earthmover

Is this just the old VW Beetle tail pipe? Thought they were just straight pipe? Stand to be corrected, and as I have split the silencer on my Cub (one too many trips to terra firma) I am looking at replacements... Mark

+1 for the ProGrips. Been using them for a couple of years now, put on with spray paint, no wire. Cheers Mark

My recently acquired Cub has 14/58 secondary ratio, with a 15 tooth primary. It was built up in 1997 and hardly used since (apparently) Yes, the clutch struggles if you are heavy on the kickstart, but a gentle stroke gets her started. I have recently fitted the four plate clutch with new springs and pressure plate, which made a considerable difference, and I have since found that the friction material on the back of the clutch basket has all but disintegrated. This is away to be re-lined, and I'm confident this will be another step forward. As for the effect of the gearing, I'm very happy with the low speed this gives. The bike has a low 2nd gear as well, which is quite usable in sections. Unfortunately, the trade off is that top speed is about 25mph! Mark

Steve Martin? Mark

Here's our two Whitehawk 175's. Mark

Nelly, Demon Tweeks sell Samco heat resistant hoses, in a few different colours. Mark

Hi Miguel, Simple answer is no, CT/AT side cases are not compatible with a TY. I have both, and wheras there are some common parts, cases aren't one of them. Sorry! Mark

Have a look on TY Trials website. (www.tytrials.co.uk) They have most parts, and there are exploded drawings of the bikes for those hard to identify parts, and the order they fit. Mark

Another thumbs up for TY trials electric ignition from me. Replaced mine last year, simple to fit, makes it very difficult to stall, and has been trouble free from day one. Mark

I have seen TYs with a set of "up and back" road bike risers fitted the opposite way (ie up and forwards) Also seen an interesting set up with a piece of flat bar bolted across the original clamps, and an aftermarket Fatbar clamp bolted on, forward of the originals. Looked ugly, but the owner claimed it worked. Mark

Or you could try filling the holes in with epoxy. I've done that on a couple of sets of TY 175 forks which have 12 and 6 months use on them respectively with no hint of a leak. If you do get some other forks though, let me know, I'll be happy to take the old ones off your hands....... Mark

I have Betor's on both mine and my girlfriend's Whitehawks, both with 40lb springs. One set are the plain metal bodied, the other alloy, and both work all the way to the bump stops. John Cane does indeed sell them, and can tell you which springs you have by the OD of the wire. Mark

I was told which way up didn't matter, and yes, the valve looks less likely to get damaged at the top. I have to be careful to wind the spring around to a position where it doesn't catch on the chain on both of ours. Mark

I use 130ml of 10's weight fork oil in each leg. The action is a reasonable compromise at that, I'm 12 stone and can bottom them out fairly easily. I have added a 10mm spacer under the fork cap, using the best springs I had (from a selection of three sets) I'm toying with the idea of some new springs, and maybe making up some 12.5 weight oil to slow it down just a tad. Mark

Hi Nelly, There are classes for modern, and air cooled monos at both Aqueduct and Gresford Classics trials. There are usually around 10 or so modern bikes at any given event. HTH Mark

A couple of 5 minute edits from the Aqueduct Classics trial last Sunday. No bad language this time....... Mark

Here's a couple of 5 minute edits of Aqueduct Classics club trial earlier this month. There is the odd mild profanity, when the camera / bike operator gets it wrong! Mark

I went on the Saturday, nearly didn't as I had it in my head it was the 16th! Went down on the bike, so as not to be tempted to buy anything big. Really enjoyed it, lots to see, lots to drool over, some to laugh at, old friends, new friends all in one place. My credit card tried to leap out of my pocket on numerous occasions but I managed to keep a hold on it. Agree that the outside seemed less well subscribed compared to last year, but I only had a cursory wander around there anyhow. I will definitely be going next year. Mark

I have recently sold my "modern" bike, a 2004 Beta 250 Rev3 in favour of a 2nd Whitehawk framed TY 175. We are lucky enough to have two Classic trials clubs locally, so have two events a month generally, and still manage the odd modern trial. I found the TY's a lot easier to ride, and with a little care and attention, can even manage half decent brakes too! Mark

Whereabouts in the North West? I've just had new rims and spokes put on my TY hubs by Jones Restorations, Tattenhall, near Chester. If that's of interest Ill dig out his number. Mark

Thanks folks, it does seem to be a "win" for the chest mount, other people have said the same. This was the first time I've used it, and as is typical with a Gopro, you can't really tell until after the fact if you have it pointing the wrong way! I'll try to tilt it up a bit further next time, as you do see too much of my knees in this clip. Cheers Mark

Bear with me, this might not work.... I have two YouTube clips of the same trial, one lap with a GoPro on a helmet mount, one lap on a chest mount. Comments on which provides the best view would be appreciated. (Feel free to take the mickey out of the rider too if you wish) The clips are both 4 to 5 minutes long, but you don't need to watch all of it, obviously! Mark

Trial and Trail were showing one in the "new old stock" part of the website, if you want to have a look. Mark

The bike was found in The Crescent, Irlam, after a tip off apparently. £150 was the price to get the bike back, unseen. I spoke to the officer who found it, and he described it as best he could. From that I was pretty sure it was worth picking it up. Mark

Update! Early in July I got a call from Cheshire Police to tell me that the Honda had been found, and had been recovered to secure storage in Liverpool. The insurance had paid out very quickly (thanks to my broker), but I went to see it with a view to buying it back. Completely trashed, so I let the insurance company keep it. Last week I got a call from Greater Manchester Police, to say the Sherco had been recovered! I went to their secure storage, paid the £150 that the insurance normally pay, and crossed my fingers as they opened the door. Apart from the coating of fingerprint powder, it was as it had been when it was taken! It even started first kick! I've since cleaned it off, checked it all out, and given it a run round, and its as if it hasn't been away! The only problem I now have, is that in the intervening couple of months, my girlfriend has grow quite attached to my Whitehawk.......... Mark