turbofurball

If you were teaching a complete newbie how to ride MX would you start them on a 500cc 2 stroke? Trials is so very different from MX that it's a bit like starting from scratch ... if you can find a scrappy old 200/250 just to ride for a bit before getting something more permanent it would be a good move IMO

I'm glad the manual link was useful. If you've bought the bike then the seller has to post off the main / front page of the V5, and you should just have the little green slip. If you got the whole V5 then just fill out the "inside cover" yourself and post it in without telling anyone Is it just a little bit of the vin rubbed off? Because if it's more than a little bit that could cause you problems - when riding green lanes it's not *that* unusual for police to check a bike is properly legal, and a fully / mostly scrubbed VIN number could be a problem.

All Gasgas manuals are available on their website, though I think the older ones are only in Spanish.

I just looked on ebay since I had it open anyway, lol ... try checking InMotion though, they're more likely to have a comprehensive stock of stuff like that!

Looks like you can get a 13t front sprocket easily

According to the parts list for the 348 there's nothing on the front of the tubes

Ah yes, an integral reservoir would be a pain. I used to have access to a professional pressure top-down bleeding system for cars, and that really was a the bees knees - sorry to hear you've got stuck, fingers crossed your mechanic can sort it!

Did you do the master cylinder seals too? Usually you have to work the brake a bit to get the pistons to sit out where the brake will engage, then they settle in, but it shouldn't take more than ten or so enthusiastic squeezes (after which the reservoir usually needs topping up). If it continues and gives a spongy braking feel then it's air ... after much farting around the best way for me has been to do "bottom up" bleeding with a syringe, but everyone has their own home remedies for successful brake bleeding, lol

Now that I'm getting settled in the new house (by settled, I mean nothing needs urgent attention, lol) there's a bit of time to go exploring, so I went out today to see if there's any good spots to take the TY and push myself a bit ... took this photo while heading home - steeper than it looks, I took the easier lines and clutched a lot in first gear to get up, not pictured is a group of natural stone steps that I stalled on. It'll be interesting to try this on the TY, I suspect it'll be far easier since this bike feels like a barge in comparison!

I don't know if my 349 ones are the same, but I seem to remember I found them on ebay by searching by size

Since we're in the 21st century now I'd have to recommend watching this Youtube channel over reading a book. Also, getting to a local club (if possible) and finding someone willing to help a newbie is a great way to get started too - that's what I did and it turned out alright

Another vote for Oko here, I have one on the Cota and it works very nicely

As mentioned above, modification isn't going to help it. If you have the urge to tinker then get a stock TY175 that's been "restored" by someone who doesn't know what they're doing, and then turn it into a competition worthy modernised Majesty to your own personal taste ... it'll keep you busy and your bank account empty, ask me how I know

Cool, looks like I could do with one then, lol

Cool, thanks for all the tips, guys! I'll start with the easiest / cheapest ideas first, and work my way up ... I don't think the hub is terribly worn, but will have a more thorough look when I pull the wheel

So, my 349's front drum brake is a bit of an issue - never caused problems in the UK but it's a bit of a liability here when you can have long steep descents that go on and on. Basically, although it's clean and the shoes have lots of decent looking material left on them there's no bite (more of a gentle slowing suggestion), and the lever action feels super spongy despite a new cable. Before I think about getting new shoes, are there any tricks I can try to wake it up again?

Back to the original point - what's the technique for using a decompressor to aid starting? I ask because since the engine rebuild my 349 takes literally all my weight to kick it in, and my other half can't manage it at all because she's just too little

Have you checked ebay? I got a 2008 set and they were close enough to OEM that 99% of people wouldn't be able to tell the difference

When I took up trials at 38 I got a Gasgas 125 TXTPro, and it was spot on the right thing for me. So much so I've been toying with the idea of selling the Cota and getting another one. 125s are easy to sell, too, because there's always youngsters wanting to get a start on a modest bike (plus 16 and under are restricted to 125 in competition anyways)

Awesome! Welcome to a whole new world of riding

How old / tall is she? Speaking as someone who was once a tall skinny 11 year old girl with a KE100, the weight is as important as the power for the first steps

What bike do you have? Older ones have different ergonomics from modern ones, and different spring options too. If you're going for a large rise in handlebar height and are not a beanpole you might need to add a (padded) handlebar brace, too. While I'm shorter I can sympathise since being 5'10 on a stock 175 was incredibly uncomfortable for me ... all I can really say is that a bit of experimentation may be in order to work out what's right for you, and footpeg relocation is worth thinking about - good luck!

This is a common issue on old Cotas - IIRC it's either a worn gear selector cam, or not enough pressure on the ball bearing that holds the cam in place, or a combination of the two

You can do it, just stick with the physio and exercise as much as is sensible!

My right tibia (lower leg) is held together by a titanium rod, to fit it my knee had to be apart. I lost a lot of sideways flexibility (can't really stick my knee out and move the bike under it) which does affect my riding a bit, but the killer is heavy kickstarting - I start the Cota off the bike with my left leg instead (the TY is super easy to kick, so no worries there). I wouldn't be able to do big jumps, but I do ok with classic trials type riding, which is what I prefer anyway It took about 2 years for things to fully settle in with it, but I was riding road bikes within 3 months and gentle off road after about 6 months. Lots of physio and cycling on a mountain bike (with fat tyres and decent front suspension) really really helped, too. Good luck!