I'm trying to decide between an 87 honda reflex and a modern trials bike.

I like that the reflex is street legal so I can use it to commute to work, and I could do some trail riding with it, but I wonder how much my riding will suffer if iI choose it over a late 90's or newer pure trials bike.

I'm new to motorcycle trials but have been riding bicycle trials for a very long time so I have been picking things up fast. Is the reflex good enough to learn the basics on or will I outgrow it too quickly?

Having the choice of a TLR 200 and an 4RT in my garage I can only say that if you are into push bike trials with the hopping and skipping then a TLR maybe very alien to you. I really enjoy a blast on the TLR as it makes some of the easy sections (on a modern bike) challenging so I can ride an easy trial and still have to ride hard on the TLR to be competitive. You do have to maximize the traditional element of your riding to get the best out of the twin shock. If you are used to breaking a section down into a series of hazards a twin shock may not be best for you.

Maybe best to try and blag a ride on both and see what suits.

PS

The reflex is not a full TLR and is more trail oriented I believe

If you want to actually compete in Trials get the most modern bike you can afford, Trials is hard enough on a modern bike to learn let alone something over 20 years old that isnt really a Trials bike anyway. If though you want to do some road work and trails then maybe the Reflex is best but again wouldnt you be better off getting a more modern Trail bike for the job.

I have an 86 TLR200 Reflex and a 2000 Sherco 2.9.

The Reflex is a fun machine, I have used it as a spare road bike and a spare trials bike when my main ones have been broken.

Otherwise it sits in the garage.

When I want to ride trials it's my Sherco all the way.

If I want to play on trails or my Sherco is broke I ride the Reflex.

So my 2 cents are If you want to ride trials and really enjoy it and be able to do the hopping and bopping, buy the best modern bike that your finances allow you to.

If you want to ride twinshock and ride with a more smooth fluid style with smaller obstacles get the Reflex.

Also note that while the Reflex is street legal, if you crash off road there will be more items to fix, I.E. turn signals, Lights, etc...

Also not sure what country you live in but in the states true Trials tires are not road legal, so you may find yourself swapping 2 sets of tires around everytime you want to hit the road, or you will have dual sport tires that do not work well for trials.

But whatever you choose, Get out and ride, Enjoy it and never stop!!!!

Thanks for the tips

I've decided to pass on the Reflex and look for a modern bike, then I'll pick up a second bike for street riding in the spring.

Considering my friend rides a modern bike I think I will probably have trouble keeping up when we start trying bigger moves.