02-apr

I thought this sounded unlikely but it actually works. Ride round with the brake dragging to get it warm then throw cold water on it. You might need to repeat the process but this certainly made a big difference to 2 bikes I've had. Seems it takes all the impurities off the braking surfaces. Worth a try as it costs a lot less than a seal kit.

This probably should go to another website altogether but, as we're talking diesel, has anyone any experience of the mix-in-with-the-tank injector cleaning fluids? The Citroen's getting a bit spluttery on start up so I thought I'd try a clean out at 70,000 before anything else. Or are these the sort of things I shouldn't really be using?

Having owned a Beta for a few years and read every post about this over that time I think the problem is down to the quality of the electrics rather than physical contamination. I've never been that impressed with the spark on the Beta and something occurred to me at the weekend as I was putting in a new plug. The recommended gap is very narrow for an electronic igntion and most plugs come with a near 50% bigger gap. I would bet BJ the other half pint of shandy at Fort William that most owners (and perhaps the factory) simply bang in a new plug without regapping. Could it be that the strain put on an already weak system by having to jump too big a gap eventually causes failure, with eventually being pretty soon on the most marginal systems?

Not features of the production bike? If production bike only was to be the criterion there would be not many in use. Perhaps in the immediate Pre '65 period people could and did ride "as built" bikes but, not very long before that, modification of spec was always carried out. Fripperies lke air filtration (of a sort), brakes, exhaust, handlebars, footrest position, ground clearance etc. I have a book from 1958 that tells the owner how to modify all these things to make his production trials bike rideable; so it was all done at the time to some extent. Interestingly the advice for the Scottish was to push the bars downward and forward and to move the footrests backward due to the steep hills and high steps "in the track".

The answer is yes and no. Yes because you can get a bike in it and no because you can easily get two bikes in it. Actually it's easier for two with the car version but you can keep the small part of the rear seat and probably have three people in the car with a single bike.

The best place to have been riding this Sunday would surely be the Perth trial at Crieff, rather than a "nod and wink" venue?

That is an atrocious slur - I have seen BJ's wallet open many a time - it's where he keeps the photos.

Pretty much. I thought someone would have seen a niche market.

Not having protection on the backs is the problem with trials gloves - those trees still bite! The best "modern" trials glove I had, albeit with no back protection, was the Trap which I had to finally lay to rest four years ago. Those who rode Fantics back in the day know how long they had lasted. The new stuff wasn't what I wanted and looked to have a life measured in sections rather than trials. I'm sure my mother uses stronger as dress wear. A tenner for a set of last year's colour Moto-X gloves seemed to be just the job and the palms are as thin as anything I have used. Does anyone still make the leather scrambles gloves with rubber strips down the backs of the fingers that we used to think looked so cool as we rode our Bultos to trials and home again I wonder. Didn't wear gloves in the sections of course.

If it was running OK before the strip then it can't be jetting. Favourite would be a float level problem, possibly something bent by rough handling when apart?

If you'e old enough to use the expression "I'm no way good............" then you have been at it long enough to have suffcient experience to cope with Lochaber - you're used to rocks in Yokshire so get yourself up there and enjoy the experience. This year Kinlochleven, next year the Scottish! Seriously though, give it a go.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/old_dabber/2203867205/ Apropos of nothing other than I found this when looking through my old photos today for something else and thought folk might be interested. I recall that the bike was some sort of Works enlarged 200 but fully expect to get details from those more knowledgeable than myself. Can't remember which section it was. Older Scots may recognise the youth behind Kyo's left shoulder. I could not get to see the "attachments" box hence the link, sorry about that.

Somewhere on the web you will find the interview with the Regina engineer in which it was revealed that Regina invented the O-ring chain so they do have some substance. Ref the 428 thing. It always seemed to me that a 428 was better as the rollers are wider and there are more of them per foot so more load bearing capacity? If Renthal do chain and sprockets in this size for Beta then I shall be giving it a try next time round.

I'm sure mine was an MRR and it had normal forks but I don't recall if it had the hydrobaga though it may have done when I got it. I ran gas Girlings and, as I recall, the standard practice in the day was to chuck the Hydrobags (seem to remember that they were not reliable?). On reflection it had black conventional rear units by, I think, Betor, but someone will put me right on that. I do recall that it was the second issue which had a lower third and top gear if I remember correctly. The bike was N registered (what year was that?) and was owned by the late lamented Jack Gow who sold it to me at about six months old. Wonder where it is now. I think I've still got the fork caps and springs as I fitted the Sandiford air fork conversion which was as shown on the earlier photo.

As we all know SSDT programmes are not an infallible guide to rider/bike identity. Could the Gori man be a very young Sandy Mack? I seem to remember the Services using Gori at one point.

Yep, no problem but it was just a quick scan as I've only recently got the scanner and programs, if I get time I shall play about to try and improve it a bit - or do you have the teechnology?

Sorry about that, the link should work now, let me know if it doesn't. I tried for ages to attach the photo direct then ended up posting the link in a hurry before heading to meet the guys at the pub (to discuss trials of course). http://www.flickr.com/photos/old_dabber/21...57603719378650/

And here is the said Mr Fossey exiting an SSDT section in 1979 so he got a bit further than the South Midland centre. A coconut to the first reader under 25 who can give the then name of the section (it's been changed since). http://www.flickr.com/photos/old_dabber/21...57603719378650/

If you think about the numerous different large scale manufacturing processes involved in producing the material for a chain and then actually making it (relative to the tiny amount of chain they sell) there is no way that Renthal could ever have been making their own. They will merely provide a spec for a chain manufacturer to work to. I imagine the same applies for their handlebars with a tubing manufacturer providing the raw material for Renthal to bend.

Come along to the Dunfermline AGM and prizegiving, 23rd Jan 7:30 pm, at the "Edinburgh North" as they call it, Corus hotel at North Queensferry and have a chat

Well......................if I can sell that Guzzi to make the space.

So it's the kids I need to negotiate with at the next trial then?

Not an LMCC member these days BJ but have ridden LMCC Nationals on occasion and I'm sure the Mull 2 Day and Bob McGregor 2 day would be enjoyable outings for a competent and fit (ie not old and with a clapped out back like me) twinshock rider. SCRMC also have a class for twinshocks and of course the Alvie trial has been mentioned. The fact of the matter is that most trials which have a twinshock class within them don't make any concessions to the bikes, you ride the same sections as the modern bikes. Having said that, many of these events don't really test a modern bike, more the rider's ability, so you can ride a twinshock in most I suppose.

Soften them with a hairdryer and they should peel off - has worked on other stick ons for me.

Yes who would have thought that a small outfit like Gas Gas could actually outdo Honda. No need to worry about mechanical clatter when they have achieved what I thought impossible - a trials bike that is actually even noisier than the 4RT. Let's hope there's a lot of development to come on that front.