the artist formerly known as ish

Some happy young riders

I just got back from Donner, due to wife's vacation starting this weekend we could only do the first two days. My boy Trevor and his friend Daniel competed I minding for Daniel, and Trev found some older woman who is top ladies rider over here to mind for him, after a good win on the first day he said he wanted me to stay minding for Daniel, he preferred the US ladies champ minder, I said don't worry, so do I. I never got chance to see my lad ride as I was off looking after his mate on another course, but he did surprise me how steady his rides were and how he has improved over the last few months. Some older youths were riding a rock near the pits warming up, next thing I know my lads going up it too, nothing like other kids to get them motivated. What I saw of the sections and riding ability of the youths over the first two days impressed me and I don't think it will long before these young lads are knocking the current US champions off the podium. One young lad I noticed going about his job quietly and working out lines with no minder to help him was Chad Redmond, and he ended up winning nicely on the first two days, hope he can win the overall championship it was a pleasure to watch the lad ride. Great event made possible by Bill Markham and the pits club, hope it becomes an annual event, I know it improved my lads riding. Thanks to all involved, and to the lovely lass for minding.

[Q] Sherco99. But where is the most creative, imaginative, technically most advanced country in the world? (Ssshhhh I think it's Japan folks). They are very good at producing quality and reliability, but most of the ideas and creativity is copied from the US and Europe, fuel inj, they were probably last to use it in the Auto ind, they were still running air cooled in world round trials two years after every other bugger was water cooled, I think if you do your homework you will find they are good at copying and perfecting someone else's ideas. Also the TY, and Honda trials bikes often have to do twice as many years on a model design as the smaller companies, and even when a bike is proven after a while many will change brands for no other reason than that, change. On the the sound from the video, how the hell can anyone tell wht they run like, same goes for the Honda video, you hear the bike rev half hour after he's on top of the step, and I know the bike will sound a lot sweeter than it does on the video.

My little boy has a Sherco 50, screams it's nuts off every where he goes, and it never faulted in two years, many other people who have kids on them say the same thing. It's a great little bike for 6 thru 9 year riders, so light they can throw it about without the weight of the bike getting the better of them. Only problems they seem to have is big fat 200lb dads showing the mates just what they can do, when the poor little thing is made for 70lb kids. Another good point about them is they hold resale value well, that always says a lot about how good people think they are.

Mr showman adding a bit of color to the sport, like he has done for the past 15 years or more, remember faze.

Ho Capt, I thought by now you would of sussed the more you pull it the harder it gets

Thi daft bugger Kinell, " where are you" : he's sat in front of his bloody computer

Thank you sir, just what I needed.

I'm trying to find some info obout the youth events to be held at Donner next week. What is the first day of competition? How much per day to enter, and will there parking and land use fees on top of that, and if so how much. Where do we park, in the ranch parking area, or over the road on the gravel.

Hey Toomany, this weekend when you were about the greenies conspiring to stop you riding your two stroke, I was out enjoying a trial on the polution solution

The first four PNTA championship rounds this year I rode on my Sherco 2.9 and won all four, riding against the same riders all year, the second four I rode on the Scorpa 125, best I did was a third, is the sherco 290 a better bike YES! but we are comparing a 272 cc machine against a 125 machine. All Nigel's points are valid about getting up big stuff and having the confidence, on sections with big stuff on the 125 I didn't have the confidence and it cost me, however I have found you do need to be a lot more aggressive on the 125 and it will do it, so there is a learning curve to be added into the equation, the little 125 is lots of fun to ride and on streams and technical stuff very good, that's why I ride it, BUT it's no 290 Sherco. The bike costs a grand less new over here and many riders who are new to the sport would be served better by riding a lower cc machine, but it's the good old USA and bigger is better 320 normally aspirated and a 260 fuel injected, going to be interesting seeing how they perform against each other in competition.

Interesting point Kinill, seen a few mentions of catalytic converters on two strokes now, and was told this is how some think they can pass the FIM emission level requirements for 06. People need to keep in mind trials bikes sold in the US are for off road competition use only, will they be tested ?, the FIM testing that may take place in a year or two will be only for lads riding the world championships and they probably will replace the cat every round so it will perform correctly. The big ? will be lads in Europe who want to road reg their bike, will it have to pass the emission test ? if so once it's had a year of trials and the old cat is full of oily gunge, probably the only way it will pass is replace the cat, not bad if the price is sensible, but on motors that can be a costly item. When I asked the FIM official what and when the ruling was, I'm sure he said the bikes will have to meet the emisson standards in 06, my reply was " does that mean they will have to be four stroke or just meet the emission levels" he said just meet the emission levels, anyone on TC know if that is fact? Also it takes a test station to test the bikes, I don't think plod will be able to carry the ACME smog tester around in his back pocket, so once the bike is thru the test whats to stop you putting a competition exhaust on for events tha nos what I mean nudge nudge.

One thing about the clutch you should always be aware of!! it's the best safety device on a trials bike. Even when just riding along trails keeping you finger on the clutch is a must until you get to the point that you no longer think about it, anytime you get into trouble one little squeeze and the power is stopped from going to the back wheel. Bigfoot points out that riders will use too much clutch when riding a section and spoil their ride, when all that is needed is throttle control, he is correct but it's all part of the learning process. Set your bars and controls in a position that you feel is comfortable for you and not what the star riders are doing, and practice all you can, nothing will improve your riding as much as time on the bike. Have fun.

Some make things happen, some watch things happen, and some wonder what happened. This is a snip from the Sherco press release. [Q] Because the engineers were able to start with a clean sheet of paper and not have to modify an existing engine design, they were able to develop a superior engine that is specifically designed for the trials application. The result is the creation of a motorcycle which will undoubtedly set a new standard in trials in the future.[end quote] We are talking trials bikes, and comparing snow mobiles, boats, MX, road and even the odd mention of a chain saw, of all the applications a four stroke motor could be used for competition, I think trials is one of the best suited for the characteristics. I think the bikes will be fine and am not worried one bit what I ride 2 or 4 so long as I am riding trials, we will know for sure how good or bad they are in a short time, I wonder if my sponsorship will drop-off if I don't do as well

Glad to see your sticking at it Gav, it certainly made you a lot quieter on here, are you tired and go straight to bed when you get home, or what! you should soon have enough saved for a new trials iron.

Mr Paxau, has many years of experience building trials bikes, all so far have been comfortable and rider freindly, the first year Sherco in 99 was spot on from day one, I trust the man will have the 4T right too, or it wouldn't be on show at the next WR. I'm looking forward to getting one may just get it drop shipped in Fort-William I hear there is a bit of a trial to give em a good test run.

Shouldn't you be at work or did someone having a mid life crisis give you the boot.

Your correct JTT a V6 outboard two stroke does have slightly better emissions than the competitions fourstroke in their own tests against other brands. Now WTF has this to do with a single cylinder trials bike.

Dabber, never underestimate the power of the $$$$$$$$ when a Yorkshireman is involved.

The proposed rule changes were based on the machines meeting the emission standard, not if they were two stroke or four. The new HONTESA is fuel injected, if it was more practical to clean up the two stroke with fuel injection wouldn't they have done that. I keep seeing posts about x company developing clean running two cycle engines that beat the emission rules, where are the pictures and emission test results ? 05 should open a few eyes one way and another, Raga will be on (to some) the lightest and best two stroke ever built, and his closest competition will be on big fat slow four bangers.

I don't think 4t developement has slowed Beta or Gas Gas, don't think they have done any, they are trying to change the rule by complaining not complying, three companies have made the effort two don't seem to be. If the extend the dates again, the governing body deserve to get their assets sued.

I see the Team WOFTAM manager has got a new support vehicle so warm coats and Gatorade will be seen at more places around the highlands in 05.

Now I'm not one to take the P out of another's misfortunes but I do think we need a name for this lad, otherwise all the pictures are in vain,

Does it look like this, 76 model http://pages.infinit.net/glap/images/Y1976_ty175.jpg I know Appleyards of Yorkshire got a whole bunch of silver grey ones (old stock) bought the job lot and sold them for about 600 quid each in the mid eighties, think the price of most models then was about 1500.

I also heared the top lads riding the two or four stroke wasn't an option, they will all be on the four stroke. It didn't do Mr Saunders and Lejune any harm when they had to compete against the two strokes on Honda four stroke equipment, why will this next season be any different ? It does add an extra angle to the mix, now the two stroke fans will be shouting told you so when a two stroke wins and same goes for the four stroke fans