ChrisCH

The newer 125s are really good. They can be a bit aggressive as Tim points out simply because they are designed to be competitive for youth riders. Your pass it on strategy is OK. The good thing for you is being open to alternatives which means you can evaluate individual bikes as they come up rather than having your heart set on model X capacity Y Year Z. That will help you get something half decent in budget. Bear in mind a 125 will have had more stick if it is an older bike as the younger riders have pushed it harder (if they are any good of course). The cycle parts are pretty much standard and the 125 rear shocks will accomodate heavy youth riders if they have to ☺️ As to test rides there are some places (like Inch Perfect) that offer such an option. Depends where you are in the country. Personally I think you need to ride a bike a month or two to really decide. Even then you need to have ridden lots of others in order to have a comparison. So basically you are taking a chance and as such I suggest just buy a well known and decent brand in good condition and see how you get on. Resist the temptation to spend hundreds modifiying the bike for "problems" and accept you need to just practice and ride more. If you bought wisely and paid the true value you can sell it on easily enough and try something else next year. I wanted a 250 but could only buy a 280 - it was all that came up (going back 3-4 years). The 250s were advertised on Wednesday and sold by Friday before I could go look. Such was the market at the time. I rode the 280 for a couple of years (have a 250 now). It was far more than I needed (as is the 250 to be honest) but with care it rode OK. If you want to get any good you will need to spend time at static balance. You can do that on the lad's Oset. Engine capacity and brand are not the main issues. You are in the same position as a new driver asking which car to buy. People like their Ford or BMW or whatever, but mostly they are talking to themselves or patting themselves on the back for having a particular car. Hey, they are all boring boring boring tin boxes. All trials bikes are exciting. You will not be dissapointed.

I tend to buy from a dealer - at least you get a guarantee that way. The Beta is a UK favourite and parts easy, but the TRS seems to be the one to go for for many people (I have one). Nothing major to look out for. If you are flexible that is good - the 125cc is not to be sniffed at.

Bike prices shot up in the lockdown. In my view they will never come down to old prices (cars the same). In terms of practice/lessons you need a bike sooner than later to have the opportunity to ride and practice balance. I shared a bike with the missus at first but she hogged it so we soon ended up with two and way over my intended budget. Nothing wrong with a Beta 80 and a 250 - those sound like a good choice to me. You should be able to pick up half decent ones at a couple of grand and three grand respectivley. Secondhand bikes are a minefield. The main problem is often the previous owner(s) some of whom should never be let near a mechanical device. Buying a cheap (£3k) bike is a lottery. It might be fine and give good service or it might be a money pit. My wife's Beta 250 (2014) is the sort of bike in that price range. We bought it private from an eBay advert. It has been reasonably OK but the front brake was poor and I have replaced disc and master cylinder and pads. Just had the front forks set up and serviced as they were a bit poor and previously had the seals replaced. I guess we have spent another grand on it in total. You soon get to the same price as a newer machine. Our previous Beta Rev 3 had a nail in the carb to stop it overflowing. It worked OK for a while but the mechanic was a bit mystified by that "repair" when it went in for a carb clean. Don't worry too much about dropping the bikes - they are robust. The missus snapped the rear mudguard on hers but the replacement cost is the same more or less for all model years. I wish you luck finding a couple of good machines. You have chosen popular models and so vendors know they can charge top prices. Other people are looking for the same sort of thing too and a good bike can sell quickly. Things have settled down a bit since the peak "madness" so its not a bad time to look. Be prepared to walk away if it isn't what you want. That is the hard bit for all of us.

Sorry - thinking out loud now. It just struck me that it is possible the fuel can might be a source of contamination as they are cheap Chinese junk and the cap and O ring are probably old junk that might be a source of black material. I mix in a mixing jug but some people I am sure just put a shot of 2T in the can. Just a thought.

Have you had the tank off and looked in there? I only ask as my old TRS carb blocked with "black bits" several times and the black bits were in the tank and could not have come from the fuel hose unless the previous owner had done something weird to get the fuel to run uphill. The last time I had it cleaned I ultrasounded it and the shop mechanic replaced the hose and threw away the filter as (in his opinion) the filters are the problem as they break down after a while. I would have thought a 2020 bike should be made with components that are fully OK with standard fuel. I have not had much to do with Vertigo (I like the look of them). The issue of the strange black bits in my TRS was cured by trading the bike in and buying a newer one (sorry if anyone ended up with my old one). This one has been OK and I have not changed fuel or oil or any other variables so it was almost certainly something that the previous owner had done.

My 2017 TRS had a bent chain adjuster that broke off as it had seized in place (I guess the previous owner had forced it). There is a drain hole under the thread that lets water out - and in. I would certainly take the opportunity to grease up the threads and the drain if you need to adjust the chain. The bolt and swinging arm are different metals so you get corrosion as a result. It is really the only poor design on the bike I have found.

I used to produce (big) reports for a living and constatntly re-typing stuff is very annoying and somewhat pointless. As a suggestion - assuming the platform does not facilitate it - can I suggest you cut and paste whatever input is routine and store it on a word document. Then you can copy and paste from the document into the dialogue boxes on the platform next time. If is a bit agricultural and offends my sense of doing things correctly, but if you need to type the same paragraph more than once it is a viable workaround.

The edit doesn't allow it but there is a "delete" option. This returns a message you cannot delete it as you have already paid. I think the edit lets you change bike or route or stuff like that. If I am honest I cannot remember if the old system let you cancel. Must be getting old 😁

Is it possible to cancel an entry for a trial after you have entered and paid? There is no 'help' or faq that I can see. My missus has a scaphoid injury and will not be able to ride the next trial. We have both looked at the platform and cannot see this is possible. The event is by our own club so easy enough to do that route but I wondered if it would be as easy if you had booked another club's event?

Great resource. Thanks for that. I am test riding an EM Race next month. I have seen about the battery cells before and that you can buy new cells cheap but the EM battery pack is silly money. It is one of the things that puts me off as it potentially means an expensive battery replacement at some point in the future. Any way to have a DIY solution to replace cells at a reasonable price is a good step forward. The section on Stark Varg suggests that there is a lot of potential to develop much better trials bikes in future. Price is going to be the biggest drag on things for sure.

I have a TRS 250 (RR) and the wife has a Beta 250 (Evo). I also fall into the same age group ☺️ The TRS has the better brakes and suspension but both bikes are very capable and I doubt that I would ever find the limit of either of them. My wife's bike is a bit old (2014) and so not as sharp as my TRS (2022). She is very happy with it but I have found it a bit lacking (maybe the age not the brand?) As a result I have fitted a Galfer front disc rotor and Galfer pads and replaced the front master with a braktec one (as used on the factory bikes). The front is now as good as my TRS and locks on a single finger light pull on the lever. If she keeps the bike (she fancies an EM) I will probably upgrade the rear shock to an Ohlins (or maybe the TRP as you like it and it is a bit cheaper) I find it slightly easier to static balance the Beta than the TRS. If the missus wants the EM I will probably trade my bike in for it and keep hers purely on cost. I like my TRS a lot but hey - its just a bike. (Did I just type that? OMG) 😁

Thanks again. The relevent insurance certainly must exist at a pro level. I am still working on finding a suitable option for our level of activity. My missus ran into another competitor last year and knocked him off his bike. No harm done to rider or bike or the missus for that matter. He was OK about it. To be fair I would be OK if someone ran into me - just so long as it was the same sort of minor incident. However not everyone is so nice. One of my employees hurt himself through his own stupidity and our insurance company spent 20 grand on legal fees trying to contest the claim and then paid out anyway.

Just off the phone to "specialist" insurer and confirm they cannot source cover for competitions. Looks like it simply does not exist.

Thanks Rabie. I have had a reply from AMCA but it is just a covering letter for the landowner. The "old" ACU website is still live and has the insurance bit. It is good (in one way) to hear your experiences. Clearly the cover is a good thing and it is good to know that the system works when required. My #1 concern is that - as per the policy - competitor to competitor liability is excluded. I have spent some time looking for cover at a personal level and it is more or less non existent. This means if I hit another competitor I am liable for any injury that I might cause them. Personally liable and without limit. Ergo they can sue me and if they win and are awarded damages they can take my property, my business and my savings. My worry is not so much that I will lose everything but that a lot of people do not realise that they are "on the hook" to this extent. I certainly did not prior to last month's committee meeting where there was discussion of the ACU licence - hence my research on this subject. If this is the case it is also a concern that if another person hits me I will have to sue them and I consider most of the club as friends. As it stands I am in half a mind to pack it all in. A very negative outcome. I have asked for quotes on personal accident cover - I will post up when I get more info.

Never too late. Newer bikes are better. You should get an OK bike for 2.5 grand, less than that and you have bought a money pit and a lot of weekends of DIY.

It took me a long while and I am still not very good if I am honest. If you are really struggling let the tyres down a bit and it is easier. As you get the hang of it pump them up again. I used to put the tront tyre up to a solid object at a slight angle then pull the bike upright with the bars. At first I could get the tyre 10-15mm off the object but after a while it all sort of comes together. Lots of practice, often and not for too long. Sometimes looking at the wheel is best sometimes looking into the distance. Try both, alternate. It will come eventually - took me about a year. When the engine is running it is easier so more time you can practice with the engine off the better. I find it easier pointing down on a slope - no idea why. I try to stop - if on a trial and need to balance - when pointing down on a slope...

Thus far no response from anyone. I have emailed a "specialist" insurer but also no reply. I also thought the amca website was a bit rubbish but I will have a good look at the insurance policy if they do send it then post back.

The insurance protects the stewards and visitors, spectators and other third parties. If you take out the optional insurance it covers personal injury where you fall off and hurt yourself (cover is peanuts). Competitor to competitor injury and damage is excluded - whichever way round the claim is made. AMCA cover looks better but you need to email them for a policy copy. I might do that.

I have been asked if I would stand for the committee on my club (happy to). One of the debates about the new ACU website was about the event insurance - so checking people are ACU members with a valid licence. With no plastic card this is difficult for the organisers on the day. One of the current committee has suggested looking at AMCA membership. I would like to know what is the general view about the ACU insurance? Do people think they are insured whilst riding a trial and what do they think they are covered for? I have been looking at this topic and was surprised by my findings. My assumptions were incorrect. I would welcome feedback on your views. Do people think you are covered (third party liability) if you run into another competitor and hurt them? You are not.

Oui - voir: https://www.gptrial.be/en/comblain-au-pont/ Venue for the FIM GP. (I used to live in Luxembourg) Vallonnée ☺️

I would keep it standard. The different models have different sprokets so check to see if yours is modified. I replaced them on the missus 250 - 11 front (9 on 125) 41 rear. There is a chart on splatshop - https://www.splatshop.co.uk/talon-rear-sprockets.html

Thanks - I will try that next week. Both the missus and I have paid and are showing as pending.

Yeah done that - the declaration is all completed. I think I might delete the pending and start over. Just wondered if anyone else has done that? I saw on a club website they recommend not renewing until new year to stop the pending status. I thought it might auto renew like the membership did and it would show current now (as we are in the new year)

Hi Stuart - thanks so much for your information posted on this subject. You are much more helpful than the ACU. I have just checked my status now you reminded me. I am current as a member and my club membership is current and my status is trials. However my licence is still "pending". I have no idea in all honsesty whether I can ride or not. Our club meet was on 2/1/23 and a lot of people also were not sure if they were OK or not. My missus also shows "pending" on the licence section but has a wrist injury so is less stressed about it. Our next meet (charity event) is in Feb so I really need to get sorted by then. The email back from ACU confirmed no medical needed and to "ignore" it. It is hard to ignore the "pending" (certainly more than once....)

Mine is still showing as "pending" despite two contacts to support. I am beginning to think I should delete the pending and start over. The missus is also "pending" and her team affiliation ran out. Our club sec submitted a big list of questions. I can only imagine the ACU must now be flooded with questions and complaints and have little time to sort out individual queries.