dfwilson

Alan, The Onza T-Rex looks like a Dirt Jumper configured for trails. What year is yours? Do you think it would hold up under my 1/8 ton bulk? Tim at Trialsin USA has a large selection of beautiful bikes. I had not realized just how much money you could spend on a trials bicycle. Brian, Thanks for the web links. Bob, Thanks for the link. Did they say when they would have the bikes for sale and how much they would be? Looks like finding a bike in a shop will require a great deal of travel.

I would like to buy a trials bicycle. Does anyone know of any bike shops in Amarillo, Albuquerque, or Denver who have them on the floor. I have found only online stores WebCyclery and Midwest bike trials . I would like to "sit" on one before I fork over $1,450. I am reluctant to buy one sight unseen. Advice on which bike would be best for a fat old man would be appreciated. Thanks Doug

I watched the high-res video this time and was able to make out the credits. Beautiful countryside. What fun to drive through. DFW

I hadn't seen a link to posted yet. Sorry if it is a repeat. Interesting video.Cheers Doug

Ishy, Really Cool. I would like to see one that would work in a trials section! Thanks, DFW

Vince, Great photos!! Neat stuff. Thanks Doug Wilson

I had the same thing happen to my 03 SY-250. It is most likely crap that has lodged between the brake puck and the bore. Pull the front wheel off. Remove the brake pads. Push the puck on one side in as far as it will go and hold it there. Pump the brake carefully and push the other puck out just until the seal shows. Clean the puck and surrounding area with contact or brake cleaner. Push the puck back in and repeat on the other side. Re-assemble it and it should work fine. Hope this works. Doug

That certainly adds a new wrinkle to rally car racing.

Thanks for the ideas. I will try to straighten it with force and keep the torch away from it. Ciao Doug

I have bent the front rotor on my 03 SY-250. It's not badly bent but its not usable in it's current condition. Has any one had any success straightening a rotor? If so how did you go about it? Any helpful ideas will be appreciated. I don't want to fork over the bucks for a new one. After all the front brake pads have hardly ever touched the front rotor except for mere moments just before I have gone over the bars. Thanks Doug

I have a friend who did the same thing to his SY250. He just left the damage and rode the bike. The groove was about 3/16" deep. I don't know how much a new swing arm costs. I think you could take it to a weld shop and have them weld up the damage with TIG or even MIG with a reel gun. The 02 SY250 has a welded swing arm drop out. Good luck DFW

Fantastic photos. What kind of camera? Cheers Doug

As a graduate of the Riggwelter School of Trials my 03 SY250 spends much of the time, while practicing or riding a trials, upside down. I have not yet damaged the tank.

Check out the puzzle at the Stella website. Click on the beer on the left. http://www.stella-artois.com/index.html

Perce, Please post a list of what you would consider good ales. I would like to see if any are imported into the States. Thanks Doug That sort of stuff is made purely for the tourists.

Mark, Try some of this. No equine urine. http://www.blacksheepbrewery.com/Beers/Bot...Riggwelter.aspx

Friday Apri 13th we had 8" of snow in Pampa. Saturday the 21st we were chased home by tornadoes from MacKenzie Reservoir after working to set up a trials. All this 2500 km south south east of Calgary in the Texas Panhandle. DFW

The frame on my son's 99 developed a crack on both sides just below the top of the radiator. I ground off the chrome and welded it back with my MIG welder. Haven't had a problem since. It seem to be a good bike although I prefer my 03 SY250s geometry. The 250 Bultaco's engine is very pipie and has lots of power. Cheers DFW

Buy some mesh made of stainless steel and a gold plating kit. What are you going to use it for? Cheers DW If you really need gold mesh I would try a wholesale jewelery supplier.

Biff. The clutch is like a torque convertor. Always keep one finger on the clutch and one finger on the front brake. Slip your clutch to control your power to the rear wheel. When you slip the clutch you can keep the engine revs up high enough that you will have enough power to go up very steep slopes in a controled manner. When turning you use the clutch and drag the rear brake to control speed. The clutch is your friend use it. You won't wear it out like you would a street or an enduro bike. If you get in trouble just pull in the clutch. Practice using the clutch and rear brake to go as slow as possible. As for a flywheel weight, if you get used to using the clutch you may not need one. Hope this helps Cheers Doug

Great video! Tis amazing how trials has changed in little more than two decades.

Not being funny. I used to use 400 ml of synthetic motor oil and the clutch was on and off like a light switch. Now that I use synthetic ATF the clutch actually works. I drain all of the ATF out using both the bottom and side plugs. 600 ml of ATF goes in easily. I presume actually get 600ml out then? I run the bike until the fan turns on, then drain the oil out the bottom plug followed by laying the bike horizontally over a large oil drain pan to drain from the side plug. The ATF is thinner than oil and I am sure I get most of the ATFl out. Next time I change the oil I will measure how much I drain out.

I'm not being funny here, but have you ever managed to get 600ml in? The first time I changed the oil on my '05 SY when it was a few hours old. I drained the gearbox and put 700ml in the top, then about 300ml came back out of the level hole. Next time I changed the oil I measured what came out - sure enough it was only about 400! Am I doing something wrong? Not being funny. I used to use 400 ml of synthetic motor oil and the clutch was on and off like a light switch. Now that I use synthetic ATF the clutch actually works. I drain all of the ATF out using both the bottom and side plugs. 600 ml of ATF goes in easily.

I use 600 ml of synthetic transmission fluid.

The SY has a very steep head angle and a very short turning radius. It can tuck under and throw you over the bars untill you get used to it. Once you get used to this it can be a great advantage. I have an 03 and love it. Ciao Doug