Discussion
Anyone know about trials bikes?
I'm thinking about getting one to mess about with in the garden.
I've got about 1 acre of woodland can set up logs / trunks etc and it already has some 'terraced' areas made from sleepers etc.
What should I be looking at Gas Gas / Montesa etc? Budget is just over £1K but don't want to spend more than I need to. There is a nice looking Gas Gas TX 250 (of 1999 vintage) that has caught my eye on ebay.
Am I right to assume that most trials bikes will be four stroke?
I'm thinking about getting one to mess about with in the garden.
I've got about 1 acre of woodland can set up logs / trunks etc and it already has some 'terraced' areas made from sleepers etc.
What should I be looking at Gas Gas / Montesa etc? Budget is just over £1K but don't want to spend more than I need to. There is a nice looking Gas Gas TX 250 (of 1999 vintage) that has caught my eye on ebay.
Am I right to assume that most trials bikes will be four stroke?
My Speciality. My Son is currently awaiting his new bike. At a Thousand pounds you would be best looking for a BETA REV3 or Montesa 315R. They are rugged enough to handle being "old". You may be able to find a Yamaha engined Scorpa if you are lucky. The engine on those is pretty tough and the parts are readily available. The company did change hands and the later "orange" bikes are Built by Sherco with Sherco engines.
The Major parts that tend to go cycle wise are mainly wheel and suspension bearings Brake cylinder kits for the foot brake are also something to look for. Mud tends to get into them and if jet washed too rigorously they tend to wear out. Just check for looseness or wobbles when pressure is applied.
Engine wise most are liquid cooled Two Strokes so check the fan comes on and coolant is OK. Radiators can be holed if the bike lands awkwardly but again it's a relatively cheap fix providing the engine is good. Air filters should be removed and cleaned after each weekend. Most Bikes run the Dellorto with the Specials having the Kehin PWK28 to increase performance. So long as a good synthetic two stroke oil is used you should be OK. 75ml or oil to 5 litres of fuel is usually OK. Some prefer to add a little extra and if the bike is too smokey when warm it's too much. Many of the bikes like 99 RON fuel but 95 is more than good enough.
Specifics
Beta.
The REV-3 is the oldest bike you should look at. Some early models had Upside down forks which are worthless in Trials. Some bikes had Stator problems but the Importer replaced all those brought to his attention so make sure it was done. On early bikes the mudguard came off to get to the Air filter this was changed after 2006 I think and they have a removable panel. The 200 is the favourite starter bike but there are more 250's and they are not going to bite.
Gas Gas
In this price range you have the TXT and the early TXT PRO. The TXT and previous models are in comparison a bit heavy and look less svelte than the PRO's. They are considered pretty rugged however. The PRO did not really mature until the 2005 models. The gearbox is a work of art and the clutch is a diaphragm model. It is noisy when in neutral but should be ok when in gear.
Sherco
You will not see the latest model in this price bracket. The ones you do see if it is a looked after version should be a good bet. The engine in the bikes up to 2009 is pretty bulletproof. Some reckon the 290 Model to be easier than the 250 as many 250's were rev happy monsters better for experienced riders but most were turned down by the owners. Air Filter is under the rear guard and it can get dirty but mostly it seems to work.
Montesa
The 315R is a good starter bike as it of all of them the one you could abuse a bit on maintenance. Get as new a one as you can afford and buy on condition. Parts are easily available even if the importer has changed a couple of times recently. The 4RT 4 stroke replaced it but they are over £2.5k mainly and very different to ride.
Scorpa
Avoid the Rotax bikes they are too old. The Yamaha engined bikes produced in France were pretty good and parts are available.
Xispa
Derided as a Sherco copy. Not many about
Jotagas and Ossa Lovely bikes but none about under £3k.
Get a good pair of boots and gloves to go with a lightweight Open face helmet. Airoh, Hebo, Wulf, Nau and Torx as well as NZI all produce good helmets for Trials.
Tyres are mainly Michelin's, IRC and Dunlop others are about but they are too hard and do not ride well. All rear tyres have lines on the "knobbles" if worn off the tyre is past it's best. Front tyres just need Knobbles. Rears are usually tubeless.
The Major parts that tend to go cycle wise are mainly wheel and suspension bearings Brake cylinder kits for the foot brake are also something to look for. Mud tends to get into them and if jet washed too rigorously they tend to wear out. Just check for looseness or wobbles when pressure is applied.
Engine wise most are liquid cooled Two Strokes so check the fan comes on and coolant is OK. Radiators can be holed if the bike lands awkwardly but again it's a relatively cheap fix providing the engine is good. Air filters should be removed and cleaned after each weekend. Most Bikes run the Dellorto with the Specials having the Kehin PWK28 to increase performance. So long as a good synthetic two stroke oil is used you should be OK. 75ml or oil to 5 litres of fuel is usually OK. Some prefer to add a little extra and if the bike is too smokey when warm it's too much. Many of the bikes like 99 RON fuel but 95 is more than good enough.
Specifics
Beta.
The REV-3 is the oldest bike you should look at. Some early models had Upside down forks which are worthless in Trials. Some bikes had Stator problems but the Importer replaced all those brought to his attention so make sure it was done. On early bikes the mudguard came off to get to the Air filter this was changed after 2006 I think and they have a removable panel. The 200 is the favourite starter bike but there are more 250's and they are not going to bite.
Gas Gas
In this price range you have the TXT and the early TXT PRO. The TXT and previous models are in comparison a bit heavy and look less svelte than the PRO's. They are considered pretty rugged however. The PRO did not really mature until the 2005 models. The gearbox is a work of art and the clutch is a diaphragm model. It is noisy when in neutral but should be ok when in gear.
Sherco
You will not see the latest model in this price bracket. The ones you do see if it is a looked after version should be a good bet. The engine in the bikes up to 2009 is pretty bulletproof. Some reckon the 290 Model to be easier than the 250 as many 250's were rev happy monsters better for experienced riders but most were turned down by the owners. Air Filter is under the rear guard and it can get dirty but mostly it seems to work.
Montesa
The 315R is a good starter bike as it of all of them the one you could abuse a bit on maintenance. Get as new a one as you can afford and buy on condition. Parts are easily available even if the importer has changed a couple of times recently. The 4RT 4 stroke replaced it but they are over £2.5k mainly and very different to ride.
Scorpa
Avoid the Rotax bikes they are too old. The Yamaha engined bikes produced in France were pretty good and parts are available.
Xispa
Derided as a Sherco copy. Not many about
Jotagas and Ossa Lovely bikes but none about under £3k.
Get a good pair of boots and gloves to go with a lightweight Open face helmet. Airoh, Hebo, Wulf, Nau and Torx as well as NZI all produce good helmets for Trials.
Tyres are mainly Michelin's, IRC and Dunlop others are about but they are too hard and do not ride well. All rear tyres have lines on the "knobbles" if worn off the tyre is past it's best. Front tyres just need Knobbles. Rears are usually tubeless.
Edited by telecat on Sunday 10th November 12:47
Question for you trials bike fellas, my cheap Gas Gas 280 txt that I bought last week has a couple of problems - which is expected for the amount of money I paid for it really.
Nothing major but hopefully you guys can help me, the brake and clutch is really poor, I've tried bleeding it and to be honest it didn't make it much better!
The front pads are really low, so I'll stick a new set in and see what happens. The clutch feels good but when in gear it carries itself away very slightly as the clutch isn't fully disengaged.
What can I do to fix this? Is this signs of a worn clutch of faulty master / slave cylinder?
Nothing major but hopefully you guys can help me, the brake and clutch is really poor, I've tried bleeding it and to be honest it didn't make it much better!
The front pads are really low, so I'll stick a new set in and see what happens. The clutch feels good but when in gear it carries itself away very slightly as the clutch isn't fully disengaged.
What can I do to fix this? Is this signs of a worn clutch of faulty master / slave cylinder?
Maz_uk said:
Question for you trials bike fellas, my cheap Gas Gas 280 txt that I bought last week has a couple of problems - which is expected for the amount of money I paid for it really.
Nothing major but hopefully you guys can help me, the brake and clutch is really poor, I've tried bleeding it and to be honest it didn't make it much better!
The front pads are really low, so I'll stick a new set in and see what happens. The clutch feels good but when in gear it carries itself away very slightly as the clutch isn't fully disengaged.
What can I do to fix this? Is this signs of a worn clutch of faulty master / slave cylinder?
If it's the TXT then I would put in the new pads first and check. If it's the PRO model I sort of expect a bit of drag on the clutch. Using ATF will help. I would need to know the year before giving any further advice as the fluid used for the clutch hydraulics changed to LHM whereas the brake Hydraulics use standard DOT 4.Nothing major but hopefully you guys can help me, the brake and clutch is really poor, I've tried bleeding it and to be honest it didn't make it much better!
The front pads are really low, so I'll stick a new set in and see what happens. The clutch feels good but when in gear it carries itself away very slightly as the clutch isn't fully disengaged.
What can I do to fix this? Is this signs of a worn clutch of faulty master / slave cylinder?
telecat said:
If it's the TXT then I would put in the new pads first and check. If it's the PRO model I sort of expect a bit of drag on the clutch. Using ATF will help. I would need to know the year before giving any further advice as the fluid used for the clutch hydraulics changed to LHM whereas the brake Hydraulics use standard DOT 4.
Hi Telecat. Not sure if you recall but I contacted you an age ago about trials bikes after a 25 year 'holiday' from the sport!Ended up with a four stroke Beta Rev which has been great. Went practicing with my old trials riding mate (Rob Warner of downhill mountain bike fame) and ended up knackering my knee in a quarry! Took about a year to be 'right' again.
Anyway, did my first trial (a weekend affair so in at the deepend with two trials on consecutive days) earlier in the year - won my class on day 1 and 3rd on day two (rode a harder class on day two). Loved every minute of it and great to be back in the sport. Aiming to do all club rounds next year (North Berks). Hopefully we'll bump into each other at a section in the future.
telecat said:
If it's the TXT then I would put in the new pads first and check. If it's the PRO model I sort of expect a bit of drag on the clutch. Using ATF will help. I would need to know the year before giving any further advice as the fluid used for the clutch hydraulics changed to LHM whereas the brake Hydraulics use standard DOT 4.
The front brake is a little better now as it must have had air in the pipes, I will cable tie the lever down overnight to see if it gets any better.I think it's a txt and not a pro, any idea how to check?
Leave it to the push-bikers! (shameless excuse to post this video...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3xVOs7_No
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3xVOs7_No
Yazza54 said:
I'd love a trials bike, they just look awesome. Like a full suspension mountain bike on steroids 
I notice none of those in the pics above have anything in the way of an expansion chamber?
Maximum Power isn't the object here. You need Torque and engine pick up speed. Having said that if you look behind the Jotagas's Shock the exhaust box is a lot bigger than those on a road 2T.I notice none of those in the pics above have anything in the way of an expansion chamber?
Still around. My Son is Now 26 and buying his own bikes. Since the Jotagas he has had a Ossa TR300i and lately Vertigo Combat's. He currently rides a Vertigo Fajardo 300 Replica and finds it a big improvement on the original Combat. He commutes down from Edinburgh to ride so competition wise he does Saturday Trials as often as he can.
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