sirhc

Going with what Ron and Ishy have said obviously the Importers have to take care of themselves first. If I instantly stopped being a dealer all that would happen is I would have a BUNCH of parts to use (many that wouldn't work on my bikes) and some helmets that wouldn't fit me or my son. Financially I would be fine. For an Importer this is their lively hood. So if what they feel what works best for them to have good loyal dealers then that's what they do. If they want to sell direct and they feel that is the best way for them to survive then so be it. I have found the same thing, have done the demos and people seem interested, but never do anything. Last Oct. the San Diego club did a big trials demo at a bike expo. My wife (I was out setting up for a trials) went and set up a little booth, took some bikes and gave out a bunch of brochures and cards. When she came home she told me I had better get on the ball because from the interest generated my phone was about to ring off the hook!! Well not one call from there. This past weekend I took my son out to race MX. I didn't race because I had been sick so I brought my trials bike to ride around and see if there is any interest. I talked to a lot of people who seemed very interested and gave out a lot of cards. I dought I will get a call. So what should we do? I don't know. At this point I plan on keep doing demos and taking my trials bikes to as many places as possible, you never know because I also get calls from guys who say they just never see trials and didn't even know it was going on around here.

I was going to say something on your site-I'm "tychris" on your site, (he's the Admin of a much bigger KTM forum) but I'll say it here instead. I know both those bikes. I know the owner of the Beta and the previous owner of the Sherco (it's Mich lin's old bike- that will mean something to the regulars on this site). While the Beta owner may be an expert he isn't hard on his bikes and he didn't ride many events last year. There is nothing wrong with that Sherco, but the Beta would be a better choice. Also notice I'm currently riding a 2.9 Sherco and am recommending the Beta.

I've stayed out of this so I wouldn't say something I shouldn't since this now affects me being a new dealer, but I'll just give a few of my opinions. First, if you eliminated dealers and the public bought their bikes at dealer cost I don't believe that small amount would make it possible for any more people to buy the bikes. To that end if we all sell our bikes at MSRP just as many bikes will be sold and we could cover some of our costs and also make a little more to stock more parts. Second, to eliminate the people who aren't trying to be real dealers and just getting bikes cheaper for themselves and a couple of buddies the minimum number of bikes a dealer must sell a year should be higher and that number should be adhered to. I have only been a dealer for six monthes and have sold twice the number of new bikes that I am required to in a year even with the slowing economy. It's a pretty small number to me and I would think a established dealer should be doing more. I also am surprised nobody has mentioned one thing that ISHY said in his opening post that I think would really help and that is financing. It's hard to come up with $7,500. Talking to a local bike shop salesman almost everybody finances their bikes now, even dirt bikes. If we the dealers could some how get financing arranged through our importers or else where I think bike sales would immediately rise. I for example wasn't really in the market for a new dirt bike, but I saw one advertised for a really great price and with my Yamaha card the payments are less than $100 a month, so why not! Just from the phone calls I have got I'm sure I could have sold three more bikes if I offered financing. For a dealer to have bikes in stock is also something we should do. As of yet I can't afford to buy extra bikes though I hope to in the near future. All the "regular" dealerships don't do that though. They all have flooring plans so they are essentially financing the bikes that are sitting on their floors. I've looked into being a dealer for some of the off brand dirt bikes and they all offer and require a flooring plan through a separate company.

We're again planning on having a two day at Ridgecrest in Oct. We would be happy to make it a Regional event, especially since my club is the one doing it

I've had both a 4rt and an '07 Sherco 4t (about the same as an '08) and I must say I love the 3.2 4t. For me it is about the best trials bike I have ever ridden. Compared to the 4rt it is much lighter and has great power. Even my Uncle who has been a long time Montesa guy said he felt more confident on the 3.2. Zero reliability issues and oil changes are almost as easy as a 2t. Also starts easy hot or cold.

I have one of the '07 Sherco 3.2's that Cope mentioned (4 monthes old). Over the past year I have made it a point to try ever '07 bike I can and I pretty much have ridden about all of them, Gas Gas 125, 250, 300-Scorpa SY250, SY250F, SY125F-Beta Rev 3 125, 270, Rev 4-Sherco 125, 250, 2.9 & I have owned a Montesa 4rt. After all that I got the 3.2 without even riding one first and pleasantly found it to be the best of all for me. I love the power and the light weight compared to the other 4t's. Sure it may have too much power for some folks, but so does a 2.9. I would put the 3.2 & the 2.9 in the same league power wise. Of course the 3.2 has more torque and the 2.9 rev's quicker. If you like Sherco's you should love the 3.2 As I have said before on here starting is not a problem at all with the new bike. On another note as far as the power in concerned, I think it would be good for Sherco to make a 2.5 4t the same as they do with a 2.5 2t. It would be a nice bike for those that find the 3.2 too much. I could even see it working well as a 1.25.

Lots of 4rt's around here and never seen one break and I don't know of anyone who has ever done the top end. I did the top end on mine only to put a big bore kit on it. Took about 2.5 to 3 hours, but I was also comparing all the different parts along the way, plus I also had little "helpers" so that took a little longer too. Unless it's smoking or somthing I wouldn't bother though.

I always used the Elf htx 740 in my Beta's for just that reason. Expensive but well worth it. It works great on more than just 4rt's.

Yes it's terrible here in SoCal. I mean look at our last trial on Jan.13th, it was like 72 degrees and sunny. Makes me wish we had weather like back there so the only place we could ride was a pole barn

Which I don't see the point of. The cool thing was watching trials bikes race and beat the big bikes. Do trials riders have much interest in racing each other? The race also won't be too exiting since trials riders will just be too smooth around the track to make it interesting. A boring trials race won't do too much to help our sport.

Just wondering when the next one is coming. I have really enjoyed listening to them and there has been a lot happening.

I hope it's not falling apart, I just sent in AMA sanction and Insurance forms for a trials coming up. As long as they keep doing that it's fine, that's probably the only reason 99% of us are even members.

Well my late realise '07 3.2 4t has the switch and to be honest I can't tell which is soft or more aggressive-both seem the same to me.

I will assume you mean the Pro Taper SE -7/8 trials bars? They have three heights- low, medium & high. All will work for you just depends on how high you want to go

I guess he made it to the KTM big rig and I believe the #8 bike is his (how he qualified), but still wearing his Jitsie Gas Gas gear (standing by the trailer door)

I asked about getting the different colored graphics. I was told they would be very expensive and take a while to get. They didn't seem too interested in ordering them.

This is some older pictures and story of Paul Masters' electric bike in Northern California Electric bike He has done some development since then. He rides it in the local trials and last I saw I believe the batteries are smaller and not so high above the tank area. I also think I heard he was working on a clutch and some sort of flywheel setup, I can't say for sure though since I hadn't talked to him about it for a while.

I have both sizes. The 16.0 for my now seven year old daughter (got it when she was six) and the smaller one for my four year old son (got it when he was three). For your older daughter get the 16.0. She will be way to cramped on the 12.5. Or be like me and get both, one for each kid. My then three year old son rode his OSET without training wheels before his bicycle

I got asked that a lot. Since the front brake master cylinder was changed to a Nissin it is the same front brake lever as you would get for a Honda CRF, that one was easy. For the clutch I had a old beaten up (but not bent) ARC folding lever off my sons old bike. ARC makes levers that fit trials bikes So I got a generic ASV lever and cut off just the lever part. I then put that lever onto the base (the part that connects to the master cylinder) of the ARC. It took much drilling and filing, but I got it to fit. A lot of time and work just to have matching red levers. I would highly recommend the ARC levers. My son broke levers all the time, I have saved a lot of money getting him folding levers.

So Mark when you rode the '08 did the geometry feel any different than your '07? Like the pegs a little lower or anything? That's how my 3.2 feels, I was just wondering if it's 08 specs or a 4t thing. I had a '06 2.9 and I really liked the motor once I dropped the counter shaft by one tooth, put a Keihin on and the V-Force reeds. Unfortunately the handling of that bike just didn't suit me Even though they look the same I'm amazed how much better the 07's feel

That's because my bike isn't as quite as yours. I don't know why, but for some reason the new bike got louder. Not near as loud as a Montesa though. To the ear it is probably as loud as my Montesa was with the Mitani exhaust just a different tone to it. I have ridden the Beta and it almost sounds like a stock XR 100. I totally agree on the tranny. Many of our trials are in the desert where we go across the desert from one rock pile to the next and I miss the six speeds. Seems there all going way from that. It's funny that Gas Gas has the smallest motor and is still a six speed. So much for a five speed motor being smaller and lighter.

Compared to the 2.9, besides all the usual 4t stuff (heavier engine braking, increased traction, etc) I think what you want to know is, is it harder to handle than a 2.9? To me it feels like it has as much if not more power than a 2.9, but it is much easier to handle do to the fact that a 4 stroke just revs slower and won't jerk you around as much. I can see why it would be too much for novice riders of course so is a 2.9. I would also say this is the best handling Sherco I have ever ridden. I don't know whether it's because it was a late realise 07 and has the 08 frame geometry or if it's the 4t motor. It just feels and turns better than the 07 2t's. Weight is pretty much a none issue as is the starting, never use the choke or hot start lever and it always starts easy

I think when you read these forums it just makes things seem a lot worse than they are. I have had many of the bikes everyone complains about yet I experience none of the problems that you would think are a big problem. It's the same way with other forums too, I go on KTMtalk and they have all these problems I have never had with my KTM's. I currently have a '07 Sherco 4t which is about the same as an '08. While I think the bike is great, if you don't like the 4 stroke power of the 4rt then in my opinion you most likely wouldn't like the Sherco. I had a 4rt that I was very happy with, but I like the Sherco's power much more, mainly because it has more plus the bike is lighter. If the only thing holding you back from a Sherco 2.9 is the stickers then I say go for that. I just put Cabestany Rep graphics on my 4t Looks much better than Spooge Bob or Powder Rangers. Steve, let me know how the transition goes for your son from the 80. I have a 08 Sherco 125 on order for mine.

Another article from Racer-X. Even admits that Colton was the fastest rider out there. Pictures from Racer-X Racer-x photos