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Another Worcestershire Newbie


dan929
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Hi all,

I am complete trials novice but fancy giving something other than road riding a go. I am planning on heading to a school for a training day in the near future and if all goes well I will be buying a bike soon after. As a beginner I want to try and stick to relatively cheap first bike and gear where possible.Any advice on starting off in trials, bikes, equipment etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Dan

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Hi Dan

 

Bikes: What you get will depend on available budget... if you have up to £1,000 available you will be looking at a late '90s or early 2000s bike - something like a Montesa 315 (2 stroke 250cc) or a Beta Rev 3 (also 2 stroke but available as either a 200cc or 250cc - don't go for a 270cc as the power will get a beginner in all sorts of bother). Gas Gas and Sherco also do 200 and 250cc models but my preference would be Montesa (Honda engine and utterly reliable + great build quality). Check for wear in the rear suspension linkage whatever you look at as this area of the bike can be expensive to refurbish (bearings, seals, bushings, etc.).

If you have £1,000 - £2,000 you will be looking at late 2000s models of the above and possibly even next range up of Beta Evo bikes, Sherco and Gas Gas

 

Riding gear: Wulfsport do a good range that is not as expensive as the Hebo or Clice ranges.

 

Boots: take your pick - Gaerne are probably the best (I will now be shot down for stating them as probably the best!!). Slightly cheaper but very good are Stylmartin or Forma or GAR - approx. £140 for a pair

 

Helmet: Nau used to be good value for money. Hebo do some nicely styled and sensibly priced ones. The top-end ones are Jitsie or Airoh (here come those bullets again...)

 

I know we are not meant to favour a particular outlet but there is a shop near Stroud that is run by trials enthusiasts for trials in particular (anagram = TOMB MOV. I also note that they are trialscentral.com site sponsors - top banner usually) and they can help you with riding kit, spares, etc. Check them out - they are the closest specialist to you I think.

 

Getting riding: Well, you probably need to join a Club so you can get tips and find somewhere to practise - legally... Redditch MCC is a great local club to you with really good guys that encourage new riders - not sure what practising areas they have though. Another one a bit further south is Zona 1 MCC - they are based around Gloucester which is a bit of a journey. however the best thing is that they have their own patch of land at a place called Birdlip just off the A419. This is run by them and as a member you can get regular access to this site by paying a subscription in addition to your club membership. Malvern and Storridge clubs are also near you so you could check them out too. Most clubs have websites nowadays. The Western Centre covers your area and there are plenty of events that they run, with courses tailored to provide for every ability and skill level.

 

 

Hope this helps you get started

Edited by 4ourtea
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Thanks for the reply, gives me some good starters. I'll drop a few clubs an email, I'm located in Bromsgrove so Redditch seems a good club to start with, I'll see if there's a local trial I can go along to for a look. Hopefully I can find somewhere nice and easy just to get use to a trials bike after riding sports bikes and find some experienced riders willing to offer some pointers to get started. Long term I would like to some novice/beginner trials.

Budget wise it's a bit tight to be honest. I'd be hoping for a bike up to a maximum of around 1200. A montesa or beta were the two I have been looking more closely at, the montesa would be the bike I would choose if I can find one in budget as it seems to have good reviews for beginners, happy to do any general maintanence myself. The chap I'm hoping to start riding with is a ex mx rider and good with the spanners and has offered some help if there are any headaches along the way.I think he's also joined and posted in this section as well.

As for riding gear I'm hoping just to pick up the essentials, second hand if needs be and add as I go along. I may well take a trip down to Stroud to have a look what's on offer and get a feel for what I need.

I'd like to get a bike and some essential gear to start around the 1500-1600 marker if possible, as I don't think having an expensive bike and gear will make any difference to me at this stage. If needs be I can go a bit higher?

Thanks again for the advice

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That sounds like a royal pain. Is there any specific years to avoid or ways to spot any potential problems when viewing?

 

It is sounding more like a montesa would be the way to go. I have found some bikes around 1998/2000 on fleabay close enough to budget, I seem to keep finding these three and the odd mid nineties Beta Techno.

 

Montesa 315R 1999 - £1295

Beta Rev 3 250 2002 - £1295

Gas Gas Contact 250 1996 - £1150 seems a lot for the year?

 

 

Would there be anything to worry too much about with one of these three, assuming they aren't basket cases!

Edited by dan929
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Hi Dan

 

I'm from Redditch  

Have a look at the link for practice grounds.  I'm a members of stourbridge club a great club to start with and lots of like minded people to help newbies!

bikes rev3's are fab i started on a 200cc brilliant  i wouldn't go bigger than a 250 as a beginner no mauler how tempting a bigger bike is.

it will just discourage you. 

 

Use trials boots not mx boots maybe 2nd hand? they are massively different.

trials lid gloves  armour if you really need it some people do this.

jeans and a t-shirt will get you going no spandex required  :icon_salut:

 

if you need more info please ask! 

 

Rich

 

 

http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/57696-practice-grounds-in-the-midlands/

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Hi Rich,

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll stick to 250cc as a maximum size then. Hoping to find something pretty soon but I have booked a training school day early next year so may hang on until I have given that a go before buying a bike unless temptation gets the better of me in the meantime.

 

The places in the link look good and are quite local to me, do you know of any upcoming trials I could go to and take a look at?

 

I'm keeping an eye out for some cheap or second hands boots and I guess some mx trousers would do the job.

 

Is there a contact I can contact at Stourbridge about joining/finding out where I can meet a few people?

 

Thanks again

 

Dan

 

 

 

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Hi dan look at

Stratford upon Avon

Evesham

Bewdley

Stourbridge

Kings norton

Earl shilton (estc) clubs

Not all clubs post their events on here so go direct to their own websites.

Clubs vary in difficulty from easy to you might die

Don't let this put you off we can't all be Toni bou

Mx trousers will do

Tubbys are out lot if you fancy meeting up we can teach you to fall off in style!!

Local ish trial http://www.trialscentral.com/events-calendar/eventdetail/3431/-/estc-santa-claus-trial

Chat to Dave on this link http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/57451-stourbridge-trial-tubby-trials-team/?fromsearch=1

He's a involved with the Stourbridge club or ask for Pete

Hope this helps!

Rich

Edited by rij
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Hi Rich,

I'm hoping to get a bike and transport sorted out over Christmas, think I've settled on a beta rev3 as there seems a few around my budget. Just on the hunt for some boots and trousers to go with it and I'll be good to make a fool of myself!

Defiantly looking for easy, but would love to get good enough to at least take part in a trial sometime in the future.

It would be brilliant to meet up to do some practicing and get the art of falling off sorted! Another chap from my work is having a go as well so there could be two of us doing the falling off. I guess it's best to let you know when I'm sorted and see when you're next out?

I'm really impressed with how helpful everyone I have contacted and asked questions over the last week or so, and how accessible it seems to be even to a total beginner.

Thanks again

Dan

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Hi Rich,

 

I'll be on in-laws duty boxing day so wont be able to make that one, appreciate the offer though. I think there is a trial on over at Broadway this weekend I'll try to take a look at with my mate.

 

Dan

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