pete_scorpa3

No of course I didn't mean all of them. The Gassers fell apart because they were over 12 months old, the Rev3's lost their spark and the Sherco's wouldn't start when hot. The Scorpa's all kept going but their split exhausts sounded terrible so they were excluded by the environmental officer. The Pre-65's were all black flagged for dropping oil on the circuit (oops wrong sport) and the one person who could afford a Montesa went home because he didn't want to get it dirty. That left the Yamaha and the Suzuki which don't count becasue they were trail bikes anyway. See, I didn't mention Xispa's or Greeves, so I've not upset everyone! ONLY JOKING!!!!!!

I must admit, it's sometimes difficult to be genuinely 100% consistent. It's human nature to treat people differently. For example, it must be so difficult to give your own son/daughter a five for rolling back a couple of inches if they are struggling through your section using all of their strength. Where as you might give the five toa perfect stranger. Or maybe the other way around for some people....

In our last club trial the bikes broke down into the following marques. Gas Gas 20 Beta 11 Sherco 8 Scorpa 6 Pre-65 4 Bultaco 3 Montesa 1 Suzuki 1 Yamaha 1

Yes that's a good one. I had one rider argue that he should have been clean after stopping with the handle bar end leaning against a tree for a good 15 seconds whilst he looked at a (small) rock step. He said that as he didn't touch the tree it was ok!

Thanks for that Mac. Offering a free entry for riders who supply an observer certainly makes it easier to ask peopel to do it. I think getting obsevrers is by far the worst part of putting on any trial, so anything that's going to make that job better is well worth it.

Which bit is bonkers.... Offering a discount for youngsters or offering a free ride to anyone who provides an observer? Even allowing for a few end of season trophies and the land owners fee, we make around

We are considering the impact of the credit crunch on riders, especially those with youngsters in the sport and are going to give a discount on our

So if you stop and lean against a tree, then providing the feet are still on the pegs then that's a clean too?

See which one comes up in the best condition, they will both do you very well indeed if you buy a good one!

Here's another one that you see a lot on TV. A rider hopos up onto a large rock and starts to slip back, they use their toes to stop themselves dropping off the edge but still have their feet onthe footrest. This is often classed as a clean but is it really?

It's not how fast your going that causes the damage, it's what you land on. It's down to personal preference, I'd never preach to another adult, you can make your own mind up as to the level of risk that you find acceptable. Just saying why I personally wear them thats all.

Always wear gloves since I was in hospital with a guy who'd fallen off his road bike at low speed without gloves on. He was waiting for the swelling on is hands to go down before the surgeons could take a skin graft from his bottom and put it on the fingers and palms of his hands. Ever since that day it really doesn't seem right to me to ride a bike without gloves.

It's going to be very much the same as the Xispa in as much as we will all start to like it or even want it IF it proves to be competitive and reliable. Time will tell!

Rather fetching pink lycra legging too.

Yep, the first tiime I did it I din't measure the oil coming out, so I put the full 700mls back in. Subsequently, 300mls drained back out of the level hole, (which took rather a long time I must say) the next time I changed the oil I measured what came out and it was just over 400mls. Short of turning the bike upside down I don't know what else to do. So I just change to 400mls and it seems ok. I've had the bike three years now from new and change the oil every ten events or so with no problems. I clean the airfilter every dry trial or every other damp one and thankfully the carb doesn't need cleaning very often (unlike my previous trials bikes) as that's a sod to get off, so that only gets done occasionally..... but I digress.

Fabulous to see trials on main stream TV!

The most I ever get out of my '05 is 400ml, even with the bike on it's side and the level plug out. I get as much as I can out and then fill it until the level plug stops running with the bike level.

It depends on what you are looking for. It's not worth buying a whole bike if you just need a mudguard or something. I'd be interested in hearing of any trials bike breakers, I can't think of any.

Always wear gloves even when it's hot. It just doesn't seem right to ride a motorcycle without them on for some reason.

Not slagging the Greeves off, but as I said, the first public showing could have made a better first impression.

I think that I'd have stayed an observed and asked the organiser if it was ok for me to try out the sections after the trial had finished. Doing that would have got you in theri good books and believe me, as an organiser I always remember people who put themseves out when they don't have to. On another 'minor' point, you can't just ring up TMX to get events placed in regs available, phone calls are not accepted and although TMX do a good job, it has been known for regs to get lost in the post and not get put in. All the best Pete

Yep, have to agree with you there Addict. I think they look good... in the picture. It's obviously all going to be on how well they ride, plus of course...... how well they last!

Perhaps a little harsh. But I have to admit the 'first public showing' of the new model could have made a better impression. Graphics and body panels can easily be changed, but why so bland for the first showing?

It always amazes me how different riders choose different gears for the same section. At the end of a recent trial where I'd been in 2nd and third all day, I met the eventual winner who commented that he'd been in 1st for every section! "It gives me more time to react" he said.