@Vulpes: You are right! Currently it is extreme. But I use the time intensively, because my wife has a little more time at the moment as part of her job abroad. From September on, everything will be reduced to a "normal" level again.
Well the youngest one was asking to take out the Beta Evos (125 & 300 respectively) and so we had a few hours at a local private practice area. The lad was riding really well and tackled the below rock first with me catching for him. He did ok but there were a few wild attempts as I'd anticipated so had kept my helmet and gloves on. He didn't want me to video him as he prefered me in the catcher rather than photographer role. This "was" going really well and I was on my best behaviour not to damage myself Unfortunately near the end of our session I was jumping some large felled trees and the ..... err .... rear wheel hub decided to explode Luckily I have a spare rear wheel so this will just be a temporary glitch until I can get back to two rears.
A few more pics of the rock, these are snipped out of a slo mo video as I don't know how to upload videos here without a Youtube account etc. This last one shows the amout of rider input for rocks of this size with the front suspension at full compression and the rear nearly fully compressed. This in effect provides a pogo stick function allowing you to "spring" the bike at obstacles.
He loves it and really has come on since moving from an 80 to a 125. They are both " big wheel" so full size but the 125 for his body weight provides so much more go. Often he will ask me to demonstrate a certain obstacle on his bike which is quite do-able now on the 125, where as on the 80 not only was it under powered for me but the suspension was all too weak (compression damping) and I have been known to jar my back in the garden whilst demonstrating The only problem really moving between the two (125 v 300) is the flywheel effect is very pronounced. The 125 needs to be on the clutch all the time to avoid stalling whereas the 300 just hangs in there.
Here is Boy Wonder himself stood next to the rock for scale. I have a snapped ACL from a previous motorcycle injury so need to be cautious at times, yes right . He said straight away I'll go first if you'll catch me and so he did Oh if only to be 14 again
In the late afternoon I pack up the last things and get my HONDA ready for another event in the Western Balkans. Tomorrow at 0500 o'clock I will go back to Sarajevo, where I will meet my wife in an apartement. On Thursday we will continue with her TIGER 900 and my HONDA NT-1100 to the southern neighboring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro. I am looking forward to more "adventures and unforgettable experiences" on our tour.
So a quick follow up to my earlier posts.... The rear wheel was discussed with the importer by phone Monday morning. A manufacturing heat treatment issue was agreed and a repair authorised. I also pointed out the failure had bent the rear sprocket. So, I dropped the wheel off Monday teatime at an agreed wheel builders. Tuesday a new sprocket arrives gratis through the post Received a text Tuesday teatime to say "wheel ready and awaiting collection". I responded with "will collect Wednesday teatime". Complete new hub installed plus a few new spokes added and all good to go once I stick it all back together Excellent backup from BETA UK (John Lampkin). Commendable service and support despite buying this bike secondhand, especially with the obvious abuse these bikes receive as is the nature of the sport. This is the eighth Beta trials bike I've owned (amongst many other previous brands) and I've had faultless support from the importer with every one of them. Some of the other brands importers support can only be described as dire and very much lacking unless you're on the latest and greatest Just to be clear, other than a satisfied customer, I have no connection to the business but would highly recommend Beta to anyone fancying anything out of their range of bikes. And back to two rear wheels again.... I obviously need them
Decided to have a run to Glen Clova, but thought i would go on a road I've not been on before first, a little single track road in between Forfar and Brechin then i took the road to Glen Clova stopped off at the Clova Hotel for something to eat lovely chicken burger then took the road to Glen Doll Glen Doll visitor centre
Nice @Dougie D been a while since I did the Glen Clova loop on my Honda 1000 and camped out. On one of our previous discussions Dougie you mentioned the ancient track over the tops, Glen Doll SYHA (sadly now long gone and sold off to be a family home) is where we stayed. Lovely part of the world.
Pushed the bloody thing out of the garage so I could back it in and finish mounting the bag holders on the other side for the new owner ( don'tcha just love people (mates ?) that get a good deal and then ask if you could " .. just do a couple of little things before I take it ? ") ? Anyway, got it out, through all the other shit that's in the way and went to turn it round .. a 5 point turn due to the aforementioned "shit", thinking I'd never noticed how heavy and unwieldy it was in the past ... except for the time it played cuddles on the ground with me, but that's for another time .. haha. It actually fair knackered me, so had a little break .. and idly cast an eye over the front tyre .... yep, 18 lb ! Sometimes yer really have to wonder,eh ? Blew it up and went to reverse it back in ... front brake locked on ..F #*%##**%#* !!!! Bit of jiggling, freed it and back inside, ... wonder if it's trying to say it's comfortable where it is ?? Told it I feel the same and we seem to be on friendly terms again..
So whilst the wheel is out of the Beta I thought I'd do a bit of routine / non routine maintenance, depending on the individuals perspective and mechanical ability. People say jet washing is the biggest killer of bearings but if you don't use one then your bike never looks clean and will suffer in other ways. Personally I prefer to thoroughly jet wash after each outing being careful around electrics plus obvious bearing areas and then accept that "my maintenance schedule" will pick up issues sooner rather than later. Certain items are then added to the ever expanding list to just become another consumable. In the workshop now are various new tyres, about x4 sets of brake pads, a variety of common bearings as I usually buy popular sizes in tens etc for all the bikes we hold, having a loft to the garage has its benefits . Anyway enough of the waffle, heres a few pictures demonstrating "others" idea of maintenance
