biffsgasgas

Looks pretty sweet BigMark. (we will call cope lil Mark for now ) The group in Michigan will be here when you are ready to come out. On the west side of the state there are a several riders who belong to the Mid Michigan club which has property in Vermontville. Today we went and rode for about 4 hours in Flint. Everybody had got their crashes in too. I forgot to look up so the bike and i came down. Buddy Jermey center punched a log thats 4 foot thick causing all of us to point and laugh. Buddy Doug did the classic over the bars when traveling up hill on his Reflex pointing and laughing also followed. And another mark just timed everything wrong on our rail road tie box since he broke parts we held off on laughing. Either way dont feel bad about "suck" because we all have those moments/complete events. While you are out there enjoying your play ground here are a few hints: 1. Keep your knees out. If the bike decides it wants to be 2 inches to the left or right you dont want to be pushed in that direction too. It will feel like your taking a dump for a little bit but the more extreem you can keep your knees out now the better you will be in the future. 2. practice looking up. You know what the front fender and tire looks like. It will still look like that for many many months. Don't look at it. Dont look for the log 2 inches in front of you. The earlier you can practice looking up the better off you will be in the future. 3. remember to breathe. Its tough i know but holding your breath will only wear you out that much sooner. Have fun out there! --Biff

Thank you all. I can see both points. I personally feel that I have lost some of those Novice skills that I used to get complimented on so I can see where riding an easier event would be a disadvantage to me. I also know that any rider should be ready for obsticles at and below their skill level so for myself looks like I have to do some more work relearning and mastering some things. HTRDoug, I didnt bring my TY to fly this year so i decided to go with the expert class for TI season if i can make most of the events. See you in Ligoneer if your comming. Look for a guy in a tux that you dont want to see in a tux.... Dan, I also one of those not so trusted people for our event. Sometimes hit some times miss. You can not make everybody happy. --Biff

I am right across the Ambasador from you 15 minutes. We have some riders in the windsor area and even hold events off of disputed south east. If you ever want to go for a quick run we have some great properly up in macomb. And Canada280i is right... you should just come out to ride in a competition not to win but to learn and have a great day in the woods. --Biff

Ok so over the years I have heard of this from numerous riders. This weekend I heard it again. I am not convinced but I think a lot of riders are. Can an event be "too easy" to score well? You have to concentrate, you have to stay focused, if you make a mistake in an event that is not high scoring is that because its not challenging or is it because you didn't concentrate? I have heard pro riders say this. I think this was Bou's gripe about this years USA world round. I have heard clubman riders say this. Does it have merit? I personally think its an excuse. You should be ready to ride a class down as much as you are ready to ride a class up.... If you think that an easy event is harder to win and have a reason please provide your best reason as to why that it is harder to be competitive. BTW the scores this weekend didn't reflect the easy. Ohio has no shortage of mud this time of year. --Biff

And then go get yourself a set of neoprene covers. Best investment to keep that second scratch from happening. --Biff

Cme n Andy! The guy is n the verge of ether buying a stlen or awesme bke! He's excted!!! N ne has tme fr vwles!!! Btw Your "i" may also be ntermtent. Get it checked out through the local police only after you negotiate the price. --Biff

"Super rare" gets me. I guess I am too close to the forest to see the trees. --Biff

Howdy bigmark1972, None of us are that good. We just love to have fun. Look forward to riding with you this year. There are several in the gr area. If you ever want to venture to flint or Detroit for a ride hit us up! --biff

So when in Germany a few weeks ago I noticed something that is not common here in the states. There were numerous bikes that had custom shocks with external resivoirs mounted right above the flywheel cover. Most were on teens bikes with obvious support. So ignorant question. How many custom shock shops are available there in the EU specific to trials? Here in Detroit we have several MX shock people and auto shock specialty shops but thats pretty rare in comparison to other areas. --Biff PS great topic

I have taken a few trips to Mt Hood in my day. Voodo Donuts and the whole downtown scene is like none other in the world. I think its neat but i can see how that town could wear on you quickly. Have fun with the enduro. --Biff

Nice work! Keep Portland weird! --Biff

I have 5 inch high and i love them. I am 6 foot tall. I dont recall the standard height but 5 inch rise just allows me to stand straighter and encourages me to keep my head up. Not that I always keep my head up. --Biff

Touche... --Biff

Yea cope this is all pickup coil and not hall effect. I think there is enough charge and capacitiance in the system that even with timing being off it will still push the fly wheel enough to keep the thing running. I agree that CDI is highly unlikely. These ignitions were built like a tank. Dont worry Climberevan we will get you sorted out. Just check the rotation of the engine as you are kicking and releasing the kick starter. Another thing that popped into my head was exhaust back pressure. It could be building up and pushing the piston in the opposite direction after a few rotations and that would also make the bike have no power. Unlikely but also possible. --Biff

Getting back to what i was refering to. When kicking it over does the engine drive the bike forward or reverse? If it kicks it forward does it remain rotating that direction when releasing the kick starter? --Biff

Climberevan, Welcome first off. My buddies 2001 txt 321 will start in reverse every time i bump start it backwards. I have even had his starting when pulling back on the bars in gear putting the thing on the trailer. These bikes start very easy unlike the pro models. I had this problem on my 2000 280 and i think the problem i had may be yours. The kick start gear, when worn out will stay engaged to the idler gear, and as the kick start returns it will actaully stop the the engine and spin it backwards. Sounds weird but it can happen. Here is what i would look for. Have the flywheel cover off and pull the plug. Kick it down to the foot peg and watch the direction of the fly wheel. If you are wondering if thats forward or reverse then just put it in gear with the clutch out and you will find out real quick. If the bike rotates backwards when kicking down then.... ummm i dont know how that can happen. If the fly wheel rotates one direction down it should not rotate in the opposite direction on its way up right? Well go look for that.... If the idler gear is worn out the bike will run like the brakes were on and from what you were saying before the thing started doing this that might be the case. Pay attention to number 8 and 11 if this is the case. To the forum I broke reeds on a gasgas and it will run. Poorly but it will run. Carbon build up causes a back fire and my reeds imploded. Both on a gasgas and once on an old ty350 i had. keep in mind that early two strokes didnt have reed valves. --Biff

Spread the wealth is what I say... what little i might have... There have been a few US dealers who had treaded me poorly. I wont buy from them but if there is a dealer who gets stuff from them and they are local i will give them my business. Their names dont need to be mentioned because they are making a living and it was not meant to be between us. As far as buying from europe. Yes i buy from europe and its usually for one off stuff that I know would be a hassel for any US dealer to deal with and they wont stock. Then there are things that i want from US dealers that no longer stock them. Perfect example! I loved my NZI trivent. It broke a long time ago. I wanted another one but the importer no longer stocked them. As a Xmas gift my love obtained one for riding in europe which i keep there. I really missed it. About a month and a half ago i ordered one and had it shipped here to the states. It was much less than my orginal one i purchased here in the US. If you cant get it here the internet makes it easy to get stuff from there. **disclaimer** ignore the wall paper... --Biff

Yea after looking at my post i think you are right. I am probably overthinking it. I will leave you with this. I am still pro clutch for this. There have been countless times where I need to have a neutral situation for the rear tire. If you have ever ridden a gas bike with a dragging clutch it totally messes with you for the whole day. I don't think you can get the reaction time out of a throttle that you would with a pull of a lever. Thanks guys and keep it up! --Biff

Here in the states I don't know of a club here in the States or Canada that does not have a pre start meeting. We do the horn thing and get told all of the good information. Here in Michigan we also do our youth (oset) awards durring the pre meeting. That way if the Mrs. wants to go home early because the child is unruley then they can. Our Youth riders usually have only 4 sections and ride three times through each. Trials Inc does it the same way I believe. One other thing that I noticed riding here vs over there is the queing. I have heard that there are a lot of line jumpers in events there. Most of us Americans don't stand for that. Even at the nationals the only queue jump we allow is for our pro's but they have to stagger between a clubman rider and the next pro. Again our queues are not as long as yours but still. Its not a race! --Biff

Oh and second note. Bikes in the us are cheaper for some reason that I'm not going to argue with whilst on this side of the pond. --Biff

First off this is a great post. That because gwhy , no stroke and jojo started a great conversation as partners bouncing ideas and I am in awe of your knowledge. I am in awe of you all participating in unproven technology in its original form. Not too often you get to see pioneers in action. Having built a few solar cars and diagosing hybrid technology for a good part of my professional life I have a few questions for you folks. I can tell you that the automotive world focuses on torque curve and its optimization. Most of them do this digitally from a fly by wire input processed. That's complicated right? It can be done mechanically thou. If your going to stick with mechanical throttle response linear with electric it isn't going to react like the IC engine is it? My suggestion would be to study torque curves and create a mechanical assembly to mimic that of the ic engine. Using worm tracks on a lever actuator or diverse cams on a cable actuator might be a way. Here's a trick we have used with cable cams. Get a worst case cam, connect your oscope, and use tooth pics to adjust the profile. Match that to a profile you have studdied. Glue them with spray tac from the craft store to hold in place if needed. mimic the off idle profile of the ic engine and i think you will have most of the trials community covered. Most of us recover with an off idle profile. Those curves may not be available for trials bikes but I think its hi time I get some speed sensors on my throttle with tach on my bike. Maybe I can even turn that into some dyno time. I'm surrounded by nerds.... let's see what happens. Tc community, who else can help capture data? This cause is worth investigating and pursuing. --Biff

3D in eastern NY self checks. Every one gets a Twinkie as a trophy up until the great Twinkie shortage of 2013. Its a gentlemen's/gentlewoman's sport. They get it and treat as one. Won't work in a cut throat competition. Honesty has a lot more to give over dishonesty. --Biff

Done that on my 2000 TXT 280, did that on my 2004 pro 300. Zippy's right don't let your head bolt get too loose. In a pinch i drilled it out and used a cariage bolt to clamp the pieces together on a saturday night to make a sunday event.... Not recommended by anyone but got me though a day. Most of the observers were well warned. --Biff

I have used my lioneli for some time now. My ignorance has caused a few fives but i keep it on my left. Two years ago a buddies gg ran away due to a twisted throttle he didnt check. I can afford the occasional five due to ignorance. Every marker I miss can attest to that. I dont want to afford a new jug piston and lower end. Why I have this is because i have seen three bikes in my life die due to run away. I have also seen a good friend almost mauled due to run away. For the cost I cant justify any other kill switch. With that being said I have a few suggestions. Make a spare lanyard out of a bra strap. Name it something awkward (I named mine "Nancy") so when your buddy forgets his he has to ride all day with the name "Nancy". Secondly go and find yourself a replacement version of the strap. If you have velcro on your gloves you will destroy the OEM strap. Joann Fabric here in Merica sells a great alternative for not that much. Third don't get lazy and wrap the thing around your handle bars. Adapt and get used to wearing it. It will save your bike. Lazyness has never saved a bike. --Biff