Your horse that bolted in 1966 must have had an in-built telepathic crystal ball - I was one of the three organisers of the first ever pre-65 trial, and that was in August 1971.......
You may also of coined the phrase pre65 but people were competing on classic bikes long before 1971
Have a look though some old 50’s Motor Cycle magazines, there are events for bikes manufactured before the war WW1 & WW2
And you can bet they had arguments about the bikes!
You also posted a picture of a very nice rigid trials bike in an early pre65 meeting, this would not qualify for the original class. It has Renthal braced bars a modern twist grip & levers
Also if you have a look at a few other photos, plenty of Renthal bars, marzocchi & NJB shocks around in the 90’s!!!!!!
Your horse that bolted in 1966 must have had an in-built telepathic crystal ball - I was one of the three organisers of the first ever pre-65 trial, and that was in August 1971.......
If you look in my Offroad Archive Classic trials post you might notice the number of clubs organising trials (just like the ones that ttspud proposes) in 1999 - and in my British Bike championship for that year 476 different riders entered in at least three events in the series.
Enjoy, we always used to!!!!!!!
I can assure you that most bikes used in pre65 in the 80's & 90's would not fit in the "Original" class as suggested
greeves anglian, 4 speed bantams & Bantams with B175 engines......?
I think it’s a nice idea, just don’t think it would work
And most people seem to have as much fun as they did 15 years ago!!!!!!
Note: If you fit billet yokes & trick forks, you may need to get some anti-depressants at the same time
I've been warned by the godfather of pre65, So I’m saying nothing else on this thread!
Yes, as the 2-stroke question above, it is likely that the rules could be applied in the same way to other pre-65 bikes, as the Spanish machines you suggest, though neither would be eligible to ride at the events I have ridden at which were all British, 4-stroke & pre-unit anyway.
'What is an original pre-65'? Well, the rules will make that very clear and unambiguous.
'Who would scrutinize the 40+ bikes'? Firstly, of course it is only those entered as 'Original' that would need the extra attention for that, and it is likely that only events that did scrutinize before would want to include the distinction for originals anyway. And if 40+ bikes have entered as original, that would be amazing.
Thanks Guys,
TTSpud
That’s all well and good, but even if only 6 bikes turn up, who could (or even want to ) scrutinise these bikes to component level
What about bantams with 185cc engines with full billet cranks & Suzuki pistons / bikes with Carrillo rods, Electronic ignitions, hidden fork internals, modified gearboxes ect….. not easy to spot!
What about the riders that are adamant that they are genuine, have a look at some past posts on sprites (yet another can of worms)
I’ve made some titanium parts for a few people, that weigh next to nothing, could you spot these on a Sunday morning?
The idea is nice but I’m afraid, its just a pipe dream, I think the horse bolted one this on in 1966?
I think people get too hung up on “what’s correct & genuine”, it doesn’t matter how many rules there are people will always bend them. It’s a fact of life!
The vast majority of people who compete in pre65 enjoy it as it is
Also what is an original pre65, and could you actually prove it to component level on a cold sunday morning?
And who would scrutinise 40+ bikes before the trial
Would Spanish machines be allowed, as they are genuine pre65?
I think jonv8 is right, just ride the bikes you have
I enjoy doing a bit of observing, so I reckon everyone should have to observe 3 trials a year to be allowed to compete in pre65 this would do more for the sport than moaning about the bikes?
The way we think about bikes and what we expect from them is totally different to 50 years ago, I doubt many people would actually want to ride a genuine pre65 bike
I’ve rode a quite a few genuine pre65 bikes and the novelty soon wares off!
But it would be good fun watching someone riding with Ensign trials tyres
531 is just a brand name, Its just a moly-chrome medium carbon steel so I would guess if its arc welded they would use a similar material for the flat and box section
If you use a High tensile mig wire there should be no problems, as long as you don't chill the welds in a draft
Or you could anneal the frame like Norton did with the works Manx’s
I would have thought the biggest item that should be addressed with this "original P65 class" you are suggesting is NOT to allow any modern tyres or suspension as those two items alone have made even "original" machinery 200% more capable than it ever was in the day. I astounds me how many people seem to have no comprehension of how bloody awful the Dunlop Trials Universal really was. If you want to have a "original" class then suspension that works and tyres that grip have no place in it. Cant see that happening can you ?
And arguable, created one of the most successful "pre 65" trials in the world.
I know most of the organisers, past and present, none of whom spend any time criticising your achievements, why do you belittle theirs ?
He makes a good point. And riders must enjoy it as its never short on entries!
We live in a free society, anyone can organise a trial. So why not host a pure pre65 event, it would be more rewarding than belittling other peoples efforts
And why do people always knock modern specials, I for one get as much fun from building bikes as riding them
caveat emptor... even if it was a pile of cack its his bike now.. if it was better than new would he becoming and giving you an extra 500 quid.. no. so say sorry you took it away and it was ok.. what has happened since is his issue and has nothing to do with you.. if he sued you they d laugh him out of court.
If it was a private sale, its no longer your problem (as stated above)
Blimey Mr Greeves,last night at 11pm you thank me for a considered response and go on to say you would give more info later on....(Clearly I have not responded since then) You come back this afternoon with more of something,not anything to do with practical experience of changing balance factors for trials use.Nor have I misquoted you,I think you need to re-read your posts.
I wasn't aware of any trials going on in the west country today,do you mind if I ask where you rode ?
Give him chance, he’s cleaning his rose tinted glasses
To late tonight for an In depth on the Tigress engined works BSA , but will fill you in with the details tomorrow OK. The bike at the Classic Trials Show belonged to a cotswold friend of mine, with a great history to. Tomorrow OK.
And for a little spice to the discussion, other people had their own ideas about how to make a Bantam trials model - the motors were nice and cheap and virtually bomb-proof, so why not.
One of those variants, which I believe was created by Mick Whitlock - but maybe someone can confirm that, was ridden by Doug Theobald, and here's a picture for you to enjoy.
that's a very nice bike, the frame is Similar to the Suzuki Beamish
Gordon Jackson 1956
in Pre-65 Bikes
Posted
The G80 has to be one of the best sounding MX bike ever built, and that smell of Catrol R in the air!
The first big bike I ever raced