Are you still going on Sunday Betabasher? Let's hope this frost goes as Charltons can be one very slippy place when cold. The shale tips are so hard and compacted that ice on the slopes makes riding very tricky. Have a good day Betabasher.
Been to dealer and he thinks bike may be too advanced as it also has a symptom of kicking back a lot on starting. Getting it checked this week. I always felt like Arkwright and Granville on 'Open all Hours' being attacked by the till. I was starting to fear kicking it off.
Thanks for your comments guys. I think I'll try the easy solutions first. I'll try the slow throttle tube and the Vx plug, combined with a new IRC tyre it should hopefully make a difference. EDIT. Just had a look at my bike and there seems to be a 5mm spacer between inlet rubber and engine already fitted. My bike was a late 04 model originally new in March 04. If my bike has already had the mods done then your right Nigel, it's got to be me who's sh**.
May be 3rd is going to have to be my muddy going type gear after all. I suppose I keep comparing with my old mont, then it was 1st for most things, 2nd if a bit slippy and 3rd for big hill climbs. I'll try these mods and give the IRC a go.If that does n't work then I'll be back out in May when the sun comes out and grips not a problem!
Yes Betabasher it is on, try checking Tmx in regs available. Guisborough & DMC Nov 20 start 10.30am Would be riding myself but season ticket holder at Boro and we play Fulham at home the same day. Even better trial is the Vic Boyes a week later near Castleton on Nov 27 at 9.30.
Tend to agree Nigel, been using Michelin and I am going to get an IRC this week but thought I'd ask for advice as I just wondered if normal practice was to soften power. Always seems to grip like a tractor in 3rd and 4th but always have problems in 1st and 2nd in up and down bankings and around trees in muddy woods type sections. This is the first time I've ridden this bike in really muddy conditions as missed last winter due to injury.
Like I say I feel I am riding 3rd gear and really fighting for grip where should be using 2nd. Others seem to be able to forget the grip side of the problem and just concentrate on the section. Might try raising gearing for winter. Tried being smooth on throttle etc but still struggle.I am going to dealers this week so will chat with him about it.
Running the above bike with standard ignition settings and fast throttle. In dry conditions grip is not a problem but struggle now it has turned wet. What's the best solution engine wise for more traction? Retard ignition or fit two base gaskets. Not keen on changing to slow throttle tubes as like the reaction of normal one.
Never had a problem finding grip on my old mont but find grip harder to find on Sherco. Seem to have to pull third to find grip where Scorpa and Beta lads are using second. Any help would be appreciated.
They all seem to do it.I have two techniques for this. Firstly at home where I don't want to disturb the neighbours, before I start mine I put it in top gear then pull in the clutch lever and rock the bike backwards and forwards slightly. You will initially feel some resistance but after a few seconds you hear and feel the clutch free itself. The bike then rolls backwards and forwards freely. Then I put the bike back in to neutral and start her up. When you put the bike in gear it should normally stay still. At a trial on the other hand I usually start the bike and leave it ticking over for a couple of minutes to warm the oil normally does the trick. Changing the transmission oil at very frequent intervals also makes a massive difference to not only your engine life but also trying to selecting gears and neutral.
From various pictures the new 06 290 seems to have a lot more ground clearance. Very tasty bike, I was going to swap bikes next year but I am very tempted to swap now.
It might be best to spectate at Charlton's first of all. This way you can see how a trial operates, you will get to see riders inspect and view sections and then how they then ride them. By watching others at a trial you will at least have a feel of the riding skills that are required to enter a trial. You will also get to learn how the colour of the flags dictate which route you ride through the section. My tip would be to make a mental note of the easier sections and their locations, then go and practice the next week and attempt the sections yourself. This is the advantage of Charltons as beginners can watch a trial one week then practice themselves the next. Please make sure your dad or riding parner is with you as you should never practice on your own for safety reasons. Good luck and enjoy yourself.
Hi beta basher, for the next three weeks there is nothing local to Middlesbrough for you to watch a trial.Today the trial is at Hollins Farm in Rosedale, North Yorkshire. This is run by the Hull club, start time is 11.00am and will take about 1 hour 15 mins travel time from M'boro. Next week is at Ouseburn between Boroughbridge & York. This trial is run by Eboracum motor club and is about 50 minutes from M'boro. The following week is a bit more local (30 mins travelling time) as Northallerton are running the Bilsdale Trophy trial starting at 9.00am from the Sun Inn at Bilsdale. Sun Inn is on the left hand side of the road about four miles past Chop Gate on the Helmsley road. This is a long road based event so I'm not sure about it's suitability for spectating, perhaps another user could advise you as I have never riden this trial. After this it will be Rememberance Sunday and no trials are held on that day, however I think Hull are running a trial on the saturday again in Rosedale on the North Yorkshire Moors. As you can see most of East Yorkshire trials are held on the moors and usually involves at least one hour travel time. I think Guisborough are holding a trial at Charlton's in about a month's time which is about 20 minutes away for you. It is a very compact venue and you can see all sections on foot as the course is only about a mile in length.
You should have taken your Dad to the Scott yesterday near Richmond,it was only an hour away and you could have seen the top riders in the country and Amos Bilboa from Spain competing in the hardest one day trial in the world!
I've had two Fiat Scudo 1.9 diesels (non turbo's). Absolute cracking vans! We can carry three bikes in the back no problem. The two outside bikes face forward and the middle bike we put in backwards. We have had no problems on motorway journeys or up on the North Yorkshire moors. It's fair to say we pass more vehicles than overtake us, so do n't dismiss the 1.9 The only niggle is that both vans have suffered from a heater fan that has a mind of it's own! Sometimes it just stops on it's own, then couple of minutes later it will turn itself on to full speed. The windscreen can be easily chipped by flying stones (angle of screen I think!) Apart from that no problems. I will be ordering my third Scudo in Sept 06 as in 24 years of business they are the best vans we ever operated. Hope this recommendation helps. All vans are the same but badged differently. The Fiat comes with a single passenger seat but can be changed to a dual seat by dealer for additional
Humble apologies all round. Many thanks Chris, you are right. I was trying to show that maybe the difference in air temperature was effecting Cotas bike, however got a bit confused in my explanation. Does sound like it is a weak spark that is at fault.
Cota, regarding the weak spark, check your ht lead from the spark plug cap to the coil. Seem to recall my mates sons 02 Sherco ht lead either being trapped between the rad and the frame and causing chaffing of the lead which lead to a weak spark or it may have been the fan blade gouging the cable when coming on. Sorry can't be more precise but it was a couple of years ago and just remembered about it. Just thought it may be worth checking yours.
I think it still ran but made a clicking noise and was a pain to start!
If your ignition has advanced then this normally causes pinking. In fourth gear with low revs and the engine under load is the engine pinking(described like a rattling noise) when you try to accelerate.
Hi Cota, did the Glaisdale one lapper. Rode the clubman B course which I enjoyed but the heat was awesome! Used my camelbak for drinks but wish I had hitched a sidecar to the Sherco and carried a 20 gallon water tank with me! Not ridden for eight months, combined with a 35 mile lap and near 30 degree temperatures nearly finished me off! I've seen the results from the Wainwright, looks like it was harder than last year.
Back to your bike, mine also has a habit of kicking back if I don't give it a confident kick. or if I am trying to kick it off on the side of a hill where it is not possible to give it a full swing. Seem to remember the old Montesa Cota 348 from the late 70's and early 80's used to do the same. Are you checking your spark outside in the daylight or inside a darkened garage? If outside at this time of year even a good spark would appear weak. Check to make sure all of your electric connections are tight and it might be worth taking off the flywheel cover to see if any dampness has got in. The o-ring on the cover can dislodge if it is hit hard by a rock, which would let in water when you pressure wash it. I applied silicone to mine and also siliconed all the electric connections to keep out the water. The water proofing from Sherco is virtually non-existant.
Another possibility which has been mentioned previously is the pilot jet. It has got a lot warmer in the last four weeks causing the mixture to weaken.
May be your bike has an undersize pilot jet or a jet that has not been fully drilled out properly which is making the bottom end weaker than it should be. I clean the pilot jet before every trial as this jet has a serious effect on the bottom end pick up and on starting. Did you blow air down the pilot jet housing as this can become clogged with slime if water has entered your airbox. Also kill switches can sometimes cause problems, see if it is possible to dissconnect it.
Hi Cota, Problem finding on bikes is usually a process of elimination. Start with your plug and try two or three and observe if there is a difference in the size and intensity of the spark. You may have a dodgy plug giving a weak spark. Next try the plug cap and lead and then the wiring. Is your kill switch playing up. Once started does the bike behave normally?
Just got the Wainwright regs in the post this morning, unfortunately it clashes with the Guisborough one lapper in Glaisdale. Shame really as I did both events last year and thoroughly enjoyed both. These events are less than 40 miles apart in adjoining centres so I would think that entries may suffer slightly.
Hi Cota Kid. Hope the trial is on as it is an excellent trial for clubmen. Regarding Guisborough one lapper, yes I intend to ride as it was a thoroughly enjoyable trial last year. It looks like it may be my first trial back! Hopefully we will meet after the trial for a pint . Thanks for all your efforts regarding the Defra saga, you were outstanding. Well done Cota.
Trial At Charltons
in Trials Reviews & Previews
Posted
Are you still going on Sunday Betabasher? Let's hope this frost goes as Charltons can be one very slippy place when cold. The shale tips are so hard and compacted that ice on the slopes makes riding very tricky. Have a good day Betabasher.