biffsgasgas

Congrats on the move! You will show up just in time for American Thanksgiving that next Thursday. Find a small turkey and have a feast. You might want to steer clear of the malls and shopping centers that following Friday. People tend to get trampled over shoes and electronics on that day. --Biff

One side should be grounded to the frame and the other to the kill wire on the ignition CDI box. Is this a Pro or TXT? If you have both wires to the CDI then that would be the issue. --Biff

They probably meant to say foot pounds but it came out PSI. I wouldn't suspect that they have torqued the head at 15 in pounds. Keep in mind that this is probably a Spanish manual translated by a buddy for a case of beer. --Biff

I think my last end cap was around 45 bucks but its been a while. If you flip the bike it will cave the end in. Trialscast out of the UK has a thick one that is really beefy. Can't seem to find them on fleebay or the nets.. wonder if they got pinched by some sort of patent thing. --Biff

I don't like the guy in the video! First he steals all of my sweet moves and technique then he proceeds to transport a motorcycle like I do.... Not cool... Not cool at all. --Biff

On a trials bike you will fall more. Its just he nature of the sport. I would get levers with ball ends because you will fall on them and stay away from bark busters. Falling includes going over the bars and bark busters will help your hands stay as your body wants to leave. The end result is broken wrists. Most ragas were 300CC back then reading the seat that may be an 06 but could be an 07. Looks very clean and does not look like its encountered many rocks judging from the pictures. Judging from the tire wear and the amount of chain tension available at the rear axle looks like you will be good to go for a couple of years of training. You can learn a lot from the websites Guys gave you and by searching the gasgas specific section as well. Welcome to the sport! --Biff

Smarty156, You will find that the Americans are not as strict as EU or UK when it comes to hitches or trailers. There are weight limits but i use my Passat to tow and have a bike rack for it as well. I am not sure if I am the best to give this advice as I tend to "Reinvent the wheel" when it comes to transporting a trials bike. I have used just about every car i have ever owned to tow or haul a trials bike. I have towed an enclosed trailer with 5 trials bikes in the current Explorer and it didn't even realize something was back there. Few differences are: - We don't have the tow behind speed limits that EU and UK have. If your car can go that fast solo then they say it should be able to do so with a trailer. I know most in the UK or EU use a rack to get around that. No need here. - Trailer brakes are not mandatory up until a certain size. Most EU trailers that I have experienced have what we call "Surge brakes" where a master cylinder is connected to a hitch. Those are not as common here. Most of our larger trailers that do have brakes have electric actuated drums. If your combined trailer car weight is less than what we consider gross combined rating of the vehicle then brakes are needed. I would suggest brakes but my trailer does not have them. - There are multiple sizes of recievers (as you have found) along with multiple sizes of hitch balls. If you are going to tow you will either need a 2 inch or 1 7/8 inch ball size. - Yes our hitches are different here. You might be frustrated that our receivers do tend to have some "Slack" and movement. I am not sure if this is the case in the UK but the EU hitches that i am aware of have an upward insert to a pretty solid receiver with the ball integrated into the hitch. Most people tow and getting a hitch for a receiver is not a struggle. There are also racks available here as well so if it will cost and arm and a leg don't hesitate to search around here. In a pinch you can rent a Uhaul trailer for a day which will cost you less than 30 bucks. - Storage of a trailer may be your issue and if so there are many storage places around which are not that bad off site. Just make sure your stuff is locked up well. Mini storage is generally cheaper here because we are no where as space limited. - Most of our larger "Walmart" type stores stock just about anything you would need to get a trailer in a pinch. They are open 24 hours here. You will be shocked at how many stores are open even on Sundays. - Your Canvas sided aluminum trailers are very rare here. We call your version a stake bed trailer here in the states. Our enclosed trailers are much heavier with solid walls. My trailer is an open three rail. -Our tail lights are also much much different. We do not need to have an amber (yellow) turn signal which is mandatory in the EU or UK. Some of our vehicles use one of the brake lamps as turn signals. You might find that unique when searching for lamps. We also do not have the triangular lamps on our trailers as you do. -Finally you will soon realize that everything is bigger here. Our roads have curbs that are large enough to park a semi truck on with out interfering with any traffic. Our vehicles are much bigger here (you should research an Excursion if your worried). Our travel trailers (Caravans) are much bigger (28 foot long is considered small). Our stores are bigger . Our stair cases need to have a minimum amount of space that would never work in the EU or UK. If you feel that you are going to need to be space conservative just wait till you get here because most likely you won't be cramped. If you want more info on the Explorer PM me your email address. I can answer anything you would want to know because of where I work. --Biff

Up until a certain age yes a working family has to make that sacrifice. I know we are in different times now but 25 years ago my parents just warned me of consequences of a destroyed home and left me to fend for myself. That worked for me but I don't know if the law has changed. Again it will depend on the age and trust of the child in question. A lot of teenagers and college kids look for those neighborhood summer jobs. I don't believe my parents ever planned on using any of their vacation time to specifically look after me and its not common for anybody outside of the education system to take the summer off with their children here. Look into summer time afternoon activities sponsored by the community. Swimming lessons, day camps, activity camps and things like that are really not that bad. During the school year a working couple will also usually need to find some sort of after school babysitting for the children who generally get out of class much earlier in the day so its not exactly limited to the summer break. --Biff

We get a ton of them from the utility contractors. There was a time where we could stop by every week and they were happy to pass them along. A tip is to cut a flat into the bottom at the base of the inner spool. They can still roll, the inner spool will stay together and they won't move on you. If you see a city worker or a utility guy working just pull over and ask. That has worked for us here in Michigan. --Biff

Yep that will work just fine. A buddy of mine who races circle track turned me onto these aluminum exploding rivets which are great as well. Ebay has em with a large head in several colors. i am totally converted now. --Biff

Well the obvious solution is to put them on Osets or 80cc's in the back yard! I don't know how old the children are but day camps for swimming or some sort of activity are pretty plentiful. You and the Mrs will also want to explore the Adirondack region about three hours North of you on the weekends. There is also a ton of camps and things to see in the Catskill region as well not too far from you. Neighborhood baby sitters are also easily accessible. America is also the land of 300 channels of cable and high speed internet but those are poor solutions. You will probably find yourself traveling more on the weekends discovering New England and the tri-state area. My parents gave me a gallon of gas and a TL125 to keep me occupied. That was cool until i wore the grass out then it became work. Best of luck with the move! --Biff

The flywheel cover is also different... --Biff

Thanks members, Keep em coming. We did go and visit wheels through time on this trip and it was cool. They pride themselves on having dusty and runable machines which have a story. The stories were of grass roots people who really just got a motorcycle went out and did it. Its all american motorcycles but the focus is more on using the machine then the name of the machine itself. --Biff

Smarty156, To give you perspective I have a 2003 Passat V6 Gas and I struggle to get $50 in the tank from near empty which gives me about 350 miles towing. NY state inspection is kinda of a pain but from what I hear its much much easier then the UK. If you buy a newer vehicle you are inspection exempt. You can also get much more car for your money here but our vehicles are also used to travel huge distances. This last vacation I put 2800 miles on my car in just over a week and a half. On that trip I ran into $2.99 a gallon. Oh and if you travel in New Jersey you will probably get yelled at for trying to pump your own fuel. Every state is different. --Biff

Thanks for posting and supporting another trials in Belgium! Good work! --Biff

I just saw this in Sears here in the states the other day. My girlfriend said the same thing about them being amazing. They have no grip teeth but she said that for a nut or bolt its amazing how much clamping force they have. Looks like I need one.... I also have a spare case of parts called "Biffs Bits Box". Also include a set of spanner wrenches --Biff

I just noticed that there is an electric sport bike with the same name.... Hope that doesn't get in the way of the brand. --Biff

66 kg.... new fan hrmmm --Biff

I agree that they are probably in the mode of selling her on the job rather than determining if she is a good fit. Congrats! Is it feasible? Sure it is but as in anything it will be a change. In the US we drive for trials. My close practice area is 50 minutes away and we drive hours just to ride for an afternoon. Thats just the way it is around here. Your wife would get really comfortable with the train system there because driving into NYC is maddening unless work from home is the prime option. Fuel is about $3.90 or so a gallon now so driving twice the distance would cost you about the same. Enjoy the adventure! --Biff

Sherco, 125cc age, fluent English, Awesome personality, great person. --Biff

Check the bottom of the Ducati CDI. If it has a bulge or looks cracked its probably gone. I have had one go bad on me in the past. Trials parts .com has all of the manuals and break down of the ignition system for you. --Biff

Smarty156, In NY specifically your two large trials clubs are 3D trials on the East side of the state and D4 on the west side. 3D is very grass roots but have some awesome riders and great terrain. They don't have a website that I know of but some members drift on here from time to time. The closest event that I know of to where you would be living would be in Phonecia on Hunter mountain in the Catskills. Awesome property but I am not sure if they have one this year. D4 is a bit of a haul from where you are going to be based but here is their website http://www.district4trials.com/ In upstate your two dealers are www.tryalsshop.com run by Mike Komer and Dave Reed (local dealer). Call Mike and he can give you an idea of whats around and prices and such. Now thats your NY connections however I am not familiar with where you are comming from so I have a few comments and suggestions. First off if you buy a bike out of state you don't have to pay the state tax initially. You are supposed to claim it later but with out registering a bike in the state I don't know how they can tell. Owning many bikes in NY I can't say that I have ever had an issue. Secondly you are really close in that area to NETA which rides in MA, RI, VT and Conneticut.http://www.newenglandtrials.com/ I would suggest if you live in West Chester that you would want to check out some of those events as well. Jacks Cycles also sells out of New Hampshire so he would be a good source of bikes for you. Riding District 6 in PA would also not be too bad for you either. There are several dealers in the PA region as well. Unfortunately West Chester and all buroughs North of the city are metropolis but you are not alone and there are others in the area who are like you and have to travel a bit to get into their trials spirit. Hope you enjoy the move. Its a fast pace and expesive place to live but if it works for you and the family I hope its a positive one. --Biff

I thought I would start a post of museums that are a must see. I love all things mechanical and work across the street from one of the best in America http://www.thehenryford.org/?gclid=COGiva6Fhr8CFQQOaQodGqUArQ If you are ever in the Detroit area its a must see. Give me a PM and we can possibly even meet up. Between the two nationals this and next weekend I am hoping to go to http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/ which i have never seen. The AMA museum is ok and has a few trials motorcycles. http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/ If you ever end up in Germany you gotta see the Technic Museum in Speyer http://speyer.technik-museum.de/en An awesome air museum is the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/ Of course the Smithsonian air and space museum is also very very cool http://www.sasmuseum.com/ I hear that the Barber museum is pretty cool as well and they always rotate stock. https://www.barbermuseum.org/ The air museum in Dayton is going to happen one of these weekends. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/ The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is neat if you are into that era of cars. http://www.automobilemuseum.org The Gilmore car museum is also very very cool. http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/ And I also like to attend the Concours here in Detroit at the Medowbrook (Rich Widow of one of the Dodge Brothers) http://www.meadowbrookconcours.org/ The wood work in the mansion is worth seeing by itself. What Museums would you recommend? --Biff

Here is my video explaining why this happens on the Pro models. It is normal no need to worry. --Biff

if you're available come on out to the national this weekend near Harrisburg. --Biff