Mxnut494

Thanks for the input guys. I don’t notice it or hear it while riding. I was practicing balancing (unsuccessfully, I might add) in the shop last night and felt it. Reminded me of loose steering head bearings. As far as looking at another trials bike, I’m relatively sure I have the only one in the whole county! LOL! i have a parts manual, I’ll look and see if they have anything different than what I’m running. I appreciate you guys taking the time to answer all my dumb questions!

It floats alright! My race bikes have floating discs but this seems like a caveman’s version!

My front brake rotor appears to be loose. Bolts are tight. Is this thing suppose to be like this? (Video attached) https://youtu.be/r1_dK_JZuS0

https://youtu.be/QBE6GIolBDY

Easy? Maybe for you! Lol! I saw the guy on the Hodaka right before I called it a day. He made it look so easy....

A couple weeks ago I acquired a 2015 Scorpa 300 and made my first post on here requesting suspension setup advice. I was told to report back on how things went. So before I get started, a little history on how I got to this point. I've ridden dirt bikes since I was 14 years old, motocross, hare scrambles, GNCC's and trail riding. At 55 years old I decided to try trials. I've always been a fan of the trials rider-the masters of balance and throttle control-and after attending the AMA Vintage motorcycle days at Mid-Ohio the last half a dozen years and watching the trials events on Sunday morning, I said to myself: "I could do THAT...". So I found my Scorpa two weeks before Mid-Ohio. I immediately bought a flywheel weight and went over the old girl before practicing on it. I have a small grove of pine trees that I weaved in and out of, a rock pile behind the barn to climb over and a long off-camber hillside covered with white pines and deep pine needles. I spent approximately and hour total ride time practicing before going to Mid-Ohio. If you have never been to Mid-Ohio for vintage bike days you are missing out! Road racing, hare scrambles, flat track (off site), motocross, pit bike races and the infamous campground run-what-you-brung barrel race. A group of my friends and I go down and camp and take it all in. Good times! This year it rained. Hell, it's rained in this area nearly everyday for the last 3 months! It rained everyday at Mid-Ohio and turned the place into one giant mud pit. Now when I say I've ridden since I was 14, that's not completely true. The last time I rode my dirt bike other than around the yard was in 2008. All my riding since then has been on the street and I ride often. I ASSUMED that my off road riding ability was still intact. I knew that my constant diet of cheeseburgers and cheesecake would effect my endurance, but trials is so laid back, you just ride section to section, get off the bike, walk your line then ride through it. Easy-peasy, right? Boy was I wrong. It was so muddy (and I'm so rusty) that it was a work out just traveling the loop! First section wasn't too bad with 2 dabs. Second section my feet were off the pegs more than on them. Getting to the third section was a complete workout for me and had a big rutted/tree-rooted downhill that had guys lined up building the nerve to go down it, and this was just to get to the next section! Section 5 looked easy and the scorer dude (or whatever you call them) talked me through some options. "My Grandma could ride through this blindfolded." I agreed. But somewhere between agreeing and halfway into the section the wheels fell of the bus, I floundered, put my feet down and got stuck on a pathetic little hill. after rolling backwards and attempting another run I fell down. A few guys pulled/pushed me up the hill and after thanking them I fell down on flat ground! Here's where the cheeseburgers and cheesecake kicked in. I picked up the bike but I was totally exhausted and breathing heavily. I rode a short distance and pulled over and sat on a log to recoup. Burning up and gasping for air I pull off my lid and emptied my drink system. As I sat there on the log, an unbelievable amount of steam rolled off my skin, in fact, one guy stopped to check on me and said: "I've never seen anybody steam like that!" Yeah, tell me about it... From there it when downhill. After the sixth section I was just hoping to get back to camp before my heart burst. I've always consider myself a decent rider, not very fast or talented but can hold my own. Not so, now. I floundered, flopped, dabbed and cartwheeled more times yesterday than I have in the last two decades combined! Humbled is not a strong enough word. I have a new found respect for guys that do this sport well. I'm not giving up though, I've been chomping at the bit to get more practice in all day today. More practice, less cheesecake. wish me luck....

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. The 300 has some snap but no where near to my 86’ KX500. That thing was a beast and if used 1st gear for anything other than just getting it to start moving, it would throw you to the ground with a “I told you not to do that!” The 300 could definitely use a flywheel weight for my riding “style” (I use that word loosely) so I’ve got one of those coming. my first trials event is July 7th so that gives me about a week to practice. It will undoubtedly be ugly, but I can’t wait!

Gents tomorrow I pick up a like new 2015 Scorpa 300 twenty! Although I’ve ridden mx bikes for 41 years, I am brand new to the trials scene. From what I’ve read, most guys are adding a flywheel weight to tame power. I’m more than likely going to do that. My real question is suspension setup. I know trials bikes are suppose to be soft, but I’m a big boy (6’2”@250# soaking wet). Any good resources out there for proper spring rates for a out of shape over-weight new trials rider? since I’m completely clueless, pointers of any kind are appreciated. thanks trevor