Hi, I'm 13 years old and I am looking for a cheap way of getting into trials. I have an XR100, but want a trials bike. Would the cheapest way of getting in be to get a vintage bike and starting from there? Any reply would be nice. Thanks

Yes, I have been trialing for about 10 years now, a vintage bike would probably be your best bet.

For a little extra money, I would try and stick with an older modern bike with single shock. The vintage bikes are nice and have their place, but if you want the connection between mind, body and machine, the more modern bike is the way to go.

What? A vintage bike has it's place?

As a parent of a young man that started on vintage and now rides both vintage and modern, let me tell you what he says:

Alex loves riding his vintage bike. He actually misses it when he is off of it for awhile. The vintage bikes weigh a good deal more than the modern bikes, so you really have to know what you're doing to handle it and make it go where you want. Modern bikes are great and allow you to do a lot of things you really shouldn't attempt on a vintage, but they typically roll right over obstacles.

Most people that ride vintage are very good at modern as well, mainly because they're so used to man-handling a 200+ lb bike and to suddenly be on a 160+ bike means you don't have to use as much "body language".

Best advice? Watch both vintage and modern, see what it takes to handle both types of bikes, and try to ride one (or more) of both. Modern is easier to ride and maneuver, but you really learn how to work a section on a vintage. Alex swears by his vintage bike; he can tell when he hasn't been on the vintage because it keeps his skills sharp for the modern.

Don't just go buy a bike; watch everyone else, get a ride on their bikes, and make an informed decision. $3,000 to $7,000 is a lot of money to buy a bike you're going to throw on a rock.....!

Couldn't have said it better...
I started when the state of the art bikes weighed twice as much as I did (early 70's)...
And just bought one of the last competive twin shockers(83 fantic 240) to get back into the sport. And I'm amazed at what my inertia increase on a lighter bike can do now and I can't wait to try a truly state of the art bike when I get the opertunity.
But buying a new trials bike should be just like riding one, slow;thoughtful;and a couple obsticles ahead...