02-apr

No point buying a lottery ticket for a while Greeves, I think you have used up all this year's good luck! Super machine.

I agree with much of what Cleanorbust says but I got my best ever result on a red and silver one so I liked it's performance. A bit later I had a yellow 250 and, though it had a motor built solely for trials (unlike the adapted trail bike motor in the early model) I'm not sure I remember it being a better motor. It was definitely flat by modern standards, and even those of the day, with the 325 even flatter. Super puller, I recall a test of the 325 where the torque graph showed why - peak torque was virtually at tickover but perhaps not for today's twin shock sections and riding styles?

You'd like to think that a professional breaker wouldn't be stupid enough to advertise by picture a stolen bike to such a close community as the trials world but then again it does not seem that long ago that a breakers run by an insurance company with a very large stake in the motorcycle insurance market was found to have the number plates from dozens, if not hundreds, of stolen bikes lying in the corner of the shop.

Looks like half KT, half 348?

If you're not getting a free replacement then there's a place in Bradford that rewinds and claims to result in a failure free job. Worth a try to keep the Beta?

Are you sure someone (I assume you got it secondhand) hasn't put SSDT gearing on it? I have never been an ace at big hillclimb sections but my 200 gets me up them in fourth. I even got away with fifth on one particularly slippy one. Should be OK in any gear on the loop as I could always beat my pal on his 250 Scorpa across the rough. I know it was the bike and not me as he is a fast rider himself. He's got a 250 Beta now - drat it!

Well said that man!

Before putting the pads back, spray the pistons with silicon spray which stops the dirt geting a hold, lubricates the rubber safely and prevents corrosion if subsequently kept clean and retreated at intervals. Like most folk I don't have compressed air but polished the pistons with a toothbrush and Belgom Alu, a non-abrasive polish, before pushing back in and doing the above.

Having done all the bending and spacing and got fed up with replacing the sticky stuff I went to Trickbits and got a fibreglass cover that is the absolute cure.

How rare is one? I never knew of another beyond Walther's. A great pity as a trialer (in those days) of KTM quality would have been really something to own.

Can't remember the details but Sammy Miller did a Mikuni for them at the time which made it a bit smoother - may still be listed?

Before I got the Beta I had a Pinky and that was a real gripper for some reason (more so than red framed Yams I had shots on). I don't know about 4 trials to a tyre - when I sold it after nine years I could not remember having put a back tyre on it but I must have done, though certainly not more than one.

And you never seem to see bodylean like that nowadays.

Last time I heard his name was a few years ago in connection with entering the Pre '65 on......................a Lambretta.

I had one and frankly it was rubbish. Nowhere near enough flywheel weight, though we are used to that now so it might not seem so bad if I rode one today, and too easily stalled. The carburetion was poor especially on the road, which mattered in those days, and the "cure" according to the importer was to remove the outer electrode of the plug - didn't work of course. I got rid of it before it got too badly marked so that there was still some value in it. Given that they started with a clean sheet, unlike Suzuki who cobbled a trail bike motor in to a trials one (and I still think my RL was about the best bike I had, certainly results wise), it was a poor do. If only they had sold the 450s that Messrs Smith, Sunter, Kemp (and Galloway?) rode in the SSDT. The importer had Napier College develop the motor and I went out with the late Bill Stuart for a comparison test. I rode it "blind" not knowing what had been done and didn't notice a lot of difference. Given that it had an Amal and was out to 300cc or so I think I should have. I believe that bike still exists. They looked nice though.

Wheel out, swing arm off, unit out, all bearings greased, all back together, 15 mins max assuming no siezed threads so no good reason not to remove the wheel.

I see the reply about trading in for a smaller motor has been deleted but I could see the logic behind it whether it was meant genuinely or not. There may be good reasons why you have a 270 even if you knew before buying that it was likely to be more than you required. Now that you have it you need to do something affordable. I know that at least one dealer keeps a stock of reconditioned barrels to offer as an exchange service come replating time. It may be that you could just swap the top end that way (but I don't know what complications might arise with matching the head to a 250 bore, probably someone on here can advise).

Not so sure about that try this http://www.singletrackworld.com/article.ph...8b630cadcf6ab8d to see that the mountain bike users are also worried about the walkers' selfish attitudes. I am also a cyclist (mainly on the road) and there seems to be a surprising number of cyclists who are against mountain bike use as it disrupts their peaceful enjoyment when out walking. Those gears can click very loudly you know! And as for the coloured outfits - well! I'm afraid it's all part of the modern culture of "You are doing something I don't do therefore you must stop doing it whether it affects me or not". I have heard reports of tons of material being helicoptered in at vast expense to make good damage to hills but the walking lobby don't highlight that because it's caused by feet not wheels.

Curiously enough I don't think a speedo is an MOT requirement though obviously necessary for road use if bike over 90cc (unless this has changed over the years).

Thirty years too late I'm afraid. We knew then the intolerance was there, the only surprise is how long it has actually taken to manifest itself as action.

More easily understandable in French I think.

Well there you go Mark, I can't remember your one snapping in half, though as Jock's "tuner" at the time I disclaim responsibility as I never touched the cycle parts. I referred to my recollection of a Works one parting, possibly out Blackwater way. No doubt BJ can fill out the details and tell us what Mr Shepherd said at the time, though one can guess. As a prompter you might recall the nice shade of blue Willie painted the tank on mine.

No such luxury I'm afraid benj - just a long push. Not too easy if your 348 has just snapped in half at the sterring head!

Indeed not but nothing wrong with a TC Trial in Scotland. Could it be combined with an existing event to ease organisation?

Check the kill button. The Fantic uses the "HT side" and can earth when not desired. I knew an instance where a wire taped up after removal of kill switch was actually earthing through the insulation tape.