| | Prepare your Sherco for the Scottish by Malcolm Rathmell. | |
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| |  | | The 2002 edition of the SSDT is rapidly approaching; many of our readers will probably be competing in the event. Enjoy this great article written by our importer in the UK Malcolm Rathmell, no one else knows the SSDT as he does. " ... I rode the Scottish Six Days Trial 18 times and I learned very quickly the 'Yes's and No's' for this unique event. I have always had a saying for Graham (one of many I have for him!). Firstly, you must enjoy an event to win - if you win for sure you have enjoyed it!. |
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| | I understand the privilege of winning is only experienced by a very small minority of riders but we can all set our own goals and in Scotland, particularly it is imperative to have an enjoyable week. Sure, the weather helps but the most important thing to make the Scottish enjoyable is to be thorough with the pre-event preparation. I really cannot stress this enough and the aim is for as trouble free a week as possible. | |
| | You need to start this preparation at least two weeks before the event (I am talking machine preparation here, not physical training). In the first of these two weeks prepare your machine meticulously for Scotland then ride it in a trial the Sunday before just to make sure all is OK. The following week do the same preparation again, working on the bike every night ..." | |
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| | | TOP PRIORITIES | | | | | 1.- | Change gear box oil (also Wednesday night during trial). | | 2.- | Change fork oil. | | 3.- | Check coolant. | | 4.- | Thoroughly (and I do mean thoroughly) clean carb and all jets. | | 5.- | Fit new air filter (keep old one as spare to change alternately each night in Scotland). | | 6.- | Fit new chain (and sprockets if necessary). I do recommend fitting an O Ring as there are no benefits and it creates drag. | | 7.- | Lock-tite all nuts and bolts. | | 8.- | Grease all the linkage - replace all worn parts (bushes and bearings). | | 9.- | Make your rad cover quick detachable so it is very easy to clean out. | | 10.- | Fit a mudflap on your front mudguard - this helps prevent your rad blocking with mud. | | 11.- | Check hydraulic fluids - top off if necessary. | | 12.- | Safety wire handlebar grips. | | 13.- | Grease all spindles (front and rear wheel + swinging arm). | | 14.- | Fit new brake pads. | | | |
| | | JOBS TO DO DURING THE TRIAL | | | | 1.- | Clean the bike as much as possible. | | 2.- | Change the air filter every night. Take old one home and wash and dry for the following night. | | 3.- | Check coolant. | | 4.- | Check all nuts and bolts including spokes. | | 5.- | Make sure you silicone under rear mudguard to prevent dirt getting into air filter. | | 6.- | Changing tires is a personal choice. When I was riding, you used to have to change the tire, now you can just change the wheel and how many times varies with everyone. Graham changed every night, most riders change twice during the week when time permits and some only change once. |
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| |  | | My advice is not to change the gearing as some riders do. This may save you a couple of minutes on the road but for sure, it will loose you a stack of marks on the sections. Keep what you are used to. During the trial that favorite saying of mine comes into play, 'Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.' Always make sure you do any necessary jobs immediately. If you put it off until the following day, you will find more jobs have appeared, you will have no time to do them and this is when your enjoyment will start to dwindle. If you keep on top of your work daily, your week will be much happier. Try to get into a riding rhythm in Scotland. Arrive at the section, have a good quick look, then ride it. It is OK for the likes of Graham and Steve Colley. They can spend one hour at a section then make up the lost time over the moors. This is not so easy for most riders, so keep moving on. |
When you arrive at the first section each morning check your route card, check how many sections there are, how many miles for the day and how much off road verses on road so you can calculate your time for the day. More importantly, know your own finishing time. This way you know exactly how long you have to work on your bike. IF YOU HAVE TIME DO ALL THE WORK. | |
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| | Regarding delays make sure, if there is any delay to get your card in when you arrive at the section. This will be added to your running time and certainly makes for a more enjoyable day. Be careful on your 'early day' as there will probably be no delay and time may be tight. Make sure you have calculated all your delay times to your running time before you arrive back at the parking area so you know exactly how long you have to work on your bike. I always carried a half a pencil so I could keep a calculation on the card and Graham quickly learned never to be without his pencil ! Have an enjoyable week and see you all there. Yours in sport, Malcolm Rathmell |  |
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| | Download the Sherco HRD brochure | |
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| | Download in PDF format [2,6 Mb], the new Sherco-HRD 50 cc brochure (enduro and supermotard). | |
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| | Sherco dealer spotligth. Rock River Power Sports (Jefferson, Wisconsin) USA | |
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| |  | | Rock River Power Sports is located in Jefferson Wisconsin right off Interstate 94, between Milwaukee and Madison. It is our goal to become one of the largest trials dealers in the united states. With a 22,000 square foot building, complete with a showroom, parts center, and service center, we plan to take the trials world by storm. The owner, Mike DuClos, is hosting a trials event this year in Whitewater Wisconsin and will have a full displays set up at the event. Rock River Power Sports has been in the Motor sports industry for about 5 years. From Sherco sales to Sherco, service and everything in between we are your one stop shop for trials! |
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