Yes we do actually have much great riding areas, but like Steve Fracy says the ones we can actually use are very far apart. Much like you guys travelling a couple of coutries away to get to them.
MOTA is fortunate because most of our events are located in one state and 2 event sites are outside of the state. but just past the state border line. If I understand correctly most of the "local" clubs in the USA actually incorporate an average of 5 states. (I may be wrong on that)
MOTA depends VERY HIGHLY on private land owners willing to allow us to ride on their land. The Bent Fenders club in MOTA currently uses a property that is 10 acres at the most, so we have to work with what we got. and one thing MOTA riders can do is tight turns............or at least you learn pretty quick.
I have seen video of Travis Pastrana do backflips off some pretty small take offs with his MX bike. This may be shorter than I have seen him do. Pretty close
Wow
I still wince every time i see a backflip, just dont like what would happen if it went wrong.
Age related probably
There have been some recent deaths in the Freestyle motorsports disciplines. (moto x and snowmachine) and if my info is correct they were all crashes while doing a backflip of some kind. So yea I wince a bit also ..... but I also still watch.
I started out in trials back in the late 70's and early 80's, everything was cable. I was too young (read that as did not pay attention) to discern the nuances of lever placement. Sections were a bit different then also, hardly ever touched the clutch and my TY175 would idle so low it fired once every 10 mins anyways.
Got out of trials in my late teens and returned many years later on a TLR200 Reflex riding modern sections against those with hydraulic clutch, brakes. HOLY CRAP did my wrist and forearms hurt after every event. When I upgraded to a Fantic Section (95 I think) The difference was tremendous, everything had such a light pull and was just wonderful to ride. After a few years my abilities progressed and I noticed more subtle nuances in clutch and brake pull. So now I am a bit particular in my set up. and set up is different for everyone.
SOOOO long drawn out useless story to say set up for what is comfortable for you and keeps you in control without being too sore at the end of your ride.
OK, reduce risk of bending and short levers reduce leverage...hence heavier action..simples
actually I believe the "short" 2 finger levers have more leverage than the "long" 4 finger levers. The area for fingers to be on the lever is shorter for the 2 finger levers but the distance from the master cylinder to the point where the index finger (1st) is actually longer than on the 4 finger levers.
02 and 03 Pro's had a STEEL muffler (mid box) all others have alum, with varying by year mufflers and silencers just little tabs welded and holes drilled that you put screws through.
I fogot to mention that part of it. I am glad mine is steel.
Biffsgasgas actually specifically ordered the STEEL mid box for his 04 300. I don't recall the price or where from, but their reaction was kinda funny.
Parts guy : "You do realize that the steel mid box is heavier"
Check the mid-muffler top mount, not sure how other years attach but my 03 mid muffler attaches using the same bolt as the shock top bolt. I did have to bend the mid muffler mounting bracket back to vertical.
But I have seen many Gas Gas' rub holes in the muffler.
I negleted to squeeze my clutch lever the other day when I did my dog bone bearings..................... So I made up for it the next day with much vigorous Clutch SQUEEZING!!!
It must have been good............the bike and I both felt like having a when I was done...........
If that is the only wierd thing it is doing I would ride it and try to pinpoint the cause during the trial. The only way you will see how it acts to different things is if you ride it.
If it is idling odd or reving funny or things like that, that may point towards crank seals and should not ride it sunday.
I do like that ITSA rule, thank you for telling me about it actually being in use. Within MOTA I have said for years that stop with foot down should be a 5 and not a 1 as it is now. (crap, I think I am thinking much like Chuck does.........could be worse)
even worse...NATC FIM, are pushing some other rulings..that you have to prove you can ride , before you can ride Pro, Exp or Adv. even if youv been riding that class for years, at the national level.
a rider grading group so to speak..
imagine, sending in your money, packing up you bike, and gear, taking time off work, driving 2000 miles, spending money on fuel, motel ect, then have somebody say...you cant ride, your not good enough, you dropped 80 points last year at an event...too bad.
That would SUCK!!! everytime I moved up a class I routinely dropped over 100 points every event for the first year. But that is how I got better. Besides if I am dumb enough to ride that class let me go, I know the risks!
0007 - hard to see on the camera but he did park his bike way over to the right, enough that you'd think it was out of the way.
Apperently you have never ridden with Team WGASA. That bike could have been parked at the bottom 100 feet to the left and STILL be in the path of one of our bikes.
It is not very often that any post I make is refered to as "eloquent " or "well thought out". So for that I would like to say thank you.
I would like to see some sort of way to meld the two styles together into one. I see and understand benefits and skills required from both styles Stoppy Hoppy and No Stop. Would melding them together be a perfect fix and make everyone happy.......No. But maybe the majority would be able to at least agree on that set of rules.
We want more participation, to me that means riders, observers and spectators. In order to get more of all three the rules need to be easily and readily understood by them. Ever try to explain all the possible ways to get a 5 to someone who has only ridden motocross?
Oh well, FIM says outdoor World rounds are No Stop. I just hope that is where the rule stays and does not leak into national or local organizations. I have already been told by one rider if MOTA goes No Stop, then he is done competing. Would be a shame too, he's fun to watch crash,........ummm I mean give it his all when he rides.
I have tried to watch recent videos of the SSDT and quite honestly I find them rather boring and have a difficult time watching more than a minute or two. They seem quite a bit like watching enduro but not as fast and exciting.
I think the SSDT has such a large entry is due to the tradition and history of the event and to be able to say "I rode that event". I don't think it has anything to do with whether it is No stop or Stop allowed.
Trials ultimately is about control of the machine.
That is why I believe that stop and balance is part of trials.
Also choosing a line and sticking with it is part of trials.
Choosing exactly where you hop the rear tire to the right or left and then doing it is a part of trials.
I still believe the following is the best compromise to merge the two sets together.
Stop and balance = 0
Footing while moving = 1 (additional footing adding up to 3)
Stop with foot down = 5 (those that want no stop will see that a type of stop will be penalized, those that want stop allowed will see that at least the stop determination will be less often and only matters if a foot is down)
Can we all agree that stop with foot down makes you a human kickstand, you're bike already has one of those and can do it without your help. Therefore you have lost control.
Bikes progress in design and abilities, rules should also evolve to incorporate the changes to the equipment. Trials is unique and we should keep it that way, instead of comparing it to other sports or trying to make it like other motor sports (or try to reclaim the "good old days"). We need to get spectators and riders to understand and appreciate what makes trials different and then we will see an increase in participation.
Yes, if other organizations adopt the no stop rules I will ride to no stop rules and still have fun, not sure how hard I will try to win, but as a member of Team WGASA the focus is FUN!! But if we don't express our opinions on the topic the governing bodies will never know what their "customers" think of the service provided.
Personally I don't care if the sections are set up differently to accomodate the no stop rules, I just don't like no stop, it eliminates an entire set of skills from being used.
anyways.
when I was done...........
No Stop Rule
in USA Trials
Posted · Edited by zippy
Yes we do actually have much great riding areas, but like Steve Fracy says the ones we can actually use are very far apart. Much like you guys travelling a couple of coutries away to get to them.
MOTA is fortunate because most of our events are located in one state and 2 event sites are outside of the state. but just past the state border line. If I understand correctly most of the "local" clubs in the USA actually incorporate an average of 5 states. (I may be wrong on that)
MOTA depends VERY HIGHLY on private land owners willing to allow us to ride on their land. The Bent Fenders club in MOTA currently uses a property that is 10 acres at the most, so we have to work with what we got. and one thing MOTA riders can do is tight turns............or at least you learn pretty quick.