Oh, that’s quite a discrepancy! I’ve asked for confirmation of the model, and if it is really as old then it’ll not be worthwhile my travelling to view.
many thanks
Out of interest have would you be willing to share the advertised purchase price?
If they are claiming its a 2012 when its definitely not (don't think a 200 version was available after 2006) then the price should be much more reduced in comparison. Below is an example of one advertised as a 2006
If you opt for a modern bike don't fall into the trap of a large cc. No disrespect, though you maybe a very competent road bike rider, possibly used to handling large cc machines, trials is a totally different animal. Trials is about finesse and delivery of the correct amount of power at precisely the right moment whilst traversing difficult terrain in a small space. Unless you are a larger heavier person I would recommend a 125-200, certainly no more than a 250.
The benefits of riding trials are numerous:
Its one of the cheapest forms of 2 wheeled motor sport
All the family can participate, there are even easy to ride electric versions these days suitable for young kids up to experienced adults.
The bikes are generally simple to work on and relatively cheap to fix
You learn bike control skills you never realised you were capable of
There are lots of clubs that run local events with friendly like minded people who are always willing to help
It keeps you fit and also your mind sharp (The fitter and sharper you are the better you will perform)
The improvements you can make in a short space (especially so as a beginner) of time leave you feeling excited and exhilarated
You can continually set challenges to match your ability
It gets you out of the house (in all weathers)
I could keep going with so much more but you get the drift.
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
I did my first few events in a pair of secondhand military boots from the local army & navy store. My dad wouldn't spend the money on trials boots until I had got properly into trials and regularly competing. Even then I never owned a brand new pair, always secondhand, until I could afford to buy some my myself at 18 years old, and that was helped by sponsorship from my local dealer.
To The OP if you are just riding basic stuff and not really attempting anything rocky or similar then you will get away with alternatives as the other posters have suggested. But the reality is, as all these things, trials boots are specifically designed for trials riding thus offer the best protection with the most durability and flexibility as possible. Personally these days I prefer to spend my hard earned cash on a decent pair of boots then go cheap on other items like clothing etc... Boots, especially comfy ones with maximum protection is a must for me, since most of my trials injuries have been bashed up feet from jutting rocks etc...
I have a 2022 GasGas TXT Racing 300 and I am leaking air from the wheel lock on my front tire. I loosened the lock, cleaned it and re-inflated and it still leaks. Any suggestions?
The front tyre is not tubeless like the rear (hence the tyre lock). There will be a puncture in the tube, so you need to remove the tube then repair/replace it taking care when reinstalling that you don't pinch it as you lever the tyre back onto the rim.
Our very own from the UK - Katy Bullock - Trials and off road motorcyclist and stunt rider credited for stunt performance in many blockbuster films and also a contestant on the X-factor.
What’s the age restriction? I am 32 so would you say a 250 is ideal for me?
As turbofurball says,
But it depends on your riding ability, weight and experience.
People assume that more power is better, but in trials this is not always the case. In trials controlling the power and using it at the right moment is absolutely essential, the precision required is far more profound. People often get a larger cc bike only to find it runs away with them when under pressure riding sections in competition.
If you are a bigish guy and have plenty of off road riding experience then a 250 would be better than the 125. But if you are pretty light weight and a complete novice to trials the 125 option maybe the sensible starting point. You can then easily upgrade once you feel you have gained some experience.
Many MX riders come into trials thinking its going to be easy, cause its slow and the bikes are small... it comes as a bit of a shock to some when they actually go and ride proper sections, especially in competitions.
There is always a trade off, totally waterproof tends to lend itself to uncomfortable. I prefer to wear a Gore-Tex type jacket, design specifically for outdoor sports. These tend to be the lightest and most comfortable and offer the best protection. However decent ones can be expensive and need some care to keep them in good condition.
But I think its worth it if you are riding nationals/road trials where you go from being hot from exertion to cold from just riding along inbetween sections.
I recently went on a hundred mile trail ride on my enduro bike there was a lot of road work but also lots of tough and technical tracks. The weather was awful and rained quite heavy, my Gore-Tex jacket was a god send! It kept me dry and warm but was light and breathable enough not to be too uncomfortable when I was really exerting. I paid over £300 for it and for days like that it was worth every penny.
I doubt MX tyres will fit most trials swingarms & aren't tubeless like trials specific tyres, in most trials situations they won't grip as well either due to shape & sidewall stiffness
I find it interesting how in the regs it says nominal maximum size of 100/100, at least 1 of the modern tyres is labeled 120/100 on the sidewall which I'm guessing has to be with how the manufacturers measure their tyres, different brands of MX tyres vary hugely in width, a 100/90 is the same width as a 120/90 as 1 is measured across the case & the other across the knobs
MX tyres are rubbish on rocks they are way too stiff and also put down less tread contact area, basically a trial tyre moulds around obstacles where a mx tyre just bounces off. If I put a trials tyre on my enduro bike it transforms it especially when doing anything slow and technical. Trials tyres are so much better for slow technical stuff but not as good at high speed or high impact.
Liking the MX/Enduro tyres on the TL. My very first trials bike as a wee lad (way too small for the bike) was a TL125. I just used to tear round the local woods and fields on it, I'd have loved those tyres back then. Me and my mates were obsessed with "spudders" the bigger the better!
I still get caught out and jerk a shoulder or jack knife occasionally especially when fatigued, it sometimes feels safer to brace arms and clatter through.
This is a common error we all make at times and a misconception. Our natural reaction to danger is to tense up and hold on for dear life, a difficult instinct to overcome!
I still do this when riding moto x, then end up with arm pump which makes things ten times worse. Just like in any sport that requires some sort of grip, the key is to hold on firm but relaxed and pace yourself so to enable good timing. We have all had those moments where everything just feels effortless, this is when we are at one with the bike and all the above is timed to perfection. This is what we are trying to achieve when we practice. We are attempting to develop the skills so it all becomes a natural instinct that over comes the fear factor - confidence.
I remember a few years back riding in a national event I came across a tough section I was on the hard route and there were some real big names riding. At this particular section there was a gathering of some top riders all pacing up and down the section trying to determine the best route. It was tough, no one had even got through it to the ends so far! I was very nervous but felt I had a chance of getting through it in my mind. Somehow I just relaxed and went for it, the bike was floating under me seemingly in slow motion. I knew at that point that this was one of those moments you get once or twice in a life time. I cleaned the section to a massive round of applause and some shocked faces (mine included). The point is I didn't really think about anything other than my intended line, I just let my natural (years of training) grooved in instincts control the bike. It felt effortless but in reality I was working hard on the bike to stay one with it.
This is probably what sets the better riders apart from us mere mortals, in that they feel this way a lot compared to our very rare occasions. But keep practising and don't be scared to move far more than you think you need to. Then soon people will be watching you and thinking, wow he makes it look easy!
The biggest and most common error I see (especially with beginners) is ridding too stiff bodied. You have to learn to become one with the bike, counter intuitively you need to move more to achieve this.
This starts from the feet up, don't be scared to let your feet move around on the foot pegs. Keep your knees supple allowing your legs to bend easily, allow your body to shift weight in all directions - up down, forward back, side to side... don't be embarrassed to stick your bum out to achieve this! keep your arms flexed not dead straight! and your grip firm but relaxed, the handle bars should feel light and you should be able to move your upper body around with ease but feel still in control of the steering and the bike.
If you watch footage of top riders, especially some of the old stuff from the 80's 90's which you will be more able to relate to etc (before the advent of the modern Bou technique), you will see just how much movement these guys do in order to stay one with the bike! Watch people like Thierry Michaud, Steve Saunders, Jordi Tarres... and watch how they move on the bike.
If you can get someone to video you riding a rocky section, then try and compare this with a better rider riding the same section. You will be surprised that in reality the reason they "float" over stuff with ease is because they are shifting their weight, using their legs and arms whilst at the same time timing this with power delivery and suspension reaction. In other words they actually use more effort to make it look easier but use this effort efficiently.
This is why people who have ridden other motorcycle sports but never trials are surprised at how difficult it actually is when they first attempt it.
When I coach people I always get them to exaggerate the required movement on the bike, just so they get a sense of what they need to do. 9 out of 10 people I have to shout at them to flex their legs, as the most common mistake is straight stiff legs! Just try and imagine your legs as part of the bike's suspension, because that is exactly the role they play when riding trials!
This is true, but the same is also said in reverse. Ive heard trials riders look down on other forms of motorsport claiming that trials is the most technical and you dont need skill for mx. I even feel the author who has written the attached link is a little on their high horse about trials. "Trials teaches much better throttle clutch and brake control" and "travelling at speeds covers up any imperfections of your use of them", I totally disagree!!! Theres also plenty of world champion mx riders who have never thrown their leg over a trials bike
I would agree that trials riders seem to adapt a little quicker to mx than a mx'er to trials but at the end of the day if you want to be at the top of either you gotta get good at each disciplines nuances. I currently ride classic mx myself, having started out in trials, but i wouldn't say i use one to train for other. I just enjoy both. Theres also been numerous times ive had to undo habits ive picked up in trials. Standing too much, sitting position and clutch/throttle use. I am and will always will remain crap at jumps. As intotrials says, applying a trials riders ability to find grip can be a great help, but ive also found times ive been riding mx in a much too reserved manner because ive been trying to find grip all the time. Sometimes a handful of throttle and an ignorant drop of the clutch can be quicker
Yes, you have made some very good points. Riding at speed requires additional skills and this is something I'm still learning. I'm way past my best in trials but my enduro and mx is very slowly (old age) improving, though I often wonder if is more my courage than skill.
I just can't build up the courage to hit the big jumps, the fear of crashing (which I have done so many times) on jumps prevents me to commit and I always back off, just can't help it. There's a table top on a track I get to ride that I have never cleared, every time I come round I try to convince myself to go that little bit quicker, but as always I just back off slightly and end up just short every time. Then some kid comes past me flat out and just whips over it effortlessly with no fear!
Every discipline (especially at the top levels) requires natural ability and specific skill sets, regardless. Much like running in athletics, speed training helps if you are a long distance runner and vice versa, long distance running helps if you are a sprinter. But to be the best, focus on the required specific skill for that particular discipline is crucial.
I started out in trials as a young lad and have ridden for the past 40+ since. However I do some MX & especially nowadays Enduro. As a result of the skills I learned through trials, I took to both mx & enduro quite easily, to a high degree of success. In fact in my very first mx race I hole shot the start without realising it, finishing 3rd in the moto overall. This was with zero start practice and very little track time. I believe the reason was that through my trials skills learned for throttle and clutch control I was naturally able to get the power down, and the bike gripping for good acceleration off the start line. Also I was much better in the wet conditions both in mx and enduro and definitely good at the technical side of enduro.
This is why you see the likes of Graham Jarvis, Billy Bolt and a long list of other off road riders that are very successful across many disciplines. The likes of Toni Bou is said to be very quick on both an enduro and mx bike.
I know most of the top mx riders definitely train on trials bikes during the off season to hone their technical skills and feel for the bike and so do many of the road racers and supermoto riders.
I always find it amusing when riders from other motorcycle disciplines remark on trials as being "for pussies" before ever actually having a go at it. Then only to realise how difficult, skilful and physically demanding trials can be.
So in short, yes I not only ride trials for fun, I also ride it as part of my training for mx & enduro.
Unless you were in that section where the Observer was, then it's hard to tell exactly what happened
Camera angle, may tell another viewpoint - as we viewed all have viewed it on social media, may not be a true representation
Still, DL's winning margin was more than a maximum penalty, so irrelevant to his win
In the SSDT there is a fair degree of latitude (plus benefit of the doubt) to all riders, by the Observers and as long as the same consistency is maintained to all riders, then in my book it's ok (SSDT Observers have a hard enough job, made more difficult - especially with camera phones)
After all.......... it's not like the Open or Wimbledon where the winner is taking a £1m paycheck for winning the event
I think Doug rode very well, all week and maybe his determination and 'will to win' makes him come over a bit too focused in the sections, but you can't blame him
I had a long chat with his Mum, last week at a group of sections and we spoke for a couple of hours - it was a great insight to the family and how 'down to earth' they really are
I have a lot of respect for Doug, his late father and his immediate family. I have spoken to all on many occasions and know how decent and down to earth they all are. This is why I'm a little disappointed from what I witnessed, oh and it was not just one occasion by the way. I agree it may not have made any difference to the overall result and also if the observer is consistent with all, then fine also. My point was the win would have (in my opinion) been more well received should the controversial actions not have taken place. There is one thing getting a relaxed decision from a friendly observer, but to blatantly "bend" the rules and put an observer under pressure is not very sporting at any level be it professional or amateur. In fact one could argue that at the amateur level where clubs rely on volunteers and the prize for winning is more about pride than possession, then surely a more "sporty" attitude should be taken?
Some controversy around it though, seems he had some questionable scoring aimed in his favour. Shame that such a well respected and talented trials icon has to resort to "bending" the rules. There is nothing left for him to prove, he is the most and undoubtedly the greatest trials rider GB has produced and possible one of just a few in the world. He has lost some of my respect due to the antics I witnessed at the SSDT.
I've been having similar thoughts, and intend to test ride latest model this month. I did get a ride on one a couple of years ago but nothing about it tempted me to change (from the point of view of competing in trials - not sure if this is your situation).
Relevant points for me are:
- Although it may cause less bother, riding it on private land without permission is just as illegal, with the same penalties, as a petrol bike. I accept this isn't important to some.
This is one that appeals to some and I can see why, the lack of noise makes them less noticeable and in general people also don't associate electric powered vehicles as "motor" vehicles so they are less alarmed when they see one ridden in areas not allowed, thus less likely to report them. However this will probably change over the years as electric vehicles become more popular, the "nuisance" association as per combustion powered vehicles will prevail also. Thus eventually people will frown on and/or report them. The only positive that might stick with the general public is the notion that electric vehicles are "friendlier" to the environment.
On a side note,
I've ridden the very latest EM bike and its very good! However the cost of replacement batteries and the lack of regaining lost grip, puts me off purchasing one. You have to ride them similar to a four stroke to make them grip, which takes a little getting used to. I like the traditional clutch and feel of it and do like the addition of a idling sound when the throttle is shut off. Both make the experience more similar to a petrol bike, which helps an old fossil like me! I'm sure in the near future the younger generation will quickly adapt, and at some point frown upon petrol engine bikes!
For me its more of the way certain riders think they have a right to, and consider themselves more important than others because they are considered "top riders" so have a terrible attitude towards other riders. I can understand that the sections can alter whilst they await their turn, so feel they need to get in there before it changes too much. I've been on the receiving end many times (like I'm sure most have) were I have rode a section to find a big rock or a hole has appeared that wasn't there when I walked it.
But this is still no excuse, they should just accept that its luck of the draw and things do even out in the long run.
What code wheel bearings are needed for a 2020 GP model?
Having never changed wheel bearings myself before; do you need specialist tools/press to fit them? Or do you just tap them in with a soft hammer?
TIA
I think the GP model have the Tech forks which If I recall are the same spindle size as the rear. So the bearings will be 6004RS, someone else may correct me on this. You can knock the bearings out quite easily by using a long blunt flat screw driver for the first bearing by moving the internal spacer over slightly to one side and then just catching the edge of the bearing to tap out. Once this one is out just use a socket the same size as the spacer to easily tap out the other bearing. To re-fit knock in a bearing one side using a socket that is the same diameter as the bearing outer case then insert the spacer and do the same for the other side. the whole job takes ten minutes provided nothing is too corroded or damaged.
Personally I like to flick out one of the rubber seals and fill with water proof grease then re-fit the seal, for added long term lubrication. However the bearings are pretty cheap to buy and simple to fit so its probably a bit over kill.
Even if you have nowhere to practice, just doing figure of 8's and stop start balancing as smoothly as possible will help you get some connection with the bike and teach you body movement. Unlike road riding, for turning in trials you tend to lean opposite to the bike and also when riding your legs become part of the suspension, this is why you stand on the bike rather than sit. Just learning these 2 aspects makes a huge difference.
You have been given some sound advice so far. If you are not happy with the bike then I would advise to try and test out other bikes to see if you can find one you are happy with.
However, trials is totally different to road biking. No offense but there is little to no technique, other than the very basic principals, like gear changing etc that you can take from road riding and apply to trials.
Many road riders turn their hand to trials only to find it totally alien and very difficult, as Guy Martin found out!
Trials is a fine art and takes years of practice and experience to master. The issues you have described maybe partly down to the bike, things can be altered to help over come this to some degree. But I suspect that the majority of the problems you are experiencing are down to a lack of proper trials riding technique.
My advice then would be to, No1 go get some tuition, No2 go and practice with other trials riders of varying abilities, No3 do the mods required to tame the bike as much as possible, No4 try out different bikes.
Novice seeking advice on GasGas bike for sale
in Gas Gas
Posted · Edited by Intotrials
spelling
Out of interest have would you be willing to share the advertised purchase price?
If they are claiming its a 2012 when its definitely not (don't think a 200 version was available after 2006) then the price should be much more reduced in comparison. Below is an example of one advertised as a 2006
http://moto.zombdrive.com/images/gas-gas-txt-200-pro-3.jpg