Trials riding - Talk to me.

[400bandit]

Hi BCF,

I have recently sold my speed triple and currently do not have a working bike. I don't have bundles of money nor time. I'm thinking of getting myself a trials bike. My Dad did it when he was a young un and was pretty good. He hasn't done it in years but always bangs on about how good a rider it makes you on any type of bike. It seems they can be had quite cheap and the up keep seems easy enough as they aren't the peaky engines in a moto crosser. I used to love watching it when I was a young lad on Eurosport and fancy giving it a go, I am well aware I will never be Dougie Lampkin!

What would you recommend as a first bike? I don't want to spend much, 800 max, 600 would be nicer. I was think of a late 90's gas gas 250?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[G]

The stuff I have read about the Gas Gas's suggests their engines are a bit revvy and can be a bit of hard work.

The Montesa 315r is supposed to make a good beginners bike from my research; it'll be the top end of your budget for an older one, though seen them go for less on ebay.
I ended up with a Beta Rev3 which I got for £650 in a bit of a tatty state. The bike's way better than me, so happy with it.

[400bandit]

Thanks for the advice, I'm pretty sure what ever I get will be far better than me I don't mind tatty, as long as it is mechanically fine. I'd quite like it to be road legal so I could ride it to my Dads field (literally 1.5miles up the road, never more than 30mph). On a side note, is a Montessa a Honda?

Cheers,

Joe
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[G]

Montesa is a honda, basically, yes.
Much harder to find a road legal trials bike than enduro say, as they're a lot less practical. Do get a few around, however.

[HoggyF]

Do it - you won't regret it.
Seriously though, I started this year, never ridden a trials bike before but had ridden green lanes etc and thought it would be fairly easy, my first ride on my bike was straight into a trial as persuaded by a mate of mine, it was bloody hard and after now having done 4 trials i really need somewhere to practise, I can get round a trial and not come last (close though) but struggle with the steep steps coz I don't practise, all i get is to launch myself at them.
I bought a 97 Gas Gas JtX 250 off evilbay, and really only bought it because it was cheap and in really good nick, its been no bother, starts easily and has plenty of power, had a go on a couple of newer ones, an 05 & an 06 280 and they are better, but not massively, also ridden a Mont and wasn't that impressed to be honest. Definately buy on condition (both bike and owner) not on age.

I wouldn't contemplate riding it 1.5 miles coz you can't sit down on them.

Good luck, you'lll love it.

[Blue_SV650S]

I'm not sure how much trails riding transfers/translates to the road to be honest, it is such a different set of techniques ...

When you buy a trials bike, make sure you check things like linkages and bearings, C&S and tyres ... all the above take a hammering and will soon turn a 'cheap' bike into a pricey one if you have to replace the lot!!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[HoggyF]

Good point

they're also fiddly to work on coz everythings so small but in my experience not too pricey.

A trial has got to be the cheapest motorsport out there though, £15.00 entry and about £5.00 petrol for a full days competition.

You don't have to spend much on a bike though as the rider makes more difference than the bike - beware the old blokes with beards, they'll have been riding for years and "seem" to use no effort and just cruise round all day feet up.

If you fancy a go find a local trial and ask people for a quick ride by saying your interested in starting, they're a friendly bunch in my experience.

[400bandit]

I'm definitely going to get one. Looking around there seems to be lot of people who rate the Montesa over the Gas Gas and vice versa. I'm pretty sure what ever I get will be waaaaaay better than I'll ever be. The trouble at the moment is finding one down south (east)! They are all in Yorkshire it seems! Anyone got one they want to sell?

Cheers,

Joe
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[G]

Have you had a look at trials central's classifieds board? If not, that's a good start, though I got mine from Lancashire .

[400bandit]

Yeah I had a quick look on there but they are all new bikes or up t' north!

I'll keep looking.

Joe
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[BigTobyD]

Pistonheads usually has a fair few too....

[Drake]

i personally would like to get into trials, nd im in north yorkshire near all the bikes, i hav a mate who trials regularly , he could be biased but he seems to think that gas gas's seem to be light but weak, his dad has a montesa and uses it often then he has a beta rev 3 125 nd cant fault it but is now wanting more power, id say see wat ya like try get a good buy and i think everything has its pro's and con's