My 13 yr lad had his first trial last weekend ( Waterside Club ) fantastic club, great event ....

We got an 09 Gas Gas 125 with Renthal Fatbars on... Fitted some 20mm risers and he reckons feels much nicer like his BMX !!

When he is on full lock , he is really outstreched . Was thinking of triming bar width slighty ?

On the basis that what may be fine for a 6" 2 bloke may not be right for a skinny 12-13yr old !!

any ideas of bar set up please, trials dad,s

we used to take 12mm off each end for adults so take an inch off and see how he goes.

Not sure about Fat bars but I bought my son mini Renthals for his TL125 when he was having the same reach problems a few years ago.

TLTEL

Have him stand on the pegs and hold the bars so that there is a straight line from the forearm through the wrist. Elbows slightly bent in normal riding stance. This should give you an idea of how narrow to make the bars. Of course cut sparingly because if need be you can always cut more off, it is a little more expensive to add to the bars.

we used to take 12mm off each end for adults so take an inch off and see how he goes.

Les Winththrop who has won the Scottish Championship a few times so can ride a bit? He still trims his handlebars down now and when explained his reasoning was valid?

With standard bars when riding say up a rock gully and your handle bars are fighting to stay on line it is pulling your shoulder too which would make you loose balance, by shortening them keeps the body more in line as you are not over stretching?

Seems to make a bit of sense?

Thanks Guys , ive done it on Enduro bikes in the past , so ill give it a go ... Cheers....

Don't cut the nice renthals. He'll only need these when he is a little taller. Get some cheaper bars and cut these down.

Note!.... only cut off half what you think you should remove as it is too easy to cut metal off and it is very difficult to "cut it back on"

A plumbers pipe cutter is the neatest way if you don't have a guide. 10mm off each side makes a noticeable difference.