Decisions, decisions

Well this weekend tried a Scorpa 250, Sherco 290 & Beta 250 (all full on trials bikes). Oh dear what a dilema -

Scorpa - super smooth & fantastic build quality - heads choice but would I be happy with an (allegedly) slightly less competitive steed.

Sherco felt just like a modern version of the old Bultacos I used to ride - at home straight away with handling - build quality fine - except after seeing the Scorpa not so hot.

Beta - on a par with the Sherco but told virtually all have probs with carb flooding if you dont remember to shut the fuel off every time you stop & electrics suspect.

GasGas - Warned by several folks that the were a bit on the fierce side with even more suspect build quality - but probably ought to try one anyway.

Currently Heart Sherco / Beta.......Head Scorpa

Looks like it's off to another trial this Sunday to try to decide Don't want to make the wrong decision but can't wait to get on one again

Ade

If its the Scorpa with the old Yam engine it is a beaut. Nice manageable power and build is good. What do you want to start back on? A rocket ship or a good clubman spec bike. Too many riders come back into trials thinking they are going into an arena trial and soon find they are outbiked big time.

Have had lots of gassers and never had problems with one, trials and enduros. Had an early Scorpa and regretted selling it for a Montessa. Given the trials lark up for a while but if the four strokes come back into fashion and they get the weight and torque right I will get back into it pronto.

I really like my 4RT and find it easier to ride than a 2 stroke, for my Clubman abilities

GO GASGAS

I've had a few trials now and ride a Repsol4RT just cos of its mega bling and it's soft and gentle on my busted bones. But a Gasser will always be at the top of my list. They are only as nasty as you want, with a slow action throttle and a head spacer you can turn even the 280 into a pussycat. don't be fooled by the way into thinking you need the biggest. the 250 is ample for almost everyone, I trialed a 200 and i'm 16stone and 6'2". the 280 is the most hardcore and the 300 with a little fettling can be turned into an ace clubman tool. The service from GasGas is second to none, it's run by guys who compete and love the sport, they are super helpfull and what they don't know about there products isn't worth knowing. Parts arrive next day and in the 7 years i've delt with GasgaS ive only known them not get me a part once when it wasn't in stock.
Sherco's scorpa's beta's are all good bikes but there harder to work on, there parts backup isn't a good and hand on heart the build quality of gassers is as good as any now.
example. I enduro'd a 300 gasser for 3 years, every weekend I either raced a 3 hour event or did some pretty hardcore greenlaning, I all that time i replaced 1 set of reads, 1 clutch and a set of rings (didnt need it but i was being safe) and a set of swingarm bearings (cos i abused it with a jet washer)
the thing never let me down, started first time every time and the secret to this is simple Change the oil and filters very very often and ride it as often as you can. My gasser is still out there racing, its now 5 years old and it's had a hard life but when i saw the guy who's now got it i said 2You not fancy the new one then" and he said "Naar, this old thing just keeps going and going, I recon i'll die before it does."
What else can i say......

Wot he said.
My Beta was a problem to get parts for.
Not ridden the Scorpa or the Sherco, both of them look gorgeous though.
My mates Gassers are very reliable, after the initial settling in period, (PDI doesn't seem to have been invented in Spain ) and parts have never been an issue. They seem to specialise in "rideable" bikes.I've done a lot of playing around on the 200 trials, and would have one if there was room in my garage (or life for that matter!)
HTH
Mark

Well i've had Beta's, Montessa's, Sherco's and the Scorpa beats them all as a club bike. Friendly reliable engine with superb traction.

Gas Gas every time. If it's too fierce buy the head spacer to slow it down a touch. Easy to ride and better than I'll ever be (especially as I haven't ridden for ages).
Got to say try a 300. I actually find the power easier than on my 280TXT even with the head spacer.
Whatever you buy I'm sure you'll be happy, but the Gasser has been super reliable. I know that although I haven't used it for months, I'll go to the garage and the beast will start within 3 kicks. She's a beaut!!!

You need to look at the Gas Gas Ade. They are super bikes and the spares / support are second to none. The distributor isn't very far away from us either - John Shirt Nr Buxton,
http://www.gasgasuk.com/new/page1.htm

Have a look here as well.......
http://www.gasgas.com/Pages/Technical/Home.html

rode the beta 4 stroke at the weekend that was the dogs! im biasd 2wards beta but they are very low maintanence,u rarely have to touch them, the trouble with the gasser is they get a bit spanner sick if u r taking the carb off regululy. scorpa is a great bike and v user frendly lovly suspention and great engine never been a fan of sherco but the new ones look nice, the beta flooding hasnt hapend on the lst 3 bikes, and on the 03 bike i just put a new carb valve in and it was sorted

I agree with Flipfly, try a 300. Loads of low down grunt means less gear changes and more traction. However......... I broke the frame on my 300 gasser (I'm 11 stone and not that mental) and my mate switched to Beta's after busting 2.
I prefered the beta 270 (or was it 280,can't remember now) in every respect once i'd ridden one and the build quality / finish on the beta's is second to none.
At the end of the day the bike you feel most comfortable on is the bike that'll give you more confidence to try harder obstacles/sections.
If you can try a bike, try it for a day or so as a quick 20 minute blat doesn't give you chance to get used to it

PIGGLET said:

I agree with Flipfly, try a 300. Loads of low down grunt means less gear changes and more traction. However......... I broke the frame on my 300 gasser (I'm 11 stone and not that mental) and my mate switched to Beta's after busting 2.

Click to expand...

Strange recommendation PIGGLET - best bike in terms of power but fragile frame goes against my ideas of the ideal bike for trials - for me anyway

Thanks for the info tho' - reflects what an old mate of mine said last weekend (he observes regularly) that he'd seen more broken Gassers than any of the other marques.

Ade

Yeah, contradicted myself a bit there eh

It was probably just a bad batch as mine and my mates were of the same year, Phil also gave his quite a bit of abuse as he used to ride nationals. You see plenty of people riding them so they can't be all bad.

Engineering wise I thought the Beta rev3 was in a different league though.

Best fun wi me keks on for years!!

Well now I've done four trials in four weekends & got to say as well as having brilliant fun I'm feeeling fitter than I've done for years. This is super fun, good friendly folks and sad though it is to say it, that fantastic GSA has been sorely neglected in the riding stakes recently - got to recommend giving this trials lark a go - you won't regret it - except in the pocket stakes perhaps Oh and the fact that the missus thinks it's barmy to come home with bruises every time and say you've had brilliant fun - doesn't mind though - she's a good un

Keep them feet up

Ade