grahamjayzee

Anyone would think you're excited!

Tell you what gents, this is a good post! I've just bought an Evo, and when trying to decide what to buy I asked many questions on here. Nif's later post is as good as it gets when describing some very specific bike-related differences, even if it was to highlight suspension performance. As Nif alluded to, why change your style? From my point of view, I have ended up with a bike that suits my style. I don't suffer fork related issues, partly because my style clearly aligns to the bike and therefore doesn't expose the shortcomings (down hill/ over log control was a noteable plus compared to my Rev3), but mostly because I'm crap! Graham

Hi Kay, My 2009 290 Evo (with flywheel weight fitted) is a pussycat! I know what you mean about 'clutches that push', as it were. I babysit for my friend's 280 TXT Pro and I can't ride it at all. I consider I have pretty good throttle and clutch control, but the clutch/ throttle relationship on that bike is hard work. However, the truth is, if I rode it more, I'd get used to it. It's worth doing the clutch mod and ensuring you have the correct level of the correct oil. Slow action throttle WILL help (easing the clutch out with no throttle won't push the front; if you have even slightly too much it will, so better control off the bottom has to help). Other than that, get in the garden and practice figure of 8s until you are so dizzy you've forgotten all about the clutch! Graham

Hello Ian, I recently moved to the area. I work in Colchester and live just outside Sudbury. Coming from the Cambridge area, I am now awash with trials! You can't walk far on a Sunday without stumbling across a load of geezers on bikes without seats! Not sure about the premix for the Yam, but welcome and hopefully we'll meet at a trial someday. Graham

I did my old Rev 3 a couple of times and it was pretty straightforward. Heat/ Cold help no end. Get prepared with a flat surface and a means to hold the swinging arm against it. Get a suitable drift (I used a socket and then dropped an extension bar through it which I packed out so it stayed central on the bush). Get the bushes in the freezer to shrink them a little, and heat the swinging arm (I used a couple of kettles of boiling water). Gently tap the bushes in, and Robert is your Muvva's Bruvva... Graham

I'm with VMeldrew. WD40 or GT85. Castrol for the road bikes, but it holds too much dust on the trials bike. Squirt of WD before I start and usually another quick one if I stop for a splash of fuel... Graham

Welcome Stu and Russell! I moved to near Sudbury back in February and there are loads of decent trials to ride in the suffolk/ essex area. No doubt our paths will cross! Graham

Well spotted GJ. I could have bought 3 pairs of those for the price of the SIDIs I bought a few months back. My boots had beetr last 3 times longer than yours. or there'll be trouble! Graham

Hi, Not so sure I'd want bigger valves on a trials bike. Larger valves help get more fuel/ air mix in and more exhaust gases out. This has the effect of improving power towards the top end of the power curve at the expense of the bottom end. It will also require a larger carb opening and different exhaust. It may make the bike better for green laning (I say may...), but is likely to adversly affect it's usefullness as a trials bike. I could (and often am) be wrong though... Graham

Hi GJ, Yes, agree and understand. I feel rather petty and a little immature sweating on my results when I'm hardly troubling the scorers, as it were! I am, however, rather completist and like the closure! The OCD kicks in when the job isn't closed out... Graham

I've recently moved from the Cambridge area to Sudbury and am now lucky enough to enjoy a decent choice of excellent trials, many just a stone's throw from my house. It's quite refreshing to have new venues to ride and new faces to meet (and be beaten by...). I do have a small issue, and wonder how others feel about this. Before I start, I understand the difficulties in running trials and am grateful to all those that put their time into my sport. In addition, I am more than willing to help with the issue below... Results: They take ages to be supplied. It seems that the results of a trial are secondary to the event itself. I can understand this, but surely they are just a part of the whole? I personally look forward to receiving the results so I can re-live the event in my mind and start looking forward to the enxt event, and how I can put things right. If you have ridden another event before getting the results for the last, the old grey matter struggles to remember what actually happened! I thought this may have just been me, but speaking to a friend at the weekend, he was still to recieve any results from mid-July! Web and email should make this pretty easy, and as I said above, I am happy to help. I would be glad to take results sheets and collate them. I would also be glad to assist in web uploading. (Braintree MCC, I did offer! It's still on the table!). Am I alone with this? Graham

Hi All, I scoured this forum for ages looking for opinion on the various bikes to help me decide on/ validate my choice for my next bike. It's not easy to get clear opinion, so we tend to aim in the dark a little. I for one am not great at test riding bikes and know that the real truth will only out once I've ridden a trial. Well, I purchased a 2009 Evo 290 last week from Paul Nash Motorcycles. For those that know Paul, this bike is his old bike, known affectionately as 'Baby'. It seems that many have ridden and enjoyed her. Missus... I rode her yesterday at Pebmarsh. Here's my thoughts... Coming from a 2001 Rev3 250, I was mildly concerned that the bike would be a bit snappy for me. I fitted the flywheel weight as a precaution, but have to say the power is surprisingly gentle. Much the same as my old Rev. It is gentle at the bottom end, but has plenty of mid and top. It certainly isn't aggressive and snappy and whilst I feel I've got a pretty good right hand, it was by no means hard work. It does however have more bottom end 'grunt'. This suits my style of leaving the clutch alone and letting the bike find grip. The biggest change for me is the front end. I was starting to struggle on steep drop-ins. PArticularly into stream beds where undercut banks can lead into soft silt. I never felt totally in control on the Rev3, and simply put this down to 'Me'. I had changed fork oil several times and had long since stopped blaming the bike. This led to that horrible feeling of just hanging on, hoping I didn't go over the bars, and then trying to reconstruct my line based on whereever I ended up! The Evo is totally different. It simply takes these in it's stride and allows me to keep looking forwards and concentrate on my line. So overall, I'm extremely happy with my choice. It suits me (a committed Beta-phile) very well and feels like a decent step forward rather than just a different bike. Hopefully, this will reflect in my results! Thanks again Paul, chuffed to bits. Graham

Hi Grant, For my tuppence,

Oops, Question 3 part b has been converted to a smiley! Nothing to do with me... Graham

My reply, if anyone's interested! Cut and paste and edit if you wish... I would like to respond to the questions posed by the Forestry Review Panel: Q1

Thanks for the update Andy. I know you're a busy man and that this is a free service, but I think it's a reasonable question. Many of us are acquisitionists, and a daily browse through what's for sale is a highlight for us. We need our top up of spending opportunities! Graham

Good for you, and well done inspiring the yoof. I had a similar experience with my daughter Jessica. Can we have a report in a few weeks on how Nicola's mood is holding up once Tom has had a few goes at getting over those lovely raised beds? Graham

Bad luck man, hope you recover quickly. The worse off I ever had was much the same; the old 'downhill dab, no ground there, oh s$%

BMW = Bob Marley and the Wailers Brilliant! How random is that?!?!

SCORPA = Some Cr*p Only Rosbifs Purchase, Apparently... I'll get me coat...

Beta = Bathe Every Thread in Araldite...

I resemble that statement! Old fart indeed! Yes, return to topic I think. However I was far from 'going on' about the young'uns and enjoy our sports diversity. It's just that; diverse...

Hi Rob, Good luck with this new venture. I really enjoy seeing the chairs at a trial, but certainly have no desire to go anywhere near one! From what I've observed when watching these odd machines tackle sections, you should practice a rolling fall... Graham

Chewy, I share your opinions! I worked for an automotive consultancy for many years and the common held belief that 'Formula 1 helps manufacturers improve road cars' has been miles from the truth for many, many years. Road bikes have long suffered from racing involvement (my 1999 R1 was the most fun road bike I've ever owned. It was from an era when 1000cc road bikes existed for the road only and as such had a long stroke motoe with power where you need it on the road. Later 'race-bred' bikes had all the power up top and were frustrating and pointless for the road rider). The point that comes to my mind goes a bit further; does WTC in general have anything to do with the sport as I know it? Er... I still seek it out to watch on TV, but apart from the bikes looking similar and the idea being largely the same, a WTC trial is about as far removed from a club wobble as my gran's mobility scooter is from Formula 1! I do think that the bikes on the market for you and I are still relevant to the masses though. Come the day that all new bikes are snappy, clutch popping pogo-sticks, I will admit defeat and ride a twinshock! Graham

The techno feels a bit dated now. The riding position is quite different (as far as I can remember). However, the engine and power delivery is quite similar. They're all getting on a bit now though and you'll need to hunt out a good one.