Hello all. I'm a 48 year old bloke who has fancied having a go at the old feet up game for ages. I'm from Cheshire. I'm reckoning I can get myself a useable bike for about 800 quid, a twin shock type Beamish Suzuki or a TY250 Yamaha type bike. Or whatever?

Where can I learn to ride?

Where can I get local advice?

What's the score with these bikes, I see some are registered for the road and many are not, indeed have no lights or horn, speedo etc... I have no intention of riding it on the road so what's the score?

Any advice, comments appreciated.

Regards

Steve.

First of all get your self a bike and find out where the closest clubs are to you people on here should know , about being registered they dont need to be and they dont need lights, indicators etc

That would probaly get you a very good twin shock for the money.

If your lucky you could get a good 1 for about

Hi Steve. A Beamish or TY250 should be fine to get started on. You still see lots of them at club trials and at that level they're still competitive bikes with the right person on board.

You only need to register your bike if you're going to ride it on the road. Some trials involve road work between sections and that's usually why you'll see registered bikes. If you're only ever going to ride "closed course" events or practise on private land, there's no need for lights, horn, MOT etc. etc.

The ACU has a list of clubs in your area.

Thanks all that's great info for starters, quick too. I'll look up the ACU site.

Anybody else on here from Cheshire Area?

I'd get a TY 250. Very easy to work on, reliable and cheap to run and maintain. Make sure you don't get one that has been thrashed as a 'field bike' and not looked after.

Good luck

im forn.wales and do ride the CYTC some times. A ty is a good bike to start with.

Good luck

Anybody else on here from Cheshire Area?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, There are lots of places to go practicing in the area. best bike to start on has to be a TY250. If you want to know anywhere to go, just PM me and i can tell you a few places. Theres an extremly good venue at Corwen, N,wales that they use for the local club stuff.

Thank you all, and thank you Jools, I've PM'd you.

Regards

Steve.

Steve

The Macclesfield trials club and the Manchester 17 club are very active in the Cheshire Centre they both have website's and there the centre website as well www.cnwtrials.org.uk

The centre run trials schools with there ACU coches, theirs one on the 19th November , might be a bit soon if you have no bike yet.The next Macc trial is on the 6th of November, but all dates are on the centre website.

I'm from Cheshire(ish) way, do most of the Man 17 and Macclesfield trials

Thank you both. That's good advice and info. I think it would be worth investing a few quid in a day or two of coaching from an expert. What would you say the "welcome" is like at those two clubs for a complete novice? I last rode a trials bike in 1978 when I had a TY250.

I shall now go and take a look at www.cnwtrials.org.uk

Steve,

Here's my 2 cents (tuppence).

After being away from trials for 20-something years, I bought a TY350 with the idea that it would be more bike than I'd ever need, and it would be the most modern bike I'd ever owned, even if it was 15 years old.

I loved it, and it was a great way to rediscover trials, but then I rode an '01 Sherco, and there was no going back.

It's purely personal opinion, but as much as I like my old street bikes (really old), when it comes to competition machinery, the better a bike is, the more I like it.

Spend a few more quid and look for the latest generation, which probably starts around '99, and you'll never have to think, "Maybe I can't do that because of my bike."

If you're like me, you'll always know you suck because you're hopeless, not because your bike is old.

What would you say the "welcome" is like at those two clubs for a complete novice?  I last rode a trials bike in 1978 when I had a TY250.

I shall now go and take a look at www.cnwtrials.org.uk

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's more novices than owt else at a lot of trials these days, and usually very welcoming. Just get involved and chatting. Once you realise that 50% of the entry are bluffers you'll do fine

Thanks again for the advice guys. Oh, and I know I'm not a good rider. My TY250 was WAY better than I was back in about 77/78 when I owned it.

I'm not looking to win or even challenge anyone, I'm just looking for another dimension to my biking.

Thanks.