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mercuryrev

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  1. To illustrate how clued up some French officials are...... This happened to me, there's no, 'a friend told me' I was asked by a French local government official for a French sales receipt for a UK motorcycle, that I had bought in the UK, from a UK resident and they even sent me an example French receipt to help me. I was told by a French policeman that I have to change my driving licence now, despite the French authorities suspending UK licence exchanges for the time being. Even when I showed him a copy of the decree (rules) he still insisted I have a year to do it, or I would be in trouble. At the end of the day, customs officials are there to do their jobs, so if they think you need a carnet, they want to see a carnet. If you don't have one and they don't check at the border, you've been lucky and can carry on with your holiday. If they do check at the border or, as Chris says, further along your trip, and you don't have one, expect a load of hassle.
  2. I think the problem is that nobody really knows at the moment! I'm pretty sure French customs won't know what is the correct paperwork, they will just form their own opinion and if you don't have the right paperwork, then sorry, you're not bringing that into the country. What has happened in the past, what is supposed to happen, won't apply for a while until Normality breaks out. Equally turning up without every last scrap of paper you MIGHT need is a recipe for disaster. Having spent 5 years dealing with French bureaucracy, I know that the only way to win is to do it their way. Oh and it's not their fault, we voted for this.
  3. Thanks Greg, your help and advice really helped me, thank you very much for that. I am slowly getting to grips with the bike, practicing in the garden or riding at the local club when we're allowed. Clubs here are very different to those I've ridden with in the UK. The idea here is to try to help each other improve, rather than just ride and have fun. I am always getting help, advice and being gently challenged to improve my riding, which is probably pushing me more than I would on my own with this bike. I could never understand how most riders here seem to be at a higher standard when they start competing at the few trials we have. With the amount of help and advice any new rider receives, it now makes sense. I'll try the third gear thing, do you start it in gear? Some of the guys at the club (all using 280s) like to start their bikes whilst they are rolling, they swear it's easier like that. My french isn't good enough to truly quiz them however. Happy Christmas to you too and I echo your thoughts, wouldn't it be great if that came true.
  4. Yes it was the S3 head and insert and yes I did it myself. It isn't a particularly difficult job, unless you catch one of the head o rings and then fill the cylinder with coolant (don't ask how I know). So just be careful with that. I'm not sure on years but the later bikes need a new head and insert, early bikes could just have an insert fitted I believe. Mine is an '17 Racing. The parts aren't cheap and I did agonize over whether it was worth persevering with the whole thing or cut my loses and get a 250. I really struggled to start the bike and it is now much easier with the head fitted. I know there is a knack and I know I haven't acquired that, so it must be the head. Power might be a little softer, but not much. I am returning to trials after about 7 or 8 years and I was never that great, preferring to just have fun rather than compete. Trying to remember everything again and get back up to where I once was, has been harder thanks to having a 300. Having said that my skills(?) have had to improve quickly thanks to the extra power. A 250 would still suit me better but I've enjoyed it all, working on the bike and the challenge of making it work for me and vice versa. I have also had superb help and guidance by Greg, the OP of this, as well as all the other contributors. Hope all that helps.
  5. I managed to get some riding in last weekend and with the new head and insert, the bike is definitely easier to start. Until I get tired I can now start it either first, or second kick. However it never starts if the throttle is opened, it has to be closed or it refuses to start. Power is pretty much the same, I think, perhaps slightly softer, although I am now starting to get used to the bike. Another club member had just bought a Vertigo 250 and, stupidly, I had a ride..... It confirmed what I knew, with a 250 I feel in control of the bike, with the 300 GG I feel that the bike will bite me unless I am totally on it. It's getting better however and I'm not giving up as I've put a lot of work into this bike.
  6. Thanks for that, I managed to ask a friend in the end who has done the job quite a few times. Thanks again
  7. As a follow up to help others, I bought a kit from the very excellent Splatshop. All went well aside from trying to get the springless seals to sit in the dog bones. They were certainly not spring less, they were springing everywhere, off the floor, the ceiling...... I can see why there were no seals when I stripped it. Plenty of dried blood however..... If I did it again I would use the wider bearings for the dog bones, which do away with the springless seals. They have less rollers but have built in seals. I'd rather change them more often than have to fight the separate seals. HTH
  8. Can anyone please tell me which way round the seals go in the dog bones? When I stripped the suspension there were no seals on the dog bones..... Thanks in advance
  9. This whole discussion seems to revolve around using, or not using, the clutch and I have no idea why. I don't think I said don't use the clutch when doing a zap, did I? As far as I'm aware it's possible to use the clutch in pretty much any manoeuvre. The use of the clutch isn't reserved for a zap, nor not allowed in a double blip, is it? My point is if the obstacle necessitates it, you have to use the clutch to give you more instant power. The confusion seems to be compounded by different videos showing the same technique but then calling it something different. I am very far from being an expert and I appreciate that technique is a huge part of this game but I don't feel the need to 'label' and put a finite definition on a technique. If I need to get over a rock, log or bank, I need to do two things..... unweight and possibly lift the front and get the rear to drive, or roll, over it, with, or without, lifting the rear. Just out of interest, and this is no way a criticism..... If I need to climb a five/six foot, very steeply angled bank and I rev the bike with the clutch in, dump the clutch (thereby lifting the front wheel), then without using a kicker, I hit and drive up the bank. What would you call that? A roll up? A zap? Splat sans kicker? Also, if I want to get over a large tree trunk and I use the clutch to lift the front wheel onto the log and then as the front suspension rebounds, I give the bike a second blip (as well as dumping the clutch) and I unweighted the pegs lifting the rear wheel either on top of, or 3/4 up, the log.... Is that a zap or a double blip? I can see the need to apply labels when teaching a technique but as above, when different labels are applied to the same technique by different people it gets very confusing.
  10. Thanks for the reply Never had it apart, the bike's new to me and I'm in lock down, so the bike's getting some TLC! It has had a bit of a beating in a former life, so I'm guessing things could get messy....
  11. Planning on stripping down the rear linkage on my 16 racing and as far as I can see there are three options. A Jitsie kit, an All Balls kit, or individual OE parts. I've never had much success with All Balls kits in the past on road and dirt bikes, however. Anyone got any recommendations or experiences please?
  12. It's me! I can start it second kick with my left leg but as I have a bad right knee it's just too much for it. I've tried a friends 280 GP with a low comp head and can start it fairly easily with my right leg. Although he did then tell me that he has a different CDI on the bike. I'm ok if I just ride and practice on the bike without stopping and starting it all the time. If I am stopping it every section then if becomes a pain to start it with my left.
  13. Funny you should say that as almost a year ago we set off to drive to Milan via Menton to go to EICMA and see Elbow play, on the way back we stopped off at Dherbey. What a shop, it is truly trials heaven! Most bikes were available to test in their grounds, although they weren't interested in letting me try a Repsol. I've used them a few times for parts and whilst they're not cheap, they are fast. I'm sure they'd be interested in an extra salesman, every moto shop I go to mention they've sold a bike to an Englishman! As you say, it is a beautiful part of the world too. Sadly it was a cloudy day around Grenoble, although we'd crossed over from Italy earlier to be met with sunshine and the first snow of the year in the Alps. One day I am going to research as many trials clubs/venues in nice spots around France and go on a road trip. I also need to suss out the French pastime of trial randonnee.
  14. No idea what was in there before, it looked like oil but it might have been some cheap stuff. It looked clean and new when I got the bike but there was also a lot of black gunge on the sump and oil filler plugs. I am pretty sure the bike has been ragged in the past but it seems to run nicely. The condition of the bike meant that it was a far cry from what I would buy in the UK but it was all that was around at the time and it was a passport to being able to ride here and to making friends. There was also a bit of politics in buying locally. I got the impression that they were just trying to sell me any old bike at first. There was a bit of 'sell the english bloke the heap in the corner'. Then they found out I knew a French guy that supports their trials school financially and the frostiness changed. A bit of banter and I was suddenly offered a new mudguard and some new stickers. Respect is a bit thing here and I hadn't earned any when I first walked in the door. Buying from that shop has earnt me plenty of brownie points, now I get emails and phone calls asking if I want to come and ride with the owner of the shop. Got a couple of days of nice weather to come and then I'll be stripping down the rear linkages, checking and replacing if necessary. Did you replace anything when you did yours, sorry I can't remember what you said? Had the notice come through from the French version of the ACU, no competition or practice until 1st December at the earliest.....
  15. Back on subject...... Changed the gearbox oil to 380mls of Putoline GP10 and it feels to my uneducated finger, that I now have much better feel in the clutch. Only round the garden and over some logs, but it feels smoother and I can find the biting point easier. Back to the starting problem..... Splat shop seem to have the best deal at the moment and fast shipping to boot.
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