October 21, 201510 yr Hey All! Just joined the site. Looking for some insight. I wanted to pass the introduction, and get down to business. I live in the US, in Colorado. I am an experienced rider, and been riding 34 of the 37 years I have been alive. Motocross, Enduro, Trails, etc. I want to start getting into trials riding. I am looking for advise on a used bike trials bike for under $2500 or so. I am 6'3' 280, good shape, but eat too damn much. Here is my question. I have found some good late 90's Gas Gas's for $1500 to $2500, but I have heard they are "fragile". I can ride with finesse, but due to my weight I put a lot of torque on bikes. Then ad my aggressive nature I put a lot of stress bigger bikes even. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but that leads me to my question. What are some of the best built trials bikes from the late 90's and up on a $2500 budget +/-? Please give me insight on makes, models, and what to look for (condition, flaws, frame stress, etc.) if I find anything to buy? Thanks! Eric The pic is of me on a XR400R, and they are bikes. I make it look pretty small.
October 21, 201510 yr If you're looking at a late 90s Gas Gas then a 321 will be perfect, last of the old motors with the stronger normal gearbox. Pretty much bulletproof & I know of a few guys who kept theirs when they upgraded just for our trials bike only trail rides because they handle the abuse better than the newer bikes & hold a line better up a rocky creek First of the big bores was the JT350 in 95 from memory & measured 327cc, 96 was called the JTR370 which was either 1mm bigger bore or stroke & about 335cc, they went back to the older size after that which lasted until sometime around 2000 Hope that's of some help
October 21, 201510 yr 315 Honda/montesas are pretty much bullet proof and reliable. A Scorpa with the yam engine or rotax would be a good choice too.
October 21, 201510 yr Beta techno no doubt, 1996, 97, 98, or 99, can't get much more sturdy than them
October 21, 201510 yr go to the RMTA website. There are several of the recommended above bikes in your neighborhood. --Biff
October 22, 201510 yr Good solid ,old and cheap do not usually factor in the same equation. Those bikes are getting too old now. Not sure just how long you can get parts, specially a Gasser, since they are bankrupt! The 2001 or newer Montesa, yea, solid bike, yet trials bikes are more fragile than your XR by design.
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