drhud

I did a fast woods ride this past weekend with some big bikes and quads. I noticed the bike was running very hot. Checked the obvious, (fan was working, coolant was full), and everything seemed fine. Decided to check the impellor to make sure no fins were broke. When I took out the drain plug, first almost clear water came out, followed by a blue water and then by a sludgy blue mess. Kind of looked like paint, but a little thicker. When I took the cover off, more of the sludge was around the impellor. ANY IDEA on what this is? In case it matters, I ride a 04 Rev 3 250 Thanks

Although you guys vary on your opions, one thing is certain and that is your all pretty much passionate about the sport and have interest in promoting it. So, let me throw this question out there. Can the sport, by that I'm referring to events, handle an increase in attendance? I ask because it seems more time is spent waiting at sections, and getting finished in time seems possible only if you rush. Maybe its just me?

Jim, tried 3dtrials.com and .org, couldn't get anywhere. I'll try again later.

Any of you New Yorkers have a schedule or website? I'd be interested in checking out your events. Meriden had 110 participants last weekend!! Headed to the Berry Farm this weekend.

nasqam, got to love your passion. Looks like I hit a nerve with the poker reference. As pathetic as that is, its reality, more people would rather watch poker than supercross on TV. The ratings are in, I think, the new Dirt Rider. Ask your co-workers, I bet most of them know what Texas hold em is. WTC is amazing to watch, my reference was to trials was on the local level. Even though it takes skill to compete at any level, to the casual observer it doesn't appear so. I could post some vdeo of some difficult lines we were ridng, yet most of you would laugh at how pathetically easy the video makes it look. I brought up Lance and Greg Lemond to show that winning on the world stage doesn't guarantee success in America. Nobody cared that Lance won. The interest came when he began to dominate AND when his life story came out. Lemond won years ago, yet it sparked little interest in bicycling. In fact Lance WON the World Championship 12-13 years ago, few people care. What about Bode and Nicky? Any interest in skiing or road racing? Our American pride prevents us from believing that Americans are not the best at everything. Just like you say, with all these people there is no reason we can't be succesful at everything. However, it takes alot more than that to win at the highest level. Talent only gets you so far, then the commitment must be made. Look at the WBC, Japan won, yet you believe the Yankees could beat them easily? American pride!! Todays youth has way too many more lucrative options. This thread started with a kid who I believe finished 5th at Loretta Lynns, yet he is fully sponsored and probably has an inflated ego already. As a kid, how cool is that? He's got to feel like he is on top of the world! Unfortunately, if the TOP 3 guys in US trials are the only ones making a living, how does a kid today see that as desirable? You missed my MX analogy. Bob hannah raced here when Americans were NOT the best in the world. maybe reread that section. You said it yourself, you got hooked when the WTC came to you.Thats exciting. Even the US Nationals are great to watch. Again I ask, why can't the trials bike companies send their "B" level riders here to compete and show the American public what trials is? Again, just like KTM is doing with GNCCs and Supermoto. You want to develope a World champ, yet few people know what the sport is. Alright, I had enough of this. I can sleep well knowing I'm doing my part to help promote this sport and being thankful to all you that have taken time to hold events for the rest of us.

You guys are nuts! I loved the Speedway reference and here are a couple more.. any body start road racing motorcycles, downhill skiing, or since the Man has been mentioned.. bicycle racing?? Of course not, yet we have a legitimate Moto GP contender and winner of the American round in Nicky Haden, World Cup winner and Poster boy of the Olympics in Bode Miller and of Course 7 time tour de France winnner in Lance, who by the way is the second American to dominate that race.. anyone here of Greg Lemond? The point being, a World Champion does not guarantee an increased popularity or participation in the sport. You have a 9 time National Champion in Geoff Aaron, yet who has heard of him outside the trials community?? Then, you fault Geoff for not competing in the World Championships?? If dominating the sport here in America doesn't promote the sport, how could mediocre finishes across the World help? Since you guys like the MX comparisons... Ever hear of Bob Hannah? Great rider right? Yet he raced in the USA at a time when the best racers were in Europe. Even now, Stephan Everts, multi time world champ, and another great rider, races in Europe when the fastest racers are here in the USA. Does this discredit either of these two guys? Of course not, Hannah and the rest of the guys of his era, helped put MX on the map. How many Americans care about whats going on in the rest of the world with any sport? We still think our hockey, baseball and basketball teams are the best, yet they get beat consitently by the rest of the world. Another example... supermoto... born here in America, quickly died here, but was kept alive in Europe where they have learned how to dominate. Then the likes of Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Ward and Doug Henry resurrect the sport. They quickly give it credibility and dominate here in America. So should they pack up and do the world circuit? No, stay here develope a fan base which leads to interest in the sport and thus the success of the sport here. They are so succesful at this, that the world top factory teams are sending over their best riders to compete in the US Series ( Same goes for woods racing..GNCC). This is a sport that has virtually no practice areas, yet racers are willing to travel hours and pay $200 a day for track time and tires just to practise!! The factories know that America is a gold mine waiting to be tapped. With 250 million people, they know they only need to get a small piece of the pie to increase their profits. Why are there no Trials factories willing to do the same? Bottom line, trials on the local level is boring to watch and also gives the perception that it is easy. If you ever walked an MX or SX track you generally get the impression that some of the obstacles or impossible, yet you get on the bike and they seem easier. Then your able to do the same jumps as the pros, which makes you feel like a pro. (kind of like golf, you hit a great shot and all of a sudden you believe you have what it takes to be a pro). Yet you walk your line at a trials event and it seems somewhat "easy". BUT when you make your attempt, your realize how difficult it actually is. Ever video tape yourself while riding? Kind of humbling. Your riding up huge obstacles and doing some crazy lines, yet when you watch it on video, everything looks so small and easy. I know it takes talent to ride a trials bike, yet how do you convince the general public it is skillful and challenging when it doesn't appear so? As far as TV, soemone mentioned poker being a joke. Yet, poker get a higher rating than Supercross! Just about any sport that is succesful here, is NOT an individual sport. Skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking etc have all incorporated heads up racing to help draw more fans. Snowboarding even making it into the olympics. Not sure where I am goign with this, but it just popped into my head. The topic of how to produce an American world champ is all over this BB. Alan pretty much nailed it when he said something to the affect that even with 250 million people, someone still MUST WANT to be World Champ. Why should someone aspire to that? The money and popularity is mediocre at best. Today, unlike years ago, kids have sooo many options just in motorcyle racing, never mind all the other sports. Any of the othe moto options have more potential for fame and fortune. Today, its all about the money. With it comes the big house, fancy cars and the girls. Isn't that whats all over the TV?? With all this critism, I really must thank all the people that work hard to keep this sport going. Whether or not the sport is going in the right direction or not, these people are still doing what it takes, and all for the love of the sport, to let the rest of us enjoy it. Its one thing to sit back and point the finger and say what you would do, but when you get off your ass and do something about it, then I'll have some respect for your opinions.

Any suggestions on reputable dealers to get parts for my Beta? I live in Connecticut, no dealers around that I know of.

I just bought a 2000 Beta 270 and find that there is no throttle response for the 1st quarter turn of the throttle. I'm assuming its a jetting issue? Any help is greatly appreciated.