the addict

There is rumour the Legend spent

Thanks for the pic Mark rode for 7 hours today, mainly on loose climbs and cambers to see how dropping the forks back to standard has done. Bike is now turning great and most importantly lifting easily on cambers and not pushing at all I will be doing 1000 lines tonight "I must not p*** about with the geometry of a trials bike again" x 1000 The bike is lifting so well now and gripping I have moved the bars forward to keep myself ontop of it on steep climbs, where you know the beta would spin the Sherco just keeps climbing and its catching me out abit, not as much but now and then. Moving the bars forward has done the trick and from your picture they look about the same, amybe mine a bit further forward. The motor has decided its had enough of this running in thing and has come to life this afternoon,its feels and sounds perfect, so smooothhhhh and gentle low down. Couple of the lads have been so impressed with the Caber they have ordered them and should be here on Friday, the difference between the standard 07 and the Caber is massive I have been told, like two different bikes alltogether and thats come from a very good centre Expert whos had Shercos for quite a while. If you can get a go on one I would before they get snapped up, I cant compare as this is the only Sherco I have ridden. No mud today which was a bit dissapointing for a change, I was hoping to try it out in the **** before the Trial on Sunday, I think its going to be like a tractor on muddy climbs Not really tried the switch, map one is spot on as it is and I havent noticed anything happening differently on map 2 at any time, keep forgetting its there to be honest untill someone says whats map2 like? **** knows!!!!! is the usual answer to their question. I have a feeling it might make a difference on a big snotty climb maybe?????? but the chances of me remembering to push it are even more slimmer than me actually getting to the top so i might just take the thing off. Its also the only bike i have had that i can do full circle sit down wheelies on

Paddys coming back from holiday and gets a taxi back home from Liverpool airport. The taxi driver asks paddy how the holiday went and as it would be a long drive back to his house he would break the journey up by doing some riddles. The taxi driver says to Paddy, right then here

First go in the Mud tomorrow will it grip better than the beta? I have a feeling it will easy will take your advise over the next couple of weeks Mark and ride in 2nd and third to force me into using the clutch and get used to using it as the throttle more. The clutch is so strong on the Sherco it will manage just fine. James came over last night to try out his bike on the Eastend sleeper sections, hes still not getting on with the bike although most of this is because his 06 Caber was so good and bedded in. His hasnt been carburating right since he had it although he did put a 50 pilot straight in as per the 06 and the V Force reeds. Bikes been running abit sick so hes gone back to the 45 which improved it but not as clean as mine yet, now thinking of sticking the standard block on incase the V Force has altered things too much. First 3-4 rides on mine were great, getting on with really well, then i have been struggling a little in getting the front to lift quikly enough on cambers and the wheel pushing. Thought it was the bar positon but after a quick go on James last night all became clear, I had lifted the forks so the tops were level with the yolks as per my Beta with the aim of making the bike lift quicker and easier, it had actually done the reverse somehow? I changed mine back to how it was originally and the problem i have been having vanished . Not quite sure how this works and how such a little adjustment can make so much difference but it did, cant wait to try it on some cambers tomorrow now. All that money developping the bike and i go and mess with the geometry , I will leave the ******* thing alone next time I have a feeling lifting the height on the forks lengthens the wheelbase, dropping it shortens it making the bike easier to lift and react. Something James is abit dissapointed with is the initial power of the bike, its quite lazy to start with, something I was not expecting from a 290 Sherco as well, but will be perfect once i have got used to it more, especially in the slippy stuff. Carby stays amazingly clean compared to the Beta, not much getting through the filter apart from nice clean air, using the much larger twin air filter and it seems to seal better then the stocker.

Maria followed by Gemma or maybe both at the same time

Spud, want to save yourself 9 minutes 55 seconds mate? .... .... .... Turn the boot the other way around so the air box end is now the carb end, take the reed block spacer out forever (gives slightly sharper pickup on low revs) and it slides in, in about 5 seconds, no tools needed

Maybe we should be hitting back abit/playing them at their own game, if as Ishy says hiking/walking etc is counted as recreation like bikes applying the 14/28 day rule to them might make them think. This seems to be getting alot worse this year, loads of places closing down all over the country, if were not carefull or try to get something done quickly we might find events like the SSDT,Reeth,Scott etc might turn into 4 laps of 10. No easy answers, but before we know it there may be next to nowhere to practice or hold an event.

Have a quick look to make sure the damping rod has not come undone? mine was'nt attached from new at all and would top out alot even on easy stuff and made a knocking noise, made for some interesting rides up steps as well for the first two weeks

Had the bike 10 days now and I love it, been struggling a little to make the change over as its so different to the Beta, but its great fun learning how to ride it. My main problem has been getting the front to carry on cambers/hills as the motor wont lift the front as quick as the Beta on very lows revs, as a result I have been riding to quickly to keep the revs up and the front is washing out loads. This bike needs and loves the clutch and plenty of it, something the Beta didnt at low revs, use the clutch as the throttle as it should be and problem is solved, well with abit of practice that is. The Beta would pull from zero revs on nearly any hill and virtually never stall even without the clutch, the Sherco wont do the same but that may be simply down to the higher gearing. I have gone one tooth more on the rear which i think is perfect now but still way quicker than my Rev3 gears, I dont want to alter the Shercos gearing any more as the first three are really spot on for anything, i will just have to learn how to use the clutch as the throttle more. A few guys have had a go on the bike now and they all love it, the biggest fans are the Sherco guys who cant beleive how smooth and forgiving the motor is low down and clean pick up, almost like the plodding 320/370 Gassers. Get near the main jet though it will rip your arms off and it grips like nothing else ive ridden so far. This is the only Sherco I have ever ridden so I cant compare it to any others but all have said it is a big difference to what has been so far. I had a feeling the bike would be an animal, but its far from it, its very easy to ride flowing about in sections but will show its dark side very quickly if needed. The bike is incredibly easy to work on as well and well made, all the bolts line up and are good quality and good sizes (no tiny round off things) One of concerns after years of Gassers was it would be a bit of a pain getting to everything easily but theres loads of room everywhere and maintenance is simple to do. The Keihin is a simple carb to work on, bit like the Mikuni without the p iss and the float chamber removal is easy after a couple of goes. I have sealed the top of the subframe to the air box with black silicone which stops any water flowing over the top of the air box into the filter (thanks James for that one) and sealed the rubber strip between the airbox and silencer so nothing will get past there. The silicone sticks to the sub frame like glue but doesnt stick to the air box, so removing the airbox is fine for cleaning, looks quite neat as well. Got a couple of breather pipes for the carb to stop any fuel going on top of the crank case and thats about it. Stuck an inline filter in for good measure and a few lever adjusters (red) and my old raptors fit straight on the Sherco so saved 100 quid there. Had about 2 hours on the bike this evening on the sleepers using the clutch as the throttle and it felt much easier to ride like that, will try the cambers and climbs later in the week and see if the front end moves faster.

Loones!!!!!

Have you checked the water lately and pump? is the fan cutting in when it should or intermitant or not much at all.

Nice one Ian wheels his bike out once every 6 months, hoofs the broom over it and fills it with petrol out the lawn mower and tonks us all every time god help us if he ever gets a new one. Next time I will get him to do some of his hopping back down a big hill feet up and sideways hops show, got to be seen to be beleived I think young Barry saw him doing it at the dishes

If the rims go pink Mark, I am sure we can do a deal for your black ones the Renthal red rear sprockets go pink after a while so hope the same doesnt go for the Sherco rims as Ralph and the lads will have a field day I have got the bars in the right position at last although they are well forward, bike kept wanting to lift on any sort of climb especially grunting out from nothing feels very comfortable now. I am going back to the standard spring rate as tightening it up a couple of turns has made in to stiff, maybe the bike was set too hard to start with from the factory. It also grips like hell on any climb and is catching me out alittle, you think its going to spin so allow for it but it still drives up, better that way than the other and I should soon get used to it.

Cracking day today not as many up there as i thought there might of been but good to see some new faces and the regulars out that way. Ian stuck it out all day and enjoyed himself no end (Likes his Gasser Spud), me Ian the Legend and Mike left at about 6.45 and had some great sections going in the afternoon. Dan was well on form again and wearing the retro look clothing as usual think Ian got abit of video of him on a nasty step. Ralph had a bad start, got a puncture whilst loading his bike this morning so had to sort it out before he came, then locked his keys in the van abit later Big thanks to Pete for the day out there and stumping up for the teas and cakes at lunch

Blow them on dry using an air line, they dont move at all then, wire them on if your not convinced, leave about a 10mm length on the end and push it into the grip with a screwdriver,

That must be alot of weeds Pete to cover 6000 tonnes of ****? best bring the combine as well

Nice one Ralph I'm going to look like Frazer I recon or Pikey, hope that aint one of me gates, them farmers have a habbit of taking off perfectly good gate fittings and swapping for bale twine, seen it done? If anyone comes from the Snowshill road in, once you get to the metal gate accross the road that says keep gate shut the field to park in is imediately on your left just past the gate. My Transit (White) will be parked in the field in the best spot If you are coming from Buckland, drive past the farm house/buildings up the hill and the gate into the field is on your right, you may have to back into the field as the gateway is at an acute angle if i remember. Just checked the weather and it looks dry all day, bit of rain late tonight but that should give more grip on the banks, Ralphs stuck new tyres on tonight (or I did it for him more like it) as hes wants to show the legend a thing or too tomorrow about grip. Dan is as we speak trying to work out where he left his bike after his last ride and crossing his fingers someone has hit it with the cleaning and maintenance stick he will also be running the double split link Iris chain tomorrow so watch out for a Scorpa coming back down a hill at mach 4

Kick Start Round Ralph Nice one!!!!! he does doesnt he, looking forward to seeing Dan doing his stuff tomorrow and all that hopping sideways and going backwards down hills like they used to in 90's. Be good to see the Bletch kangeroo as well, plenty of banks for back wheel hopping. Dads unlikely to come now though so the mega tight sections might not happen unless the Legend sets some out. Anyone gets there early and sees some old bloke with a strimmer covered in nettles head to toe and a roll up sticking out his gob whilst dribbling Redbull say hello.............that'll be me

The Legend is definatley coming just rang him, he'll be the one wearing Eigers cast offs (told me Ellgren is the new Hebo) and on a Skoda, but will make us lot look like we just started riding. Ralph is also making an appearance says hes getting there at 9.30, get the best of the cake selection he told me earlier, so Pete, ring Nick up to tell his misses to get up the local Tesco tonight for extra flour/butter etc

Sorry mark, no mate, red is the new black

Bike ran really poor for the first hour today and then stopped, lack of fuel feeling so cleaned out the carby and looks like it was some of the tacky stuff they hold the float seal in. Ran perfect after the jets got a blast of air, cleaned up the seal and back out for a few more hours. Suspension is spot on now and the motor is bedding in nicely as well. I am finding the Sherco has to be ridden in a completely different way to the Beta, not abit different but completely different, if its gets ridden like the beta things dont happen, but ride it like it should and you can do things you never thought you could before. It will take a bit of time to ride it right but I am certainly enjoying a learning phase again.

Video yer nice one Ian the Goat wont dissapoint nor will James, both well known for attempting stuff that maybe they shouldnt, but to be fair they both usually get up. I ve just tried to find the Farm on multimap Ian but if I cant I am sure Pete will have Nicks postcode on here tonight.

Weather looks really good for the est of the week including saturday trying to get Dad to come out and sort out some mega tight sections for the young uns and himself. There is a rumour the GOAT EWERS might be coming so expect plenty of full on climbs, lots of reving and over the head bike throwing Ralphs got to do his hair and nails so wont be coming, but James Caber Drewitt should be making an appearence to keep the Sherco numbers up. Going to try and get there for 8 ish and see if i can cut some of the stuff down for an hour or so and get the best pick of the cakes Nicks wife makes see you all there guys

There you go Pete, why not? whos going to complain? better that way than having club money gathering dust in an old bank account for years doing nowt. Wouldnt it be easier on a Saturday/Sunday to say to the misses, just off to work love rather than just off to give up all my spare time for nothing this weekend. You could even set it out on a Friday and have saturday off and get paid doing something you enjoy as well,

Maybe the entries are high Ian due to the way the events are run, its a very very impressive club and organised really well at every event i did with them. I'm not saying give up the day job but getting paid something must be a better incentive for many to help and give up there time in running clubs. Ask a 17 year old to give you a hand for 6-8 hours on a Saturday in the p****** rain to set out a trial for nothing and then ask him the same thing for 30 quid and see what happens, bet he'll ask if he can help out alot more often. I do abit, not as much as i would like to but I simply dont have enough spare time to help out regualry without it effecting my income in some way. May even produce enough to pay the observers which should bring a few out and put a smile on the face of the grumpy one