turbofurball

I have one in blue (the red ones are rarer), it's a really good bike, they changed hardly anything from the very first public version through to 2006 or so. The "Graham Jarvis" is only a special sticker set, and the "Bultaco" and oval headlight was only for the first year. I think it's about 68kg, same as any other modern-ish bike. The 250 is very smooth, steering isn't as tight as a Gasgas (but that hasn't bothered me), the clutch is sticky when cold like many bikes of that time but when warm it's very nice and progressive. It's not quite as quick to pull apart as a Gasgas but feels better made, the frame has a lot nicer build quality. The choke lever is in a silly place, but I modified mine to make disengaging it easier. The petrol tank is a good bit bigger than other bikes at 2.8 liters, which is good for me. What I've read of the 290 version is that it's hard to ride, so I'd approach one of those with caution.

You do get used to it, and good form helps (core and leg strength too! For me I do some extra up and down steps every day, but an exercise regime that includes squats will do wonders), but sometimes it's better to just fit taller handlebars to help with the back angle and when on a smooth bit you can rest in the 'dip' while riding if you're flexible, or get a little seat (there's range extender seats that have extra fuel tanks underneath - the seat isn't convenient like on an enduro, just somewhere to take a the weight off for a moment).

Yeah, I've been using my Sherco 250 mostly for trail riding after I broke my enduro bike trying to do silly things with it (I may have dropped it off a bit of a cliff, the recovery was a PITA and took 3 people and lots of climbing ropes), though for the coming year I'm going over to a Rieju Tango for more range. Trail riding on a trials bike is fab once you've got the hang of it!

Hello and welcome, whereabouts are you? Have you got your own bike already? How are you finding the experience so far?

That's been my experience, and from what I've seen of American clubs on video they look like they have the same kind of attitude - trials is very humbling and doesn't have a macho image, so those who want to throw their metaphorical weight around don't stick with it compared to enduro or MX. If you can't find at least one local person to practice with, I'd suggest trying to convert a friend ... even as complete newbies, two people together can have lots of fun (my other half has zero love of observed trials, only long distance trials, but she loves going out for a practice with me )

Plastic is fine as long as it's a brandname (the last ones I got were K&N and they've been fine). The cheapy unbranded ones aren't fit for purpose, and unfortunately it's hard work sifting through them online to find good ones that aren't overpriced. All my bikes use 6mm fuel hose, but I don't have an Evo to say for sure, lol

For reference, I did my first two trials events in second hand Lidl motorbike boots that I got second hand for a fiver. I didn't use them for the third one because they were completely destroyed, one of the soles were coming off and the other had a split across. I splurged on some Forma Boulders (at the time 150) and not only were they much better (strong flat sole with plenty of grip for walking sections) but I'm still using them now some 6 years later. I use them when I'm riding my adventure bike too, because enduro boots give me a lot of discomfort in my knees. Check with your local clubs if anyone might sell you their old boots, that's a budget way to try them without parting with too much money

It may have been there for some sort of homologation process that had to be passed on all production models then, or maybe they had an overrun of the domestic market version and it was easier to just ship them with the road kit. If it weren't for the import taxes it'd be worth selling the extras over here, lol

Quads are handy for going to the shops, but they can't make it up the old donkey trails here, it's hard enduro country (and for those like me who aren't Graham Jarvis, it's trials bike country, lol). As for the EU, I work in safety testing and all these "stupid" regulations *over all* save people's lives. Complaining about spending a few minutes taking some bits off seems a little trivial by comparison.

In Europe people use trials bikes on the road (many, maybe even most, have never seen a competition), and they do need this equipment to pass roadworthiness tests. Bikes that don't come with a full road kit are worth a lot less here ... but we don't need to have a speedo, that's a British thing as far as I can tell.

Best to keep an eye on ebay (or whatevers popular where you live - Craigslist, Wallapop, etc). You can also ask at local clubs too, sometimes people have old boots they haven't got around to trying to sell.

Anyone who wants an MOT to do trials that includes going on the road between sections, anyone who wants an MOT on their bike so they can have normal insurance, anyone who uses a trials bike for farm work, anyone who practices trials on green lanes or other public rights of way and doesn't want their bike seized by NIMBY ordained police, anyone who wants to use their trials bike to commute when there's lots of snow (that was my favourite). There's probably more reasons.

Hi, better late than never - I checked and like Feetupfun said it's centered (well, I have half a milimeter out to the left, but I think that's just because the wheel needs a rebuild, lol)

Number of people who can hop a trials bike up 7' in the air? The guys in the world championship can do it, just. As for "trail riding" and "trials riding", I live a stones throw from where Toni Bou grew up. Montesa, Bultaco, and the Sherco factory aren't very far away. There's a reason. However, I was talking about trials riding in this instance - if you can get an enduro bike through a trials section then, as someone who managed to snap the frame of my EC250 while trying those sorts of shenanigans, you have my upmost respect.

There's only a handful of people in the whole world who can ride to that level, and they practice full time - I'm happy to just squeeze a bike through places where an enduro bike won't fit, (which is a lot of tracks around here, lol)

Mines a later model, but still pre-Honda ... I can check it this weekend if you'd like

My tip for that would be to ask semi-amateur teams if they would like a photographer to follow them around for an event so they get good "team photos" ... that's how I got started in it, a friend was a team mechanic and got me a pit pass in order to take some nice photos (but once you're in the pit you can photograph anything, and you're not stepping on the toes of the pros because the semi-amateur teams don't get a lot of press, lol).

Yes, I'd guess it's there for the people who are approaching a pro level of riding and need to hop the bike 7' in the air etc

Well, the top ones a Delorto and the bottom ones a Keihin, so they'll take different cables ... if it was me I'd stick to the Delorto, rebuilding Keihins is a massive pain in the backside

For a while I worked weekends covering motorsport for one of the glossies, it was fun and got me into a lot of places where not many people tread, but it was also stressful because I needed to get some good photos otherwise I'd not get more work! As a hobby I imagine it's much better ... good luck in your pursuit!

Have you got a portfolio online to see? Good photos of trials are often hard to find, but when done right it looks very spectacular I hope you enjoyed yourself!

Did you go? I was working unfortunately

Ah yes, I forgot about that! If I was still in the UK the Cota would be exempt now too

Sticky vinyl only seals well on smooth surfaces, if it was me I'd go with paint. Be sure to have a friendly MOT station lined up for the test though, strictly speaking you should have a flat plate (my Cota passed with a hand-painted curved plate just fine, because the MOT station owner rode twinshocks)

That looks presentable enough, are you planning to paint the letters onto the mudguard, fit a curved plate, or a flat plate?