alan bechard

The only person that I have ever heard concerned about cheating on displacement is Lane. Take Lane's (as well as my for that matter) statements that talk about they said, Everybody feels, all the riders think, with a huge grain of salt. Back again to the base question who is going to ride it? We already have too many classes in my opinion, and I think if you read through Lane's prior posts you will find that he has railed against having so many classes as well. This proposal would add another class to the mix. Add to that, and why I said name, names, is that the very people that Lane say's he is trying to "help" would not ride this class as he proposed it. Anyway, one other very important point to bring forward. This proposal was brought forward and presented to the group at the NATC meeting. To the people that took time out, and made it a priority to be at that meeting, with the goal of promoting trials. The proposal was presented, evaluated and rejected. Does it have merit on some points? Certainly, but the doer's, the promoters, the guys that spend their time actually doing this stuff and making it happen determined that this was not the best course for American Trials at this point. At that point, most folks would let it go, or ask for input from that group as to what could be improved or what compromise could be made, but that is not the Lane Leavitt style. He will bang that drum repeatedly how HE is the only one that knows how to save the wretched world of American Trials and if we would just all hold him up and Hail Lane we would be on the path of rightousness and proceed forward to the holy grail of having an American World Champion in Trials. The guys that made that decision are back to work, doing their best to promote trials in the US and out there right now as we speak working with kids, setting sections and preparing for this weekends events. The scary part for me, is that I agree with Lane on many points. His execution and his demeanor towards folks though and his inability to answer direct questions, coupled with his desire to promote himself above all else, makes several people out there just shut down when his name even comes up in the conversation. Trials riders are rather resistant to change I think you will find. I believe you will also find that Trials riders as a group, spend far less money then riders of other motorsports disciplines. I think it is a wonderful group of folks, but to try and bring about rapid, radical change to the US trials community will be met with a bit less than success in my opinion. Most trials riders that I know respect a demonstration of hard work, perserverance and a track record of hanging in there and showing that you are actively Working to achieve the ends you want to see. If you want to see the 125 class adopted, start speaking to the NATC rep for your club and asking him to bring it forward at the meeting this October. What area are you from by the way? Which club are you riding with?

Bag, we do work well together... Bring the Big Truck,,,, Andy will p*** himself when he hears that one!

Brought back to the front for NSAGM to read, and others interested in what was discussed about the 125 proposal.

Rode across an old RR trestle bridge over the Red River (Clarksville, TN) Scared the living crud out of me. I was riding down the middle of the trestle and looked up (expecting to see a train coming) to see Jonny Anderson riding a wheelie down the track. Not sure which scared me worse. I always wonder what the people that saw that from the road thought about it. It had to be a heck of a site.

The first ever can be held at the WR coming up real soon here in TN! I am sure we can talk Dan into this. As Sendero and Craig have already taken the easy jobs, I will gladly volunteer to sit on my back porch and be the observer for the entire event (did I mention all sections would be right behind cabin 5) There will be some interesting rules, though, no dabs will be counted if the observer is drinking apple juice when the point is taken. The trials is over when the crowd decides it is over, or the observer has passed out or been dragged into his cabin by the observers wife..... I will be there, and Ringo, as you will have had surgery just 15 days or so prior, I will donate an entire new roll of Duct Tape to tape that stick to your leg with, I will even make it Montesa red.

Just to make sure that you know my position. I believe it is the individuals choice if they want to ride a 125 or not. I beleive that is the correct way to do it. I believe that to further segregate the classes of riders in the championship will only be detrimental to the factor of "competition" that I think is exactly what you are actually trying to achieve. I believe to use the European Model of the 125 class and say what a success it is and we should do the same is looking at it with a very narrow vision. Trials is not the same here on scope or scale to compare to the European model (and actually we mean English / Spanish as it is those countries that we actually hold up more as examples) Look over on those Youth threads where they have 100 plus youth showing up on 125's to compete in those championships. I believe that what is best for the Young and Aspiring riders in the US is to have as much free and open competition as possible, to help to facilitate riding together and competing amongst one another. I certainly do not think further segragating classes will help this along. Can anyone locate that last thread we had on the 125 class proposal. I asked the pointed question there, (and I cannot find it now) WHAT LINE WILL THIS CLASS RIDE AND WHO (Name Names) IS GOING TO RIDE IT? And for what it is worth Steve, my 15 year old daughter is still on a 125, and if my son want's to progress onto the world stage, I would keep him on a 125 to help him develop technique. However if I wanted him to be US champ, he would spend time competing on the bikes that those guy's compete on. It would be a matter of selecting the appropriate bike for what HIS goals were. And I darn sure do not want an organisation (NATC in this case) telling my what bike my kid can compete on.

It has not happened before because of interest and location (or maybe I mean Proximity to other riders) Most of us do not put having a WR American rider at the top of our list of priorities. It takes some real dedication to get to the top level of just about ANY competition that you want to talk about. Look at Gymnastics, skating, etc. etc. Those folks send their kids off to live with a coach somewhere and do nothing but train for YEARS in the hopes that they come out on top. I ride Trials to have a good time, spend some quality time with my kids, and be around a great bunch of folks that I would like my kids to learn from and be around. THATS IT I do not have aspirations of my child being World Champ, If THEY want it bad enough, they will put in the determined effort but so far I have not seen that. Les Mizell has the perfect scenario going to have the next child star. GREAT family support, Les works with his kids and put's them at the front in his life constantly. They have a built in set of Progressivly better practice partners. I believe you will see the Younger children excell past the older children because they have "seen it" done at a earlier age. I think you will see incredible things out of this great family as these kids come into their own. I am not as familiar with Patrick Smage's circumstances, but I believe them to be much the same. Older siblings to practice with and learn from, Incredibly supportive parents and family putting their childrens needs to the front. The example I would use is when my son wanted the training wheels off his bicycle at 3, was he motivated by Lance Armstrong? Did he have a burning desire to be World Champ, was I trying to coax him into being the next Trials Superstar? No, his 9 year old sister said he was a baby because he had baby wheels on his bicycle. They came off and he never looked back. You have a child Correct? Would you be willing to send your child off to train for 6 months with someone else for the possibility of being World Champ?

Once again Mich, you are not qualified to ride that line. I can hear it once again, I was 13th in the world but they pulled the rug out from under me... oh booo hooooo We will pick 4 sections close to the cabins so there will be excellent spectator support and you can demonstrate your National Pro Standing. Or, heck, step up and ride pro / champ whatever the top line is in your own club a couple of times, then enter the National and ride the sections. Will see you there.

Aint they got Ratio Rite cups there? http://www.faster-motocross.com/ratio-rite-cup.html Hmmmm on thinking about it, do you guys buy your gas by the gallon or the liter? Anyway, I would have thought you would have something similar.

Steve, whaddya mean could be used as,,,, What could possibly be more appropriate. Tell you what, I will bring one To TN, and Will Volunteer (it is this state ain't it) te get Brian to engrave something on it if those two will step up to the plate and say they will actually be there... Heck, then Lane Could be the first Internet Trials World BS champion (not officially recognized of course, but had there been one he would be it) But there does have to be a stiplation that he actually attempts a section not just ride to the entrance and take his 5.

Here is my 2 cent's on the 125 Rule. You want to ride a 125 in US Trials, KNOCK yourself out! Go ahead, nobody will stop you, everybody keeps saying this like this is the fix it. If you think that is what will make you, him, them, her the best, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from doing it. Don't say there is no competition, because if you want to ride with the big boys, and go to the world level, and compete with those guys, and you think it can only be done by riding a 125, knock yourself out, there is nothing at all stopping you. We have the luxury in the US of not having to fall under the confinement that a lot of the riders in Europe struggle, yep, I said STRUGGLE under. Not everyone can afford, or has the desire to have a new bike every year of this displacement or that displacemnent. If I am reading things right, many clubs will not even let a youth compete on anything but a 125. Now how would that go over, over here? You think a lot of 125's would just "appear" so they were plentiful and cheap for your youngster to give it a try? There is also the argument that HEY, What bikes do the WTC riders compete on? I have not seen Doug or Fuji or any of those guys (except maybe Tommi Ahvala at a show on a 50) ride anything but a full size bike. The argument goes that if you want to be excellent and proficent at something, go do it on that. Kind of like all the Motocrossers as we like to use them as an analogy, THEY PRACTICE ON THE BIKES, hours and hours and hours. There is a certain logic that if you want to get good on a 250, go spend an extra couple of years knowing the inticacies of a 250 maybe then you will make the absolute most out of one and that will put you at the top of WCT if that is your desire. But heck,, by the way, if you think a 125 is best, get one of those and do that because you have the choice. And as I am already up here on this slippery box, Does an American need to go to Europe to win the WTC.. NOPE, sure don't in my opinion. (other then to compete obviously) What they need is a core group of folks that they ride with and that push each other forward. That is how riders develop. The Youth Camp put together by TTC and RYP was EXACTLY the type of thing that will bring the American Youth to the front of the Trials Scene at some point. Get a bunch of kids together and watch them push each other forward. Have them ride with better folks and see how they progress. Will going to Europe and competing on that stage be a part of the logical progression for a US trials rider to the WTC... Yep,,, lets see, where where those factories at? Where are the top riders to push to that next level at currently? Where are most all of the events held, as well as the "staging" or "prep" events that are on that level??? Go figure. We get some groups of kids through pushing each other forward though, and whoaaa nellie. Look at the quality and calibre of folks coming along, look at the level of the YN sections compared to 4 years ago. Will it happen for Chris? Probably not at this point, but was he knocking on the door?? Patrick?? Louise??? Stevie??? Who knows but I think the level is ramping up, and it is the folks out there setting the events, holding the trials, the clinics, fixing kids bikes, selling them bikes at a loss, spending the day riding with someone else's (mine) kids coaching them along teaching them patiently that are making the difference and the progression in the sport. And you know what, those guys do not have time to sit here and type on these boards and talk about how they would do it, and how others should do it, because they are currently out there doing it and making it happen in a very real way. They do not sit and whine about how "their" proposal was not accepted by the NATC because they took their time and went too the meeting and sat through it and discussed the merits of it and listened to others opinions, then made a decision on it and went forward with helping Trials in the US continue on and hopefully push forward. Damn it is slippery here.... Let me slide off at this point. Hmmmmm on target a bit more Cowboy Kenny Bartram said he likes trials riding for fun... Pastrana has a Trials Bike Metzger has a Trials bike Decoster I think And as the topic started, Lance Armstrong What would it take to get those guys together to do a fund raising Trials event to help support the American TDN team???? Oh, and on the cool factor, I got to drive a Bradley today.... That was COOL

Hang around a while Ken before you start passing judgement on us as being "unAmerican" By the way, that gets my goat, but OK. Sometimes you will find that the folks that are carrying the water for trials, and putting up the money, and doing the effort it takes to make things happen, are not here on these boards, and for that matter, could care less what is written on them, they occassionly stop by and observe, but usaully just chuckle and move on along without dignifying some of the crap thrown out here with an answer. Some of us on here, just get so sick of hearing the same crap so many times, from the same guy, that his stamina is just better than ours (mine in this case) and do not bother responding to each post. It get's rather pointless. What I think you will find is that a lot of the folks (certainly not all) are out there riding trials to have a good time, and get together with freinds and family. That is the core that makes trials continue here. Would I like to see Trials Grow? Absolutely, go back through the history of these boards and read my posts. Do I believe that the US can have a World Champion again, and actually I guess in the WATL (that would be World According Too Lane) America has had 3 World Champs. Bernie, Debbie and himself. But I do not think it will be us railing here on this BB that will make it happen. I think it will be some youngster, surrounded by a larger group of other talented youngsters, who all have the family or community support to push them to the top of the pile. And it will be those folks out there pushing and making it happpen, not screaming that someone else needs to do this, or that organisation kept me from that, that will make another American a World Champion. But, and I ask you honestly, is that what you want for your child? Are you willing to put everything on the line to make that happen? The opportunity is there, there is a National series that allows Youngsters to compete at high levels here at a young age. There is a Youth Nationals to help the really young riders come along. There is a world of support out there in family and friends for the aspiring riders in the community. There is NO restriction on an upcoming and aspiring rider riding WHATEVER bike they choose, whatever they think best is open too them they can do. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE US TRIALS COMMUNITY NOT DOING TO SUPPORT THE RIDERS? There are some exceptions there. Chris Florin has to make a choice if he wants to go for WR points or chase the US championship in the present format coming up in May. He can choose to do whichever he chooses. Unfortunately for Chris the decision was made to run the event in this manner but the Promoter of the event felt this the best compromise, and apparently NATC, FIM and AMA concurred with his decision. Chris still has the choice as to which event he competes in and has to weigh out which would be more beneficial. Anyway, hang around a while before you pass to much judgement on all us folks picking on poor old Lane. There is a long history, and several things said between the lines here that would be difficult to follow had you not been in the discussion for the whole time. As to Lane being BANNED here. God, if you tell a lie enough, it becomes the truth. As to Banned on the other sites, your freedom of speech only goes so far when it effects other people, all of us have to temper what we say and be respectful of others and their positions, even Lane.

Thanks Ishy.

But the crap would get so deep who would Lane find to shovel it out?

Go here on Ryan's site http://www.shercousa.com/content2.cfm?action=6 wanted to start there because it takes you to a world of info. Tech Tips will tell you the plug, along with a lot of other good base information. All your parts manuals are on the other links. Directions and instructions with circles and arrows and diagrams on how to do about 98% of the stuff done on a bike on the other links. And to top it off, Ryan's 1-800-607-8742 number right on the top of almost all pages that say's call me if you have a question. Wayne Thaise is regularly here to help as well, and Ryan can always be reached at the 1-800-607-8742 or through e-mail. ryan at rypusa.com There is also a BB there to answer some of your more Sherco specific tech questions. Hope that helps you find the answers to any questions that pop up.

Hi Craig, tell us more about how Pat did and what was up with the last three sections?

Have you contacted Ron at BetaUsa? He keeps good track of those things.

I strongly second what Kevin said.

Got mine this morning. Thanks Andy.. Bottle of apple juice disappeared at the Bechard household last night, but fortunately some freinds brought over it's cousin so we will not go thirsty..................

There were a couple of issues in there with the tank. First, do you have a gasket where the petcock mounts to the tank or just the o-ring. There is a gasket available, that came out after the 02's I believe that will help a lot of them. Second, it is tough sometimes, but you need to ascertain exactly where it is leaking, some leak around the petcock mount to the inserted plastic block, (gasket - o-ring problem) and on some, the inserted plastic block itself leaks where it is bonded to the tank material itself. If you take your tank off, clean it up, and gently wiggle the petcock, you should be able to determine where the problem is. The gasket / rubber piece 99% of the time quikly and efficiently repairs it if it is the petcock leaking where it mates with the inserted plug. If the inserted plug is leaking, I have had the best results by slowly wiggling the petcock to thouroughly break the bond between the insert and the tank itself. It is kind of like pulling a tooth. You want to keep wiggling it till it slowly breaks the bond and comes out of the socket. Do not use force or you are likely to break the tank. After it is out you will want to thoroughly clean and remove all residue, then I would roughen with some 80 grit abrasive, both the cavity and the mating surface of plug, insuring that everything was absolutely spotless. Go to your local auto repair parts supplier and ask for a plastic tank repair kit. It will say right on it not to be used for Fuel tanks. Nobody wants to face the liability of repairing fuel tanks, and the material used in the manufacture of these tanks is not generally considered bondable by the plastics industry. So get one of these kits, over here they are about $8, and avialable from a variety of sources, read the instructions several times, insure that you have everything spotlessly clean, and have dry fit the plug several times so that you know how it should go in. Following label directions, reglue your plug into the cavity. Some of these use a primer then an adhesive. Follow the directions. Then add the gasket and o-ring and reassemble your tank. If you do it this way, it will bond and seal well. Glue smeared on top of the joint comes off and does not seal. RTV is generally not fuel resistant and will peel off the plastic. Good luck, and it is straight forward to repair, but this is one that really pays to do it right the first time.

I really do not know, and I am sure that someone will correct me here, but I would think there are 1000 to 2000 active competing Trials riders in the US. It would probably get pretty tough to define what a "rider" is, but a regional event (STRA or TI) covering riders from several states (I would imagine an area bigger then your island) will have between 50 and 100 riders. I have been to very few events with over 100 entrants. Very few. When I rode the German nationals, they were easily twice the size and participation that we had in the US at the time. And I have not ever ridden your nationals, but I believe them to be bigger then the German ones.

Atom Ant, I actually think that it is the very size of the US that works against us in some ways. The more I look at the definition of "local" events, the more it is apparent the limitations our size puts on us. And JTT,,,, I could not agree more fully.

Not to worry Tom, a lot of us got it. That was too good by the way. It is great that he is here and we get our dose of humor interjected in there every now and then.

Oh, and Mich,,, Troy is a MOVIE,,, It is not real life. In real life the work is done by a bunch of average guys, pulling along and helping each other out. There may be one guy at the point, but for it to be successful there is an army of folks out there doing the drudge work and actually making it happen. And then there is one guy sitting on the side telling everyone how it is supposed to work.... that adds nothing but distraction to the equation. I think he was called the court jester in medieval times.

Norm, while I was not part of the discussions, I am certain that it was debated as to what would be the best scenario to draw in the most participants, both for the USGP, the Nationals and for the spectator standpoint. There are certainly some flaws in the way it has dropped out, but I believe that they made the best set of compromises they could with the available set of circumstances. Looks like I am loosing at least one of the observors (probably 2) that I expected due to High School graduations in our area being on that weekend. I do think it will be an exceptional event for the US though, and there will be something going on for everybody to not only watch, but participate in as well. Looking forward to seeing all you guys down here then.