ChrisCH

Great resource. Thanks for that. I am test riding an EM Race next month. I have seen about the battery cells before and that you can buy new cells cheap but the EM battery pack is silly money. It is one of the things that puts me off as it potentially means an expensive battery replacement at some point in the future. Any way to have a DIY solution to replace cells at a reasonable price is a good step forward. The section on Stark Varg suggests that there is a lot of potential to develop much better trials bikes in future. Price is going to be the biggest drag on things for sure.

I have a TRS 250 (RR) and the wife has a Beta 250 (Evo). I also fall into the same age group ☺️ The TRS has the better brakes and suspension but both bikes are very capable and I doubt that I would ever find the limit of either of them. My wife's bike is a bit old (2014) and so not as sharp as my TRS (2022). She is very happy with it but I have found it a bit lacking (maybe the age not the brand?) As a result I have fitted a Galfer front disc rotor and Galfer pads and replaced the front master with a braktec one (as used on the factory bikes). The front is now as good as my TRS and locks on a single finger light pull on the lever. If she keeps the bike (she fancies an EM) I will probably upgrade the rear shock to an Ohlins (or maybe the TRP as you like it and it is a bit cheaper) I find it slightly easier to static balance the Beta than the TRS. If the missus wants the EM I will probably trade my bike in for it and keep hers purely on cost. I like my TRS a lot but hey - its just a bike. (Did I just type that? OMG) 😁

Thanks again. The relevent insurance certainly must exist at a pro level. I am still working on finding a suitable option for our level of activity. My missus ran into another competitor last year and knocked him off his bike. No harm done to rider or bike or the missus for that matter. He was OK about it. To be fair I would be OK if someone ran into me - just so long as it was the same sort of minor incident. However not everyone is so nice. One of my employees hurt himself through his own stupidity and our insurance company spent 20 grand on legal fees trying to contest the claim and then paid out anyway.

Just off the phone to "specialist" insurer and confirm they cannot source cover for competitions. Looks like it simply does not exist.

Thanks Rabie. I have had a reply from AMCA but it is just a covering letter for the landowner. The "old" ACU website is still live and has the insurance bit. It is good (in one way) to hear your experiences. Clearly the cover is a good thing and it is good to know that the system works when required. My #1 concern is that - as per the policy - competitor to competitor liability is excluded. I have spent some time looking for cover at a personal level and it is more or less non existent. This means if I hit another competitor I am liable for any injury that I might cause them. Personally liable and without limit. Ergo they can sue me and if they win and are awarded damages they can take my property, my business and my savings. My worry is not so much that I will lose everything but that a lot of people do not realise that they are "on the hook" to this extent. I certainly did not prior to last month's committee meeting where there was discussion of the ACU licence - hence my research on this subject. If this is the case it is also a concern that if another person hits me I will have to sue them and I consider most of the club as friends. As it stands I am in half a mind to pack it all in. A very negative outcome. I have asked for quotes on personal accident cover - I will post up when I get more info.

Never too late. Newer bikes are better. You should get an OK bike for 2.5 grand, less than that and you have bought a money pit and a lot of weekends of DIY.

It took me a long while and I am still not very good if I am honest. If you are really struggling let the tyres down a bit and it is easier. As you get the hang of it pump them up again. I used to put the tront tyre up to a solid object at a slight angle then pull the bike upright with the bars. At first I could get the tyre 10-15mm off the object but after a while it all sort of comes together. Lots of practice, often and not for too long. Sometimes looking at the wheel is best sometimes looking into the distance. Try both, alternate. It will come eventually - took me about a year. When the engine is running it is easier so more time you can practice with the engine off the better. I find it easier pointing down on a slope - no idea why. I try to stop - if on a trial and need to balance - when pointing down on a slope...

Thus far no response from anyone. I have emailed a "specialist" insurer but also no reply. I also thought the amca website was a bit rubbish but I will have a good look at the insurance policy if they do send it then post back.

The insurance protects the stewards and visitors, spectators and other third parties. If you take out the optional insurance it covers personal injury where you fall off and hurt yourself (cover is peanuts). Competitor to competitor injury and damage is excluded - whichever way round the claim is made. AMCA cover looks better but you need to email them for a policy copy. I might do that.

I have been asked if I would stand for the committee on my club (happy to). One of the debates about the new ACU website was about the event insurance - so checking people are ACU members with a valid licence. With no plastic card this is difficult for the organisers on the day. One of the current committee has suggested looking at AMCA membership. I would like to know what is the general view about the ACU insurance? Do people think they are insured whilst riding a trial and what do they think they are covered for? I have been looking at this topic and was surprised by my findings. My assumptions were incorrect. I would welcome feedback on your views. Do people think you are covered (third party liability) if you run into another competitor and hurt them? You are not.

Oui - voir: https://www.gptrial.be/en/comblain-au-pont/ Venue for the FIM GP. (I used to live in Luxembourg) Vallonnée ☺️

I would keep it standard. The different models have different sprokets so check to see if yours is modified. I replaced them on the missus 250 - 11 front (9 on 125) 41 rear. There is a chart on splatshop - https://www.splatshop.co.uk/talon-rear-sprockets.html

Thanks - I will try that next week. Both the missus and I have paid and are showing as pending.

Yeah done that - the declaration is all completed. I think I might delete the pending and start over. Just wondered if anyone else has done that? I saw on a club website they recommend not renewing until new year to stop the pending status. I thought it might auto renew like the membership did and it would show current now (as we are in the new year)

Hi Stuart - thanks so much for your information posted on this subject. You are much more helpful than the ACU. I have just checked my status now you reminded me. I am current as a member and my club membership is current and my status is trials. However my licence is still "pending". I have no idea in all honsesty whether I can ride or not. Our club meet was on 2/1/23 and a lot of people also were not sure if they were OK or not. My missus also shows "pending" on the licence section but has a wrist injury so is less stressed about it. Our next meet (charity event) is in Feb so I really need to get sorted by then. The email back from ACU confirmed no medical needed and to "ignore" it. It is hard to ignore the "pending" (certainly more than once....)

Mine is still showing as "pending" despite two contacts to support. I am beginning to think I should delete the pending and start over. The missus is also "pending" and her team affiliation ran out. Our club sec submitted a big list of questions. I can only imagine the ACU must now be flooded with questions and complaints and have little time to sort out individual queries.

I have at last got my head round this. The "membership details" in my mind are address and so on. My address has not changed so I never looked at this bit. My wife renewed her licence in membership details. I tried to renew the licence in the "licence" section. (It is a licence, not a membership). It appears to me that you can only renew in the membership section. Then go through to the rest for club affiliation etc. This really is a bad and ill thought out system that is different enough from the old one that it tricks you. I am sure that was not the intent but it is nevertheless the outcome. My ride is booked for the 2nd so will have another play to make sure all is OK on the 1st. I have at least now managed to pay.....

You need to master the static balance to be any good. More than a few days, more than a few weeks. There are masses of youtube videos to show technique. But while all of that is great and helpful in the end if you cannot balance you will put a foot down. Balance skills don't last forever and you need to practice balance all the time or lose it. My friend was in the British Ladies team but struggles with balance now after a couple of years off. I keep my bike at work and try to do a few minutes when it is quiet. But motivation is the hardest thing to keep up. I have grown lazy after getting the basics. When the novelty wears off you will soon see if you are going to ride trials or not.

Thanks Woody - you sir, are a total star. The first page can be skipped but that is not obvious. I'm sorry to say this is not very well written software.

I have just looked again at the site and my pending status. The medical is not a questionaire - it asks for a doctor's certificate but the downloadable cert says only if you are over 70. I also need an eyesight test for my road racing even though I am only trials registered. The club affiliation is for "teams" and there is only on option in the drop down box. It is road racing. The thing does not seem to me to work very well, indeed it doesn't really "work". Although I have booked in on our next club trial the events thing is not very good because the title of the event is too short. It said "club trial" and the location gave it away, but it would be so much better if the club was in the title. It is a mess.

I tried to renew first and am "pending". The missus (at the same address) renewed without any issue at all. We are both booked on the club trial on 2.1.23 even though I am pending. The system has not taken any money off me for licence or club dues but took 20 quid for the trial. Bit of a mess.

A bit old but interesting none the less... https://primorusinvestments.com/our-investments/sport80/

Thanks Woody - that is very interesting. I scrapped Stripe for a work website as they were really difficult about verification of personal details for the "money laundering" that seems to be a US obsession. Had similar issues with PayPal to be fair. I am sure that big companies do not have to submit the CEO's passport details to get an account.

I have just had another go at login. For some reason whilst my approval is "pending" I have just entered our club trial for 2/1/23. So they have entered me for a trial next year but not taken off any moeny for my registraion or club fees. Ho hum. At least I am going to get a ride in the new year.

Have you asked the dealer why they included this junk (I agree it is junk)? It is impossible to find it anywhere on the Gas-Gas website or on their YouTube channel or anywhere else I have looked (I am very bored at work today). I think it must be some sort of optional extra. Indicators are particularly stupid. If you look at the latest parts catalogue for any other make you cannot buy the indicators as they do not exist. Photos of the new bikes awaiting shipping all show the same standard setup with a little LED light front and back. Beta offer an optional electric horn (I bought one to get the MOT) but it is not standard.