telecat

I officially despise the "Gas Gas" Style Nut holding in the taps on metal tanks. That's two that have split trying to refit the tap on the Jotagas. Getting both tight and the tap in the right place is so bloody annoying!!!!!!!!!!! Anybody have any tips!

Chris came to the same conclusion about the Sherco. It is soft initially but then the power arrives. The Problem is by the time it does you're doing something else!!

Bit of info. There IS a Filter on the fuel tap. No need for an in line on a Kehin. Discovered this after the Nut holding the tap fractured trying to get an in line on. DOH!!

The Trials riders battle cry! "How Much!!!!!!!!!!", Seriously Have you seen the "classic" Trials scene

Basically Trials came from Riders modifying road machines to fit the sport. There was a small number of bikes produced in the UK but the manufacturers basically dabbled with specialists "adding value" by taking away weight adding stronger or better parts etc. The Problem is that if the current crop of makers went, the sort of bikes favoured by the "road" crowd do not lend themselves to Trials conversion. That leaves MX/Enduro conversions which would take a while to get competitive. It also means the sport is in the hands of the DIY-er's with second hand bikes that work well costing high prices for those not as good at wielding a spanner.

Lots of Bicycle Frame makers so I believe one could turn their hands to a Motorcycle frame pretty easily. The Engine is another matter. Norton Villiers have a Fuel Injected 2T engine in Design that uses standard fuel with no Premix. If that could be applied to Trials it could be a world beater. The rest of the parts are really sourced from Suppliers, shocks, forks brakes etc. so they are not really a problem. The stumbling block is the Number of Machines produced. Total worldwide sales of Trials bikes is below 10,000. Hence why Gas Gas, Beta, Ossa and Sherco have Enduro's. The Market worldwide there is over 100,000. Unless you have a company who use Trials as a research lab or a man who treats it as a Hobby company it's a expensive market to compete in.

On the Piston rattle get it back to the dealer or Steve. He'll be in Yorkshire Friday/Saturday so if don't leave it too late. Time to look at the caliper maybe. I have heard of other makes with Braketec problems so it isn't just Jotagas. Maybe an Older version of the cylinder might help. As for the Guard I have used Tie wraps around the bottom of the guard. Seems to hold it. That is also a problem with Montesa's i gather. Seems to be a few of them without them at least.

Maybe get the Whole Cylinder changed? We are keeping an eye on the "new" Braketec kit as I have heard of problems on other bikes. As for a rattle. The Clutch is noisy when in neutral but it's the same clutch as a Gasser and makes a similar noise so haven't worried about it especially as Chris runs the idle pretty low.

New this week. Clutch now has the "big" AJP reservoir Bit more feel. Clutch sorted too much oil and it "rocked" a bit. Sorted by Andy at Pennine. New Kehin Sorced and going on when the new slide arrives. Running pretty well though Going out this weekend to get some competitive time on the bike.

I notice somebody banging on about heavier parts and how they last longer. Would that Include the 4RT Bash plate that needs replacing because it is so full of holes it is as malleable as Swiss cheese? And the Footpeg hangers that need replacing if you weigh anything above 10 stone?

My Son's Opinion's On the 300's Gas Gas - New shock is a bit "dead", needs spring winding up as they do not feel as lively as the Sachs/Ohlins versions. Not as enjoyable to ride as 2011. Buy if it feels good. Sherco. Rides well but the engine is not "fast" enough. Technically good but the Formula levers are a bit short and they do not seem to have any long ones. Suits clubmen as the delivery is predictable. Also a "small" Bike. Beta. Strong engine but the chassis overall is too compliant. "soft". Backup in the UK is excellent. Easy to turn as it has almost too much lock. Good in No-Stop as the suspension does not "surprise" you. Works well for a lot of riders. Montesa - Great if you can afford the New 260 or Future Models. Expensive and tricky to ride if you can't. Still the choice if you do not compete or do the "long" trials as they need little to fettle them. Difficult on the older models to get the engine delivery right. It either brakes too much or "snaps" at the rider. OSSA - Strong engine, good backup. Chassis components very good. Not quite there for My Son but seems to tweek well. New Samller engines aiming to civilise the power delivery for clubmen. Good if you like the older Gas Gas feel ie easy to throw around. Injection seems to have been sorted so why everybody else is still on carbs has to be down to cost. Jotagas - Strong Chassis, zippy engine. Knowledge of the Bike is a little thin on the ground but they do not seem to have the problems they had with the box since it was modified for the late 2013 models. Also easy to clean with fewer nooks and crannys. Again easy to throw around but balances well as well. His Choice 2014 Jotagas. Other observations. Early Formula hydraulics do not have the feel of the AJP's and some have been removed and replaced by AJP kit. BrakeTec is the New name for AJP and it seems to have mods to the "pins" and gaiters. Seems on par with their earlier kit for feel. How well it lasts is to be seen.

The Pennine Trialsport Test Day Will have the 125 available for youths to test ride. Book Early as Fred said!

Looks Like the Proof reader at the FIM has been Fired. the 2T engine limit is now 300cc.

I think i need to top it up but the position is awkward. I believe that the Screw on the side is to be used but how would you get anything though that? The reservoir is sideways on but looks like it can be moved. Anybody done it or have any ideas?

Great! At Least some sanity has returned to the FIM. Or maybe the Proof checker has been sacked!

Just Seen a facebook status that the Wetherby Trial this Sunday has been cancelled.

My Towbar is a Witter detachable Flange version so no problems. Might be worth checking to see if the Flange will fit.

Do Not know about Teeside but in Leeds C. Wylde Have rebuilt wheels for me. www.cwylde.co.uk.

Looks like that's what Dougie is doing so firstly what would be the best features? What I see as necessary are a Stiff frame Fairly Compact with a 4 to 5 litre tank. The current JTG rear suspension seems superior to everybody else's and Forks will remain forks. Wheels need to have "give" in them so the current metal spoked seem to be preferable. Could Magura style reservoir less Disc brakes be used? they could be a weight and maintenance saver if the required power can be obtained? Electronics and Air filters need to be tidily packaged, easily accessed and kept away from Water. Too many bikes have cables everywhere as well so it needs thought as to where to place the management items. Engine? Small, torquey with good throttle response. Fuel Injection with intelligent mapping? Liquid cooled obviously. Clutch wise something that can be tuned to the rider. on/off switch or gradual bite seem to be the two major preferences. Easy access to major items with Supplied tools would also be a winner for most riders. Any thing else come to mind? Given that a small button battery can support the electrics on these bike maybe one could be added to maintain electrical input to the ignition/ injection system.

Honda lower their standards. They have done nothing for years. When they finally decide that the Club riders can have something the works bikes have the prices remain sky high. I do not see value in Honda's bikes as unlike say Gas Gas who now have several specially developed features available on the PRODUCTION bikes that are on the Works machines. Honda are acting like BSA, Triumph and Norton did back in the "day". Huffing and puffing about better bikes made by smaller makers.

The Rules for 2014 have changed to Benefit Honda, NOT last year. Raga was closer because the bike improved mainly because of Gas Gas developments. Those were under a restricted budget and most feed though to the Bike we can buy. It has taken Honda years to realise nobody wants a bike that is so far away from Bou's and do something about it. No there is little money in it and the fact is that the "works" teams are the only ones seeing a return. Getting a Sponsor to finance the team outside of the works teams is a complete no go because the FIM's ideas of marketing and rules makes it too difficult to sell the concept to them

Interesting letter to the Trials riders of France. http://www.trialavis...oducedinFFM.pdf Thanks Mick for the Information. To clarify will 300cc 2 strokes still be eligible for the BTC?

Given the New weight limit in the WTC and the 290cc limit on 2 strokes presumably to make Honda's, (I am not going to refer to them as Montesa's any more), more competitive what is the situation in the UK? Like many My Son has bought a 300CC bike with the idea of entering a few Nationals. Is it now Persona non grata or do we assume that any bike sold in the UK is OK for the BTC?

How are the FIM getting away with changing the rules so quickly as well. Any other Motorsport gives Notice of changes like this as the implications regarding development and cost are substantial. In Car racing the rules regarding weight and engines are signposted years in advance and any "safety" change is contested vehemently by the teams. All it needs is Red Bull or some other organiser working with the alternative National federations to ratify a separate series for Trials with the rules decided by riders and proper promotion and the FIM will become irrelevant. In many respects the control DORNA has over WSBK and MOTOGP shows that. Do not forget that as far as "tracks" are concerned we do not have or need any licensed venues that the FIM can hold to ransom.

Anybody read this as what Honda wants they get? They obviously feel they are running out of time with the 4T and the opposition is using other methods to catch them. Lighter bikes than they can produce. Fuel management systems making 2T's more efficient and more powerful. If thi is about saving money then I fail to see it. The Small guys are giving Honda a run for their money using less of the resources but more Brain power. Hence to stay in front Honda will have to spend more money than they would like. Maybe the budget is going to MOTO3 where KTM have used their brains to outmanoeuvre Honda. I do not see the new restrictions as saving any money at all for the Small teams. In Fact it means they have to increase Budgets to get the power out of the Smaller 2T's. the FIM just cannot get their head around the fact that the popularity of the sport remains with the easier and cheaper bikes to make and maintain. The push they seem to be making to to a more expensive version of Trials is not one a lot will put up with.