unissamog

Since I have just been verified, I figured I would weigh in on this. The Blue one shown above is my ride. I don't have a whole lot of experience on other modern frames, but this is by far the most comfortable frame I have been on. I am a big guy at 6'1" and ~230lbs and I feel 100% confident on this frame. No booster on the rear and the brakes feel very good. Geo is nice while on the rear wheel. For another opinion, check out this post from LanceT over on OTN. http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/showthread.php?t=32482

Nice, you are WAY ahead of where I was at that age. Keep it up.

Start by taking a piece of wood, and build a little rail that is 8", or a foot off the ground, and do short drops to it, and learn to stick the landings, then move up to the big ones.

I good resource if you can't find anyone to ride with (the best way to push yourself and improve) is Trashzen.com. They have page all about getting onto the rear wheel and staying there. http://www.trashzen.com/biketrial-pogos-back.html

It all depends on where you feel more comfortable. I would try to find some trials riders local to you with mod and stock biked that you can try out. I am just shy of 6'1" and weigh in at a hefty 225lbs, I ride both mod and stock, and enjoy both. I have an old Monty x-stam, which is shorter than newer bikes, but I can still easily ride it. Get out and try some bikes, it has to be what you want to ride, not what others tell you that you should be riding, if you are going to enjoy the sport.

A couple of quick pictures for the time being This is one of the 3 prototype Frank The Welder Viris frames. I know the 1st pic doesn't have cranks.

My 1st Trials Specific bike was an old Mongoose freestyle bike that we did some modifications to. We added canti posts so I could throw some maggies on there, and added a custom bash guard. Cost me about $40 for the bike, and about $50 for the modifications, of course that was about 15yrs ago.