alan bechard

Courtesy of Team Sherco and especially Mr. Ibsen, 2.5" of sag between the fender bolt and the axle with a fully dressed rider on board. E-mail or PM me if you would like pictures with arrows and circles and a diagram on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. If that is not funny too you. Never mind. I bet Charlie is laughing right now though! OOOPPPPSSSS,,,,, just reread through the post and realized Charlie had answered. I really do have pictures and arrows if you want though.

I think the one thing that I truly hate to do on a modern Trials bike is too bleed the rear brakes. It is one of those things that I was told, 9 out of 10 men have troubles occasionaly and the tenth is a liar,,,,,,,,, OOOhhhh wrong board. Anyway, so after a really long day at work with not a lot going right, I go by the powdercoat shop to pick up a mower flywheel that my wife wants fixed NOW, not yesterday, or tomorrow, but NOW. Andddddd, of course, he jobbed it out to someone else...... UURRRGGHHHHh. Come home and watch Dean ride some on the new bike, and that was pretty cool, he is getting the hang of it and after that decide to go ahead and hang the rear wheel / brakes I had off doing some maintenance. Weeelllllll, So you go to back bleed it, and you are pushing on the syringe and you let your atttention stray for a moment, and it is not taking fluid, and the hose blows off the end of the syringe,,,,,,,, Thereby shooting a good load of brake fluid into that shiny new roll around tool cart that I just bought,,,,, them darn Chinese just do not paint things like they should!!!! After some choice words and sopping up the mess I sit back down to the business at hand and get wiggling around trying to figure out what is going on and knock over the coffee can with antifreeze in it that I left on the shop floor, and knew I should have picked up,,,,,,,, You start to get that mopped up, and bump the bike that has the bottle of DOT 4 brake fluid sitting on the footpeg that you know you should have put the cap on before setting it securely on the floor,,,,,,, Antifreeze and brake fluid do mix fairly well as they are both a glycol base....... You play with the brakes some and do not get them working and contemplate taking up a new sport,,, I am thinking competitive Beer Drinking or shuffleboard. So you come in and vent a bit on the board before launching your bike into oblivion... Must be a job for tomorrow, after the wifes mower is back together.

The Sherco 80 is a bit long for my taste. It utilizes the standard frame and swingarm from Sherco. It utilizes the 17 / 19 tire combination. It utilizes different forks, which give it 1" less OAL. (overall length) Because you have smaller wheels, the skidpan is closer to the ground, but your OAL is the same, so that ratio between them is changed. This makes it more likely to skidpan and hang on objects. Because the rear axle is where it is on my bike, and my son is comparitively small, he cannot get his butt back over the rear axle like you or I to transfer weight. Because his weight is now, essentially 1" forward of the centerline of where he would be on my bike (forks 1" in, rear the same) he is essentially always in a "weight forward" riding position. (not sure if that makes sense) So,,,,, my goal, place him with a centered or rear biased weight position and change the ratio of skid pan height to wheelbase length more in line with what a "standard" bike is. This should allow him to clear obstacles better and allow for better wheelies with his limited weight input.

Bullfrog, Do you have some specifics???? I know you have done a bunch on the Hodaka's, I am sure many of the mods would be the same. What worked the best, most effectively for you guys? I rolled his bars back to basicly vertical. I believe they are stock Domino's. Cut 1" off the end of each side last night to put me at 28 or 29 (I forget which) He has stock pegs on it at this point, Could try some of the back set J-pegs next week I think. Other thoughts? Thanks for the input.

Well, on a tip from Charlie, that made me think of Curt, that pointed me in the direction of the Dirt track stock car guys, that happen to have one of the large distributors here in town. Sooooooo,,,, A quick call to them, brand new one $60 with an assortment of knives / blades.... Plenty in stock, just waiting to be added to the tool junky's collection.

Well, came home early to show Dean the bike and let him ride it some. He went out to work with the wife Now what are the odds, it was the first time this year I think he went out. Anyway, they came home later, I told him to go get his boots out of the trailer and he could ride Christina's bike. He comes back into the house and say's, how come I cannot ride my new one in the trailer??? Well, so much for the dancing around excitement I was hoping for. Anyway, he did get out and ride it, and did pretty well. Of course we learned that the clutch does not disengage well right off the bat cold,,,,, but that must have been a learning point!!!! Well, the swingarm is modded, new bearings ready to install in it, I am confident I can run the stock brake line with just a little extra loop to the side in it. Need to pick up an extra chain to cut to fit or see if I have one about. I wish I had spent more time making fixtures and jigs for doing the swingarm, and as usual I did not, have to see if I got it close enough. Did not take the time to make up the sandbox for cooling, might pay for that later on. Cut the bars down 1" on both sides from stock. Not sure if that was the right amount or not, but it seemed about right. Need to play with front brake levers some, his is way out there, even with the adjuster all the way out. He was smiles at the end of the day, so hopefully we can get in an hour or two a night so he can get warmed up for the Dixie Cup. The Biggest smile came when he got the package in the mail from RYP with his Team Sherco RYP number plate today!!!!!!

Weeeelllllll,,,,, New rule on me, but whatever, I am positive that neither STRA nor TI would exclude Dean for riding on a modified Cheng Shin Tire. The thought was that if I cut a 1/4" or so groove through the middle of each knob, it would effectively double the number of knobs and give me some flex room between them for better cleaning action. I think it would be closer to the Monty type bicycle trials tire, lots of little knobs.

Anyone have one of those electric heated knife thingys to groove / cut tires with? Care to lend it out? Or cut up a tire for me? Or know who would? Thanks

I have a damaged swingarm that I am modifying, that way, I have not destroyed any expensive pieces in my fiddling. Or is that Feddleing? I am going to try not to do any mod's that are "irreversible" or quickly undone, should I blow it somewhere along the way. Dean comes home tonight, probably see it tomorrow. I am out to the shop to cut some aluminum and fire up the TIG. Try and get Doug to mod my spring. It is currently set up to zero preload. I heard a buzzing as I reved it up and realized it was the spring / washer assembly vibrating around.

I am about to start juggling suspension setting's etc. on my sons new Sherco 80. I will probably end up making more changes at once than I should, and have to retrace my steps to get back to a reasonable point along the way, but heck, it is all for fun anyway. So, thinking aloud,, If I raise (have more fork sticking out the top towards the handlebar) the forks in the triple trees, this will make it steer tighter, and the front end feel heavier and less likely to wheelie. It will also lower seat height and skid pan height. Roll the bars back, it turns slower, is more stable, maybe a bit easier to wheelie??? Roll the bars forward, quicker steering more weight on the front. Shorten swingarm, changes leverage on the rear shock, makes wheelbase shorter, turns tighter, easier to wheelie, effective ground clearance increases???? Thoughts corrections and comments welcomed.

POTATOES!!!!!!! All he gets is the SKINS!!! Nahhh, it was reasonably priced and in excellent condition, couple of this and thats to play with but that comes with the territory. Thanks to Brian for getting it for me! Even if we cannot figure out how to tell each other where we will be!!!!! The chop saw is coming out tomorrow though I think!!!! I got practiced up on a GSXR frame today for Action so it is Swingarm time!!!

Got it home last night. Won't Dean be suprised when he comes back from Vacation.

And yes Wayne, that is the kind of thing I am looking for. Constructive ideas and thoughts that I can apply to make for a better "fit" I did play with that lever a bit. I may weld one up that way. It was a good idea.

Try this again with a picture. One of the ones I like from Last year. And Yep, I am bragging on my kid! The hand on the seat was more for Dad than for Dean!

Yep, I was there, and know where the brackets for the front fender came from! I will be excited to see how Dean does, I never did get him on one last week. I bet there are some exciting crashes in the making.

I think Dean is ready now. We need the clutch to further develop technique. He rides the 50 really well, and with great confidence, and I am aware, concerned about the weight issue, but really feel it is the right move. I think Dean has about reached the potential of the 50, there is probably some more room to go, but I believe I am making the right choice. I think my picture is too large to post, but I will try and grab some from home and size them.

Well, aside from the Crazy part,,,,,,, Got to go Blue. My kids would disown me. I think the 80 is good the way it is, it has some faults, as all the bikes do, but I think watching them in the YN you could see they were competitive. Part of my problem is I like to Tinker, I mean, Cuss in the shop. Bike should be here in a week or two and it will be interesting to see how he does. I think I can get the mods too work, just a little tougher when it comes to suspension set up without much rider input. Just have to see how it comes out.

We talked about it, but he needs the lower height of the 80. All concerns of tire quality, wheelbase, ground clearance aside, he is still only 8 and about 70 lbs. Christina is doing great on your old bike, and is very proud to ride it. She ended up second overall in the Line 2 in the Womens open, and she won the Saturday event. I think shorter swingarm and softer suspension is in store for Dean's 80 shortly after reciept. It will be nice to have commanality of spares when we get it! Anything special to consider on bar width for kids????? How do you get feedback on suspension setup without the rider understanding the concept? How do you watch from the side and tell if I have too much or not enough damping? You think I should try looping the rear brake hose (wont that be fun to bleed) or just make a new shorter one? Go to a -2 or stay at a -3????? Where could I take weight off a Sherco??? Anybody seen a 420 or 428 countershaft sprocket to fit a Sherco motor? Anyone ever try that rubber treatment that the drag racers or the go cart guys use on their tires??? Did it have a lasting effect??? Would it help the Cheng Shin tires if I cut all the knobs in half? Is it the sidewalls or the knobs or that they are not radials that make the Cheng shin's not compare, or all of the above? Anyone done anything with standard levers for small hands? Or is there plenty of adjustment? Would the Shorties or the regular levers be better? How do I convince my wife I have not totally lost my mind and that is why I am buying this bike?????????

Nope. We are kind of run what you brung.

Trying again I guess, Does anyone on here own one of the Sherco 80's? Should have Dean one in the next week or two.

I feel obliged to add, that I have very little to do with the "work" that goes into making the YN happen. The great TTC crew, Dan, Charlie, the gang, and especially Ms. Catherine, put in a lot of long hard, nail biting work to make it work for the kids. I just happen to have a big mouth and like to type! Truly, the YN this year, and the week long camp associated with it, was great! The kids did real well, and from my view, had a great time. Currently working with the other folks involved to get the overall spreadsheets up and running.

I have not posted the overall results yet, and it is not up yet on the link that I provided either. Those results are from each days individual competion.

I am not positive, but I do not believe that Eric23 was referring to the overall results. I believe he was referring to one of the 3 days results.

Yes, I do not believe that was thought about at the time the spreadsheets were put together, so in reference to the 10 year olds, some subtraction would be in order to make a fair comparison. Sorry for any confusion that would cause.

http://64.112.136.190/youth If I have done this right it will work. Andy, any way you could move this to front page for me please?