The preparation of the trial bike for a long race is not so simple compared to other types of competitions.
First, because we usually travel a long distance and we want to avoid technical surprises that make us end the weekend early. And secondly, because the level of intensity of continuous use in hours and mechanical demand is unprecedented for us.
For this reason, we must carry out extensive, although not deep, maintenance of our bike, and also equip ourselves with a minimum of spare parts that allow us to solve minor problems during the race.
We can’t solve a seizure, but we can solve electrical problems, transmission kit problems or a breakage of the controls. Therefore, being well prepared and prepared is essential.
ACCESSORIES FOR LONG-LASTING TRIALS
It is advisable to carry a backpack or fanny pack with a basic refill, but we can also add other accessories that will come in handy to improve the autonomy or durability of certain components. Here’s a summary:
TRIAL-SPECIFIC FANNY PACK OR BACKPACK
Hebo, Mots and Jitsie all manufacture specific fanny packs with compartments designed for tools, hydration or personal documentation.
EXTRA GAS
Hebo sells an extra fuel tank that is placed on the front of the bike and gives us 1.5 liters more autonomy. The good thing is that it is connected to the original tank and the extra is emptied first, so in a short time we will have this weight released. Another option is to transport gasoline in specific bottles for this product.
Hebo extra fuel tank for trial bikes
TOOLS
There is a minimum that we must carry with us:
PREPARATION OF THE RIDER FOR THE ARINSAL TRIAL
It’s time to tackle the technical preparation of the trial bike. Below we are going to break down each of the sections, including the recommended tasks and the materials we need to review for the set-up of the bike.
Brake system overhaul
In this type of race there are usually large slopes and with it, strong descents that heat up the brakes. We recommend that you
remove the calipers and check the condition of the brake pads
, not only in terms of thickness, but also that they are not crystallized. Here is a report on how to
improve the brakes on your trial bike
. And here are replacement
trial brake pads.
If you’re thinking of upgrading or upgrading your bike’s brakes, there’s this complete Braktec brake kit for all trial bikes already bled and ready to ride.
For the rear axle, it is best to use the FIM homologated closed trial disc, as it has a larger braking surface.
Checklist and spare parts for motorcycle trial brakes
- Brake pad wear check >> buy here <
- Brake fluid condition check >> buy here <
- Checking the condition of brake discs >> buy here <
- Checking tightness and condition of the screw discs
- Braktec Powerparts Trial Brake Master Cylinder >> buy here <
- DOT4 Trial Brake Fluid >> buy here
Trial bike wheels review
You’ll know for yourself what condition your tyres are in. We recommend putting new tires, since in addition to a better grip, it will be easier to avoid possible punctures or traction problems. You can always finish using the previous game on future occasions, where you have more room for manoeuvre on a mechanical level.
Remember that the best prevention is to bring the correct pressures and, to do this, use a specific trial pressure gauge.
Another tip is to mount a reinforced inner tube on the front axle, with more robustness against punctures or pinches.
As a replacement, you can take a puncture repair spray or a tubeless repair kit, with which you will solve possible problems in the rear wheel.
Adjustment of controls on the trial bike
It is mandatory to have new grips on your trial bike. The reason is that, with the amount of water and mud you will find, any break in the fist can end up moving and bitter your entire career.
In fact, it is just as important to ensure a good hold by using this trial grip wire. It is also a good idea to put some handlebar stops, so that we will avoid direct contact of the grip in the event of a fall.
As for trial levers, it is essential to carry a set of spare levers, and preferably also a gear lever and brake. This guarantees that we can continue in the race in the event of a breakdown.
Finally, the
throttle grip should be cleaned and oiled according to this tutorial
.
Checklist and spare parts for trial controls
Tightening and lubrication of trial bikes
General tightening check, including linkages. Disc bolts, crown, brakes, fork bridge are not to be missed. And due to the broken terrain and the consequent vibrations, we recommend applying this screw fixing to prevent us from losing it during the race.
On the other hand, as an extra, it is interesting to consider mounting a
linkage protector
to avoid bumps and breaks.
For the lubrication of the motorcycle, you should follow this report with the 20 lubrication points that a trial bike needs. At the product level we have to use chain oil, brake cleaner and degreaser so that all the parts are well cleaned before being lubricated again.
Here you can find all the lubricants for trial bikes.
Check Trial Transmission Kit
A bad condition of the transmission kit can ruin the whole weekend.
To check it correctly, follow the tips for
checking the voltage of the transmission kit according to this tutorial
. If the chain is too loose, consider changing the entire kit. Additionally, you should carry
this chain link
in your fanny pack as an emergency. This will allow you to be able to repair the chain during. the stroke in case of breakage.
Carburetion & Air Filter Adjustment
Let’s not forget that in long-term races such as Arinsal, the entire competition takes place at an altitude of more than 1,500 metres, conditions that are very different from those we usually ride.
This requires making small adjustments to the carburetion. Here’s a full tutorial on the
Carburetor cleaning and carburetion adjustment
. It is advisable, according to the above conditions, to lower the diameter of the chewing gum.
Here you can find chewing gum for Keihin
.
It is also advisable
to place a gasoline filter
in the macaroon to prevent impurities from passing from the tank to the carburetor.
In terms of air filters, it is essential to carry a new air filter and also carry a second spare. Due to the large volume of participants and the length of the course, our bike sucks up a large amount of dust during the race day. Therefore, cleaning or replacement is mandatory for the second day.
Here you can see our tips for cleaning the air filter according to this tutorial. Remember that these are the lungs of your bike.
Adjustment and prevention in electronics
The large changes in altitude and the technical demands that we place on the engines, especially in the interzones that pass through the ski slope area, favour the appearance of electronic problems, usually related to the area of the spark plug. Therefore, it is mandatory to carry at least one spare spark plug, so that we can solve the problem and continue normally to the paddock.
The “man overboard” stop device is a mandatory safety system in all competitions. In addition to the fact that you must wear it on your motorcycle, it is essential to carry at least one or two complete spare straps. This way if you have a fall and lose the strap, or the magnet, you can continue normally.
In addition, it is interesting that you check the entire lighting system, since there are links of the race that travel on regional roads and we must be extremely cautious at these points, in addition to being correctly regulated in terms of lighting.
Cooling System Review
Motors at Arinsal suffer a lot in the area of temperature, so it is essential that the fan works correctly at all times.
We also have to check the coolant level, making sure there are no leaks or losses. It also doesn’t hurt to bring a radiator cap, in case we had some kind of leak.
Finally, let’s check the engine oil, so that it is not white or light brown, so that we can certify the absence of problems in the water pump, which is manifested when the oil meets the water. This requires replacing the entire water pump kit, including seals, shaft and turbine.
As a recommendation, it doesn’t hurt to consider mounting this
temperature sensor for trial bikes
.
