trapezeartist

You must have an even worse sense of smell than I do. Unfortunately SWMBO’s olfactory faculties are pretty sharp.

Sorry for the slightly tangential thought. We all know Americans call petrol “gas”, but what do they call gas? ?

Actually I don’t think the sport does enough to attract youngsters. Of course there will be a massive dropout rate and problems with cost and parental commitment, but every kid bouncing around on a scooter, skateboard or bmx is a potential trials rider. Somehow the sport needs to be put in front of them, to try to draw more in. Nor do we do enough to attract new adult riders. Most people don’t even know trials exist.Unfortunately it demands more of the hard-pressed club committee members.

Does anyone here use a boot dryer? Which type is recommended? My research has found 2 basic types, with many variations: Heated inserts. Something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Core-Shoe-Boot-Dryer-Electric-Warmer-Heater-Disinfectant-Dryer-Black-Yellow/123470431372?hash=item1cbf69448c:m:m9LtIC_3vRWyqVThh9RMuDg. This is the cheaper and lower power consumption solution (about 20w) but works at a higher temperature. These are generally shown with trainers in the photos. The wire sticking out the back of the heel may be more difficult down in the depths of trials boots. Blown air, like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Folding-Timing-Electric-Shoe-Boot-Dryer-Heater-Warmer-Home-UK/202510022400?hash=item2f2689b700:g:4KgAAOSwq2xb9TY5. More expensive and uses a lot more power (about 200w) but the air is only about 40deg. These too are usually demonstrated with shoes so the air outlet goes right to the toe. On trials boots I think it would only reach to the heel.

Why don’t I? Because I didn’t know such a thing existed. I’ll look it up.

Not the greatest photos. Sorry.

My 50% optimism was about right. It about 50% worked. The top surface of the plastic thingie was very wet and a bit muddy, so it had stopped all that going into the air filter. On the other hand there was plenty of dirt in the filter and a little bit of wetness at the bottom point. I don’t expect it to live more than half a dozen trials, and I certainly won’t be paying another £12.99 for a piddly bit of plastic. I’ll hunt around for something of the right thickness and stiffness and make my own.

I think I remember it. We had lunch in a local bar there once on the way to Granada. Funny place (if I’ve got the right village); one of those where you check to see how many fingers the locals have on each hand?.

Almeria is a big place. Whereabouts?

It might be a week or so before I have it in pieces again to take a photo. And I got no info at all from the supplier. The piece of plastic has three holes that roughly correspond to the rear airbox mounting screws and the airbox cover screw. After a bit of gentle filing, I got it attached on the two main screws. When I put the seat on, the plastic poked out the sides, so I marked it, took it all apart and trimmed off the surplus. On reassembly the plastic sheet rests on the four knobs on the airbox. The sheet is flat whereas the seat is curved so the seat has to be pushed down pretty hard to get the screws in. It went eventually though and then I had to put on the airbox cover which was also a bit of a fiddle. I'm not sure if I'll be riding this weekend. If I do, I'll report back next week. If not, the answers will come a week later. I'm about 50% optimistic that it will be successful, and fitting and removal should be easier in the future once the plastic has relaxed into place. But it would all be unnecessary if Beta made a better airbox in the first place.

The clear plastic cover arrived. The most expensive bit of plastic I've ever bought! There was no guidance on how to fit it but I worked it out. The fixing holes needed adjusting and there was quite a lot of material to be trimmed off the sides. Even then it was awkward to fit, but it's on now and awaiting the opportunity to test it.

Looking is quick and easy. Removing, washing, drying, oiling and refitting is messy and more time-consuming. I’ve just decided to put my money where my mouth is, so I’ve ordered a clear plastic cover. I’ll report back in a week or two.

I just tried it, and I see what you mean. Definitely a setup error by someone. I’d never noticed it before because I’ve always found the search function on forums (including this one) to be hopelessly hit-and-miss. Instead I use Google and prefix my search term with “trials central”.

I misunderstood you. I didn’t realise you only wanted something for washing. I really don’t think washing is the issue though. It’s riding. My 40yo Fantic would go at least six trials between filter cleans. Yet a modern Beta sucks in mud, water and small twigs as soon as you ride it through a muddy puddle! I’ve just cleaned out my air filter after just a couple of hours riding (admittedly in wet and muddy conditions) and it was filthy. I had taped over the grilles in the seat for washing. I think I’m going to have to take a punt on the clear cover.

Something like this https://www.ewbay.co.uk/itm/DAB-PRODUCTS-BETA-EVO-AIR-FILTER-COVER-CLEAR-2009-2019-MODELS/233052620375?hash=item364304c657:g:JpIAAOSwSK1bF9Ku ? I haven’t bought one yet because I can’t work out from the photo how it will work. And it seems a bit pricey for a flat piece of plastic. There’s also this, which seems a bit implausible as a means of keeping water out but is a nice little bit of bling if your existing screw looks like the one in the photo (as mine does!). https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BETA-EVO-AIR-FILTER-BOX-PLUG-SCREW-SEAT-BOLT-AIRBOX-COVER/292925442760?hash=item4433b78ac8:g:-d4AAOSwwARat9Tf

Ignoring guesswork, does anyone know why? The ACU seems to be deliberately vague.

About £10 a litre?

I agree absolutely, OTF. The good riders have improved far more than the bikes in the past 40/50 years. So the distance between expert and novice has grown ever wider. Just look at the experts on a pre-65 bike, beating the wobblers on modern bikes hands down.

That’s what everyone tells me, but if I was going to remove switch I wanted to have the warm feeling that I was leaving it in what I would call the soft setting.

I had a problem too with not being able to get an answer.

The threads on here about mapping switches show a lot of confusion and contradictory information. Hardly surprising because it looks like the writer of the handbook had had a little too much Lambrusco the day he did the electrical section. Items 5 and 6 (mapping and light switches) are labelled the wrong way round on the wiring diagram. According to the manual (2014, English) the H hard setting is to give a gentler response and S soft is for a more aggressive response! At first I thought it might be a mis-translation so I checked the Italian version and that was the same. Then I wondered if H and S were supposed to mean something else. H for humedo (wet) and S for seco (dry) perhaps? No, I think he was just pist. After pondering on the handbooks, reading all the TC threads and talking to Lampkins, I have concluded semi-definitively that switch closed is the true soft setting. So l’ve dumped the switch (which was not working properly anyway), removed most of the wiring and left short tails on the main connector block which I have permanently twisted together. So now hopefully I have a permanent soft setting and I’ve got rid of a bit of unnecessary gubbins.

I use a Berlingo too. I’ve removed both rear seats but there’s no hassle with removing bike wheels or rolling back the handlebars. The Honda Element must be mighty small if you have to do those things. One thing to bear in mind with putting a trials bike in a car is that it soon gets very dirty. My Berlingo is just for the bike and a few other purposes but I wouldn’t treat my only or main car like that.

I’ve not really noticed (I wear an Airoh) but perhaps it’s because in certain sections you will need to roll your eyes up so you don’t want to be looking at the edge of your helmet.

And our elders laughed at our flares in the 70s!

A trials bike doesn't have to be beautiful: it just has to perform. Mind you, the previous owner of my new acquisition spent a few bob on pretty bits for it, so my wife has christened it the "Bling Thing".