trialsmax04

Im hoping to take the MTB when my girlfriend and I head up to Snowdon for a week in the summer. We will be camping at Lyn Gwynant between Betws y coed, and Beddgelert. Anyone know of any little local trail gems? Will need something tame to take my girlfriend on, but would love to sneak out for a few hours on a harder trail too. Any help would be great! Max Edit: Now planning on a later weekend away with just "the boys" in the middle - end of the summer, riding in south Wales. Thinking Cwmcarn and Afan. Any other gems around? Picked up this months MBUK and hear the Skyline trail at Afan is closing? Is it worth a punt before it goes? sorry to pick all your brains, suppose its a good thread to have in the bike chat anyway?

Heath, you know that's dirty :$

Muscle is good there is no doubting that. But, static gym equipment builds ridged muscle. It is far beneficiary to swim (muscle with flexibility, or use gymnastics equipment (for balance exercises).

Baz Luhrman. Perfect.

I love you! :$ Cant wait to ride some moto with you man

Smart trousers, shirt and tie. Clean/polished shoes are a must!

Sorry dude, im not really helping much now. Its personal preferance. Try them and see!

Fluffy is hard to define I spose im getting at its perhaps not as responsive or as clean revving as the others. The engine tends to over-run when you shut off a bit more than the others, so the bike lends itself to being ridden in one gear, by rolling the power on and off. But again, I cannot comment on the setups of the ones I have ridden. Never likes the non re-pack able exhaust on the sherco's and the Scorpa's either.

The Scorpa's (at least the ones I have ridden) have had a reasonably fluffy type power. This combined with the suspension setup (linkless rear shock, linear feel, almost spongey) gives a very forgiving ride, although must be set up with a touch more damping to settle the bike. The Betas and most other bikes I have ridden have more of a progressive feel, where you wont feel them bottom out as such. Beta's set up soft track lovely and grip well. Sherco's have a harsh type of power which seams to rip your arms off. Now this is not applicable for all sherco's (as all bikes) as they can be geared lower to be more forgiving. The high torque of the sherco motor has a tendency to break grip easy. Depending on preference, a fly wheel weight and a slow throttle can be added here. You will find a bike that suits you when you ride it. The Beta's are great and I loved my 07 125. However I found the suspension design (upright linkless) was almost too clever for its own good. Im a fair size lad 13 stone, and blew the seals on my shock 3 times in two years. But having said that there are no linkage bearings to worry about (like the scorpa), but the Rev3 rear end is far superior to the Scorpa in my opinion. Sherco's are great, and I have tried to give an honest opinion. They work well for loads of people, but there just not my cup of tea.

I rode an 06 Scorpa 250 (There all pretty much the same from 2001-2008) at a trial once when I drowned my Beta. I wouldnt ever say that there underpowered. But is is a differnt type of power than an "average" bike and I found them a bit fluffy. Now that statement is obviously flawed, as Joe Baker and numerous other experts manage to make them work well. Compared the Scorpa to my GasGas 250 and the Gasgas is much more of a handfull. The power is snappy and could get you into trouble if used wrongly. But again that statement is flawed, due to 99% of the time all bikes feel differnt due to set up, or lack of it! Bottom line, go to a trial and ask to try some bikes. If your looking for an easy ride with little/ no maintenance (although, maintenance is key on any bike) look for a Scorpa or Montesa. If your happy with spending a few hours on your bike then look at the one that you suit best when you have a little go. Gasgas are fairly snappy. Sherco's pull well, but like the gasser's punish bad maintenance. Beta's are renowned for being very "planted" which makes them good bikes. When buying one look for oil on the rear shock stanchion. This is a sign of the seals gone, meaning they will need to be re-done immediately to prevent further damage (Beta UK - only place that do this, around £100. Im a firm believer in good maintenance however and will still stress that this is key on all of them to be good bikes. Keep the suspension bearings lubes with good grease every few months (or less) to save on a yearly £200 pay out on bearings. Clean the carb regulary or when needed. Clean the air filter every time out. Pressure wash the chain (yes you are reading this right!) after a ride. Then after washing thoroughly spray with WD40/GT85 to get rid of the water. Then use a good quality chain lube. Change the gear oil around 5-6 outings (more if beta or montessa). Some say every outing but that is over-kill. After washing spray GT85 on the fork stanchions and rear shock. This lubes the seals and makes them last longer. Use a good quality two stroke oil (VITAL!). Castrol TTS, Poutoline MX5/MX7, Ipone, Silkoline. Nothing cheap, it really is a silly thing to do. Happy days If you buy from ebay, please look at the bike before stumping up the cash. Its surprising how easy it is to make one look good in the photos! (all this post isnt slating you or anything. Its just my tuppence worth on the subject, and as there are often topics on moto trials, thought it would be an idea to help everyone out!) Max

Hope you have £6k for one of those bad boys..... Generally id say get a Beta. Evo's are amazing but the slightly older rev3's are good when ridden in an novice/intermediate route. Ive never liked GasGas (always a Beta guy)but I picked one up last year in spotless condition and im loving it! Although be warned, newer Gasgas and sherco punish bad maintenance! So if you do.... look after it!! If you want a truly buy and forget bike, look for a decent Montesa 315r (250cc). They have the Honda engines and will live forever! Other parts like suspention bits ect are very expensive. Scorpa's are great if you get on with them. They have a very "soft" type of ride and are very forgiving, Yamaha engines, very bombproof!!

I knew id get it wrong!!

Im 99.9% sure you will be fine. But IIRC that's the pitch measurement for the chain?

Trialtech Lite / Z610hx From Here

Garden looks the dogs! Wasn't a fan of the sped-up footage though :/ sorry.

Heatsink Yellow pads are the best out by far!

Brilliant!

"Trialsmax" Was just starting to get into it too

Seamed alright in the end. But he flooded my mine, and threw lava everywhere.

Who the hell is Histy bloke? Andy gave me loads of help and this douche killed me!!!

Honest to god, i dont use anything else bit good old fashioned saliva.....

well that was a waste of £13.....

Spit.

By far your best vid so far. Decent riding man! For some weird reason i love the way you stand on a bike :$