simonmcc Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hi all, just joined the forum, I've been a lurker for a long time on trials stuff, watching these kinds of vids on youtube etc. I've not got a trials bike (yet) but have been practising track stands and some other basic stuff on my normal mountain bike. Can't wait to scrape together the funds to get a proper bike. First question then (please forgive me if its a really stupid one), how much of a difference does a proper trial bike make? What is it about it that is so different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwarf Shortage Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 My mate used to ride with me on his mountain bike, and he was pretty hopeless when it came to trialsy moves, he had a quick go on my trials bike and was soon spinning and jumping around. A lot of people will say you can still ride trials on a mountain bike, and you can, I can do some trialsy moves on my brakeless BMX, but when you move onto a trials bike, with trials-specific geometry, brakes, etc., it's a lot easier. Obviously with most trials bikes there's no seat, so you have a lot more space to move around, preload, that sort of thing, it's easier to get up on the back wheel - and stay there. People used to ride trials on mountain bikes as trials-specific bikes didn't exist, and some of the riding wasn't bad, but as you look at how the bikes have progressed in trials you can definitely see a correlation as the bikes have progressed the riding definitely has. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 It makes a hell of a difference trust me! I started riding about 12 years ago on a modded mountain bike and moved onto what was at the time a trials specific frame (Heavy Tools Trials) which I rebuilt with modern parts (fixed hub, FFW, etc...) at the start of last year. After a few months of living with my rebuilt bike I got offered a Zona Zenith on here cheap which I couldn't refuse so snapped it up, swapped all my bits over and the difference was unbelievable. Everything felt easier to do, it's hard to explain really but you could really tell the difference even just trackstanding. I won't say people should go out and buy a trials bike if they want to learn trials as it's not true, I learnt it on a regular bike, but I will say that should you buy a bike with trials specific geometry you will notice a difference in how fast you progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonmcc Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Ok, so the machine does make a big difference then. Another question then, as a beginner, and being on a tight budget, what sort of thing should I be looking out for? Or maybe I should ask, anything I should avoid? Can anyone recommend any good shops in N Ireland? It'll be a few months before I get any funds scraped together anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwarf Shortage Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) A few bikes knock around on eBay, there's the For Sale section on here once you're validated, and I'm pretty sure Tartybikes ship to N. Ireland. http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/ M.A.D. Phases tend to be popular with beginners, I've got one myself and it's not too bad, pretty cheap too. Edited February 24, 2011 by Dwarf Shortage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rab shropshire Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Where do you live in n Ireland mate, I'm from co down but working in England at the minute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonmcc Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Where do you live in n Ireland mate, I'm from co down but working in England at the minute North coast, close to Coleraine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rab shropshire Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Theres not any specialist shops in NI that sell trials bikes, there are a few that sell random onzas for a high price your best bet would be to wait until you get validated and buy second hand from here, have you decided between stock or mod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonmcc Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Theres not any specialist shops in NI that sell trials bikes, there are a few that sell random onzas for a high price your best bet would be to wait until you get validated and buy second hand from here, have you decided between stock or mod? I haven't decided, as I don't know the pros and cons. My main criteria would be cheap, but I wouldn't like to put too little into it and get a bad bike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetec S Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 (edited) makes so much difference, but it's the sort of thing - that you won't know what you're missing, until you jump on one, then you'll find out. I had an 04 onza - sorted me out for beginner trials,as suggested try second hand, I'd say try and find t-mag, t-pro or something along those lines with double hs33's. (if you want a mod that is) Edited February 26, 2011 by Zetec S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonmcc Posted February 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 makes so much difference, but it's the sort of thing - that you won't know what you're missing, until you jump on one, then you'll find out. I had an 04 onza - sorted me out for beginner trials,as suggested try second hand, I'd say try and find t-mag, t-pro or something along those lines with double hs33's. (if you want a mod that is) Ok, thanks for the recommendations, so how much would you recommend aiming to spend on a first bike, second hand? Roughly I mean, obviously it'll depend on the exact machine. Also, remember that this is just recreational to me, fun and exercise, cant imagine I'll ever be wowing people like the vids on YouTube, but I'll certainly have a lot of fun trying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 A decent budget for a good starter bike that will last a long time, be worth upgrading and also relatively easy to sell should you change your mind would be £200-300 in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetec S Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 A decent budget for a good starter bike that will last a long time, be worth upgrading and also relatively easy to sell should you change your mind would be £200-300 in my mind. I've seen zoo/echo's go for £300 mark so £300 would be a good shout I'd say. Should be able to get a t-pro cheaper, Think there is alot of them still out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southend Trials Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Your best bet would be to buy second hand, that way if you find out that you dont have the time to ride or another reason thats prohibiting you from riding then if you sell it you will get your money back as it wouldnt have lost a great deal of money unlike buying a new bike! if your wandering what you would like i.e. a mod or a stock it most commonly comes down to size, if you are rather tall e.g. 6ft something you may find it easier to manouever a stock (26") where as if your four ft something, you may find it easier to work with a mod (20" front wheel 19" rear wheel! hope this has helped.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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