I agree with the good questions point - I would like to focus on the point of declining club membership; the five Texas clubs seem to make a concerted effort to make sure the competitions and club meetings are 'family friendly'. The competitions have easy sections close to camp for the cadets and rookies with several dads looking after the little guys and girls. They also include a bicycle trial using some of the same cadet / rookie sections; all very popular. All of this serves to bring new competitors to the club (I've been puttin' a whuppin' on those 12-yr-olds in the Novice class lately - I won't mention that I'm 45...)
What I see is somewhat steady membership... some drop away and are usually replaced by newcomers; but overall the membership seems to remain fairly constant.
Here in North Texas we are fortunate to have a 2500 acre tract of privately-owned land thats available for all types of motorcycle / ATV use. I will be proposing to our club to set up an information booth at each trial for all the MX and enduro riders that would like to find out more and possibly hook up with one of our local dealers to have a demo bike available - we always have lots of looky-loo's from the enduro set when we have a trial. I see this as a great way to bring new people into the sport. If you have something similar in the way of a riding area, it might work for you as well.
All of that to say, more people = more money = better funded TdN effort. Trials will end up (is already) like competitive road bicycle racing, largely dominated by the euros. Cycling had the Tour du Pont which was like a US version of the Tour de France; it received significant TV coverage (but is now dead). US riders competing at the top levels stand a fair chance of TV coverage which can't hurt.
My local dealer sells them 'online'... his website has a picture of them here, you email him and he ships them the same day. He also accepts PayPal so online payments are safe - I've never had anything but positive experiences with him. Contact Les Mizell http://www.etcycles.com or email at mizell@swbell.net Just email him and tell him what you want, or just go to his website, click on GEAR, then BOOTS, scroll down click the BUY NOW button - and you'll have it in a couple of days. Les has FREE shipping, BTW - I don't know about you but I like anything free...
The Tryal Shop has the 'Scorpa-style' pegs, more expensive but similar
So, is it advisable to beef up the footpeg mounts, or is it smarter to leave them alone and let them break rather than risking a frame break due to overly strong peg mounts? (or take a point or two and not scratch the bike any more than it already is...)
Has any other Rev riders changed to the Hebo footpegs? I just switched out the stock pegs for new Hebos and they make a world of difference for me. The machine is easier to balance and I feel like I have more control / more places to stand.
I thought about the CNC milled Scorpa pegs, but the Hebos are battle-tested and cheaper too.
Is that blind faith or personal experience? There are those who think Ron's interests are purely self-serving. In my experience Ron has been helpful and accomodating.
And as you say, it just seems odd... Ron usually recommends a 27.5 pilot where I have moved my bike the other way - I've tested up to a #40 pilot and have backed down to the #35 - maybe a little fat, but I have happy mains.
It is interesting that they come rich, it would seem that most (not necessarily Beta) come lean
JTT - I haven't figured it out yet, but it appears that the importer (and most Beta dealers) suggests that owners fit leaner jets to their Betas - or it seems to be the prevalent thinking among clubmen. My guess is that stock Betas probably don't feel as 'crisp' as, say, a Gas Gas or Scorpa - so the dealer / importer suggests leaning them out so they will feel 'snappier'. Gas Gas machines are everywhere, so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em - make the Beta feel like a Gas Gas and sell more bikes... that's my theory and I'm sticking to it...
feetup - when you're looking at the right side of the bike the air screw is the one toward the back of the bike (closest to the air filter). Screw it in until it seats lightly and then back it out 1 - 1/2 to 1 - 3/4 turns.
I'm curious what you're changing from / to on your jet sizes. I too have a 250 Rev and have settled on 145 main, 35 pilot and 1 - 3/4 turns. I'm riding at elevations around 600 feet above sea level nominally.
Download the Mikuni tuning manual for the 'VM' series carbs at this link scroll down to 'Other Motorcycle Applications' then click on 'VM "Round Slide" Tuning Manual'.
What is your location and what changes have you made (and more importantly, why are you making changes?)
I really like olly g's suggestion which is similar to an experience I had at a 'Gate Trial'. These events are loads of fun and strategy is VERY important to place well. The basic idea is that the gates or splits in a section have points associated with them and the person with the most points wins. This allows you to pick and choose the splits you ride rather than just riding your class line.
Paulmac - Betas don't have 'dog bone' linkages as far as I know, however, the swingarm bearings or rear wheel bearings are suspect as are the headstock bearings.
I also think JTT is also on the right track - questioning toward detonation caused by low-grade fuel.
Did the knock just start, or have you started noticing it more and more lately?
neonsurge - I'll state my allegiance up front: I ride Beta and I think it is regional. Here in north Texas it seems that Gas Gas and Sherco are the most popular with Montesa third, then Scorpa and finally Beta. However, I am seeing more new Betas being purchased than the other brands. There seems to be more new Beta dealers popping up in this area as well. I have also noticed that trialers from Oklahoma ride Beta more than any other brand.
I would say that the dealer of ANY brand will sell lots of his machines if he supports local club events with a good selection of new / used machines and good parts availability.
Charlie - not a swipe at all - I always enjoy your posts... I just didn't want to kill the thread... OBTW, why not add a Moto Guzzi or Duck to your stable? Like I always say, 'nobody does metal like the Italians!'
Charlie - its not so much an issue of it working... witness all the Beta machines in the US and the UK. A highly competitive machine regardless of whether it is in the hands of a novice (me) or a more advanced rider.
This thread started with my post and I enjoy piddling around with my scooter during the week and have enjoyed the discussions this thread has generated. I would rather have a Mikuni carb than a DelOrto, Amal or the like due to the fact that you can get jets at just about any motorcycle shop; again to facilitate my mid-week piddling with the bike. I'll always enjoy just messing around with things that aren't broke - that STILL need fixing!
So, don't kill the thread... go swing a leg over your Harley and leave us to rail at each other about physics and such - its just too much fun!
Billy - I ended up with the 40 pilot and the air screw set at two turns out (was 1 3/4) I still have the 145 main jet (may go up to the 150 as I finish dialing this machine in...) Also, changing from NGK BP5ES to Champion N7YC didn't seem to make any noticeable difference.
Hey, I'm curious... does Mikuni make a 'soft' throttle spring for the VM26; one made from smaller wire for less spring action?
Hey Mark - I don't know Chuck well enough to know if he intentionally set the timing advanced or not, so I'm not laying blame anywhere - I'm just happy to have the issue resolved. The bike sure seems to like the new settings... no more banging and rattling, just smooth Beta power - that's the way, aha aha, I like it, aha aha.
Metal cans are fine, just don't leave them sitting on bare concrete in an area that has temperature changes - moisture will condense on the inside of the can. Keep them in an area that has a fairly constant temperature and store them on some wood blocks; up off the concrete.
kinell, Dabster, and r2wtrials - thanks for the information - I have an email in to the Lampkins inquiring about getting that super-secret trick part for my machine - thanks again for the follow-up!
The mystery is solved! I finally got a 'Grip-it' strap wrench from Klein Tools to hold the flywheel so I could get the flywheel nut off and back on to 44 ft-lbs. The stator plate was set so the timing was fairly advanced - I moved the stator plate to the middle of the slot (per importer's suggestion) and then checked the timing using the static method (letter drill through the flywheel into the timing hole in the stator plate.
So I think the combination of the 40 pilot jet and the retarded (standard) timing should keep the pinging at bay - I'll know for sure this coming weekend.
Tdn
in USA Trials
Posted · Edited by clarkp
I agree with the good questions point - I would like to focus on the point of declining club membership; the five Texas clubs seem to make a concerted effort to make sure the competitions and club meetings are 'family friendly'. The competitions have easy sections close to camp for the cadets and rookies with several dads looking after the little guys and girls. They also include a bicycle trial using some of the same cadet / rookie sections; all very popular. All of this serves to bring new competitors to the club (I've been puttin' a whuppin' on those 12-yr-olds in the Novice class lately - I won't mention that I'm 45...)
What I see is somewhat steady membership... some drop away and are usually replaced by newcomers; but overall the membership seems to remain fairly constant.
Here in North Texas we are fortunate to have a 2500 acre tract of privately-owned land thats available for all types of motorcycle / ATV use. I will be proposing to our club to set up an information booth at each trial for all the MX and enduro riders that would like to find out more and possibly hook up with one of our local dealers to have a demo bike available - we always have lots of looky-loo's from the enduro set when we have a trial. I see this as a great way to bring new people into the sport. If you have something similar in the way of a riding area, it might work for you as well.
All of that to say, more people = more money = better funded TdN effort. Trials will end up (is already) like competitive road bicycle racing, largely dominated by the euros. Cycling had the Tour du Pont which was like a US version of the Tour de France; it received significant TV coverage (but is now dead). US riders competing at the top levels stand a fair chance of TV coverage which can't hurt.