cleanorbust

Yes, probably a good reason to ride with gloves. If this happens, whip one off and stuff it up the exhaust.

I'll have you know every penny I've earned is above board and I'd look any taxman in the eye to say so. Probably.

Well, it's a thought but I doubt I'd get home by tea time.

Reminds me of a magazine article I read in the 70s about Malcolm Rathmell and Martin Lampkin. In those days the best works riders rode British championships and nationals alongside maybe 100 lesser lights, for whom such events were probably the highlight of their trialling year. It was common practice to see the works guys' bikes wedged in at the front of the queue at each section. As Mart put it "they think it's because we can't be bothered waiting" but actually there was more to it. The best riders would spend time rearranging rocks and stamping mud into the optimal state for riding the section. After all this boot work they couldn't afford for the spinning wheels of 20 duffers to undo their gardening efforts, so had to have their bikes handy to jump on and ride the section at the best moment. This was all done under the unwritten rules of the sport at the time and nobody complained about it. The way I saw it, these guys were riding for a living or at least to make a few bob. I had Monday morning to do that.

Good stuff, and a feet-up one too, the way everybody remembers him.

A picture of Mart on the Bulto would have been in keeping with the occasion.

Any modern bike regardless of capacity will cope with your weight no problem. All have similar seat height so no real best bike in that regard. As a beginner I'd keep away from a 300; 250 or 125 is fine. Probably comes down to findng the best condition bike in your price range locally if buying secondhand rather than narrowing your choice to one or two makes.

Van-derived car for me (Doblo or Berlingo). You don't have the lower speed limits imposed on vans, bike fits with rear seat folded and you've got the versatility of a family car the rest of the time. Gave up using a trailer years ago, too little security for the bike and speed limits too low.

As johnnyboxer says, changing classification likely to be costly and not straightforward. Might as well buy the car version in the first place - usually quite a few Doblos/Berlingos around secondhand.

Like Cabby I have used a Doblo car for years. Carries one bike with the seats folded up or two with back seat removed (I have modified mine to be quickly detachable). Good economy, comfort and general running costs, and being the car version rather than van is not subject to lower speed limits.

From memory, most if not all Saracen production frames were nickel plated. Also the snail cam adjusters were situated at the swinging arm spindle, not the rear wheel. This may help to identify whether your frame is a Saracen. Ron Goodfellow, the originator of the brand, (who used Bantam engines in his first bikes) has been a contributor on here in the past so further help may just be forthcoming.

Gauntlets!! Last time I saw those on a trials rider they were teamed with the old ankle length storm proof footing coat, excellent for disguising dabs from observers.

For a few, it's wearing gloves that just doesn't seem right. These people have a history going back to the 1970s, when of course Malcolm Rathmell coined the phrase that wearing gloves is like washing your feet with your socks on.

Photo of whole bike would probably be enough to nail down what it is.

That's not possible if it is indeed a 348. The 348 was replaced by the 349 in the Montesa line-up before Honda bought them out.

Yeah, cars only.

trapezeartist is correct. You answered your own question.

Ryan Young no longer involved with EM. I seem to remember something about the Canadian importer taking on North American duties.

Could try J K Hirst Ltd in Bradford, think they specialise in Yamaha trials bits. 01274 480388.

No. As stated, they don't "adapt" because the clutch has always been on the left. Same reason lefties don't need a left hand throttle.

I've never known any lefthanders feel the need to change to a left hand throttle, and would question whether they'd actually gain an advantage. It could be argued that clutch control is a vital element of the fine skills of trials riding, and all the right handers cope with that no problem, just as lefties do with the throttle.

I do agree with the principle that deciding to do a particular activity includes acceptance of the risk to self, to the extent that if I want others to mitigate that risk I'll ask them.

No worries, totty79, trials riders have an innate ability to hop out of the way, even at the last minute. The prompt of "mind yer back" works well.

Only the rules are enforced. And, for clothing, that means only helmets.

If you have enough run-up, concentrate on gathering speed before the climb so that, if anything, you're starting to roll off the throttle as you're going up. Trying to gain momentum while on the slope is much harder.