Pre-65 Bikes

Hey guys! I picked up a Tiger Cub Trials recently and looking to mod the suspension to more better/modern-ish. For the front end I'm looking at baby cerianis as an option. Has anybody went this route fro a front end? Or would a set of 35 Betors be a smarter option. Thanks in advance! Jeff

Hi ,im interested in buying a 350 bullet and was wondering if anyone could tell me how to spot a fake etc ,is there a certain way a genuine trials bike would be numbered on the motor and frame ?

I'm assembling a C15 and see that the drive chain hits the inside of the engine cases. By inside, I mean the clutch side. This is a 428 chain with the smallest (13 tooth?) sprocket. I know you can run a 520 chain so something must not be correct. Can someone tell me what a notmal or expected clearance should be? A couple of pictures are attached.

Just wondered if any other Bantam riders are using a earlier 3 spd engine ? If so what gearing etc and have you had any problems? I use a 4 speed myself but rarely see any 3 speed out there.

Hi all doing a bantam engine and I cant remember what gears I swop from mainshaft to lay shaft I think its main shaft 3rd with lay shaft 2nd the ones fixed with the circlip not the sliding gears . I wrote down the number of teeth 26 to22 and 25 to 21 but cant remember if its the fixed or sliding gears . Many thanks Martin

Hi guys first post on here. After starting to ride my old trial bike again after a break of about 30 odd years i have a question.At the moment its geared with an 18 tooth engine,40 tooth clutch,17 tooth gearbox and 60 tooth rear sprocket. But due to me being rather crap and the bike seeming much to fast for my very limited skill level((but i don't know if this is in the mind or not(i managed to get round 2 sections on Sunday out of about the 30 i tried before i broke the bike)).I have a 17 tooth engine sprocket which i could use .But my question is is a drop of 1 tooth on the engine a massive drop in the ratio.

Hi all, I'm just finishing a project and wondered what cc it is, i can't remember the formula. my bore is 83.75 and stroke is 78.40 could someone jog my memory please. Best regards Si

There have been a lot of contributions of late about Cubs and the building and setting up thereof. Well for my sins i an in the final stages of building a B40 so what are the recommendations for a B40? You know the usual stuff? Carb size and type. High Comp or Low comp piston. Sports or road cam. Gearing. Michelin or IRC tyres. (While I'm at it I've been told that tubeless Michelins are slightly softer construction than tubed ones. Is this true?) My bike has a Faber frame and Betor front forks and has a Ex WD GB B40 Engine at present with points on sidecover but has had them removed and a PVL ignition fitted. I was thinking of fitting a Amal Mk 1 Concentric 26mm NB…

Hi: Are this Norton sliders?? Is there any place where they could change for me this inside part "friction sleeve" or however it is called? They were originally in a trials TFS greeves. Thank you !!!

Hi all, I'm about ready to embark on my bantam trials machine. I've had her tucked away in the garage a good few years now. Someone has had a go at her before but a bit cowboy'esque !! She has what I believe are Montesa adjustable damping forks and wheel set up. With (somewhere) the swing arm and adapters to fit this also. But it doesn't seem entirely British, I'm all for using what works the best but I think I would like to keep it at least looking like it could have come out of the BSA factory. So then questions....heaps of them if anyone could help. Just a few for now: - Where do I start with frame mods, lifting the reas sub doesn't seam too difficult but I'm conce…

If anyone knows of a Velocette MAC trials bile for sale can they please send me a message? I saw one at a vintage trial on Sunday and am interested in getting one.

Hi Guys Thinking of building a Trials Bantam/ Cub & my first issue is front frame modifications. Before I decide which way to go I thought that there must be members out there who have already been down this road. Headstock angle I have a D10 front frame & want to sharpen the headstock angle, been advised to change the front down tube for a C15 tube which is one inch shorter. What headstock angle are we trying to achieve? Please suggest how best this can be done Engine mounts It's usual to move the engine mounts to the left to aid the chain run with a Cub Engine in a Bantam frame, Does anyone have the details? Also what other front frame mod's should I be…

Hi all. I am rebiulding a new Trialsbits WM1 21ins 40 hole non-valanced alloy rim, onto a standard Bantam front hub and would appreciate help with the spoke lengths I require, if anyone has the info available. I believe they are 10swg, but am not sure of the length and the hub was not in a wheel when the project was purchased, so I cant even have a stab at it The nipple holes on the rim are 7mm and i'd like to use stainless spokes if they are available. I hope to lace it myself, as I have rebuilt plenty of British iron, but never done my own wheels. I will have it trued by someone professional just to be safe, but I'm determined to have a bash at it. Thanks. Steve

Out of my area of expertise, but a friend of mine is thinking of buying this bike, it's got a Triumph tank on it with what he thinks is a BSA C15 engine but the sellers not sure what to class it as. He asked me knowing I have trials bikes but my knowledge is Spanish Twin shocks so I said I'd ask on his behalf. Can anyone help him out. Thanks lads.

hi guys, just wondering about the alloy mufflers a lot of pre65 bikes use....you know the elongated diamond type, has anyone any idea what the baffle arrangment (if any) is in these? i am guessing the inlet and outlet pipes stick well into the 'can' so that the gas has to double back to get to the outlet pipe.....are the pipes perforated any, or just plain. reccon charlie will know the answer as he's built most things to do with the old 4 strokes. cheers trev.

I'm looking to make a change from modern to Pre-65 trials. My father used to work at James so I quite fancy riding one in Sammy Miller series & similar traditional events with roadwork. I've seen some replica bikes at a few trials but do not know where to go to source one. If anyone can recommend supplier(s) I'd be grateful. I'm also interested to know if anyone builds up full bikes in the way Jim Pickering does with the Drayton Bantams.

I have a Amal 622 Mark 1 on my cub what pilot do the gurus out there recommend Vinnie

As above,the seat on my AJS has a big hole in the cover.No idea where it came from originally or what it was intended for,but its just the right size/shape and its comfy on the road.I just want to tidy it up a bit. So who do I go to ?

Hi all, This is one of my Dad's old bikes and I was wondering if anyone could help identify it? Could it be the base for a decent Trials bike, In particular the engine? I'm not sure what to do with the bike at the moment and wondered if there was any potential? Thanks.

Most people use a mineral 20/50 in the gearbox casing. Has anybody tried a modern synthetic or semi-synthetic bike oil suitable for wet clutches . I am particularly concerned about the effect on the cork friction rings between the steel plates. What quantities are people using. Have heard anything from .5 to a full pint. Any comments.