So.......

[Patman]

Trials, as in motorcycle trials (not the one's in front of a judge Rich). You know the funny looking bikes with no seat (sharp foot pegs), sticky tires and odd names. I know several people had a chance to try my Montesa out at Dirt Week '01 and it will be there at Dirt Week '02 (tickets available for $5 :D ). What do you guys think of the sport/activity of trials? Is it part of "dirtbiking" or a seperate entity? Anybody see technology on these bikes that has been / could be useful to long travel bikes?

 

[Rich Rohrich]

Definitely seperate entity, in much the same way Speedway, Dirt Track, Super TT are. All of them play in the dirt but are niches. Having said that I WILL have a Trials and a Speedway bike before I die. My YZF can be toggled between Dirt Track and Super TT mode fairly easily so I have those niches covered :)

 

[biglou]

It's a niche.

However, I enjoy trials riding. Stay with me here, all things being relative (to my riding ability, or lack thereof) I enjoy doing it on my MTB and also on the MX bikes. Helps hone your slow-speed skills. Remember, skill is a relative word!

 

[slo' mo]

I think its a separate entity also, but definitely has a place. My new desire is to have a trials bike by DW 02. whodathunkit? Something that is actually a bonus for those who are scared by speed? Now if I could just find where I put my balance...:think

 

[Rich Rohrich]

I like the idea of having a trials bike and not having to haul it for 90 minutes to go riding. Any parking lot is a potential riding area.

 

[SFO]

I like the idea of having a long track speedway bike.
2 speed trans, studded tires and go back to the midwest and run some 1/2 mile+ ice races.

 

[JPIVEY]

Fun Stuff

When I was a kid I did trials on a hodaka 100, that was a blast and something I would consider doing again.

But IMO I don't consider it that far removed from tight trail riding

 

[Patman]

It's neat to see such different ends of the spectrum.

So why is it a completly seperate entity and not a part of offroad riding in your view? (those that feel it's its own entity). And those that see it as a branch of what we all do here, what's your justification?

What about the technology? Pretty vast differences in the weights of say a 250 trials bike 158# vs 213# for a MX model 250. Plastic doesn't account for that much, pretty much all the same parts are there frame, wheels, engine,...? So where's the majority of that extra 55# at? The seat?:confused:

 

[JPIVEY]

Originally posted by Patman
[B Pretty vast differences in the weights of say a 250 trials bike 158# vs 213# for a MX model 250. Plastic doesn't account for that much, pretty much all the same parts are there frame, wheels, engine,...? So where's the majority of that extra 55# at? The seat?:confused:
[/B]

Frames are Alum,seat and tank are almost nothing,heck even the disc brakes are half the size

 

[HGilliam]

Terry and I took the Crosstraining trials course at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie Tennessee in August and thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of the skills apply to motorcycle riding in general. If you think you are interested this is a great way to get your feet wet without buying a trials bike. Besides you might learn something that makes you a better all around bike rider. Tony and Laura were great hosts and their hospitality was second to none. Next time we will try and be in better shape so we don't poop out on the second day!

Try it, you will have fun and meet a lot of great and interesting people.

 

[WoodsRider]

I think it's part of dirtbiking. Several nationally ranked off-road racers have used trials to "hone" their skills through crosstraining.

In the future, I'm planning to enter a trials event in the "trail bike" class.

 

[Patman]

Frames are Alum

As are the honda CR's.

seat and tank are almost nothing

True but the plastic of the larger tank and shrouds and number plates are a few pounds at best.

heck even the disc brakes are half the size

True but what are we looking at weightwise between the two brake systems? MAYBE 3 or 4 pounds tops?

No subframe is a decent chunk. Rear tire is tubeless. Swing arm is a little less beefy and the suspension parts are somewhat smaller. but come on we're talking about the weight of an average 7 or 8 year old kid here.

Just as a little bit of extra info the 213# weight is for a 2002 CR250R (claimed by Honda) and the 158# is for my Montesa (claimed in the manual). Both have twinspar aluminum frames and even the engine in my 315R is CR250 based as Montesa is ownded by Honda and everything on the bike is HRC.:cool:

 

[JPIVEY]

I'm trying a picture

test


I can never do this :( :o

Ok try this
http://content.communities.msn.com/DirtBikePix/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=133

I can see were 55# went :cool:

 

[biglou]

OK, a few guesses:

2 gals. less fuel capacity=roughly 15lbs. I bet most of the suspension components (shock, swingarm and fork tubes) come in at about half the weight of their MX counterparts. Also, a lot less coolant capacity for another 3-5 pounds less. There's no subframe. there's a lot less exhaust piping.
Hey, the dang thing's just smaller! OK, that's all I can think of (for now).
Anyone else?

 

[Patman]

Imagine, the '02 GasGas will lose 10kg from the '01 version which was pretty light to begin with. We're talking an additional 22# drop puttin the thing in the under 140# range! Can you imagine if you could lose that much from a MX bike?! :eek: It's not like the technology isn't there I think maybe a difference of 25# or 30# would be easily obtainable between say a CR250R and my Montesa if the processes were brought to play.

Sure there are minimum weights for the AMA but it's just cool to think what might be possible.

Sorry Lou that's the claimed dry weights, granted they both might include helium filled tires....:D