cleanorbust

Miller frame, with nickel plating. I had one back in the day.

Yes I think that 's Mick's original cap that he wears, not available from Bell now but there's a similar one on eBay, item no 121986739866.

Johnyboxer wrote: "Nigel Birkett? How many consecutive SSDT's is it now? Another man marvel and finished 66th overall I think" 1971 was his first year I think, on the 128 Suzuki (I watched him start then while taking out from school, the rider alongside him at the start table asked if he was old enough to have a driving licence) so that's 45 done allowing for the non event in 2001 due to foot and mouth. Think he may be going for the 50.

More than just terrain difference involved I think as to why Doug would be odds on to beat Bou or Raga in Scotland. He has completely mastered the other aspects necessary to win, eg time management, pacing himself mentally over the whole course of each day knowing what is to come, overcoming emergencies such as bike problems or punctures single handedly, quickly and without panic, coping with any weather conditions in a way which doesn't affect his concentration, dealing with horrible moor crossings, managing the expectation on him to win, etc etc. Although Bou may find the sections easy enough, winning is about more than that.

"heffergm wrote: Erm... Jarvis has won. More than once (or twice, or even thrice...) Four times actually.

Having won it four times he's little or nothing to prove by returning.

Thanks, good to know he's still involved.

Yes, remember him turning up in the early 80s I think and was immediately challenging for awards. Alas haven't heard of him since, but it was mentioned on here some years ago that he was also a lion tamer (!) so I guess anything could have happened to him.

Actually Jason Lawer I believe. Has appeared occasionally in results of !ocal trials in recent years.

Plenty of choice on eBay, no need to seek out a genuine part from a bike dealer.

You could make sure the exhaust is clamped to the cylinder nice and tight.

Wouldn't be so sure about Guy Martin beating you from the look of your riding in the video.

I had a similar issue with my Cota 247. The frame has a U shaped bracket so you need a footrest with a single lug which fits inside the U. Race!ine do a trials footrest of such a design, sold by Motomerlin. Just needed to grind the underside of the rests slightly to adjust the angle they sit at. No need to alter the frame. This resulted in having a bike with decent grippy footrests. Goodness knows how we used to manage with the original puny items with a mere dimpled surface to grip the boots.

Seems a bit harsh to dismiss a 125 out of hand. Yes some get aggressive use in the hands of youngsters but many have dads who are handy with the spanners and keep up with the maintenance. Also 125s can be popular with older riders who give them gentle use. If you're worried that a 125 won't have enough power, don't be. They are excellent trials bikes regardless of capacity. They also have a lighter feel though there's little actual difference in weight. In Hull you are a bit starved of trials dealers but there are several around Yorkshire. Also do consider doing a trial occasionally, ride the easy route and you'll have fun plus add a great bonus to owning and riding the bike. Get along to one or two local trials to take a look!

Yes, trespass is trespass I'm afraid. Unless you have permission to be there? A disused railway line near me used to be a popular spot for trail bikes, many of which were road registered and ridden with restraint, until all of a sudden the local authority/police got heavy with prosecutions and fines. Don't see any bikes there now.

Some trials involving road work might well involve stretches of a few miles at a time, but in the SSDT this could extend to, I'd guess, 60-70 road miles in a day. I speak from a British point of view, doubt whether USA trials involve roadwork? I was thinking back to the old days of "proper" tanks and seats when I mentioned commuting by trials bike, but I do know of one or two who choose to do so on occasion on a modern trials bike, simply because it's so much quicker across town due to filtering past stationary traffic.

I should add that I go back to the days when trials riders routinely used their bikes as daily transport. Comfort wasn't an issue, everybody just got on with riding whatever they owned (and never seemed to get stopped by the police).

Yes indeed, standard practice to sit on the plastic area, it takes the weight fine. You'll find your legs quite bent of course, riders going any distance in trials which use roadwork sometimes relax by resting the shin of their boots on the footrests, but I guess that really would look a bit "lacking in due care and attention" to any passing policemen.

OK, no animosity intended. For myself, if I was travelling just one or two miles I'd put up with sitting on the bike (not standing) as it is. As I think someone has pointed out, riders in the SSDT do this for many miles at a time. Given the huge cost of a genuine Montesa seat, if I did need one I'd look at making one myself using an old seat from another bike as a start point or using dense foam covered in vinyl and Velcro straps so that it would be quickly detachable as you require. In fact I'd look on this as an enjoyable project in place of spending all that cash!

desmo_kid wrote: "Nobody told me I should have checked with you first, forgive me. For the record, owner could not care less but wants discretion. Does not want the loud crowd, nor the rowdy crowd. Therefore no parking there. Hence, my riding there and a quick turn in. Thank you again for educating me, 5 decades riding so I'm a newbie about all things motorcycling, including image," You're welcome. Strange that you should be so concerned about evading police attention when your activity is so acceptable and above board.

desmo kid wrote: "Gas engines + 2 wheels = bad to many people" Illegal riding on private land = spoils things for the rest of us.

crazybond wrote: "I'm sure...they would win one or more times" An important point to note about the SSDT, as several notable riders can testify, is that no-one can be sure of a win, however many attempts they may make.

Montesa thought it would be quite a coup for Armstrong, probably the most well known person on the planet, to be an owner of one of their products. However, they reckoned without his extreme avoidance of publicity - he arranged to be out when the bike was delivered to his home, so giving the swerve to a handing-over ceremony, therefore no photographs exist of him with the machine. Apparently he was quite an ace on the bike though. Asked how he rode it up a ten foot rock face in his back garden, he modestly dismissed it as one small step for man...

mrt posted: "I remember a few years back a couple of Japanese riders asked for fives on most of the sections. What is the point in that? Towards the end of the week some observers were refusing to give them fives and making them give the sections a go." So some observers will give 5s on request and others won't. Kinda shows that the rules have nothing to say on this point, other than missing a section incurs a 50 mark penalty. Perhaps they should.

There is a Date Your TY link at the bottom of the TY Parts page on the www.tytrials.co.uk website.