In other posts / forums various comments about lack of entries (typically 60% of what they used to be), Fujinamis Honda problems causing a 5 and lack of bike sales. We are in a recession and disposable income for many is going to decline for some time, petroleum prices are going to rise (affecting rubber and plastics as well as gasoline). Against this background is restricting bike development to reduce costs a good idea?

Following suggestions:-

Ban titanium

Ban chrome molybdenum - replace with CDS

Ban magnesium - any alloy parts to be readily weldable grade of aluminium

Clutch to be cable operated

Brakes to be cable operated and single "piston" callipers only

Brake discs to be plain - no drilling or corrugation

Rear sprocket plain - drilling for bolt holes only

Ban fuel injection

Ban complex ignition systems - lawmower type only - linked to this the cooling fan would be water impeller driven and engine temp controlled by waxstat.

Put maximum price controls on items, say £15 for a mudguard and £40 for a Tyre.

Increase minimum weight limit to say 70 / 75 Kgs

I reckon that lot would knock £1000 to £1500 of a new bike, make it more reliable and cheaper to run without detracting from the enjoyment of the sport.

Cheers

It didn't work for Skoda

Or Scorpa/Sherco

Strictly governed markets seldom produce high growth, so I don't believe you can regulate a solution here and frankly I don't think anyone should have the right to do so. All of the MFG's can produce less expensive bikes right now - but they dont. Why? Maybe the market just needs a correction and out of the ashes will come the solution.

The bikes have certainly become very specialised over the last 20 or so years.

Undoubtably this is limiting the market.

Where do you go from here?

Unless there is demand for changes trials will continue on the same path.

Could end up like most other motorsports where money as much as talent is the requirement?

Edited June 14, 201313 yr by breagh

Stopping new technology will never be an option.

I'm sure price has very little to do with sales. The trend here has been buy a new bike and depending on the brand a yearly upgrade will see you drop 2K to 4K. This makes as new bikes very reasonable for the astute purchaser.

Ban dodof2

I work as a machinist in the manufacturing industry. Alloy materials are being used for the beneficial characteristics they have thus why bikes keep getting lighter stronger and more powerful. Alloy materials are not that much more expensive than the others. Yeah making a solid chain sprocket increases production but it will not drop cost. The cost you save by a making that part faster your going to pay for in a heavier bike with shipping cost. Oh and not to mention the larger quantity of materials that the manufacturers have to order to keep machines running and keep guys like me with a job. Hmm there goes your price up yet again so now your making a bike even more expensive. Everything your talking about basically sends the modern trials bike back to the stone age. Cable brakes really? Its about pushing limits with what modern technologies can bring not throwing them away and using sticks and stones. GET REAL!! If you dont like the price dont buy a new bike every year.

The bikes have certainly become very specialised over the last 20 or so years.

Undoubtably this is limiting the market.

Where do you go from here?

Unless there is demand for changes trials will continue on the same path.

Could end up like most other motorsports where money as much as talent is the requirement?

Thats why the top route consists of ten to fifteen riders and 50% of the junior champions disappear from the sport Gibert Gomez wigg and so on

Good idea but it wont ever work, too many bikes around which far surpass the specification your retro would have.

This industry is interesting because it advances, baby steps but it advances

Take your idea and apply it to car racing and see how it fits

Drum brakes

Carburettors

Get rid of power steering

No electronic ignition, get points and distributors back

Ya, nope, not for me

Progress is what makes my world go round

Now, if manufacturers were to add retro twin shock models at bargain prices and promoters make classes for them then maybe there's a germ of an idea that could bring back grass roots competitors

How about a brand new 1979 Bultaco or a Fantic for half the price of a new Beta or Gas Gas

I'm not at all sure that cheaper new bikes would make much diffrence. People who have difficulty in meeting the price of a new bike now have quite a choice of decent competitive 3/4 year old bikes on the secondhand market which cost less than any new bike would, but there's not much evidence of them going down that route. Perhaps it's time to accept that as part of the evolution of the sport participation is down in some areas, for all sorts of reasons, not just the price of bikes.

To add fuel to this fire - Yes fuel -that dictates the price of everything . People go to work , produce goods ,which burns fuel . Tax is the next .

I'm with you on the cost . Who wants to keep smashing £5000 on a pile of rocks for a plastic trophy . ok we all know there's more to it than that but bottom line ,like most of you out there ,have far better things to do with £5k .People have a thirst for technology and that has it's price ,but as far as alternatives go one word ,brand, XSISPA ! What a raging success . A trials bike at a cheap price that's still more capable than most . Hands up who bought one ! So as my mum would say "there's no pleasing folk".

Anything, for most ,will not do !

Difficult .

Edited June 14, 201313 yr by shyted

Just take a look at Pre-65 trials, they have cable operated everything, drum brakes etc. etc. and some people still chose to invest £10k a go for a 2013 works specification Tiger Cub

Edited June 14, 201313 yr by neils on wheels

Just take a look at Pre-65 trials, they have cable operated everything, drum brakes etc. etc. and some people still chose to invest £10k a go for a 2013 works specification Tiger Cub

And the reason they do is that the sections they ride them on are the sort of sections that more and more people are realising are what they want from the sport of trials not splating themselves against some massive rock. Not that anybody on here will ever recognise that fact !