Pondering having a toe in the Trials water. Possibly refurbishing a classic twin shock, or more modern kit. Tiny budget. Anybody with trials experience on here?
Yeah, trials bikes in your garage attracts the who’s who of thieving gypo bastards… I’ve thought about a crosser but can’t be arsed with the attention from our charming local Romany types. I’m off to Southern Europe this year on a wey hey the lads biking holiday. For the crosser section I’ll be hiring bike and kit….
A little, my lad and I did it for a couple of seasons. Great fun, he on a Sherco 125 me on a 250 Beta Rev3. We were paid up AMCA members and rode their courses mostly, we tried a few ACU events which were a whole next level. Both of those organisations issue on the day licences too. Some of the course setters can get carried away with what they think a Beginner route should be, but on the whole it’s a fun day out. If you’re buying modern nowt over a 250 IMO, you can have too much power. There is a large trials club up in Leeds, Bushy trials from memory that give experience days. I see you are in Northumbria, anywhere near Kielder. Only ask as from MTB eventing up there it’s death to anything mechanical. It’s called Killer Kielder for a reason. You may struggle getting a classic twin shock with a tiny budget.
I rode for a good few years in twin shock, pre 65 and modern on a variety of machines. Ty250 for twin shock, 250 james for pre65 and a ty mono in modern trials. Most fun was pre65, mostly natural sections. But, pre65 don't come cheap for a sorted bike. Twin shock was value as I ran a ty 250 twin shock, spares are cheap ish and readily available. Sections on twin shock trials can be quite daunting, even on club route. Modern trials have probably the best variety of routes as they try to cater for all abilities. The hard routes on modern trials are truly frightening hahaha. It's much much harder than it looks. I used to have a practice day on Saturday and trial on Sunday. I'd set sections and flags out during practice. It's important to do that as just dicking about in the muck teaches you nothing, you've got to fight to stay in the flags. Expect to crash a lot, but, they're usually slow and easy falls. I've seen broken bones at trials though, so it's not totally without risk. My advice is to go modern before twin shock, as i said, twin shock trials can be tough and unforgiving. Those that set out the twin shock sections seem to expect a certain level of ability. Which is somewhat true really, as most of entry are older and very experienced. Great fun though but by no means a cheap hobby.
Thanks to @H2pots and @DucatiScud I hankered after older kit, but was concerned about crashing it. There’s a ‘76 Bultaco Sherpa almost fully restored nearby for £1800,but hear what you say about beginner’s course difficulty, and the likelihood of my wrecking a just-finished classic! Appreciate the warning about going iverboard on the cc, too I’m calling at a local MX suspension specialist tomorrow to see if he has any lines to take. Perhaps a newer model (‘00s) might survive my growing pains? Also have to find a way to transport the thing. May try to build my own bike trailer.
A) Would the damage from crashing be worse on a twinshock compared to the (seemingly quite bare) modern kit? B) are twinshock/classic events widespread, or would I be restricting myself if I went down that route?
Find a local club either ACU or AMCA go along and take a look, they will always be looking for observers and helpers. Trials people are very friendly and open to chat and offer advice. There is a massive difference between riding a modern bike and twin shock but most trials have suitable routes for beginners and some have practice days. It’s a great sport, the cheapest form of motorsport and as serious as you wish to make it. Find a friend to start with and let the fun begin
A) not really, everything is usually repairable. Nothing looks mint for long if you trial it regularly. They stand up well though. Mudguards, levers, chains n sprockets etc are consumables. No controls are ever tight on a trial bike, they'll move rather than snap when you wallop em. B) yes, there's an healthy following. You can always ride a pre 65 in any trial, twinshock, modern all allow pre 65, and you do get lads riding em, especially on the easier routes.
I have been riding off road for nearly 40 years, firstly mx then enduro and green lanes. Last year a bought a Vertigo 300 trials bike and ride around our field doing some wheelies, tight turns and a bit of balancing etc. entered a local trial for £15, thinking how hard can it be……. Well after doing 5 of the 15 sections I threw the bike in the van. Man its not as easy as it looks. I can ride a bike off road fast but riding it slowly really is a different thing all together. I still get the Vertigo out and ride it around and also take it to a trials/extreme enduro play area and I’m getting better with practice. If you do go for a modern bike as already said 250 max, my 300 2 stroke has unbelievable torque which quickly turns into wheelies and wheel spins.
Vertigo are such nice bikes just to look at especially the Ti version. I’ve seen a few do that even the experts sometimes throw the towel in, as have my Son and me on a particularly difficult Water based trial. Not sure what it is but trials riders seem obsessed with streams and other water obstacles. We found having lessons was a huge benefit, I appreciate you’re not near North Staffs I went here as well as another trials school but this was the better IME, we also had a couple of lessons at a trials club we joined that had it’s own practice/competition site which was good. https://www.trials-school.co.uk/
For a single trials bike, you really don’t need a trailer. Google images for “trials bike carrier” and you will see what I mean. Cheap, reliable and convenient.
I now have an eye on: 2009 GasGas 300 Pro 2008 Beta 250 Perhaps the 300 is a bit too much for a novice? (I’ve only ever done a MotoScotland day)? The Beta is well within budget, the other at the top of what I want to spend. Any thoughts?
I’d avoid the 300 as a novice, they’re for experts, ithe Beta 250 I have is a great bit of kit and more than adequate .
The Beta will be easier to ride but has a left hand side kick start which some find harder to kick. Don’t be put off by the 300. Fit a slow action throttle tube ( black ) and drop the front sprocket to a 10 tooth.
As we are all pretty much committed Italophiles on here, you would also “keep it Tricolore” if you bought the Beta
