I have a manual by Clymer its for the MAR and older but I find useful even for my gripper as the engine is very not much different. I don't know if they are still available to buy, I think I have had it since 1982.
years back I bought a Yamaha mono that had a lighter than std throttle, the previous owner had ground the spring down on a grinder reducing the diameter of the wire a bit. worked well.
When I used to ride in the ssdt (Hamilton Yamaha days) some of the older club members would work how much time we had to get to the different section groups which we then made a mini time card which we taped to the petrol tank on the bike.
This was very usefull as you could see mid way around if you were running late/early.
They had an average speed for road work and a slower speed for forest tracks and much slower for moorland crossing and usually 3mins per section to walk it and then ride it.
One year they found that the next days route was much too tight for time, they all recalculated and still got the same results so went to the ssdt office with there findings and the next morning all riders were given an extra bit of time for the day. Stephen.
I rode it for 12 or 13 years and loved it but it was hurting my Knees (cold and wet and no seat) so I felt I had had my fun up there. I had one retirement - bike overheating problems.
The best thing is to go and watch the event and chat to other riders, and choose a bike that is reliable.
my best bikes I rode were Yamaha monos and TYZ and two years on fantics,they were quicker on the road which gave me more time in the sections (you have to get a move on)
I have seen riders who find it too hard but they still enjoy it and to finish is an achievement! GO FOR IT.
I am sure if Johns cub had a conventional fuel tank and bigger frame down tubes there would be less fuss.
looking at the results he came 17th out of 26 entered, not what you would call a pot hunter?
As for young riders competing with older riders the older riders should be happy to see them, they will keep these great old bikes going in the future.
I remember going to Pre 65 trials with the Morewood family, Alan would be on his big Ariel or Enfield and a young Davy was on a Bsa bantam, Davy has years later won the Pre 65 Scottish 2 day, he is a few months younger than me and I am 50 this June!
Ps I had a lot of fun riding in last Sundays Twinshock National, Thanks to the Congleton club for all there hard work.
My Guess is 1986 I think I am stud behind in the red and white trousers and my red white and blue Yamaha jacket, and I was riding number 243 but I could be wrong on the year.
I am very pro to the Ossa, I have had my gripper 25 years now but I would have to say the MAR is better to ride overall against my gripper.
Once set up right they are very bullet proof and your size and weight will be fine. I think the only problem for some riders is the left foot kickstart. Go for it!
One thing I've always wanted to try was the candle scents you can pick up in a craft shop. I figure it must be a combustible hydrocarbon so it should mix with fuel. Wouldn't it be nice to pull up to a section and smell something pleasant. Then again the cost of a cylinder and piston make the experiment risky.
And no I don't hang around craft shops but when the wife drags me through one I do what I do in any store and start thinking, "How can I use that in trials."
Hum, A Castrol R smelling candle now that's my kind of aromatherapy!
The firstthing I do after I put the carb back on the bike is open the throttle and let it snap back and listen for the slide hitting the tick over screw! ( with out the engine running) if you cant hear the slide knock something is not back right.
33 years back I had the same problem with my Ossa, I had taken the lights off including the switch which had the kill switch included, I tried a few times to pull the plug cap off but got electrocuted each time.
That sounds like your clutch is slipping a bit, my ossa does this every so often the kick start feels a bit spongy on the down ward stroke when it slips. steve
I was once told you should only be able to bottom out the rear shocks when hitting a rock step.
when I first started out on my gripper I was happy with the compression but wanted a quicker rebound (as my then modern monoshock bike) I had them altered but I was still not happy.
Then a friend of mine said he had worked on a shock and knew what to do (mine are Falcons) he asked me how much faster I wanted them to rebound and I said at least 25%, so there were three small holes in the damper piston on the rebound side so we drilled another the same size and I love the result
I also grease the rubber bushes this seems to make them feel more plush?
Put the cog on a piece of paper and draw around it, then turn the cog around to the good bit and finish the teeth locations and you should have your answer. Steve.
I think lowering the foot rests makes the bike feel more balanced and stable but the few bikes I have had a ride on that have had the head angle changed felt ok but wanted to tuck under on a tight turn on a camber, not what I would want.
But remember I ride an Ossa gripper which having a lot of rear suspension movement which changes the head angle on down hills compared to an uphill turn. Steve.
Some riders are coming from modern bikes to twinshocks and they feel they need a modern stance on the bike so they move the foot pegs back and lower then, they want it to steer quicker so alter the head angle.
But before they have got used to riding a twinshock they have lost sight of a twinshocks original appeal.
My view is to ride it as it is and get used to them then alter them if you want
Its there bike they can do what they want to there bike.
I think any air cooled mono will be a classic one day (don't know when but buy now while they are cheep) I liked them they always sounded good and looked well built. Steve.
Steve
Ossa Mar Manual
in OSSA
Posted
I have a manual by Clymer its for the MAR and older but I find useful even for my gripper as the engine is very not much different. I don't know if they are still available to buy, I think I have had it since 1982.
Steve.