Found a local car park where I can practice during this virus lock-down.
There's a flood drain opening built in to the side of the bank just off the tarmac, the wall of which is about ~2' 6" - ish or so. Not done drop-offs from that height so here we go...
Did 4 or 5 and finally landed both wheels together. Not sure why that put more force through the pegs but because I was standing too far back it jerked the front of my foot sharply upwards and I've effectively sprained my right ankle, not too bad hopefully . Left was OK thankfully.
I should have learnt from watching Guy Martin's Great Escape, where he did the same, landing after a jump. Have now realised, the hard way, that I need to position my foot further forward so the force goes straight up my leg.
Just a warning for anyone else at the same stage.
If this happened at any point in history other than now, the responses would be totally different.
So let me give a different type of feedback:
Yes, proper landing technique is key when doing drop offs, thank you for pointing out one of the possible negatives of doing a drop off incorrectly. heal up quick, but take the time necessary to do so.
Land with rear wheel first seems to be the best way, and as you said have the feet more forward on the pegs so that the ankle does not "dip down" when landing
80:1 seems to be the normal ratio for the majority of modern trials bikes.
Also with GasGas Pro engines the crank bearings are lubricated with the gearbox oil, not the premix. Premix is only lubricating the piston and con-rod bearings
Thanks for the follow up and pics Zippy. I'm going to try using the GG outer seals next time I replace my bearings then, should help keep some moisture out.
@mbeers6 sorry for taking so long to respond, bike maintenance has taken a back seat lately.
I tore down the dog bones today. As you can see in the the VXB photo of the bearing there is no seal.
Here is a photo of the same bearing installed in my dog bones. (Still a bit dirty, but hopefully can see it clear enough)
note: it is a caged bearing and there is a rubber seal, I "persuaded" the original GasGas seals to be in place. It is a very tight fit and the seal does stick out probably a half mm from the dog bones. but after install in the bike, they don't stick out anymore. SQUISH!! ?
A friend in Germany mentioned the next 2 trials events have been cancelled. Events with more than 75 people are currently banned in their area.
Here in the states I have not heard of any events being cancelled, but it may be a regional thing. MOTA doesn't have any events scheduled until May 17th.
I share your opinion of mag switches, but they are required for snowmobile racing. I assume they are mandated on Trials bikes as a safety issue for spectators, I see very little chance that they would ever prevent or minimize injury for a rider, and as you suggest they can cause an injurious dead engine crash. It seems many people consider them protection for the engine, personally I find paying for engine repairs preferable to hospital bills.
I have medical insurance............. motorcycle doesn't.............
I use the same bearings but don't reuse the old "seals". Don't the bearings have seals built in? How would you fit in the old outer seals?
Thanks just trying to learn.
Actually been a little while since I changed the bearings. If memory serves correctly, (this may be the issue and as I type this I may have remembered differently) the new bearings are just a touch wider than the originals, I believe I put in O-rings to take up the gap or I was "persuasive" with the old seals. I actually need to grease the dog bones bearings soon. I should take a pic and post it.
10-time US trials champion Pat Smage giving his all in Europe. Good reminder of just how good the boys from the "continent" are. Nice to hear how humble he is, but wow, what a brave young man he is to even show up! Great job Pat.
my GasGas starting procedure - from cold choke on - from hot no choke
Lean bike against appropriate item (tree, truck, garage, etc) OR have bike supported by skidplate (on stand, on a log, on the neighbors annoying bratty kid......)
Stand on the footpegs
Bring kickstarter down gently until you feel resistance
From that location kick through with a forceful fluid motion - gotta get it to spin up quickly, but don't "stab" at it
The video makes it sound like KTM will introduce a GasGas trials powered by KTM by model year 2021. I think that's pretty exciting. I want one now!
In the video he says the "off road" bikes will be based on the KTM platform. I understood this to be Enduro and Motocross. Whenever Trials is mentioned it is specifically called out as Trials.
No new class, The best are the best and should be celebrated as such.
World Trials is entertaining and amazing and does very little to nothing to bring more riders to the sport. (as far as I have seen)
To even the playing field:
Keep the dreaded minimum weight rule (make it realistic so that a standard production bike meets it)
Bikes used in World Trials Competition MUST be a production bike - only "tweaks" available are existing aftermarket bits that are available to the public.
and if those two don't cut it maybe cap the number of tweaks allowed, so the rider will have to choose between greatest suspension and maximum horsepower or some such.
Just thoughts, I am not exactly adamant they will work, my mind can be changed. Discuss
within MOTA (Michigan Ontario Trials Association) we have 6 Clubs, each club hosts 2 events per season. For a rider to be awarded season championship points they must work 2 events per season.
This is how we get the majority of our observers, the members of the club will set up, run, observe their 2 events for the season. and then you ride the other 10. Season championship standings are determined by your best 8 rides.
It seems to work pretty good.
But you do not have to be a member of one of the clubs to ride the events. You will get a trophy that day (provided you finish in the top 3) but you will not be awarded season championship points for the year end awards.
. Left was OK thankfully.
Coronavirus and trials?
in General Trials Talk
Posted
IMPACT WRENCH!!!! DURGA DURGA UGGA UGGA!!!!!