The Essential Trials Stickie

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
You went out to Carnegie and didn't tell me Mark! : ) Parked behind you thinking you'd be back to the truck but bailed before your return. Saw you near the TT track as I was driving down Tesla, only missed you by 5 minutes!

Been out to the practice area the last two weekends for a 2 hr session, working on gapping and holding pressure off that big concrete tube (not the REALLY big ones yet). Not riding at my house for fear of fire and the rocks/concrete blocks are pretty fun.

Able to do a couple foot gap hop now, scary at first but not bad after you try it. Same type of gas/clutch work as a splat. Did a static up one of those concrete blocks, started way deep in with the skid hung on the block corner then hopped a little backwards until I was on the rear wheel instead. Rev'd it up and gave the clutch a pop to get up...damn near came off the back it shot up the face so good. Guess that concrete has some grip!

Went over to practice holding off that big concrete tube; so far its been hit or miss. That's fine for this tube but if you need a hold you better get it or over the bars you go. Got a bunch of spin at the top to start, then went to 2nd and got better results. Finally dropped back down to first using the technique from second and Bingo, got it nailed. Nailed so well in fact that I half ghost rode the bike off the far side and had to let it go when we both got to the ground....whoops...
Added throttle, smooth roll on, power delivery before the obstacle and good peg unweight: did those things and came off the top with all kinds of wheelie, would've been perfect if I was actually expecting it.
Gotta' find a good splatter practice spot, jumping gaps and the splat are very similar (and you can get up big stuff with the splat).
 

The Toe Cutter

Well-known member
LOL, you were there! Yeah helping my buddy with some basics on new Vertigo he just bought. We were up near Stove Pipe....wanted to go to Jeff's rocks but he wasn't comfortable going down that hill to get to it.

Sounds like you got the splats and gaps down! That is something I keep telling myself to work on but I always seem to end up working on other stuff. You'll have to show me next time we go out there.

Decided to ride expert line at the last trial. It wasn't as bad as I thought but think I'll stick to ADV next year. No need to hurt myself and I still need to work on basics as I seem to take more points on INT sections that I do the easy EXP sections they have us ride in ADV.

Itching to get the xtrainer out but still no rain in the forecast around here.
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Ooohhh, you rode EXP?! Assuming I get my knee done around christmas I doubt I'll get in the extra practice I need to ride that class. Basically like riding all the hard splits rather than just half of them! I'm more concerned about how I would be riding on the 3rd loop rather than the first...some of that stuff will wear you out.

Cool that we have a new rider, hope he is having fun with the new bike. My 2020 is basically identical to my 2018, just different graphics. Played with the compression on the rear so flat landing from 4-5 ft is softer, got it much better on Sunday.
Just a small possibility of rain this weekend, would be nice to keep the dust down. Rode the Husky a couple of weeks ago, traction was fleeting but it was still fun as all hell. Looked at a couple of xtrainers on CL, one of these days I'll have to try yours out. I love how my TX rides but it isn't as much of a 'poke around and explore' bike, more of a 'rail it' bike.
 

The Toe Cutter

Well-known member
Scott Rose and Jason (guy with TRS) rode EXP so I figured I would try it as well. Didn't have to punch any 5's but I think the "fun trials" in general have been easier than our regular trials. Maybe once I can consistently beat Howard I would give EXP a shot :)

My buddy wanted to get better at hard enduro riding so I told him "get a trials bike!". When he picked up the bike from Adrian he said there were like 3 other guys from East Bay that had gotten new vertigos so maybe we will see them out at carnegie.

Sounds like once Sid is able to ride you will be going into surgery Luke. You are welcome to try my Xtrainer anytime. I'm sure you've read that it's great for slow technical stuff but once you get to say 3rd gear speeds it's pretty unstable. All sorts of suspension upgrades to fix that but I've left my stock besides thicker fork oil since I love the hard enduro stuff vs the fast whooped out trails.
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Good riding yesterday at Metcalf! I like that practice section, especially the new area with the step ups on the hill, those were fun. Liked trying to hold the front up and just get up those last two on one wheel!
Jason is a fun guy to ride with, hope to do more of it in the future. We were goofing around with splatters on that hill; he could do one off the end of the long log onto the step, I could only get a splat from the left side off a little kicker, kept loosing my line on the log. Bigger gap off the log as well, made it more scary...

Good to see Bob, Scott and Kev; sorry I bailed early. Had to get in what ride time I could...maybe Carnegie next weekend? I'm finding pretty good lines in the practice section there but it doesn't have that great hill like they do at Metcalf.
 

The Toe Cutter

Well-known member
Same here, those K bars were a nice addition to that hill! No worries, I left around 3:30pm after energy level dropped. Always fun to have a group of riders practicing together.

We've done the last few fun trials with Jason, super nice guy and hell of a good rider. He said he is interested in checking out Carnegie so yeah maybe this weekend he can make it out. I'll let you know how my weekend plans look once we get closer.
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Just looking through CL as usual and see a 2019 Scorpa factory 250 out of Nevada City.....sounds like Mike M....

Any idea what he got as a replacement? Prolly another Beta but inquiring minds want to know!
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Gonna try riding in about 2 weeks... can't wait. Haven't ridden trials since November or so, wonder if I can still do it : )

May look into a 2021 bike before the CARB laws take effect. Thinking of just staying Scorpa as I like the ones I've had. They have a dealer in Gilroy, may try to find out what the options are for a 300 Factory....

Sherco? Scorpa? Wonder if it even matters. They are no longer Ryan Young so a whole new ballgame, folks on Advrider haven't been impressed with the new company (Fast Powersports or whatever).

TRS may be a good one too but never really liked how the frame fits under you on those but they handle really well. Don't like the Beta head angle, 4t no way, GG is too early to tell what KTM will produce, anything I'm forgetting? EM will be the future but they need to get the clutch figured out and the weight down a little (not to mention longer battery life).
 

The Toe Cutter

Well-known member
Woo hoo! Muldoon picked up a new scorpa from dealer in Reno and he is happy with it so far. He said they changed a couple of small things.

I like TRS but issue is that they are not CARB compliant yet. So I don’t believe you can register a new one here. Used might get through and since 8th digit is not 8 or C you might even get green sticker. Since I don’t have private land, not willing to take that risk right now.

Don’t think you can go wrong with any of the new bikes, they are all so good. We will all have to plan a ride once you guys feel comfortable!!
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Found a 2021 Scorpa Factory, may be the last one available. He said the importer said it was the last one they had and he got it, maybe me too.

Having him contact the importer about the CARB stuff; Sherco has done it so I would assume Scorpa has too. RYP never did and you could only bring them in as used...That's what Ron was really good for!

Main reason to get a 2021 is its the last year you can get a sticker for a Red bike, MY 2022 they can only be used at the event but you can still get a CA title...2025 all the red's get grandfathered in as green and you can only title CARB approved bikes (no exceptions, which is how all the reds are currently classified) titled in CA. At least that's how I understand it.

Didn't Smage bail from Sherco this year? Davis bailed from Scorpa right after we did that event at the property (pretty sure), I think Fastle bailed from Sherco too. Wonder who GG (KTM) will pick up? I'm guessing Smage....
 
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The Toe Cutter

Well-known member
I thought Smage was still with Sherco from a recent video I saw, but maybe something changed. Been like 20 years he's been with them.

The CARB stuff is concerning, new bike isn't in cards for me right now so will make do with the ole 2017 GG 250 :)
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Yeah, Smage signed with Sherco again, not sure about the others. Looks like getting the scropa reg'd isn't a big deal so it will be here late next week or so (supposed to be at the dealer on Monday). Pretty much the same as the 2018, looks very similar to the 2020 but has white plastic on the fenders as opposed to black and has black rims rather than orange.
Gonna' bring home my current one and start riding, knee feels pretty good and I can't wait any longer! Will have to start a little slow but we all know how that story goes....."end of the day I was going up blah blah blah..." : ) Gotta' clean the carb then its time.
Hoping to get the Husky out in the next couple of weeks to try out the Clake. May have to go up to Sid's just to find a place to ride! With Covid Carnegie and Hollister are hard to get into.
 

elemetal

3 pings and a zing
Got my new 2021 in, so sexxxxyyy!

Can't wait, will hopefully get it sorted and out for a ride this weekend.
 

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