Trials bikes, information request please

Hustler · Dec 5, 2010

I've just been perusing this twinshock trials thread here - http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213537
and found it all very interesting so thank you to all contributers.
Now maybe, just maybe, this might be something I could get into, on a fun basis only.
Questions that spring to mind are - are they road legal?, would you want to use them on the road?, or on the trail?, are there plenty of practice tracks around?, are there plenty around with a seat that you can sit on as I'm not sure I want to be standing all the time?, are there events for beginners or simply easy events as I think I'm more interested in bimbling around rather than tackling some 1 in 2 precipice?.
As you can see I know not a lot about them so any links / information for basic trials information would be most appreciated.
Thanks very much.

JohnnyBoxer · Dec 5, 2010

Hustler said:
I've just been perusing this twinshock trials thread here - http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213537
and found it all very interesting so thank you to all contributers.

Now maybe, just maybe, this might be something I could get into, on a fun basis only. Trials is fun, it is a very relaxed sport

Questions that spring to mind are - are they road legal? Some are, if they were registered, would you want to use them on the road? Not really, flat out is 30mph, or on the trail? Can do if you raise the gearing, are there plenty of practice tracks around? Loads, if you join a Trials Forum or local Trials Club and many have practice grounds, are there plenty around with a seat that you can sit on as I'm not sure I want to be standing all the time? Mostly older Twinshocks, modern bikes have no seat (see mine), are there events for beginners or simply easy events as I think I'm more interested in bimbling around rather than tackling some 1 in 2 precipice?. Most trials have 3 routes, basically Easy/Intermediate/Hard.............so you move up as when you're ready and there are some specific beginner's trials
As you can see I know not a lot about them so any links / information for basic trials information would be most appreciated.
Thanks very much.

Here's the Trials equivalent of UKGSER - register and all will be yours

http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/

Hustler · Dec 5, 2010

JohnnyBoxer said:
Here's the Trials equivalent of UKGSER - register and all will be yours

http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/

Excellent, most appreciated JB.
And thanks for the informative replies as well.
Right, I'm off to register now, and I may be some time.

FERRET · Dec 5, 2010

Good link Jonny, i hadnt been on that site before

JohnnyBoxer · Dec 5, 2010

FERRET said:
Good link Jonny, i hadnt been on that site before

Blimey, I thought everyone knew.............it is the best Trials Forum on the web, run by 1 man and his word goes.................so that's why it's good

Bit like here

JohnnyBoxer · Dec 5, 2010

Hustler said:
Excellent, most appreciated JB.
And thanks for the informative replies as well.
Right, I'm off to register now, and I may be some time.

Basically it's a fun sport, everone is very friendly in the main and make you welcome

The usual format starts @ 11am on a Sunday on private land - (farm or woods/moors/quarry)

It consists of 3 laps of 12 sections and you normally take 2-3 hours to complete, with the first lap a 'sighting' lap

Each section has a start and a finish, with a prescibed route in between, marked out with different colour flags/markers

Each section will normally have 3 routes, Easy/Intermediate and Hard contained in it

If you don't fancy it, you can ask for a 5 or a 'bye'

Marking is for putting your feet down or failing the section, with 0 being the lowest score and 5 being the maximum score

The person with the lowest score, wins the class and/or the Trial

Only complulsory thing is a helmet and all trials are governed by the ACU and insured by them

There are also road trials, but these are mainly nationals or centre trials and are more difficult, so only some bikes are road registered

Most trials are held on private land, so bikes need not be registered

Ages range from 7 year olds up to 70 year olds, all at the same trial, plus some ladies and girls riding nowadays

JohnnyBoxer · Dec 6, 2010

Just a few points I forgot :blast

Trials are free to spectate at and after a while, you can be an observer(marker) too, most clubs will welcome you with open arms

It costs £10 per year for your ACU Trials licence

Each event costs about £10 on average to enter

Joining a club or clubs, in your local area costs £10 each for the year..............so the costs aren't exhorbitant at all

Most people take their bikes in a van, on a trailer or on a bike rack bolted to the vehicle's towbar

Clothing is relaxed, you can ride in a rugby shirt and jeans if you like - nobody will care.................only helmets are compulsory most of the time, but on some pre65 British bike trials they are not and you can wear a cloth cap :rob

Hope that helps :thumb2

Hustler · Dec 6, 2010

Most appreciated JB.
I have applied to join the http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/
but still awaiting my confirmation email.
Thanks again.

earthmover · Dec 6, 2010

Hustler, if you go to the ACU website, click "latest events", then use the drop down box to enter "trials" and then the month, you'll get a list of the events that are running on any given date. Pick one near to you and go along to watch. There will always be someone there who will show you the ropes, just beware they don't stick a clipboard in your hand and call you an observer!
I used to have a trials bike when I was 18, but as a field bike which I soon swapped for a MX bike. (Timolgra has just bought the same model)
Last Christmas saw me kicking my heels as the ice had put paid to any green lane riding due to the (tarmac) roads being lethal. Bemoaning this fact to some mates in the pub saw one chap chip in that he had been riding the last two weekends without a problem, in local trials events. Turns out that there are 4 venues within 10 miles of my house. I went to watch the next one, decided to give it a go and bought a reasonably cheap Beta off flea bay. (2004 Beta Rev3 250, £1200) I've probably spent a couple of hundred on it since (It wasn't necessary, but I don't like riding something that isn't "right") but trials is not an expensive sport to keep up. Mine is road legal, but that again is only for my benefit, not a necessity.
Hope this helps
Mark

Nasty1 · Feb 16, 2011

Sorry to resurrect and oldish thread but is there any difference to the type of courses set up for the twin shocks and more modern trials bikes? I mean by the nature of the older bikes used twin shock events/sections are inherently easier? I ask as Trials is something I am considering to keep my bike fix going after a road bike accident has left me with a very fragile knee! If there is such a thing I am looking for a low injury risk bike fix.

cheers

Adie

AdamA · Feb 16, 2011

Nasty1 said:
Sorry to resurrect and oldish thread but is there any difference to the type of courses set up for the twin shocks and more modern trials bikes? I mean by the nature of the older bikes used twin shock events/sections are inherently easier? I ask as Trials is something I am considering to keep my bike fix going after a road bike accident has left me with a very fragile knee! If there is such a thing I am looking for a low injury risk bike fix.

cheers

Adie

Eh up Adie. How's tricks?

There's easy routes available for both TS and modern trials.
Take a look at the vids JB stuck up for an example of a TS course:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258308

JohnnyBoxer · Feb 17, 2011

AdamA said:
Eh up Adie. How's tricks?

There's easy routes available for both TS and modern trials.
Take a look at the vids JB stuck up for an example of a TS course:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258308

Echoed.................the white route is very easy, 'bit like a walk in the park'

It won't faze you and you can move up as and when you're ready

Hustler · Feb 17, 2011

JohnnyBoxer said:
Echoed.................the white route is very easy, 'bit like a walk in the park'

It won't faze you and you can move up as and when you're ready

I'm about to start this trial game and obviously I'll be on the white route.
I suspect Mr. Boxer has forgotten his first ever trial, or of course he was super talented from the off.
I rather think walk in the park is just a tadge optimistic.

Nasty1 · Feb 17, 2011

AdamA said:
Eh up Adie. How's tricks?
]

Going just a little stir crazy at being laid up at home for 4 months and still counting, they may get round to operating on this knee sometime before summer!

I watched the video and then found this thread which prompted me to ask the question; TS are cool but newer stuff is easier to get parts & handle. Whilst I've agreed to hang up my road riding boots and Trail riding is probably too aggressive the trials looks as if it could still give me the bike fix.

As soon as I can walk/drive again i'll show my face a few local events to see what the score is.

Finally is any particular engine size bike better for the beginner/wobbler, even though I am a bit of a bloater I take it bigger is not necessarily better?

Thanks for your advice
cheers
Adie

JohnnyBoxer · Feb 17, 2011

Nasty1 said:
Going just a little stir crazy at being laid up at home for 4 months and still counting, they may get round to operating on this knee sometime before summer!

I watched the video and then found this thread which prompted me to ask the question; TS are cool but newer stuff is easier to get parts & handle. Whilst I've agreed to hang up my road riding boots and Trail riding is probably too aggressive the trials looks as if it could still give me the bike fix.

As soon as I can walk/drive again i'll show my face a few local events to see what the score is.

Finally is any particular engine size bike better for the beginner/wobbler, even though I am a bit of a bloater I take it bigger is not necessarily better?

Thanks for your advice
cheers
Adie

250cc

AdamA · Feb 17, 2011

JohnnyBoxer said:
250cc

Exactly what I'm collecting tomorrow afternoon.

Adie I'm coming at it from a similar place to you.

Just back to health after a year out from riding enduro/green lanes due to shoulder injury, and I can't afford to have the same happen again for the next couple of years whilst I change careers, so trials looked a good bet. Im sure you can still get hurt, but at the lower levels its unlikely to be serious, and a bit of padding in the right places will help no end....

Timolgra · Feb 17, 2011

AdamA said:
.

Just back to health after a year out from riding enduro/green lanes due to shoulder injury,

Very, very nearly suffered the same fate today on my 550 Husaberg :blast

AdamA · Feb 17, 2011

Timolgra said:
Very, very nearly suffered the same fate today on my 550 Husaberg

Easily done mate.
Mine was a pissy little off that I had had almost the same off 100 times before and got up laughing.
This time it broke the head of the humerus and tore the rotator cuff.
Whilst fractures are still a possibility on the trial bike, such severe soft tissue damage should at least be unlikely....
I will deffo get another enduro in a couple of years time, but need to be fit to start another career on leaving the army next year so just need to be a little more cautious, which for me just isn't gonna happen on an enduro bike.

Nasty1 · Feb 17, 2011

well for me I don't have a lot going for my knee. the 4 major ligaments were ruptured leaving not a lot to stabilise the joint anymore. I also have a bucket handle tear of the meniscus and micro fractures to the joint.

They have rested it for 4 months to see what mother nature can do and they suspect that 1 of the 4 ligaments has reattached hence the need for reconstruction surgery to sort the rest. Trouble is the broken ankle hinders the knee recovery and vice a versa.

My company have recommended I avoid motorcycles for the benefit of my future career with them but my passion for bikes is hard to let go. The specialists have advised that the knee will never be the same and may prevent me from doing my job.

My fear is even with the trials is that all the little 'dabs' will still put the knee at high risk especially being the right knee and me being right handed/biased. I'll spectate a few events and get a better idea, at leased here in the south we have no rock fields..i'll have to make a weekender of it and visit up north to experience that

Cheers

Adie

AdamA · Feb 17, 2011

Sounds like you are going to need to splash the cash and get yourself a CTi.
Other than the cost, that's definitely no bad thing.
I have grade 2 damage to my MCL and it's only my rugby players build that stops them being even more unstable. Gonna have to save up sometime tho methinks.
They are a godsend when your knees aren't up to the job....

Trials bikes, information request please

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

opinionated, me?

Registered user

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Registered user

Well-known member

Well-known member

reformed

Well-known member

Registered user

Well-known member

Similar threads