I'm sure a lot of them do end up overseas (the high end or large thefts, like the containers of Ossets), but also a lot just get thrashed to death as field bikes and then scrapped here in the UK. My Dad ran a motorbike breakers in the '80s and '90s, and turned away large numbers of obviously stolen bikes (and did return some not so obvious ones after handing over good money for them); there's a lot of people out there with bikes they bought in good faith which have been stolen at some point in the past, without any coordinated system for checking VINs at all trials venues that probably won't change.
If it works for you, then it's better. I like moderate damping, and both the TY and Cota are squishy rather than bouncy (the Cota has old Marazocchi shocks IIRC, stock fork springs, and it all works very well).
Older Bultaco Sherpas can be found for not obscene money and have right side gear shifters. Also, they're not super light, so it would help you get in shape for your pre-unit bike to follow.
The springs were the same length as standard, but offered a lot more resistance to getting the end caps on, so I guess the originals were just completely toast.
I'm not planning on changing it now, as it's lovely!
Yeah, my TY doesn't feel springy, just plush ... maybe if I went to thinner oil (on 10w at the mo) or added more preload I'd see more bouncy-ness for wheelies ... it suits me like it is though
The Rock Shocks are very nice, I only went for them as I wanted to be able to rebuild them and maybe change their length in the future (I went for 370mm, which is a bit taller than most people like on TYs)
My Gasgas TXTPro started first kick and was very easy, once I got the carb cleaned. My TY is also very low stress on my right knee (which is bad from an operation) and very low down, which also helps.
The Cota is the hardest bike I've ever had to kick start, and I can only manage it standing next to the bike and using my left leg!
Three weeks ago, while practicing on my newly minted TY, I managed to bottom out the forks. My first thought was that I've been eating too many mince pies, but then I figured it's time to sort the front end so off to the Majesty website I went ...
One week later I tackled the same spot (moderate downhill with a 18" drop, then more downhill), and the difference is night and day! It felt like I was being gently lowered down the drop by little cherubs. Now, this was during a trial, and over all the bike felt far more ballanced with the Rock Shocks on the back and it did have a big positive effect on my confidence. Less stodgy, but harder to wheelie for some reason.
I love the way the TY handles now, which is a relief since when I first got it I thought I might have made a terrible mistake. Turns out, it just needed money spent in the right places
Forma Boulders have a hard sole which is good. Mine haven't worn well, but I've patched them so will get me money's worth.
They're not a supportive shape, but you can get insoles with arch support which might see you right (look on the famous auction website for Orthotic Insoles), come high up on your thighs, and are pretty hard - a big plus if you fall off as much as I do
Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed watching the two episodes and it very much looks like an extended version of what I'm like on a road trial But yeah, it's not made for trials fans.
Also, yes, Ross gets mad respect just for entering and walking the walk!
I've watched the first two episodes and reckon a bit more about the trial, less about the relationship between Ross & James Burroughs would be welcome. Is this what will bring trials to an external audience?
Yes, it is. See: Top Gear/The Grand Tour - the last time it was about reviewing and reporting on cars was about 20 years ago, and it has a huge viewership.
I'd love to see the same quality of coverage, but showing more of the event - it would help me with managing road trials (planning, pace, how to approach a single lap, etc), and also just be generally interesting ... but then I'm an enthusiast about the topic at hand. For Joe Bloggs sitting in front of the telly, they don't care that much, they want to be entertained, and seeing the human interactions is what's entertaining to most people.
Obviously he is, he's an ex world champion. But if he rode 6 top national events, such the British Championship and S3, he would lose more than 1. Understand my statement; the trial isn't set to be at top national level, its set to be a top national endurance event for both rider and bike. Where, as shown by Ross Noble, beginners to the sport can finish.
Yes, but they aren't being competitive, for normal clubmen just finishing is the challenge, so in the results it's national level IMO
Oh my, you're so right! I should drop everything I'm doing, because unless it's a grueling multi-day endurance test at the top national level it's completely pointless - what I thought I was really enjoying is actually boring, thank you for enlightening me!
Either that or I'm not a *real* trials rider, because I took up the hobby and am learning it. Real trials riders are born into it, all others are inferior and shouldn't have access to any events. And they certainly shouldn't try to encourage others to try the thing they love doing.
But yeah, it's not made for trials fans.
Stolen Betas
in Stolen Bikes
Posted
I'm sure a lot of them do end up overseas (the high end or large thefts, like the containers of Ossets), but also a lot just get thrashed to death as field bikes and then scrapped here in the UK. My Dad ran a motorbike breakers in the '80s and '90s, and turned away large numbers of obviously stolen bikes (and did return some not so obvious ones after handing over good money for them); there's a lot of people out there with bikes they bought in good faith which have been stolen at some point in the past, without any coordinated system for checking VINs at all trials venues that probably won't change.