telecat

Depends really. We've been out and about since about 2002 and numbers vary year to year. At the Moment it's not too bad with at least 40 riders at most trials dependant on Holidays and Weather. Clubs like Ripon running easier trials can get over 100 easily. We were at the Charity Trial at Back Cowm and at 108 riders turned up. So many I missed a couple of other "Yorkies" we normally see at Trials, (Hi Ian ). On the other foot we've "lost" the Craven club recently. The original people who ran the club moved on and they couldn't find enough members to "run" the club.

Just check the "Places to Ride" Forum. There are not loads of places but you can easily reach most of them from where you are.

Just Noticed the News on Sheffield includes the fact that some riders are changing bikes next year. Anybody got the Inside track on rider contracts??

The Next Round of the YG Novice Beginners series will be held At Addingham Moorside at 2pm on Saturday the 11th of September. Usual Courses including a Conducted for the Small Wheelers(E Class accepted with a separate easier course if needed). For further details see the Yeadon Guiseley Website.

Regs and details are now available from the Yeadon Guiseley website. The Trial will be run on the 26th September and will start at the Pateley Bridge Auction Mart and will include sections at Brimham Rocks. Solo entries are welcome. Please have your entries in by the 21st to guarantee your place on the start line.

I know of a venue where the problem is idiots using it as a dump!!! The place is locked up but they break the lock and get in. It's a fact that whatever you do if it's close to houses the local "yobs" and I include all ages in this, (some pensioners behaviour is despicable on this front), just seem to think they can do anything they like with the land. The only solution is to photograph them doing it and get the council and Police involved.

The Frame colour Pot only comes with the new ones since they went gold. I was shown them at TUK when they came out and again at TUK with this years bikes.

Don't know the Engine colour but you should have received a pot of the frame colour when you bought it.

The 4RT isn't a panacea. It has it's own problems for riders. At least 2 local riders visibly improved after ditching them and at least one of those did try the 4T Beta and rejected it. He now rides GasGas and achieves better results on them. Another went to the EVO 2T and again achieves better results. As for reliability I can't see much between 2T and 4T. However for example, over revving a 2T does not cause any damage whereas 4T's could well damage the valve gear. Engine problems are also more expensive to fix as the engines are more difficult to extract from the frame. Basically The 2T's are for the majority of Trials the better choice for MOST riders and are cheaper to run. 4T's are great bikes but limited in a Trials context. The extra cost of 4T's especially the Montesa has meant MOST riders will not fork out the extra dosh.

With regard to the 2T points 2T engines CAN live as long as 4T's if looked after. Don't forget that the Oil is in the petrol and lubricates any part it comes into contact with whereas 4T's lubricate from the crank(generally), meaning that the engine has to move to lubricate. In both cases Modern oils mean that neither is at a disadvantage. 2T does consume oil no doubt and it can be relatively expensive. But it is minuscule in the running costs of the engine. Under 500cc A two stroke is very economical. Don't forget that most 4T's under this level are not performance engines, those that are show very little difference in MPG. Pollution, Modern 2T's using modern oils have very little difference to 4T's. Even California doesn't ban 2T engines. Yes they are worse again over 500CC but nobody produces those today. If you are looking for the worst polluters when it comes to particulates look at diesel. Japan will not allow Many Diesel cars due to this. All Worn engines will smoke 2T or 4T. You repeated yourself on your next point. As for Gas Gas Versus Beta reliability that's another matter and basically it's down to the fact that these are competition machines. I could regale you with details of some Beta faults I have come across but to honest all the Trials makes have faults. The MONTESA is a well built machine. I still see plenty of the 315R's out there competing against new Machines. However they are not the only story and in competition 4T's are as likely to be damaged and in some circumstances it is liable to be more expensive to fix. As for seeing 4T's flying up hills I again stick to what I said earlier. There a natural break point at which current 2T's start to lose against 4T's. Above 500cc's 4T's are more powerful, more economical, easier to control and more reliable than 2T's where the combustion method basically cannot be controlled to the degree that a 4T can. Under that point a 4T is at a disadvantage especially as they are more expensive to produce. As an example in the 70's and 80's the GT550 Suzuki and Kawasaki KH500 Triples were great bikes. The 750cc models were always more trouble and were replaced by 4T's as the 80's went on. As road Bikes Under 500cc then yes such as the Aprilia RS machines are pains in the neck to maintain due to the fact they are usually tuned up to within an inch of their lives. However most bikes at that level aren't and I don't see any difference in the number of 70's and eighties 2T's and 4T's that have survived to today. The factor's on their survival are more to do with desirability (Yamaha RD350LC's, FS1E's, Fantic Cabarello, Honda SS50), than the stroke of their engine.

As others have pointed out you seem to misunderstand the way Torque is generated and how 4T's compensate for the lesser "firing" times. The Fewer times they "fire" in the cycle makes them "good" in the slippy stuff although it can be compensated for by the 2T's very effectively. As for hill climbs I haven't seen any advantage of 4T's over 2T. Generally that's down to gear selection and rider ability. My Take on it is that a 2T "recovers" better up a hill. As both "lose" revs the best riders get the back wheel off the ground to get the engine back into it's torque band. A 2T does this better.

Actually the comparison I was making is that if they could use those materials then the bikes would be comparable as Bou has proved. I also would disagree with the comments about more torque and more positive engine response. They are merely different in the way that they "feel". Under most conditions with comparable riders The Non "Works" 2T's will be a better bet than the 4T's. The last kicker is that 2T's will "seem" quieter.

Chris has some on his 2010 GasGas 250 and has had them on since April with no problems. Can't fault them and You can adjust the height. They are at least half the price of the Raptors as well.

Adding to my previous remarks. Yes the 4T is probably more suited to No stop trials using current materials. However I don't believe for a minute that Tony Bou's bike uses the same materials in the engine that the production bikes do and it shows. The other problem 4T's have us that 2T's are nearly as good at no-stop as the 4T's meaning that the 4T's need a trial to be set out in a certain manner to get the advantage. Most of the 4T engines are also very tall to accommodate the valve gear and create a engine with good "trials" characteristics. This means that they fit the frames very "cosily" and put weight higher up. As the "holy Grail" is to get weight lower down and "compacted" into as small an area as possible the 4T's are at a disadvantage on balancing and when doing the "big Steps". Again the works Montesa 4T's look like the engine is more "exotic" allowing them to use some expensive metals and composites in order to get back the design advantages of the 2T's. Adding to that is that Bou just appears to have "clicked" with the 4RT in a way many club riders did with it. In many respects the 4RT and the other 4T's are "marmite" bikes. Either the rider can ride them well or they can't.

I have watched plenty of the 4T's in Club, Centre and National Trials. The disadvantage's seem to be linked to the speed at which the Piston accelerates and decelerates. It manifests itself best on close steps where the rider has to maintain momentum or when they have to stop and "go again". The 4T "loses" torque faster meaning higher revs are needed initially to maintain the best push up the rock. The 2T's advantage here is that they "gain" Torque as they move forward, meaning that the initial Push isn't as hard . The 4T has to start high to maintain the required level of Torque as the revs drop due to the lesser "firing" strokes in the cycle. The 2T's appear to be able, due to the greater number of firing strokes, to build or maintain Torque without needing to rev it when setting off. Perversely once moving the 4T's maintain torque really well and the lack of piston acceleration is very helpful on slippy surfaces.

I had one made up for a gasser but the guy was doing one for an Evo at the time as well. The EVO has a specific Hub as well as the spacers so I don't think it's as easy as the guy thinks unless he was planning on using your "old" wheel for parts.

As far as I can see it has been decided on the bike. Sadler has the better record so wins the Championship.

It's down to second places and Richard wins on the count back. Not impressed with the feedback I have been getting. Sadler had a five despite staying in the flags due to a very dubious "outside the line" decision. It wasn't taped off initially but was by the second lap and the Observer then warned subsequent riders which he did not do for Sadler. The clerk of the course who was dealing with the matter also was overheard saying that Richard could have the time penalties back which didn't happen. I also understand a rather "underhand" attempt was contemplated to get Richard excluded which appears to be "unsporting". As for the trial the problem of section length was mentioned again. The sections were very tight and mostly very long sending many "out of time" despite completing the sections. Something that I saw first hand last year which seems to have continued. All in all disappointing to hear after what was a good event last year.

The Bamboo Stakes are only used for this trial due to the markers required. Generally the gardeners "Green sticks" are used by YG.

Two Strokes suit more Trials riders than Four. That is certain. I cannot see a future for 4T's in Trials until the more exotic materials become more "affordable" and the engine technology becomes more capable. The Simple fact is that the majority of 4t's will never win a Trial as the better riders prefer the engine characteristic's of the 2t's.

The Trial At Pykley Farm on the 24th July has had to be cancelled due to the dry weather. It has caused a lack of grazing for the farmer's animals.

Prices are steady on the REV50 mainly due to the fact that the second hand ones are all you can get!!! I'd get the 50 and let him "dominate" it. Too many get the 80 and due to the "big" wheels find it difficult to manoeuvre. If he has to sit on the 80 to foot he won't be confident on the bike. If he looks "right" on the 50, (as an adult would on a "proper" bike), I'd think it would let him get the confidence he needs.

Don't know If Joe Faunthorpe's Dad lurks around here anymore but if not and I see him I'll see what he recommends.

Is the rim a "Tubed" version. If so you'll need another rim. One of the DID or the New AJP "DID Style" rims from Haven.

There is a link off the Gas Gas UK website to the US pages of two guys who have the answers to virtually any question on Gas Gas. In this case they recommend 66:1 premix ratio. Or about 75ml of oil per five litre can. Tony will have a little jug that allows you to see the amount of oil by Mix ratio for a litre and 5 litres as well as just the amount.