tomsdad

My 2 sons have been doing the Youth Nationals for few years now and during that time I've stood on top of a fair few rocks and been called into action more than once. Now this may be too simple for WTC but in these events the only person allowed in the section is the rider. If a catcher might be needed the Dad/Mum/Minder has to ask the observer if it's ok to enter the section to catch. The answer is always yes. Job done and your on your way. The confidence that this can give an 11, 12 or 16 year old to attempt a particular hazard is hard to quantify, but when out practicing my youngest will often say to me "Dad I need a catcher", which usually means I think I can do this but I want you there just in case. What he needed a catcher for last month he's now doing confidently on his own. Moving on a few years, if these young riders keep challenging themselves then parents like me are going to be stood on top of sections for many years to come. The only difference is the size of the hazard. If you want to see a golf Pro carrying his own clubs get along to your local club when there's a tournament on and you'll see plenty. The difference is, the first prize they're playing for will be less than the caddies wages !!!! So good old economics takes over. The top 50 golfers in the world would still be the top 50 in world, caddies or not. They're just better !!! , Solves nothing, but a good debate. Mike.

Hi there. Several of the lads now in their last year of C class rode these little beauties a few years ago. Sprocket change makes a big difference. We found the throttle lag a real pain. Our cure was to wind up the tickover until you had to use the brakes to stop the bike from going forward. Worked a treat. Clutch very usefull for rock steps and the like when a quick launch was needed. Kept ours as an auto, no disadvantage. Great bikes when they work !!! Good luck. Mike

The Macclesfield Club are running an evening trial on Saturday at Lyme Park on the A6 near Stockport. 5pm start, 2 routes and a 50/50. Look on the Macc web site for more details. Usually a good do. Mike

I would agree with all of the above. Plus. I tighten the rear sprocket bolts after each ride and the rear disc bolts. The rear brake pedal can come loose, I think it, either a 13 or 14 mm socket on an extension bar. I clean and re-oil the air filter after every ride and strip the carb and air line it out. Change the oil every 25 hours run on 70:1 and they are one of the best bikes you will ever buy. The best in class by MILES !!! Good luck, Mike

Hi There Point 1. Too technical for me ! Point 2. Throttle response should be instant. We wound up the idle/tickover so the bike wanted to drive forward then used the brakes to hold the bike back. Hey presto no delay. Point 3. How heavy is the rider. My lad was about 4 stone when he was riding his Gas Gas. Suspension was soft, but fine for him. Good luck Mike

It may depend on how big your 10 year old is. My lad, (just turned 11 and still only 5 stone) has just got his second Beta Rev 80. Bought the first one just after his 9th Birthday and it has never missed a beat in 2 years of merciless thrashing !!! (Now for sale) The Gas Gas Rookie 80 is a good bike, but with adult suspension (great if your 12 stone). The Sherco is a quality bit of kit but is just too big for my lad. Quite dear when new and hardly any on the second hand market as yet. My vote goes to the Beta Rev 80. Easy to work on, suspension designed for kids, nice and light and capable of winning a British C Class Championship in the right hands. Good luck. Mike.

Hi there My youngest got one of these after starting on a PW50. Plenty of power and not bad for thrashing round a field on, but not a trials bike. Spent ages trying to make it trials friendly, gave up in the end, sold it and bought a Gas Gas TXT Boy 50. Fantastic bike. The best trials bike for that size of youngster. 2 years of D Class British Championships and lots of smiles. Good luck. Mike.

I was advsed several years ago to fill the radiator 1/2 water and 1/2 anti-freeze. Not had any problems yet. Hope this helps. Mike.

For what it's worth I observe quite often while my two lads are riding. Last summer they rode the Youth 2 Day at Scarborough. (BRILLINT EVENT) The club adopted the FIM stop allowed rules for the trial and it made life much easier as an observer. No worried looks from the riders, did I get 1 for a stop, no "well I'll count to 3 and then dock you a mark", no arguments, no hassle. Easy day with the punchcard. Locally. (unde TSR22A) the rider knows he's stopped, the observer knows he's stopped, everyone watching can see he's stopped but knowone knows how many marks he's lost !!! daft or what ? Mike

Hi There. My son rode a TY80 several years back. From memory and on advice from those who know these things I removed 2 of the clutch springs. Think there were 5 in all. We never had any issues with clutch slip and the clutch was wonderfully light. It worked well enough to win plenty of trials and made life much easier for a small 7 year old. Hope this helps. Mike

We had an '02 from new and had the same problems. Threw a lot of new parts at it and a fair amount of time trying to turn an MX engine into a trials bike. Failed miserably. Sold it, bought a Gas Gas 50 and never looked back !! I'm sorry that doesn't realy help, but your not alone in suffering those problems. Good luck. Mike.

Hi Steve. Ours was just the same as yours. Whilst visiting a trials shop in Cornwall the guy there suggested a diamond tip plug. (Have I got that right?). Which certianly improved things. Also found that holding the throttle fully open was the only way to start it. I never oiled the filter, but did take it out and clean it after every trial. Always carried several new plugs and usualy walked with a limp !!! Brilliant little bike despite the above. Have now moved on to a Beta Rev 80, which is a brilliant bike for those kids not yet big enough for 125. Good luck, Mike.

Niether !!! The Gas Gas 50 is far better than either the Beta or the Sherco. We had a Beta 50 from new, probably a good field bike but not a trials bike. Best thing we did was sell it. The Sherco is better but those Monty cycle tyres are a bit of a handicap. The gasser has brilliant suspension, great brakes, an awsome power to weight ratio and a clutch that allows the better riders to practice their rev and dump the clutch technique on quite fair sized steps. Only downside, the electrics can be a bit tempremental. Buy the Gasser and he'll love it !!!! Ours got thrashed for two years doing the youth Nationals and I would have another without question. Good luck.

Good venue, once we found it !! The lads enjoyed the ride round, doubtless helped by the warm sunshine and a fair few cleanable sections. I would think it could get pretty wet in the winter and I wouldn't fancy getting out of that field if we had had a shower of rain. Great place for a camping weekend, especialy with that pub just down the road !! We'll be back.

Sold our TXT Boy 18 months ago and I've just found the fan in the back of the van !!!! Took it off because it didn't work and never bothered replacing it. Although I always carried a bottle of water with me when the weather was hot and there was a bit of queuing. Mike

It's not on. Next NDY trial, Easter Monday, venue to be announced. Mike

Ran one of these for 2 years in the youth Nationals. Put the big rear sprocket on and wind up the carb idle until you have to use the brakes to stop the thing going forward. Now back of the idle a tad and BINGO no lag and easy wheelies care of the new gearing, Several people tried converting to a manual clutch but none with great success. Have fun and enjoy the electrics!!!!!

Spot on Telecat. It would be a sad state of affairs, if any young rider who had ridden well in their own centre events. Wanted to enter a Youth National to measure himself against the top Youth riders. Only to be told, " sorry son your not good enough ". Whether they are in A,B.C or D class, if theyv'e got the bottle to have a go, then I applaud them.

Had a high comp head on Toms '05 for a short while. Went back to the standard head as it is less snappy at the bottom end and therefore easier to find grip in thr current slippy conditions. Probably put the high comp one back on for the summer !!!! Cost about

My lad rode a Gas Gas all through D class. When they work they are brilliant. No contest, buy the Gas Gas.