Trials bike noob needs help

**Night Falcon** · 6th February 2013, 10:59

I have been looking at getting into a bit of casual trials riding. I don't know much about trials bikes- in fact I've never even riden one - so don't really know where to start interms of what would suit me.

I'm currently keeping a close eye on TM looking at whats available and at what price. One brand that keeps popping up is "Other" Beta which when I google only comes up with Beta. I assume this is because the Other Beta is a chinesse knock off of the Beta trials bike? Any who....are there some experts out there that can help a noob out by pointing him in the right direction for a reliable bike with enough power to haul my 92kg, 184cm frame over the odd log and up some Hawke's Bay river banks?

**FJRider** · 6th February 2013, 12:24

On Trademe .. a few other than Trials bikes came up too.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Cate...ch_suggested=0

**glukasil** · 6th February 2013, 13:36

hi mate. if you dont want to spend much for your first bike , kawasaki 200/220 is your choice....
get 1992+ model for 1200+ . dont go for chinese bikes.

**ktm84mxc** · 6th February 2013, 15:25

The reason Beta pops up in other is because it's not a well known brand in the US, the same would apply to Sherco, Fantic, Montessa etc .
A trials bike from the early 2000's will be 2.5-3.5g in good working order, stick to the known brands as above a 250-320cc is what you're after, for info ring the guys at Blenheim Trails center .
You could get an older twin shock model eg TY250, TLR200/250 as there is a club series just for these with the older Euro brands.

**Shorty_925** · 6th February 2013, 16:31

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

I have been looking at getting into a bit of casual trials riding. I don't know much about trials bikes- in fact I've never even riden one - so don't really know where to start interms of what would suit me.

I'm currently keeping a close eye on TM looking at whats available and at what price. One brand that keeps popping up is "Other" Beta which when I google only comes up with Beta. I assume this is because the Other Beta is a chinesse knock off of the Beta trials bike? Any who....are there some experts out there that can help a noob out by pointing him in the right direction for a reliable bike with enough power to haul my 92kg, 184cm frame over the odd log and up some Hawke's Bay river banks?

Get in touch with someone at the HB club, they have trials meetings on once a month, last year Im pretty sure they had 'have a go day'.

The Beta importer is down in Kapiti : http://www.nztrials.co.nz/ John usually knows who selling which bike and how much etc.

Trials Centre in Blenhiem is good as well : http://www.trialsnz.com/

**Night Falcon** · 6th February 2013, 17:09

Thanks for the info, it is very much appriciated. I didn't know there was an HB trials club but am keen to hook up with them even its just for some advice. Does anyone have a contact for them?

I think I know the guy from Blenhiem as I grew up there....as I recall he was an apprentice at Marlb Honda back in the day.

The 2-3K price range is about my budget but would spend more for the right bike. I'd like something post 2000 and preferably 4 stroke. I've looked at 250 trail bike but I imagine the gearing will be too high for the real slow speed work I'm looking to do. Have even considered a KTM SX125 which is light weight but might be a bit too tall in the gears and the power spread would be all wrong?

**Shorty_925** · 6th February 2013, 17:35

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

Thanks for the info, it is very much appriciated. I didn't know there was an HB trials club but am keen to hook up with them even its just for some advice. Does anyone have a contact for them?

I think I know the guy from Blenhiem as I grew up there....as I recall he was an apprentice at Marlb Honda back in the day.

The 2-3K price range is about my budget but would spend more for the right bike. I'd like something post 2000 and preferably 4 stroke. I've looked at 250 trail bike but I imagine the gearing will be too high for the real slow speed work I'm looking to do. Have even considered a KTM SX125 which is light weight but might be a bit too tall in the gears and the power spread would be all wrong?

Here's the contact list for the Hawkes Bay motorcycle Club, they run Trials, Cross Country & MX events : http://hbmc.org.nz/?page_id=2

There's not too many 4 strokes in Trials, and the ones that are, are usually the newer bikes. The wheel base of the a MX or Enduro bike wouldnt help either. Only person Ive seen do a Trial on a non-Trials bike was Chris Birch a few years ago.

**pete-blen** · 6th February 2013, 17:47

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

I think I know the guy from Blenhiem as I grew up there....as I recall he was an apprentice at Marlb Honda back in the day.

Brendon Wadsworth....

**Night Falcon** · 6th February 2013, 17:59

Originally Posted by pete-blen

Brendon Wadsworth....

I was thinking of Peter Grinter

**Crisis management** · 6th February 2013, 20:00

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

The 2-3K price range is about my budget but would spend more for the right bike. I'd like something post 2000 and preferably 4 stroke. I've looked at 250 trail bike but I imagine the gearing will be too high for the real slow speed work I'm looking to do. Have even considered a KTM SX125 which is light weight but might be a bit too tall in the gears and the power spread would be all wrong?

Don't go the trail bike route if you want to learn trials, I sort of dabbled in that with the 200EXC and with my lack of skills was simply a recipe for entertaining others, sure, skilled tials riders can do wonderful things with trail bikes but it doesn't work the other way round, get a trials bike. The best thing you can do is get in touch with any local club, you need a venue and other enthusiasts to learn trials, it's too hard at (our) age to do it on your own, community helps.

Go for it, it will be a great help for all other styles of riding.... watching Chris Birch punt his 950 over a 1.5m diameter log was truly awe inspiring ( I tried to copy him on the 640.... best described as embarassing!)

**Night Falcon** · 6th February 2013, 20:28

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Don't go the trail bike route if you want to learn trials, I sort of dabbled in that with the 200EXC and with my lack of skills was simply a recipe for entertaining others, sure, skilled tials riders can do wonderful things with trail bikes but it doesn't work the other way round, get a trials bike. The best thing you can do is get in touch with any local club, you need a venue and other enthusiasts to learn trials, it's too hard at (our) age to do it on your own, community helps.

Go for it, it will be a great help for all other styles of riding.... watching Chris Birch punt his 950 over a 1.5m diameter log was truly awe inspiring ( I tried to copy him on the 640.... best described as embarassing!)

Cheers wise council indeed! I was ready to pull the trigger on a 2XX trail bike but went and sat on few at some bike shops in the weekend and realised I'd been there done that....besides the 690 can do most of what they offer and its not that much heavier.

I've wanted to try trials riding for as long as I can remember so will take the advice of the forum and go see the local lads for some tips. A test ride on a trials bike would be awsome.

**pete-blen** · 6th February 2013, 22:24

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

I was thinking of Peter Grinter

Peter Grinter owns the Kawasaki / Suzuki shop...
Brendon Wadsworth has the Nelson Malb trials centre...

**george formby** · 6th February 2013, 22:53

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

. A test ride on a trials bike would be awsome.

And an eye opener, I guarantee it.
I learned to ride on trials bikes but never competed, TY's, Bultacos, Montessa Cota. All twin shockers owned by me dad. I was fresh off the nipple and they were the only bikes I could get a foot down on. Spent many a happy afternoon having a lie down after trying to pull away with no clutch control.
I wouldn't worry too much about engine capacity, age or brand. Find a "good" bike, ready to ride & loved. Do a bit of research on spares availability & ease of maintenance before your spend. A 125 2t will tie you in knots regardless of your, er, stature. Their MAY be an air cooled mono shock Fantic coming up for sale local to me. Has new brakes (brembo's), new tires, freshly powder coated frame, ew bearings etc & a load of stuff from the UK to bring it up to scratch. Even has Steve Colleys signature on it somewhere. The owner is trying to get new decals for it before he sells it. It has a cracking motor, started second kick after being ignored for nearly 3 months. The MAY part...the owner is up & down like a whores draws when it comes to selling & replacing his bikes. Mainly because he invests so much in them.
Hope you find a good bike & I look forward to your comments when you stop watching & try doing....

Not being cheeky, I'm looking for trials bike too & slightly

about actually doing the bizz on it.

**Night Falcon** · 7th February 2013, 17:10

Originally Posted by george formby

And an eye opener, I guarantee it.
I learned to ride on trials bikes but never competed, TY's, Bultacos, Montessa Cota. All twin shockers owned by me dad. I was fresh off the nipple and they were the only bikes I could get a foot down on. Spent many a happy afternoon having a lie down after trying to pull away with no clutch control.
I wouldn't worry too much about engine capacity, age or brand. Find a "good" bike, ready to ride & loved. Do a bit of research on spares availability & ease of maintenance before your spend. A 125 2t will tie you in knots regardless of your, er, stature. Their MAY be an air cooled mono shock Fantic coming up for sale local to me. Has new brakes (brembo's), new tires, freshly powder coated frame, ew bearings etc & a load of stuff from the UK to bring it up to scratch. Even has Steve Colleys signature on it somewhere. The owner is trying to get new decals for it before he sells it. It has a cracking motor, started second kick after being ignored for nearly 3 months. The MAY part...the owner is up & down like a whores draws when it comes to selling & replacing his bikes. Mainly because he invests so much in them.
Hope you find a good bike & I look forward to your comments when you stop watching & try doing....

Not being cheeky, I'm looking for trials bike too & slightly

about actually doing the bizz on it.

I'm ready to buy and ride...sooner the better. I predict a trials bike revival once my ride reports hit the interweb