance is simple, hardly anything goes wrong with it, although it gets ridden every week.

A local very expert Montesa rider told me the new standard model he rode had bouncier suspension then the Repsol so suited riders who moved the bike about a lot. I tried it and immediately fell off! Definitely a Marmite (Aus = Vegemite) experience, love or hate.

Is it true that the BSA Bantam engine (ex German DKW design, handed over through WW2 war reparations deal) was designed by the same bloke who did the V1 flying bomb? No relation between the two I assume!

According to 'Diari de Girona' on 28 October 2015 there are three detailed bids for Gas Gas Motos. The highest bid is from Torrot (£7M) a Catalan (Spanish) electric bike company, the other two bids being from IRG (£5M) an investment fund and French company Sherco (£2M). Bidders were also required to say who got what proportion of their bids (ie creditors etc) and their general intentions towards the factory in Salt, and the workforce. Link... http://www.diaridegirona.cat/economia/2015/10/28/torrot-presenta-loferta-mes-elevada/750286.html

Maravilloso, and er no minders!

Beta

For info, the German company who made the electric Gas Gas conversion (remember that Adam Raga video) offer a 'drop in' engine pack for any Gasser from 2010 onwards. They claim a two hour conversion time. The cost is from around £3000 stirling. They are also making an alternative motor pack with a hydraulic clutch and a six speed gearbox, no price yet. It looks neat, but sounds as if it's going to be expensive. Anybody tried them? Link... http://www.techair.de/direct.html

Didn't the early '05s suffer from something similar like fuel vaporising in the inlet tract when the engine got hot with the results you are describing. And didn't Sherco introduce a mod for that, maybe a heat shield and a carb alteration?

I am told by some that the problem with the Sherco rear fuel tank design, apart from the possible weight distribution issue, was the very contorted air inlet path from filter to carb. OK crossing Scottish rivers might have been easier (anyone?) but I understand it restricted air flow due to having to make a 145 degree turn just before the carb inlet. Multiple air filter changes in design could support that theory. I look forward to trying the bike.

Changing to the 200 engine underpinnings from the 125 to the 250, was there sometimes a problem before. Bearings for example?

$10,000 across the pond.

I found a recent online survey of Spanish trials enthusiasts who had been asked (I think) ‘What make of bike would you buy at this moment?’ With just over 700 replies the result is shown below. Add a pinch of Spanish salt. Montesa 23% TRS 22% Beta 16% Sherco 11% Vertigo 10% Gas Gas 6% Scorpa 6% JotaGas 4% Ossa 1.5% Other? 0,5% Well done Jordi Tarrés and gang if this translates into sales. The new Montesas are admired too. My conclusions from this poll? Keep them conventional. Either make the bike very light or beautifully made. And try not to put things like fuel tanks (or rear shocks) in funny places?

I rode a 250 Bultaco 1999 model recently. To my surprise it was OK and would not be underpowered to re start on but...I agree with Huski it is pretty old for a 'modern' bike and the steering lock is not as good as some others. 1800 bucks is about £1150 Stirling. In the UK that model would fetch maybe £600 tops. I think there was a copyright issue over the name hence the change. Standard advice is...try as many as you can and get a good clean and original one as new as you can afford, 250 is plenty.

There is a Spanish e-bike coming out to be called a 'Dragonfly,' designed I understand by some of the trials world's top honchos (thank you James). Full size adult bike apparently.

"it is the people marking out who are the problem" I suggest that you try setting out a trial, instead of writing stuff like the above.

S Sherco (engine and) C Carburator O Organised (with) R Reasonable P Petrol (tank) A At (last!)

Around here (Hampshire UK) it's just having somewhere to park the bike that is a problem for many potential riders. People of riding age and inclination setting up home are mostly having to live in flats (apartments) so have no garden shed or garage. A few keen ones leave bikes at their mum and dads, if they're allowed to! Looking at the eco point of view, decent electric bikes (Dragonfly anyone?) might generate a new or MTB crossover following to widen interest in the whole sport.

'Dragonfly' electric trials bike, coming soon he says.

I see that the Catalan Spanish Restaurant El Cellar de Can Roca' has been voted the world's best this year. I would imagine it is pretty very expensive and would be patronised regularly by the local town's top businessmen and their girlfriends etc. As both Gas Gas Motos and El Cellar are in the same town, Gerona, I trust this juxtaposition has not be a contributory factor to Los Gassers bankruptcy!