the addict

I've been very surprised at how much fuel my 2014 is getting through compared to my 07? I recently ran out three times at a road trial, the first time before I'd got to section 15 after filling it to the brim.

I sold my 07 three years ago and it is still going strong, I bought a 2014 after trying one a few weeks ago and what swung it for me was the fact it felt so much like my 1000+ hours 07 bike, not many other models could do that. I have a few mates with 4rt's along with my brother who has an 05 that simply have no interest in a 2014 bike as theirs do just as good a job. I do like some of the changes on 14, the bike revs more freely, and pulls 4th very easily from nothing.

What bike are you getting? beats a zx10 in the winter and a hell of a lot cheaper as well. Few months on a trials bike will help with the track bike control in the spring, especially throttle control, not sure about practice areas in Cheshire but I'm sure a few will let you know soon.

At a guess I'd estimate my old 4rt (that is still going strong today) did approximately 600 hours a year and I owned it for 30 months, it had previously done at least 1 SSDT and was 3 years old when I bought it.

Is there a reason why your not registering the bike? its far easier to insure if its registered.

Tractors are often talked about by their bhp? something I've never quite understood as bhp is irrelevant as such for the end use of the vehicle/tool, torque output is a much better way to describe a tractors engine/output as torque is the important measure in that case. BHP is an irrelevant measure of anything really on its own, torque and revs need to be considered as a measurement, along with how the power is delivered as already mentioned. I remember a well tuned Suzuki 250 2 stroke we had years ago that had one of the highest bhp readings in the country but was lapping slower than lower output bikes purely down to the fact bhp was increased in the engine at the expense of torque which meant delivery of that power was near impossible. We detuned the motor from 74bhp to 68 gaining much more torque and the lap times tumbled, I have never tried to find out what power a trials bike is putting out as even for the top lads I expect it is irrelevant on its own.

From recent experience do not be tempted into buying a IRC, best for the mud but seem to have a habit of removing themselves from the rim very easily. X-Lite for me this week.

I'm not familiar with the Sherco setup but mx foam is good for filling gaps and spaces that would otherwise be filled with mud.

A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich. The barman looks at him and says, "Hang on! You're a duck." "I see your eyes are working,"... replies the duck. "And you can talk!" Exclaims the barman. "I see your ears are working, too," Says the duck. "Now if you don't mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?" "Certainly, sorry about that," Says the barman as he pulls the duck's pint. "It's just we don't get many ducks in this pub.. What are you doing round this way?" "I'm working on the building site across the road," Explains the duck. "I'm a plasterer." The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it. So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves. The same thing happens for two weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town. The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to him "You're with the circus, aren't you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!" "Sounds marvelous,"says the ringmaster, handing over his business card. "Get him to give me a call." So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says," Hey Mr Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money." "I'm always looking for the next job," Says the duck "Where is it?" "At the circus," Says the barman. "The circus?" Repeats the duck. "That's right," Replies the barman. "The circus?" The duck asks again. "with the big tent?" "Yeah," the barman replies. "With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?" says the duck. "Of course," the barman replies. "And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?" persists the duck. "That's right!" says the barman. The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says .. . "What the f**k would they want with a plasterer??!"

I've yet to find anyone who has noticed any difference in the engine braking on the 14 bikes? there's no doubt though that the new bikes rev more freely and seem to pull better/stronger than previous models.

Proper Midland centre section that, not a rock insight and plenty of mud.

Gaerne everytime for me.

I did a fair few hare and hounds on a wr450, a trials bike would have been ideal on some of them but last place in others, I'd pick your events if your thinking about it, and 3 hours at near full chat on a 2 stroke trials bike will be harsh on the motor.

The top ends don't last?

As already said, highly reliable and pretty much bullet proof. The 4rt is not everyone's cup of tea though, they feel big and heavy and many people suffer serious (bike changing) problems trying to get them to grip. They do grip though but differently to a 2 stroke, some people find it immediately, others (like me) had to work on it, and many never do. I've had 4rt's for some years now and have never been tempted to swap for anything else, they're big fun to ride.

Water like most liquids does not like being compressed, I hope the motor didn't swallow any water? and as mentioned above have you checked the oil as an indicator of water entering the engine? I've never drowned a bike that bad but if I did the plug would have been taken out before any kicking over of the engine happened.

Chucking it in 5th and standing on the back brake usually does the trick or laying it down sometimes, I'd not recommend just sitting there as he seemed to be doing or refusing help.

Although I have a 4 week old 4rt I still find myself feeling a tad jealous mate, love that.

I was telling a girl in the pub about my ability to guess what day a woman was born just by feeling her boobs. "Really" she said, "Go on then...try." After about thirty seconds of fondling she began to lose patience and said, "Come on, what day was I born?" I said, "Yesterday." Definitely pinching this one lol, thanks Steveo.

I've inflated the tyre and its kept 60lbs of pressure in it since Monday, but I'm pretty sure it did this fine when originally fitted.

Recently bought a new IRC rear, went down 4 or five times on Sunday as well as jumping of the rim? I could maybe understand hitting a big step but we rode mainly mud sections and roots. I have since heard there has been a problem with them or some of them, and as these are my preferred tyre has anyone found any tips about keeping them on the rims or preventing them deflating? Thanks

Reminds me of my first few weeks on the 4rt as I'm sure it will do for many others. I couldn't get it to grip at all, even on the flat, any whiff of anything remotely slippy and I was f&^%$%. I loved the bike though in the dry and persevered with it for weeks and can honestly say I can get the Mont to grip better than any two stroke I've ever owned, there is nothing quite like practice and seeing out a job to the end.

Depends on the hill to be honest, if you keep the clutch out and hit the brakes the bike will stall so you need to feather the clutch with the brakes to get the best of both worlds. Locking up the back is not the end of the world, the front brake is taking most of the load and the rear locked up or not on a steep descent is not much of an issue, and a locked rear can in some circumstances help steer the bike. Coming down a very slippy bank with the rear locked up can be an issue if it starts fishtailing, I will never forget a certain section 1 at the Colmore Trial in the Midlands where blind faith/closed eyes, conversion to religion (any would have done at the time) and subsequent prayer were top of the list for the descent as the use of either of the brakes would have been futile.

I'm with Baldilocks on this one.

I had an attempted break in a few years ago that really woke me up to the fact nothing is safe, my new bike is datatagged, its in a double alarmed workshop with two doors and 6 locks, its chained up in the room and there are four 500 watt spot lights surrounding the workshop. I'm pretty sure I was followed home from an event as it was more than obvious the target was the bike, and ever since I have never turned down my road if there's a vehicle behind me, you just cant be too careful these days. As mentioned above, registering your bike is a must as is insuring it, something I did within an hour of delivery online that cost me £77 TPFT. I don't kid myself that the bike is 100% safe, even though it would be far easier to break into my house than the workshop, but making things less attractive to do so is all anyone can do really, as if they want the bike bad enough they'll have it.