zippy

I didn't mention a stopwatch. but for the ease of observing leave it the way it is. Thanks for agreeing with me that it would add difficulty and require more skill. But if there is not enough interest in this type of change then it goes the way of the dinosaur. Maybe I should bring a beer this weekend.........yep cheap date only takes 1 or 2 and I'm feeling good.

is 1 lb or .4kg really that important to drop on a bike that already only weighs approx. 155 lbs, and used in club level riding. I think the money is better spent replacing bent bars, broke levers, new tires. etc....

From what I have seen at events and reading on here, there is a large consumption of Barley and Hops necessary for a good event. Too much of the aforementioned and you get

Here I am off topic again, We could add difficulty to all classes with one simple rule change. "Stopping with foot on ground equals a 5" OK There would need to be some observer discression with this one. What this rule is intended for is to stop those that are taking a break in the middle of the section or stopping and putting foot down to discuss the next obstacle with someone else. At this point you have become a kickstand. The rider that hits a rock stops and loses balance, puts foot down and then proceeds forward should be ok. Maybe observer gives a count of 2 Mississippi or something as long as they are consistent for all riders. This would increase the technical side of trials by forcing people to actually ride their bikes. Then there would be no need to make HUGE obstacles. except in EXP and BIG obstacles in ADV. Just My Opinion, and as the saying goes Opinions are like ***holes... everybodies got one. I like the idea of a Champ class. But there is no need to lower the difficulty of ADV just for me. I moved up knowing it would be much harder, half the reason I moved up. I think I am improving, gotta work on that using the throttle thing, and the mental "OH my God that looks hard!"

Are you suggesting I should stop taking my medication???? Hey FanticMatze, Good to know you are still challenging yourself. Even with the downhill and drop off phobia, You are a good rider and very determined to finish a section, also I have seen you crash and just brush it off and try it again. You just ain't normal..........well neither are the rest of us. As for the scorpa just strap it to the top of the plane with tie-downs.

HEY what are you doing going out practicing????? I still have to start that Sherco since the last event. Jim you need to retro fit a Skid plate to that chair. Then you could slide over the obstacles instead of getting hung up. How many CC's is that chair??? 10? one for each finger of the hand power?? Sam, When you get that fender can you snag Gaby's forks for me. Hey I've heard that before also.

AAAAWWWW CRAP!!!!!!! Now you're gonna tell me that my missus has a birthday and I will need to remember it.

What you have on the front is a "Floating Disk" it is supposed to be that way. Not sure of the reasons or benefits for it but that's what is also on my 2000 2.9 Sherco. fuel mix I run is 80:1 full synthetic oil. Seems to be the most popular in 250 and up, not sure about 125's.

Last I knew the Dude had mucho vacation stuff going on. I am not sure if he is even near a computer. I think this weekend he is at the Vintage days in Ohio. I like the idea of easing up INT a bit and getting the top 7 riders of current INT to move to Sports. The titles of Beginner and Novice are appropriate titles for that level of skill. We could call them "Newbie" and "A little better". No matter what we name the lowest skill level classes those riders that are concerned with sounding like they are better than they are will always move up too soon.

current Senior guys Keener and Capistrant would whomp on my young ass

Well that sucks that there was not enough interest to keep it going. I was even gonna beg the Mrs. to let me try one out. Good luck next year..

WHAT!!!!!!! You mean I would have to ride ADV for another 15 years!!!!!! My current goal is ride ADV until I hit 40 then slide into Senior. And still get beat by those same 2 guys that get 1 or 2 points an event. OH heck I might as well stay in ADV, at least those guys have double digit scores that beat me. Yea 40 is a bit young for senior

Well, Definitely looking forward to the Trials in Rose City. Last one there I got many many points but had a great time. I really liked the off-camber turns on the hills, just slick enough to make it really interesting. And some good size steep climbs also. Really enjoyed the no run up rock pile that was used in the E-Cross. Beautiful property there, will be great to see more of it this time around. Wonder what I can break on the bike this time??? OK to the off topic portion of the thread: Had to break out the MOTA book. "Sportsman class riders shall compete over a course comprised of approximately fifty percent of the more difficult Intermediate sections and approximately fifty percent of the least difficult Advanced class sections. However, at the promoting clubs discretion, a separate Sportsman line may be used in a section, and shall be marked accordingly throughout the section." OK myself I am guilty in the past of making a separate Sportsman line. But I agree that we all need to get back to the 50/50 setup for Sportsman. I think the allowance of a separate Sports line is ok if it is used as a last resort because that section has a way easy INT and a way hard ADV. The following is not a complaint, just a statement of opinion and some fact. The difference from Novice to Intermediate is HUGE!! Intermediate to Sportsman is BIG!!! Sportsman to Advanced is BIG!!!!! Advanced to Expert is well screw the Experts they are the best so set them up with the impossible stuff (I say that cuz I will never ride Expert) I have noticed that within MOTA (and all clubs are guilty of this at one time or another) that instead of encouraging riders to move up a class the events get set up to really challenge the top 4 guys in that class. As those top 4 get better the sections get harder but are still labeled that class. Those in the lower classes are like Whoa!! that is too hard or scary I ain't moving up. Not sure about adding another Sr class, not sure if anyone would ride it, but never know until you try, my biggest concern would be ease for observers to know who rides what. At first glance it don't sound like a bad idea. Might be worth pursuing.

If you are comfortable with the jump up do it!!! I went from Sportsman to ADV and am now beating the crap out of myself and coming in last place every event, and having MORE FUN doing that than riding Sportsman.

That's why I clean it outside. Even in winter, we Michiganders can handle the cold. If I use the mineral spirits and reuse it then recycle it instead of using gasoline........when do I get to have the big fire when I am done cleaning???

I am beginning to think that 2 day events are the way to go if there is enough space. Camping.. 2 days worth of interesting sections...etc..etc... Also would give me a great excuse to buy that travel trailer with the garage in it....

Ummm ..... we are supposed to clean that foam thingy????? Is that why my rings, crank bearing, and crank seals needed replacing 2 yrs after I dumped it in the creek? (I am being sarcastic) Yep clean them often and use a foam filter specific oil. I clean with gas and since I am lazy I use an aerosol spray oil. quick spritz and good to go.

I took the easy way and ordered it pre-assembled when I had to change mine. no riveting involved.

Well, technically it is at the Sherco website. http://www.sherco.com/ hover over the "support" tab and click on "Wayne's Help" Many topics there. more specifically the rim tape one is http://www.sherco.com/wayne/Rim%20Band%20R...nt%20Manual.pdf

Hey he's got a seat too. what's that all about???? modern bikes don't have a seat....... Yes I am being a bit cheeky.

So is trials popular over on China or is it just beginning to be noticed?

HEE HEE HEE FIRE! FIRE! HEE HEE HEE

Well at least it was definitely sealing like a gasket should

When I was younger I had a sticker on my bike that stated "Turn the gas on dummy" I needed that silly thing a few times.

Is there any other way to ride a 250 Ninja? Don't red line until 14,000rpms. It may not have been the heat range that caused the failure, but I did some research (online of course, so may not be 100% accurate). Found out I was not the only person to have this issue. I have a Temp gauge on the bike, when it holed the valve I looked down and it was in the red. Only rode about 10 miles when this happened, which is consistent with what I discovered during research after the fact. Had proper coolant level in it. problem was solved with NGK plugs. (oh and a hefty repair bill for valves and valve lapping) Any ways learned a lesson, only use NGK in my bikes. And yep was very lucky that the piece of valve that came off went out the exhaust and did not stick or score the piston and cylinder. Very very lucky.