cleanorbust

I have a Doblo and can fit my Sherco in diagonally with just the smaller rear seat folded, leaving room for driver plus three passengers. I've also had a Beta in the same way, so guess you will be OK with any modern bike. Probably couldn't quite do it with a longer bike such as an old Bulto but there you go. I'd thoroughly recommend the Doblo if it's a diesel one - I drive a 1.3 and a 1.9, the bigger motor is especially economical (56mpg on a steady run), and the driving position is very comfortable. Also insurance costs pocket money.

Something you can do in the comfort of your garage is some static balancing exercises: - balance bike stationary on right lock for as long as you can (time this to gauge improvement) - try on the other lock (you'll probably find one easier than the other - focus on the more difficult side). Concentrate on rfining technique such as keeping your shoulders in line with the bars - deliberately move the front wheel from right to left and back again while remaining balanced - deliberately tilt the bike to and from vertical while balanced - try balancing with the front wheel pointing straight forward - you'll find you go onto one lock or the other but try to get back to the dead-ahead position as soon as possible - practice balancing without holding the brakes on - practice balancing with the tyres inflated hard to make it more tricky Keep this up for half an hour a day and you'll find you don't lose so many marks in your next few trials. Probably.

If I'm not mistaken the bike Martin Lampkin is pictured on is actually a Gaunt Suzuki. He joined Alta when they came on the scene in 1969, and I think they started off with rather neat red fibreglass tank/seat units before moving to the alloy monocoque type shown in the eBay advert.

Up to the mid/late sixties Villiers engines were the universal power plants for various British trials irons, eg Greeves, James, DMW, DOT, Butler, Cotton, Norman, Sprite and several others. Most of these were really tiny concerns, each with their own individual characteristics, competing in a traditional market place in the UK only; once the Villiers supplies dried up most of them went to the wall. I wonder if, to some degree, we are seeing the start of a parallel situation with Sherco engines being used in Scorpas as well as by the factory itself?

Congratulations on the site, it had somehow passed me by before and there's enough fascinating stuff there to keep me up for days.

Of course I was joking, all the bikes I've seen at the trial are entirely genuine...it's just some of the riders who are 'avin' a larf.

A tricked-out James with Yam forks is usually a good bet.

The Ryan Young videos are available from www.motomerlin.co.uk A bit pricey to but both maybe but for about the cost of a tyre you're getting all the tuition you're ever likely to need.

Welcome back to the fold! At 41 I'd have thought you were still a mere stripling. Might be interesting to see if we can establish the age of the oldest regular trials rider in the country via the Trialscentral membership. Obviously we're talking people in their seventies at least. Any suggestions to kick it off?

In my experience most observers have been turning a blind eye to stops - and I mean deliberate stationary pauses of about 10 to 15 seconds - for many years so I can't see the new rules making much difference except that the cleans recorded will now be genuine and within the rules.

I had a '77 model in the day and from memory the exhaust guard was a brilliant white, to match the white of the tank. Mudguards and the plastic side cover were also pure white, I suspect those on your bike have yellowed with the effects of 32 years worth of sunlight. You could try a scrub with Jif using a fairly stiff brush, this will lift the dirt out of the scratches but probably won't restore things to a pristine white. Still, nothing wrong with an old warior showing the patina of age, is there?

There's a good trials-only shop near Scarborough: FeetUp Trialsport at Cornerways, Ratten Row, Seamer, near Scarbough, YO12 4QB. The owner, Alan Bird, knows his bikes and doesn't mind giving free advice!

I've ridden a 200 sherco for 3-4 years and find it to be well up to the job. It's particularly good when you're tired towards the end of a trial as it won't fly out of your hands if your throttle control is waning, or if you're feeling aggressive you can fire it at rock steps without ensuing disaster as with bigger bikes. Also it seems pretty good at finding grip, and has the "light" feel of a 125 as opposed to a 250. One thing the 200s seem to be noted for is more of a rattle from the engine (sounds like piston slap) than the other Shercos, so probably nothing to worry about if yours sounds this way. Basically the 200 is just a good trials bike: don't think about the size of the engine, just get on with riding it and it'll do what you need it to.

Try the "Classified Ads" column on the homepage. Happy shopping.

It's especially pleasing to see that he jumped straight back in at the deep end, ie on the hard route, which he is obviously capable of mastering Some previous aces have been happy to stage a return by dominating easy route classes, which of course they have every right to do but which doesn't necessarily challenge their skills.

Maybe the rider was taking his cues from Premier League footballers, who crowd the referee and blast him with obscenities when a decision goes against them. Maybe it's the way of the world nowadays, but it doesn't mean it's right. Besides, I've never seen an abused observer change his or her mind, so it's a futile exercise anyway.

I had a Beamish rl250 (red and silver model) for a year or so in the 70s. Good points: maintenance-free motor (a boon at the time), plush suspension Not so good points: petrol tank prone to leaks at rear; very thin side cases on motor combined with lack of bash plate leading to damaged cases; frame prone to buckling at plates below steering head; perhaps not as easy to find grip as its competitors Overall I do have fond memories of the bike. Quite a few people bought them but didn't seem to hang on to them for long. Would probably make a reasonable twin-shock ride if you can find a decent one.

Back in my days of club secretary-ship, we found there was a common baseline of entry fees, as there is now, which clubs could adhere to and cover costs (our intention was not to make a profit). Riders got used to there being a level of entry fees which was more or less the same for whatever grade of trial they were entering. I think it's understandable if riders baulk at a sudden hike in fees by a particular club if the reason is not made clear.

This might seem an obvious question, but I'll ask it anyway: It's an interesting point that performance diminishes with age. In Dougie Lampkin's case there's no reason to doubt his physical fitness, reaction times, confidence, motivation and determination are still at extremely high levels, so why, exactly, should performance tail off with the passage of time? Of course this happens to (almost) everyone, but what is it that slips such that people who dominate a sport eventually slide down the rankings? I accept that in trials physical fitness does reduce with age, or at least you have to work harder to keep it, but if that was the only factor people in relatively non-physical sports like snooker could stay on top indefinitely. But they don't. Why not?

Not sure on that point, probably would apply if there were reasonable grounds for doing so to prevent further infringement.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle on common land without lawful authority (usually from the landowner). Pretty clear cut I'm afraid, and chances are if anyone contravened this law the result would be loads of bad publicity for motorcycling in the local neighbourhood, which wouldn't be helpful for local trials organisers etc.

Would that be a standrad 125 Scorpa, or modified? Just wondered as most people reckon the stabndard 125 id much improved with various mods.

No problem round our way (N Yorkshire). It's been on the shelves for 3/4 weeks.

Think the first Yam trials bike on sale in UK was the TY250 in 1974.