Korean Trials 
   
 
 

The trials in Korea

Trials have been introduced to Korea much earlier than expected but it is only 10 to 15 years ago that Korean maniacs started to ride the Trials bikes. Now, 7 teams consisted of 200 members called "Eagles, Piston, Wild horses, Strong blast, Raccoon dogs, Mountain, Blue dragons, "enjoy the Trials sports enthusiastically. The first contest was held in "Sammacksa", southern part of Seoul on April 15, 2001 and 60 riders participated in the contest.

 

This exciting game was hit the air on TV prime time news program of KBS, the government-run broadcasting station. This unprecedented case evoked many potential Trials maniacs' desire for the Trials sports and the number of Trials riders is getting increased. Korea is a kind of peninsula geographically and there are a lot of mountain peaks in the whole country. These are benefits for Trials riders to enjoy their challenge.

   

"Trials Korea" [http//:www.trials.co.kr] is the leading promoter for Korean Trials; it mainly distributes Sherco 2.9 there. The winner of Trials contest, Mr. Na (30 year old) who won the championship 2 times says he loves Sherco bike because it gives him an easier handling, strong power and less weighing. Besides of Trials contest, "Trials Korea" is planning to introduce "Trials school" for the guidance for beginners to the Trials world in the near future.

  

The possibility that Trials motorbikes sports might be an exhibition game on 2004 Olympic games stirred a bigger boom in Korea. So many of youngsters began to have interest in this new, active, exciting sports. Korea is now going to be a paradise for Trials sports!!!

   
 
   
 Geometry in trial motorbikes 
   
 
 

Josep R. Paxau - Technical direction and product develompent

With the arrival of the 2001 Sherco bikes, Paxau revolutionised the weight balance of the trial bikes up to that moment. Paxau comments that "the reduction in the overall weight of all the Sherco models, together with the new structure of some vital parts such as the exhaust system, the new filter box, and the new fuel tank, carry along something more than a simple aesthetic change.

 
 

The motorbike's weight is much more centred, and this affects directly the behaviour of the suspensions and the riding in general before the different situations to tackle in the practice of trial: steps, tight turns, downhill slopes, varied types of ground, etc. Good stability must be achieved in all places and the rider must feel at ease on the bike.

 
   
 

The Sherco is the lightest motorbike in the market and the most homogeneous as well. It is easy to ride and a loyal partner in any situation, from a simple excursion to the most demanding competition. From the moment we started the design and development of the new exhaust system and the overall re-styling, we worked with the weight balance as well, and modifications in the motorbike's geometry came as a result of it. The working system of the rear suspension was modified, as well as the direction angle and the riding position. We are under constant development, and our prototypes go through many testing sessions before the modifications are transferred to the series bikes. The client receives a product with an extremely high degree of reliability, and so the work we perform with the constant study and evaluation is vital, and we are very well assisted by new technologies in this aspect.

 
 

But if the weight balance is more and more important, so is the engine response. Electronics are giving us another dimension in the control of the engine's performance. Telemetry gives us data which were impossible to monitor so far, and using the information we gather we can generate ignition maps tailored to the bike, and establish multiple-performance settings. In the series motorbikes the map is designed so as to allow an optimum performance in any circumstance, but in the competition bikes the works riders use, we take into account several factors when we elaborate the map: height, atmosphere pressure, temperature, humidity and, obviously, every rider's personal riding style. Jarvis, Freixa, Justribó and Manzano are very different in their styles, and thanks to the digital technology we can personalise each engine to their needs."

 
   

Paxau's experience, with over 25 years developing trial motorbikes, has been decisive in applying the new technologies to this sport, in which the balance between rider and motorbike must be finely honed.

 
   
   Sherco News is a publication for Sherco owners and supporters. We respect your online time and Internet privacy. If you would prefer not to receive the Sherco News, send an unsubscribe email.