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many thanks to the Kingswood MCC for a brilliant trial.. and to all the observers who I sprayed with fuel on the first lap!!!
A full set of images of Pete and Heath on the Xispa can be seen by clicking the link below...
Further images of the Kingswood trial, including almost every rider, can be found on Scott Andersons Gallery via this link...
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Xispa 250 ridden at Kingswood Trial.. 05/04/09
Seems I have found the perfect way to ride trials events, get someone to deliver the bike to the trial and let me ride it... and then they take it home and clean and repair as needed!! My previous rides have all been Beta's so this was going to be strange... Pete Culliford had invited me to ride his Xispa 250 at the kingswood mcc trial.
So it was time to actually find out what the bike is like, rather than just form opinion from images and rumour. Funny how we all had thoughts on this bike even before they started to make them! Well, for starters, yes it does look like a lot like a Sherco. The frame and rear silencer being the most noticable but the swinging arm and engine block are also very close. It also suffers from a problem I have always found with Sherco's, lack of steering lock. Now this maybe because I am a Beta rider and as we all know you can almost ride up your own backside on these on full lock! There was a couple of issues with this bike as well, the rear shock had been set very, very soft. My 14 stone basically bottomed it out going over a twig... we did add a bit of pre-load quickly at the start but it wasn't enough. Also the front forks had been away for a Xispa upgrade but upon fitting and riding for 10 minutes Pete found that the seals on both side had started to leak... nothing I could do about it at the start so I just hoped the oil wouldn't get on the disc during the event... |
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.. and the final little annoyance was that the fuel cap valve had become useless and with a full tank of fuel I was getting a nice little spray of petrol every time I hopped the rear wheel or dropped down a bank. All these issues and a few more I will mention at the end are being dealt with and the next batch of bikes will have solutions fitted.
To the riding, it started first kick and had a surprising amount of compression... occasionaly giving a kick back once or twice during the day. Nothing nasty, just wasn't prepared for it. The brakes and clutch worked spot on and the engine ran nice and clean from the word go. The running gear should prove no problem as it is much the same as all the other makes of bikes are using... but just one view, I am not keen on the red front brake pot. Looks a bit naff, like some kid painting his Fiesta brake drums red to look racy!!
The black colour is not to everyones taste, and I believe it would look 100 times better with a nice graphics kit along the lines of the full TTT one fitted to my Beta... white and black graphics would make the bike look less heavy as well. And it is only a look, the bike is very light and flicks around no problem (rear shock problem aside). I found it very easy to hop either end in the sections, which was pleasing as I had to do this more than normal because of the steering lock issue, but that was mainly my doing as I wasn't giving things a wider bearth. Instead I waited until I wanted to turn in and expected it to do it the same as my rev3! |
..In the sections the bike was very easy to ride, it has a slower response than I am used too but because of that it appeared to grip very well on the wild garlic and root covered climbs and turns and on the loose stoney sections out of the woods. In the whole trial I never once stalled the bike, from the feeling I would guess it has either a heavy flyhweel or a weight fitted... ideal for these sections. If you wanted it to get a bit more of an urge on just slip the clutch a little and build the revs to get it airbourne!
Although the turning circle is more than I am used too I never had the front wheel push out on the camber turns and the rear wheel tracked over the various sized roots a treat. The two fives I had during the trial were totaly my fault as I waited too late on a nasty step, followed by big roots, to popped the bike up the first step... My own bike is much quicker and flies when I crouch my legs and dip the clutch quickly, sometimes I even stay on it!! Giving the Xispa a little more distance to power up to the step worked on the other two laps. If you are used to a GasGas or Beta you will find the front seems a bit long, but pushing the bars forward a little cured it for me and only the very soft rear shock sometimes gave me the feeling of riding a chopper... low at the back and high on the front. Nothing a bit of time making personal adjustments wouldn't cure... |
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.. I haven't ridden a Sherco for any length of time recently but the closest idea of what this bike is like to ride is the good old GasGas TXT range... very easy to ride with a nice neutral feel. The quality of the bike is generaly ok but the frame paint was already coming off around the boot area. Perhaps some of those GasGas gel type stickers would help there. The 250 engine is capable of any club trial section and I suspect a lot more. As the Oki carb is a Keihin under a different name it can be jetted how you like it and for the average clubman the power delivery is perfect... no sudden rushes but plenty there if needed. I am a heavy user of the clutch, too heavy at times, but the clutch never slipped or lost any adjustment all day. The gearchange went into whatever gear I wanted in a section with only one neutral hit, and the gear ratios were spot on. I used first or second in the sections throughout the whole day.
Even with the fuel cap problem the bike did the whole day on one tank full, I topped it up when we went back for a play after the event.... but it wasn't empty even then. The rear mudguard does seem a little lightweight but after I sat on it a few times it sprang back to shape ok and I am told they are cheap compared to others... under 30 quid. The graphics are chunky and have stayed put but as said above it really needs some inspiration in that department!! I will add that all the plastics and airbox to exhaust parts fitted very well, no big gaps and only a few screws to gain access to everything..
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The bottom line is that the Xispa 250 is a very capable club bike that with a few improvements will be very tempting for those on a budget... unfortunately the strength of the Euro hasn't helped as I feel at £2999 this would be a great buy, especially when the next batch arrive with the new items fitted. I am told it will be coming with a Montesa style rear wheel rim to stop air leakage, improved front fork action, new fuel tank sealing 'o' ring and hopefully a better tank cap breather system. It does however come with a 12 months warrenty which should help with customers concerns... The strength of the Euro has pushed the bike up into the region of £3500 which I feel may be a bit close to the established marques prices... but time will tell.
All the companies had to start somewhere and I think this is a good first effort, the engine is strong but soft at the same time and it won't try and launch a novice up a tree as soon as you get on it. The asthetics need a bit of work along with the frame paint quality but the limiting factor in the trial was the bloke stood on top of it!!
Very big thanks to Pete Culliford for the loan of the bike, if you want to try one yourself, or purchase one, drop him a line on 01454 227373 |
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