turbofurball

Yeah, it's a good choice for what you want. Another one to have looked at would have been a TL125, but they don't make as much power. As for the headlight, if you just need a bulb it's going to be a standard type ... is it 6 or 12 volt?

Trials is far far harder and more physically demanding than trail riding, and you don't go fast. Doing slow trail riding on a trials bike is great fun, though Having a mousse would be a major disadvantage in trials - heavy, and you can't adjust the pressure! Depending on conditions tubes with 3 to 8 psi does the job ... flats aren't a huge problem, just ride gently when you get one, lol As for the club, one person with enthusiasm can make all the difference - clear organisation, a practice space, and being easy to access for new riders are things that can help

Now that looks like a nice and practical bike to have! I don't remember seeing any fully equipped trials bikes in the UK out and about ... in fact it's rare to see them away from a trial at all, mine are both road legal but don't have lights etc. Great if you want to go green laning and aren't in a hurry, lol If you take the lights and rack off be sure to keep them

Direct link for the lazy

MOT - £20 Tax - £40 Insurance - £85 Being able to go green laning on a trials bike - Priceless (there's some green lanes around here with great little trials-y bits off to the side, I can ride from home, do a couple of hours, and ride home again)

Instruction isn't mandatory here, you just have to pass tests. We picked up an old 250 and I taught my other half most of it (plus used phone apps and DVDs for the theory etc), as a result she only needed a couple of afternoons of proper lessons on a larger bike. CBT - 1 day of basic bike handling on a little 125, supervised on the road for half the day Theory Test - Multiple choice on road signs, laws, etc. Usually takes a month or so to learn it all from scratch. Hazard Perception Test - Identify hazzards on a video of road use. This catches a lot of people out, the computer doesn't allow for false positives or slow reactions. Mod 1 Test - Enclosed paved area test on a bike with a decent amount of power (64+hp IIRC). Low (~4mph) and high (32mph) speed abilities, emergency stop, etc (you can fail for pulling your brakes in the wrong order in the emergency stop, touching a cone in the swerve, dabbing in the low speed riding, etc etc) Mod 2 Test - 45 minute on-road test. Includes highway and town riding, hill start, following street signs, etc (you can fail for stuff like not indicating, or doing shoulder checks correctly)

There's an interview with him HERE, for anyone curious. He was trials world Champion in 1980 and 1981, on a Montesa

Yeah, but it's more in-depth than the MSA course

A very elegant looking bike

Without mirrors, indicators, lights, a speedo, and maybe a seat, taking the test would be tricky ... renting a bike isn't much money in comparison to the test cost, but you could always just borrow one. I can't imagine not having a bike license, it would be like living with only one arm, but I can understand how offputting the test is - my other half went through it all a couple of years ago and it took her a couple of weekends and about £700

To try and bring the conversation back, at the moment I think it makes sense for modern trials to avoid road work - that is genuinely something that would put an awful lot of people off. Wouldn't think it would be as much of a problem for classic trials, though.

There's a vast difference between 17 and 25 year old's maturity, and the tests to pass a direct access course are far far far more stringent than to pass a CBT (or, not even that if you go back before the CBT) to ride with L plates. You're comparing apples with continental drift. My Dad's shop sold majoritively road bikes, and my parents were fine with me riding on the road, but I can understand why parents today wouldn't necessarily feel the same way ... especially if we're talking about male riders.

Also drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists ... doesn't make my point invalid, namely that it's reasonable to prioritise road safety over the needs of an obscure motorsport

"The leading cause of death for both males and females aged 5-19 was land transport accidents, accounting for 13% of deaths at this age group."

It all started in 1982 when learners were restricted from riding 250s ... the current licensing rules, courtesy of the EU, are evidence-based. They looked at the statistics, and made changes so that young people would have less chance to kill themselves and other road users. Is trials more important than that?

If younger riders don't see the appeal of riding a motorbike on the road, then civilization as we know it may be doomed ... seriously, road bikes are so much fun!

I don't think Sandifords do any classic Montesa parts, though (a pity, my 349 still has the original Sandifords dealer stickers on the tank cover!)

The 349 is great, fab fun to play on and good on trails ... no way I'd use it for actual trials though I imagine the 348 is somewhat similar

InMotion do the mains, seals, etc (just had the mains done on my 349, amongst other work) although they did send single sided mains seals when they should have been double-sided

'70s style jogging bottoms ... I use old work trousers at the mo, comfy and don't soak up water

5170.025 for the whole thing including the bulbs - the old lights are in the 348 parts manual, pm me if you'd like it emailed over

I've used similar before, but prefer Mechanix gloves for wearing for a long time

That's also applicable to 349s

Or, lots of people get 300s and then have trouble riding them, so sell them to the next person who thinks they'll do better ...? The quest for ever greater capacity / power is something that's taken for granted in all other forms of motorcycling, so I guess that that bleeds through into trials