02-apr

I can't remember what mine was like for marks but it would be well worth either checking the marks with your gauge or making some the same way. You then know that they arpe right and, if made properly, you can check with a strobe to save messing about another time.

We used to tape the ends to the twistgrip body in the days of the big loop of cable as original fitment but really all that did was stop it going back in when it got pulled so not very worthwhile. I don't think I've had a problem with snagging since we went to the modern style of twistgrip but from the sound of it your issue will only be solved by a longer cable or re-routing. No matter how you tie it, if you are going to get a snag, then it will overcome any wiring in.

Fair enough but I still see absolutely no logic in being penalised for a flag that is not on "your" route.

A five - utterly absurd. It harks back to the day when some observers felt you had to take a straight line between sets of markers (there never was anything in the rules to suggest this). I fell foul of something similar a couple of years ago when my line between two sets of "my" cards took me through the "other route" cards. I was given a five as "your route is the red route, not the blue one". I didn't miss any of mine and the route (I was a bit out of control) was actually harder than the intended one. To contrast with that, I rode a two day this year where the easy and hard routes had different colour flags but some sections had every set of flags on the easy route in place (ie if you were supposed to use the hard route at that point there was a set of easy flags matching the hard ones). At other sections you were just supposed to know that you were meant to divert from the easy route and go through a set of "hard" flags at some points. Cost me two fives but I would still have thought it a poor do even if it hadn't. They can't have been that hard up for flags. And yes I have been and do get involved in laying out events so it's not just a moan from an unappreciative competitor.

Good stuff, and I'm prompted to ask does anybody else mourn the passing of body lean which never seems to be evident in modern trials in the way that it was used back in the day - as in proper hang off the bike stuff.

I don't know how much response you have had but suspect that many, like me, would be more prepared to respond if we were afforded the basic courtesy of knowing some of the background to this eg what the project is, what the objectives are etc, perhaps even which Uni is involved and a bit more about you yourself as a student. Particularly given that you have obviously joined TC purely for the purpose of this survey.

Get the file and the abrasive paper out?

Danilo Galeazzi in the Italia shirt. I can't quite recall the name of the chap on his right but he rode in the SSDT the same year as Danilo did.

If only somebody could invent some sort of rubber bladder say to hold the air while the tyre was left to do the job of handling the power and weight. Oh, hang on a minute....................

Waaaaaay too harsh IMO, I'd take a '1' for stopping but if trials go '5' for stopping that'd be the end for me and probably a lot of younger riders I know. It's not a case of going that way - the rule has existed for many decades.

There seem to be some duff pullers around just now. I bought one that would not go in more than half a thread. The old one (lost) and another borrowed one fit perfectly.

I assisted someone who had one of the early four stroke Betas. He had assumed the "start" button was the choke so did not realise that the first two days of the bike's life had been spent with the choke on.

True - my brother once went out to his brand new just delivered by the dealer Yamaha and it would not start. No spark, a change of plug sorted it.

Well, Dof2, we went to 50:1 because that is what Fantic told us to use and there are still bikes from that era running on the original motors. A modern trials bike simply would not run properly at the 25/30:1 level. I've run 70:1 on my 2003 Beta since I got it at a year old and nothing has worn yet, despite taking a hammering across the moors. I agree about accurate measuring though but, rather than use grossly over rich a mixture in case the measure was wrong, I prefer to use a syringe to get it accurate to start with. I checked the measuring lines on a bottle of Ipone and they were well out which would lead to an under provision of lubrication so beware all. The benefits you describe from using "more" oil are indeed valid and can be measured on a dyno but have to be seen in context and bear relevance to racing motors rather than the use to which a trials motor is put.

Surely a dealer can e-mail you a map?

Are you serious? It's 30 odd years since we went to 50:1 with oils inferior to those available today. 32:1 is more than twice the manufacturer's recommendation of 70:1 of semi-synthetic. I can't see how you'd get more power from a motor burning so much surplus oil. It's not a 15,000 rpm racing motor after all.

Only do it while the bike is stopped. It covers the pump - so yes water will pour out. Drain it first using the screw on the cover.

Given that the new models of each are bigger than the old, into which two bikes fit easily enough, it comes down to other factors. What's the problem with a bike fitting in diagonally? As you don't seem to use a van for other purposes ("empty") then better to go for the car version (I gather insurance might be cheaper)as you get a very handy tailgate to shelter under! There's actually more room for bikes in the car version anyway. My comments come from years of using a Berlingo Multispace for carting trials bikes and small road bikes about. I can even get two mountain bikes and a tandem in at the same time with no dismantling, oh alright then 10 seconds to remove the front wheel of the tandem. If you discount the Fiat factor then the Doblo seems to be just the job.

Edited as irrelevant now preceding post removed.

I seem to recall that the 325 had a small hole drilled near the exhaust port, possibly to reduce compression for starting, the pressure when running effectively closing the hole. I remember Motorcycle Mechanics, of all publications, tested the beast and the published torque curve was incredible. Max torque seemed to be not much above tickover and tailed off from there. They were certainly a real "bottom end" bike which is probably why some favoured them for the then current style of riding an outfit.

"Ps Don't even think about riding the next day." Folks is getting soft these days. I recall the late Willie Dalling riding a National the day after having experienced the minor inconvenience of having to get his bike fished out a flooded shaft or some such after having to swim for "shore" in the Scott. There was another Scott competitor in the same event.