ChrisCH

Just done a quick online quote and Hastings can't find the reg number and doesn't list EM as a manufacturer. Oh well - back to the drawing board 😁

Yeah, one of the electric insurers listed the e-pure but not the newer model. I will try again when I renew this year as they have had a year to get their sh!t together. The other thing for me was MSM didn't want to add my road bikes so I needed to start over with the no claims discount. Glad to hear you got sorted out mate - nightmare if you needed this for the Scottish six day or anything with a road section. I might try Hastings as well as Carole Nash - mine due next month.

We had the same issue with the missus' '25 EM Factor-e (now on SORN). Eventually I spoke to a human being (insurance companies don't use them any more) and we were told that the insurers do not want to insure anything for theft without an ignition key. In the end we were offered TPF&F by MSM - they are your best bet - probably your only bet to be fair. The Factor-e was not listed by anyone even the self proclaimed "specialist" idiots that advertise they specialise in electric bikes. MSM offered us cover but it was not cheap. Both me and the missus have road bike insurance and neither broker (Bikesure missus, Carole Nash me) would touch the EM. (My policy is multi bike) My last Beta went on my old multi bike policy for just a quid extra. They would not renew it however - that was about three/four years ago IIRC. MSM was well over 400 just for the EM and my GSX650F and CRF250L are just over 200 quid the pair. I wish you good luck and hope you find someone that will cover the bike. Please post up if you do I think there are a lot of us out there. Must be a problem for the enduro bikes as well.

The EM Factor-e might not be considered a beginner machine (it costs too much for one thing) however the ability to calm it down with adjustable engine maps makes it very suitable in my view. As a rider gains skill and confidence they can increase the available power using the mapping adjustment on the app. The main thing for newbie riders is to ensure the lanyard is on as the bike(s) cannot stall and will continue to drive the back wheel after you fall off. Electric bikes are not affected by altitude either. Well worth getting a test ride if you can. Petrol is still a better option for road bikes in my opinion and may well be for many years to come, but for trials the battery bike is a very sensible choice.

I agree with feetupfun - if starting is the issue then go electric start. Another very obvious choice is the electric motion (or lemur's suggestion of dragonfly). The 300 gasser is a pain to start and she might well be able to start an easier bike like a TRS or Beta 250 My wife is 5'3" and has an EM Factor-e and loves it.

In my "spam" folder this morning ticket discounts - looks like the GP is in UK again next year after the fantastic event at Kettering this year. The 26 event will be in Anglesey at the venue that was cancelled the last time round. I hope they get it right this time.

Inch Perfect have a pre-order email out today. There are 125 250 and 300cc versions. Price is TBA. https://beta-uk.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=21684

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this - logically to me it belongs in EM. The only fault I can find with the latest EM bikes is that they are a bit heavier than the ICE alternative. With solid state batteries soon to be a feature of the light car market I wonder if this will be the next development for electric trials bikes? The downside is going to be cost andalready the EM is more expensive than a Montesa or similar, but to be fair not by much. Anyway some news on this front in my feed propted me to look at this road bike development: https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/news/ducati-s-electric-research-continues-with-the-v21l-prototype-and-solid-state-batteries I guess this one will not be cheap 🤣

My missus is struggling to find an insurer that will cover her factor-e. The bike does not sem to appear on any of the main insurer's databases. I tried to add it to my (Aviva) multibike but they do not list it. We found a specialist trials company that offered theft but it was twice the price of my multibike (Suzuki GSX and Honda CRF) or the wife's Ducati Monster insurance. i just wondered if anyone has found a regular company that will cope with this model? The "specialist" for electric (motor) bikes I found cover the escape but not the factor-e so could not get a quote from them either. Only looking for theft cover.

After a bit of the missus whining at IP they have now added bike hire to the event so you can still take part if (like me) you have an ICE bike or if you don't want to drag your bike all the way there.

It might be A but it sure aint I.

Just a heads up that the (whole) EM factory team are runing a couple of short EM training sessions at Kettering on the Monday (8 Sep) after the GP weekend. Its booked with Inch Perfect and only open to EM bikes. I have a TRS so it will just be the missus going. At the moment she is on her own so I am hoping this post might prompt some other people to book up or they will cancel it and I will never hear the last of it. Full details on the IP website.

Hmmmph The Jitsie site no longer shows the 51T variant. Neither does S3 (don't think they ever did one) I did look when we had the old bike with the smaller chain and remember a 51 in Jitsie for sure. There is a 52T listed. You might have to bite the bullet and get one made. https://www.motorcycleraceparts.co.uk/motorcycle-chains-and-sprockets/bespoke-custom-made-one-off-special-rear-motorcycle-sprockets/

Jitsie do an EM rear sprocket for the smaller chain size in a range of tooth variants. Splat shop sell them but are out of stock on all but the 55T https://www.splatshop.co.uk/jitsie-solid-rear-sprocket-4-bolt-428-pitch-electric-motion.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo28NUBvJw_1_RLu4wrbq0-NU8ANVXhpK9ORKej5Dh_TD-ohhUPoLM Might be worth asking if they are planning on gettig the 51 any time soon?

I like the Mecatecno but they do not (as best I can see) do much marketing. I have only ever seen one - the one at SW Trials and it was there for a very long time. It is a big leap of faith to buy something at the top end of prices without a test ride and when you do not know anyone that has one. They don't have a demo fleet with the importer like EM. That was what I meant by not cutting it. I am sure the bike is a good bit of kit.

The market has changed big time - you are right. Was the Mechatecno the SW Trials one? It was a couple of years old IIRC but unused. People are still buying bikes and are buying new bikes but I think the cheaper stuff was massively overpriced for a while and some sellers still kite flying.

I think there is room in the market for another electric as well as EM. Mechatecno are not cutting it (much as I like their bike). I thought Gasgas might have a model out by now but the parent company's financial problems probably explain why they have not.

Last bump of the thread. There are 10 places left this morning - fortnight to go. Weather looks OK. Still some slots for the Factor-e if you want to try one. (There are two in our club now). Our practice day should be fun as well.

A flare nut spanner might be the answer. It is a type of open ended spanner with a bigger purchase. An example is here: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/spanners/2358029?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-bing-_-PLA_UK_EN_Catch+All-_-Mechanical,+Fluid+Power+%26+Tools-_-2358029&matchtype=e&pla-4574999185500285&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=554644865&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=s&cq_plt=gp&msclkid=095f50e9815a1b0f8679389616c21e79&gclid=095f50e9815a1b0f8679389616c21e79&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7

The Inch Perfect rides include the new Escape XR if anyone is interested - quite a few of the slots for that bike gone. We will put a small area aside to test it. Still plenty of chance to try out the Factor-e. https://inchperfecttrials.co.uk/products/2024-em-escape-xr-enduro-tyres

IP booking now open. https://experience.inchperfecttrials.co.uk/em-test-ride-selby-trials-park-wimborne-dorset-bh21-3qz/ Don't forget to bring your bike and have a ride with us as well.

Beta have a main parts source in Ireland https://www.nmcbikes.com/beta-parts/ The Rev4 is not a current model but you should be able to get most parts you need. The suspension is obselete but can be repaired or rebuilt. You will need to pay VAT and import on anything shipped from UK.

Great stuff and very interesting. Above my pay grade on the electronics. How I wish we lived near to oneanother. The regen on the throttle is very interesting - that would be a game changer for a lot of people that I can think of. I agree on your observation about the clutch as well - it is a weak point on the newer bikes I think - our Factor-e is not outstanding in the clutch operation. I would turn off the tickover for myself but the wife likes it. We had booked to ride with Gael who was one of the development riders but his recent injuries stopped him from being able to do the training. Hopefully that opportunity will come up again. I would love to go through some of this with him (it will help improve my French as well......)

I have a TRS but have never been more than about 20mph on it. Have you thought about a Beta Alp? You can do long distance trials and green lanes and so on. I keep looking for one but they are hard to find and the new ones are "rally" type to cash in on the adventure bike fad. I have a CRF250L but it would be useless for trials. Great fun though.

I locked up the wife's Ducati with a disc lock when we went on holiday. When we got back I couldn't get the thing to work - the lock barrel had failed and the key wouldn't open it. I tried oil and all sorts but it would not come off. A customer offered to cut it off for me which was an offer I accepted. He had a small battery disc cutter/angle grinder in his van with a cutting disc on it. The disc cutter took the lock off in about 15 seconds. It was pretty quiet and my missus in the office 20m away never heard it.