TRF Forums

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:44 pm

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 1:26 pm 
Offline
50 cc

Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 12:39 pm
Posts: 3
Location: Bristol, UK
Hi TRF

My name is Darren, and I've just signed up.

I've been riding bikes from the age of 13, and road bikes from age 16. I'm now 50, and really fancy getting into green laning, but haven't yet decided on which bike to go for. I have a ZZR1400 for the road, and originally thought about something like a TTR600 for green laning. There doen't semm to be many TTR600's around, and for similar money I could go for something lighter, like a WR450f, or maybe a KTM 450. I'm no light-weight being 17.5 stone, so don't want anything I'll get bored with too soon. Any pointers greatly welcomed!

Cheers,
Darren.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:30 pm 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:03 pm
Posts: 5005
Location: East Sussex
Hello and welcome from East Sussex

_________________
Red


WR400F..Gone for a song.
CRF250L now on the lanes.
Novice off roader for years


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:54 am 
Offline
650 cc Monster
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:22 pm
Posts: 2439
Location: Romiley
Greetings,

Welcome too from the Manchester Group :D

TTFN

Hugh.

_________________
Please note that I am not a National TRF Officer, any views expressed are my own and may not be in accordance with any official policy.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:17 pm 
Offline
125cc

Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 1:25 pm
Posts: 149
Hello & Welcome


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:59 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:06 am
Posts: 49
Hello and welcome Darren. It seems quite common that experienced road riders think they need something like a 600 when they start trail riding,like anything smaller will see them going back to the days of a 250 on L plates. Your choice of bike should depend on your trail riding experience and the kind of trail riding you want to do but my advice to any novice would be small and light to start with, when the going gets tough I think you'll be glad your not riding some 600 enduro.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:30 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 6:46 pm
Posts: 68
Location: South Glous
sum1964 wrote:
Hello and welcome Darren. It seems quite common that experienced road riders think they need something like a 600 when they start trail riding,like anything smaller will see them going back to the days of a 250 on L plates. Your choice of bike should depend on your trail riding experience and the kind of trail riding you want to do but my advice to any novice would be small and light to start with, when the going gets tough I think you'll be glad your not riding some 600 enduro.



I agree with This , Especially if your short of leg ...!
We have A "meet The TRF Stand "
At Wickwar Enduro Track south Glous on the 7th May come along say hello , sit on a few bikes see what you think ...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:22 am 
Offline
50 cc

Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 12:39 pm
Posts: 3
Location: Bristol, UK
Andy Howes wrote:
sum1964 wrote:
Hello and welcome Darren. It seems quite common that experienced road riders think they need something like a 600 when they start trail riding,like anything smaller will see them going back to the days of a 250 on L plates. Your choice of bike should depend on your trail riding experience and the kind of trail riding you want to do but my advice to any novice would be small and light to start with, when the going gets tough I think you'll be glad your not riding some 600 enduro.



I agree with This , Especially if your short of leg ...!
We have A "meet The TRF Stand "
At Wickwar Enduro Track south Glous on the 7th May come along say hello , sit on a few bikes see what you think ...


Thanks for the welcome all.

I'll most likely only have once chance at buying a bike for this... I already have two bikes in for restoration and the ZZR for a daily. Don't think the missus will approve further budget once purchased - I'm struggling to get a P.O. for this one! ;o)

I hear what you're saying about a 600 being too big, and I suspect the TTR would be far to heavy for a beginner. Having looked into it further, I also suspect running something like a WRf would also involve a lot of maintenance with oil & filter changes every 10 hours, etc.

Wickwar is not far from me (Bradley Stoke), but I'll not be able to make that date (prior commitments). Is there another meet soon after?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 1:18 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:56 pm
Posts: 73
Hi And welcome,

don't be put off by the quoted service intervals, if your not racing and mainly trial riding then these can be relaxed. the quoted 10/20 hours are mainly for people racing bikes as they are often on the extremes of engine power, after all if you were running your ZZR and Bruntingthorp every weekend you'd be wanting to change the oil in that more often too!!

250, 300 or 350 is the max you'll ever need.

get in touch with Central Bristol TRF, there a great bunch and will offer lots of help.

jmc


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:16 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:31 am
Posts: 29
I've run an WR250F for the past 2 years and a WR450F for a year before that. As JMC says, trail riding isn't competition riding. My maintanance regime consists mainly of: ride it / wash it / lube the chain / put it away. It's recently had a set of brake pads (after 5k miles, new spark plug (just in case) and valves checked (still in spec from new)). The manual says change the oil and filter every 3 months or 1800 miles. I do mine every 1000 miles just to keep my hand in.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Bristol Noob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:01 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:34 pm
Posts: 40
Location: South Wales
I'm 17 stone and my Husky 310 has more than enough power to get me through any track (South Wales, Cotswolds and Devon). As said in other posts think very carefully about seat height. Think about when you need to put your foot down on the downhill side on a cambered track as you invariably will eventually.

Think also about the kit you will need. Second hand is a good place to start, you can always upgrade if you get serious!

Think about how you will get to your first track on any ride. Do you have a van or trailer? If not that is one reason to buy a slightly larger capacity bike. Don't go too big though as you will regret it on the trails when you're tired and need to pick it up. As a newbie if you haven't ridden tracks before be very careful about what bike you buy too heavy and unwieldy and you risk being put off on your first ride.

Oh and expect your first ride to be a rude awakening (unless it's just riding some forest tracks). Mine was even though I'd had 38 years of trials experience. You won't then be disheartened.

I've not regretted it after 7 months.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group. Color scheme by ColorizeIt!