hrmad

I thought that was what the skull and cross bones was for...

Good for you and your family Mags! And I hope your daughter takes it up when she has time, we need more women in the sport. Hope you don't find this rude, but you look like you've lost some weight since you've posted pics of you on the bike before, are you ok? Set up some novice/ sportsman type sections if you can, maybe try to source some flags from somewhere. That is what has improved my riding the most, that and doing things I'm not very good at. And just step off the bike if you get into trouble, no point going down with the ship!

It varies from club to club, just ask on the day. Also don't be afraid to ask the observer which route you need to follow through the section if you find the marking out confusing. Good luck with the trial

Thanks for posting the vid, those conditions would have been hard by anyones standard, chuck a few more rock steps in for the big boys and it would be a fun world round to watch today. The bikes have improved but the average joe hasn't, that's why it's great there are multi route trials now and beginner trials- I'm very thankful we all don't have to follow one route. That way both beginners and experts are happy (hopefully). It's become an elite sport at the top, but this isn't unique to trials. After marking out, did you have enough energy to ride the trial? hehe

Thanks for posting this. Personally I'm a fan of no stop trials, it's just more interesting as the rider has to think of the section as a whole, not as a series of stop and go obstacles. Although I can see why it would be difficult for an observer, a momentary pause is quite different to stopping with a foot down- it's a hard one! What time of year did they use to hold world rounds? In this vid the going looks pretty slippery. Only asking because it seems to have turned into a summer sport, it would be much more interesting if rounds were held earlier in the year or later when grip is poor and when they could use different types of sections to test the rider. At the moment the world rounds look like they belong indoors!

1300 for the bike, around 700 plus for insurance, repairs, parts, dvds and clothing so far. 18 for an AMCA license, 10 for an ACU License. Done around 5 trials, completed 3 hehe, some were 10, some were 15 so around 50 so far for competitions. The bike has cost a fair bit to do up, fork seals, wheel bearings, new sprockets, air filters, repairs to the clutch case, gear oil, motor oil, petrol, filter foam, chain lube, levers, new throttle body, new grips and bar ends, sticker kit, reeds, labour for cleaning out the carb and doing the fork seals, new master cylinder kit for the clutch. Basically an overhaul, beware buying second hand! And I still need to buy a pair of decent tyres and a new clutch case that won't corrode. And maybe save up for some raptors, we'll see on that one! Just over 2000 I guess so far in 5 months, but I figure I would have spent my money on junk if I didn't spend it on trials.

Just wanted to thank everyone on the advice to roll the bars forward. It's made the world of difference to my riding. Went to a beginners trial today and didn't get a single 5! And quite a few clears. Having the bars forward has given me a lot more room on the bike if that makes sense, feeling a lot more confident. It has helped turns on cambers too, quite a few fun turns today. Thanks again, just need to save for those tyres now!

So... have you made your decision? EDIT: Just read your previous post properly lol, enjoy the repsol, the monts are gaining popularity I saw around 7 at the last trial I went too, nice bikes

Gotta admit though, the beta looks awesome!

I've got a pair of no stops, very comfortable but wear quickly. Offered plenty of protection during numerous offs, even had my foot near the chain and no damage resulted. Would definitely recommend them.

That's quick! Maybe I'm just a slow driver, haha

I haven't bought anything from them as yet, usually go through ebay, trials and tribulations, splatshop etc. Merthyr is about 2 hours for me, might be worth getting the tyres from them if they stock them, cheers

That's fine, I'm going to be in the beginner/ sportsman class for a while, so no offense taken The rear tyre has the date on it so the tyres are as old as I've said. Thanks again

Jfc, Yeah I know, just waiting on pay day this month. Tyres and a replacement clutch case are top of the list parts. The front does wash out on cambers, that's true, I thought it was down to technique. I'm not sure what tyres to get, probably X11s. I've been told IRC are good for mud, but don't work so well or stay on the rim at low pressures. Don't know much about X lites...

Hi, thanks for the replies guys, appreciate the help. Just trying to get the bike to 'fit', if you get what I mean. Dan, Thanks for your help. I think moving the bars is the simplest and cheapest solution to start. I've looked on the renthal website and they do handlebars for this year of rev 3. But if I went down that route the ideal would be to buy in person and have a feel of the bars first. My friends Beta had red anodized bars, so could be renthal or jitsie, all I know is I felt more stable and put less weight to the front on his bike. It might be down to his bars being further forward or a difference in where the clamps were on his forks. As for the pegs, I think they were standard but I'll have a closer look next practice. Thanks for the advice jfc, I want to observe at a club championship sometime to watch how people ride and choose different lines/ body positioning and so on. You're so busy concentrating on your own game when you compete it's hard to concentrate on others, plus it would be nice to give back by volunteering. Hi Totty, they are fairly far forward, thanks for posting the photo, gave me a good idea of where to move them. How do you manage to reach the levers on down hills? Hey Addict, I'll try the handlebars forward this week, I've got a practice planned mid week and I've got a trial on sunday- should be good to test it. I'll change one variable at a time. If it still doesn't feel comfortable I'll leave the positioning the same but adjust the forks as you've suggested. I believe they are original but I'm not 100% sure, would the bars have a number or beta stamped on them somewhere? Believe it or not I had the rear turned the other day and the bike is still on it's original tyres! This is where I've moved the bars to, I propped the bike up whilst doing so and this felt comfortable. I'll keep the levers almost level so I can reach them on descents. The bars feel higher in this position, we'll see how it goes. These are the foot pegs, I believe they are standard. If I've got the bike supported and I try to stand in a neutral position with hands off the bars I find the balance forwards and backwards really out if you get what I mean? Maybe it's related to using the bars incorrectly to support weight rather than as a steering tool. I don't have this problem static balancing with the wheel one way or the other. I dunno, all speculation.

I'm 5 foot 7, wouldn't shortening the bars make the bike more twitchy?

Here's a pic, As for the trial, I've been a bit put off by anything with the word 'championship' included. Once I can do the hardest route at the easy trials with ease I'll attempt sportsman in the w.s.w championships. Merthyr was a hard lesson. At any rate, I'm off to watch the international mx at hawkstone on Sunday, should be good. I wish you well in the trial.

Hi, I've tried the handlebars on my rev 3 in all sorts of positions, forward, back or lined up with the forks. I keep finding my weight is too far forward when reaching down to the bars, I feel like I'm crouched over the front. Having ridden a friends beta rev 3 250 and scorpa these bikes felt more comfortable. I'm 5 foot 7. I'm just wondering if anyone has tried out after market bars and what are you opinions of them? Or should I just stick with the standard bars? Cheers, Heather

Give it a big handful before a muddy climb, cut through the mud. Or go really slow in other muddy situations. Dead slow or as fast as possible, worked a treat last time I went out. If you fancy a change go for it, just don't blame the bike you've got.

That's a shame about the bridle ways, could you imagine taking one of these to a nice rocky beach too? No sound, no pollution- what's the harm? At any rate, if everyone does go electric in the future land availability might increase for trials with as you say less complaints. 5695 in splat shop uk

They do seem like a good idea and probably what everyone will be riding 30 years down the line. The price is the only real issue, and how they'd cope with water/ mud in the lovely climate of the uk. I wonder if you could take one onto bridleways/ cycle paths, how is it any different to a push bike in that situation? If you can afford one I'd say go for it, hopefully if these bikes become more affordable maybe city trials will develop further and get more kids interested in trials...

Why not buy an evo spare wheel? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BETA-EVO-REAR-WHEEL-/261754471376?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3cf1c843d0

Thanks for the encouragement and for the video. I had a go on a mates xr400 the other day, only in first gear going slow, but the trials riding really changed how I rode the xr. Knees bent, legs not hugging the bike but free to move and generally just being more relaxed. I'd love a KTM freeride 250 or a wr250f but the budget won't stretch that far, 2 years down the line I'd love to buy a brand new ossa tr250i either that or a nice twinshock. So everything will probably go into that, going to take a lot of saving. I've got a riding buddy who tends to fly around like a motocrosser on his beta, but he's taught me a lot and by following his line I'm starting to get more confident with the throttle. He has a bmx background and has ridden crossers when he was younger, it definitely shows in how quick he is picking up trick riding. Conversely the wet weather has helped as well, hitting mud hard at speed seems to make the bike carve a path through it rather than get stuck and start spinning, it's really counter-intuitive. Add in a new quick action throttle, once past the nerves I'm having a blast! I think guys with a bicycle trials or DH background would also have an advantage in trials. Anyways, have you got any more trials videos coming up? Or are you only focusing on the enduro-cross side of things at the minute?

Adjusted the lever where it presses into brake, if that makes sense. Worked fine today, though I didn't use it heavily on mud. Quick action throttle is awesome, you can really rev the bike and fire it up hills and blast through mud. Really enjoying it, much nicer to ride in that way. Thanks again

Thanks for posting this, it's amazing what Mick could ride up on that machine. I've just bought a how to ride trials video with Mick Andrews, his body positioning advice is great, he looks so natural on the bike. Really, great stuff