Trial motorcycle

Trial motorcycle

A trial motorcycle is usually a non-street-legal piece of sports equipment in the displacement classes up to 50, 80, 125, 250, 280, 290 and 300 cm³. It has an enduro-like appearance and is used for motorcycle trials on a skill course that has to be mastered off-road or in a hall. The trial motorcycle is ridden standing on the footrests and therefore has no bench, just a seat recess. The height and shape of the handlebars are also adapted to this driving style. The tank is very small for the sake of handiness and weight, has hardly any visual appearance and often only has a capacity of 2 to 3 liters, which is sufficient for the requirements on the course, as no long distances have to be covered.

The engine is not designed for maximum performance, but for stable and reliable idling, pulling power from low speeds and good throttle response. The transmission has a short ratio up to third gear, there are usually six gears in total. The first three courses are used in the sections, the others for the intermediate section. Since the trial is extremely light for a motor vehicle (between 60 and 70 kg) and the center of gravity is very low, it can be moved under the body almost like a BMX bike or a mountain bike . The tires are provided with studs, which are finer than those of cross tires. The tires are driven with very low air pressure (below 0.5 bar in places) so that the tread can optimally cling to the ground.

At the German championships, the vehicles must be approved for road traffic. Up to 2004 only 2-stroke engines were used in competitions, but 4-stroke engines have also been used since 2005. The following manufacturers are represented: Beta , GasGas , Montesa , Sherco , Scorpa and Xispa . But of course there are also old-timers among the trial motorcycles.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Welterleben - Internet site: Trial first information. On: www.welterleben.de , accessed on January 10, 2014 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b} Gasgas - website: models. From: www.gasgas.eu , accessed on January 10, 2014 . 
3. ↑ Osnabrück - Internet site: The high art of two-wheel acrobatics. (No longer available online.) At: www.osnabrueck.de , archived from the original on October 15, 2015 ; accessed on January 10, 2014 .