Classic Trials

I've just bought a 1959 AJS 16MS in trials trim, I believe it would have originaly been a standard road bike. I just called Footmas James who I have another classic bike insured with and they say they won't insure it because it's a trials bike! When I asked them if it would make any difference if it was an original factory trials bike they said it wouldn't as they don't insure trials bikes! Can anyone recommend any insurers who will insure a classic trials bike? Thanks and here's a pic of the bike.

Good evening all thought I would ask this in the classic section as many of you would have had need for this..I have a gas gas pampera & would like my rear wheel rebuilt..any suggestion for a man that knows his stuff?.. Ideally in the south east save posting etc..thanks in advance

Hello all, I'd like to build a pre-unit trials bike and am looking for any help and info on what would be the best way to go in regards to what make and parts to start hunting down. I'd prefer something either Ariel or AJS based but could consider others such as Triumph twin or Norton. So any advice on suitable engines, frames, etc. that are sometimes available (for not stupid money) would be greatly appreciated. I am not on a budget as such but neither would I want to pay a kings ransom for every part and end up with a bike that wasn't worth half of the build cost. I may as well just buy a nice bike to start with, which I would do but they don't seem to come up…

I have an old aluminium gas tank that looks like it was not used for many years. I poured out some stinky gas, filled with fresh gas and shook it periodical for a couple of weeks to clean it out. After draining and drying, I can see sort of a layer of solidified gas lining some of the bottom. The petcock must have had a slow leak because it is covered with what looks more like dried tree sap than dried gas. Are there any solvents that will remove this? A non hazardous one would be nice but not required. I can also see that there are a couple of pin holes close together. Has anyone had luck with using epoxy to spot treat pin holes?

Anyone had any results yet? It said in regs to enclose an SAE but I thought they might appear on the Bmca website

Great trial at Dudwood today. Thanks to all involved in running the event. Happy New Year

One of my Greeves trials alloy barrels has a head with the combustion chamber offset and with the spark plug in the centre of the off-set. Can anyone tell me which way to position the head? Spark plug off-set to the fore or towards the back? My good friend tells me it should be forward but my engine builder, of cosiderable experience, built it up and marked it to be at the back..I assume it will have been designed with the flow of the transfer ports and exhaust port in mind and it seems to run smoother with it at the front! So is that the answer?

hi,just bought a 64 frame 61 engine tank wheels etc.want to make a trials cub.not ultra competive just a few easy trials.got to build up engine any mods to done.should i convert to points on side what sort of ignition(rex gaunt type).carbs.have a set of 69 b25 forks.any good (better than cubs).any suggestions

some pictures from the trial at Burrycliffe Quarry last sunday. sunny but cold day and the ground was in good condition

I run my shocks with the body on the bottom..the non-sexy orientation....with the decals the right way up. Quite often someone will comment that this is incorrect...had it today at the Dabbers from my mate. He told me that his damping went off after a year, but by turning them upside down they had a new lease of life....but anyone in the Anglian area whom knows the rider of a much much modified white tanked red framed TY175, will also know he maybe tight as a ducks chuff but does know his stuff. So I googled the Betor website and according to their bumpf I'm correct. That said as the gas part is just a pressurised bladder over the oil to stop it foaming. I…

OK, it’s obviously Grimeca, but what did it come from and where can I get pads and seals? It came off my well-used Beta TR35, at least that’s what I think it is after a lot of research. But I can’t find any reference to a 4 piston caliper/mount combo like this on *any* Beta parts list from the 88 to 92 era, at least. It fits my (steel) swingarm like it was made for it. The pistons measure 25 and 22m. Everything is in good shape except for the dust seals, which have completely disintegrated. Short term I can reassemble w/o them, but I’d much having them there, obviously. thanks for any pointers, Sam

Has anyone tried the tank from D and c Motorcycles? It is a fiberglass tank Im Looking for a low narrow ish one http://www.dcclassicmotorcycles.co.uk/part..._fuel_tanks.htm Thanks Marty D

OK, I have been away for a month, missed both the biggest trials of the year, pre65 and the 6 days but now I want to catch up and I can't find anything on the pre65 2 day, is it a secret or something ? Searched this site and the general Internet and nothing, is it because I am using an I-pad ? If it is then that's ridiculous. Help please

Hi, Just a couple of questions about classic trials events and bike spec. The clutch on my Ossa MAR is heavier than the one on my Ducati, and on Ebay you can buy some really cheap chinese hydraulic clutch kits whihc might bring a solution to the heaviness, would these be allowed in twin shock trials or is it deemed out of keeping? Secondly, as acquired the bike is missing one spoke out of each wheel, can you buy single spokes, if so from where, or would it not be a scrutineering failure? Thanks for any advice offered. regards, Ian.

out and about today at Darlington's pre65/twin-shock trial at ironbanks here are some pics to look at best looking at them in slideshow pics

Can anyone help , i'm trying to source new rims and spokes for an old TY80 i'm restoring 14" back rim and 16" front ( 32 spoke front &rear) would really appreciate the info thanks Daniel

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I need some help. I'm fixing up a 1976 Kawasaki kt250, and the lights are burning out. I figured it would be a voltage regulator, but I'm not sure where, or if, it even has one. If I could just get some help from people who know more than me, that would be great.

Hi, I am on my second Cota 349 build (for my sins) and this one has really gave me a head spin. The engine has just been rebuilt and all I needed to do was connect the electrics and that was it, job done... Er no chance! Brand new points, condenser, stator check(good), new coil, new plug cap and new plug, but no spark. Coil on frame had a very good earth with no paint in between, all engine mounts have good earth as well. Can anyone on here throw me a bone to what I might have to do to get a spark please?

Hello All... I have recently acquired a 1985 CanAm badged Armstrong 350 Trial here in Canada. I did find the Armstrong Trials website for replacement plastics etc. I have email the address at the bottom of the website, I have used the email page on the website... and have not got any reply in a month or so. Does anyone know if this company is in business any longer ?.... I would dearly like to order one of everything on the site, but I can’t get an answer. Maybe it’s that they do not want to deal with overseas, I do not know. Being in Canada, it’s not easy to just pick up the phone and call them. Does anyone know if they are still in business ? …

have a session on Google and came accross this excellent Austrian web site which along with some great pictures of Alta, Gaunt and Collier Suzukis, has (in German) some information on KTM trials bikes, with some pictures of bikes from 1975-77. Looks like there was a works team at the Scottish, but love to know if there are bikes around in the UK, or if anyone rode one ?