And am thinking about selling my dirt bike and using it for the woods. I have heard all the complains about no seat and small tank but for the kind of riding that I do, it shouldn't be a problem. Anyone used a Trials bike for this? It is a 94 Gas gas 280 that looks to be in good shape. My current bike is a Husky 449 which is way to close to a motocross bike for my liking.
You'll love it, Yes seat will need some extra foam and a cover but not a big deal. The biggest problem you'll face may just be parts as GG just filed again for bankruptcy and has stopped production. :( I use a 69 Montesa Cota 247 in the wood and love it. slower then modern stuff but its fun and good work out.
I had a Montesa. The center of gravity felt like it was underground, but my legs still got super tired.
The wife said I should wait until after baby (Oct). If I do that, I might try for a newer than 2000 model. Beta or Montesa. Good to know about GG.
In addition to being a GG, some of those mid-90s bikes are just tough to find parts for in general. Not old enough for the vintage guys to reproduce stuff, and not new enough to still have good factory support in the US. I think there is a guy in Indiana who has a decent stock of random GG parts though, if you need anything. He's based in Lafayette if memory serves, but I can't remember the name of the shop.
I bought parts for my Montesa on eBay Spain.
Yes there's stock around of common parts for GG and will be for some time but if you need an odd part you might be up the creek... On the plus side it makes for a good bargaining point with a seller
Trials bikes are not very good trail or dirt bikes. They're purposely built light and I don't think they'll have the durability you'd like to have on a trail.
I have a 2008 GasGas 250 and am very careful with it when putting around trails. It's just not geared for it and the clutch doesn't have many plates in it to take any abuse.
As a trials bike, its fantastic and lightweight. Lots of fun to practice balancing and slow speed obstacles. It definitely will make you a better dirt bike rider.
There are a couple new bikes that are a hybrid of sorts. KTM has the Freeride and Beta has the Crosstrainer. Either of those make much better woods bikes. A lot more money than an old trials bike though.
JeremyB wrote: Trials bikes are not very good trail or dirt bikes. They're purposely built light and I don't think they'll have the durability you'd like to have on a trail. I have a 2008 GasGas 250 and am very careful with it when putting around trails. It's just not geared for it and the clutch doesn't have many plates in it to take any abuse. As a trials bike, its fantastic and lightweight. Lots of fun to practice balancing and slow speed obstacles. It definitely will make you a better dirt bike rider. There are a couple new bikes that are a hybrid of sorts. KTM has the Freeride and Beta has the Crosstrainer. Either of those make much better woods bikes. A lot more money than an old trials bike though.
I raced hare scrambles and cross country's for years. Still have my last race bike in fact. Trials bikes did extremely well in tight races and the riders always finished looking fresh as a daisy unlike us poor sods with "proper" bikes.
In reply to JeremyB:
Your comment on clutch durability makes no sense, a trials bike's clutch suffers constant use. I love riding my trials bike on trails. It's super reliable and a ton of fun. I just stick it in 4th gear and use the clutch to get out of slower corners. It's got a bunch of low end torque and low weight so it accelerates with ease.
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