Anyone done a Long Distance Trial?

Bit of a long shot, but was wondering whether anyone had done or been involved with any of The Motorcycling Club’s long distance trials, in particular the Edinburgh Trial?

I was thinking of having a crack at this, on a bike rather than car, so I’m going to need to buy a bike, and was wondering what’s going to be the best pick for someone that hasn’t been on a motorcycle for the best part of 40 years.. YT seems to show lots of stuff like DRZ400s and CRF250L’s but would I be better off on something smaller and lighter, like a Beta Alp, or would that make the transitions too slow.

Yes I have, although  as a navigator/ bouncer on the Exeter Trial in a 1952  Morgan so not entirely relevant. What I will say is that it was a fantastic experience and I would love to do it as a driver. The event was so supportive and friendly especially to novices so I would suggest going to another trial and just asking around and I would be astonished if you don’t find it invaluable.

All the motorcyclists looked absolutely exhausted by the end though, more than the drivers or navigators in the cars so not to be undertaken lightly

Mate of mine ended up with about a month on the jury for a paedophile trial. Can’t say it appealed much. 🙂

I’ve owned a couple of WR250Rs and abused them on all manner of trails… plenty that you wouldn’t take a 4×4 down without serious winch use. Also ridden a CRF250L and ridden alongside a lot of DRZ400s.

Hard to tell what the Edinburgh Trial tracks are like from the photos on their site, but if a car can do it and others are using CRF and DRZ then they’d make sense. WRR need taller gearing and their neck wringing but are very reliable – they sing along at 70mph but need a lot of gear changing in the hills. CRF is torquier at low rpm so a bit more relaxed. It might depend on your temperament – i find the higher a vehicle revs the more tiring it gets over long days. Something to do with the vibrations I think.

Right, I have done more than a few LDTs and have Clerk of the course (d) one of the harder ones, the Wyegate.

If you along for the ride a smaller bike is easier. Less weight and battles in the sections. A few good riders will do well on and enduro bike if the sections are suitable but they do well on anything. The ultimate has to be an old Gas Gas Pampera or maybe an Alp. CRF230s etc work well as do the sub 250 AJPs . The Wyegate has been won on a pre 65 as well.

We used to see all sorts riding but when the ACU decided they had to follow FIM rules and allowed section inspection we had to make sections  harder . Events that include the ACU Trail bike championship may include specific, ACU imposed , rules regarding bike spec and some trials allow “fiddle bikes ” like 4rides, old TLR Hondas etc which were originally a trials bike and are now mostly imported used from Japan. Often these ride for no award

Most road sections are not very long and you really want to rest not rush to the next section. Fuel consumption is important,  not all trials have handy petrol stations.

Trials like the Lands End, The Edinburgh etc which include cars tend to be longer and easier and possibly something with lights  might be a prioity.

Here is a link to the 2024 Wyegate results.    http://www.wgdfmcc.org.uk/events/wyegate/Wyegate2024Results.pdf

Bear in mind that Rob B is an expert m/c enduro rider as well as a worl champs downhiller. Those on enduro bikes are all known  expert trials riders. Looking further down the results may give you a better idea of what to ride.

Me? I would ride an Alp or a CRF 230.

Thanks all.

This is being done on a bit of a whim, but from what’s being said the Alp, being smaller, lower and a lot lighter might be a better choice for an aging novice. I did look for a CRF230, but they’re very thin on the ground, and the only one I could find was 3k for a 15 year old bike, strong money, and Alps are about half that.

interesting seeing that results list Matt, lots of Pampera’s on there, but I’ve not been able to find one for sale  anywhere since I started looking.

Anyone with a Pamp keeps it until it dies and then they mend it.