scorpa3

We charge

Thanks everyone for the advice. It just goes to show what difference there is between mechanics and engine builders. I too served a full apprenticeship as a mechanic and worked for almost 20 years in that trade and still work in an engineering environment but never as an engine builder. I would go 12 months or more and not see a crank shaft, it's often not economical to carrry out more than top end overhauls. That's the throw away culture we now live in. "Mains gone? Change the engine!" You are quite right, upon inspection, sadly deglazing or even honing won't help unless it is taken out to the next size up and replated, so a cheap fix isn't on the cards. Looks like he will have to bite the bulet and get a 440 big bore kit. Thanks again everyone.

Welcome to TC.

Spot on. The bikes, the rules and the sections have very little to do with the kind of trials in which I'm going to ride. My riding companion has a 300 Raga and loves it. I'd loose another 25% of marks if I rode it in a trial, so even if it was the best bike inthe world I wouldn't buy one. Horses for courses.

Thanks for the offer, I'll give you a shout if I can't get it done locally. Will the standard size rings still fit ok after it has been honed?

Cheers Barry, do you have any contact details which you can pm me?

It's either manual, in which case you need to slacken a lock nut and wind in the adjuster until it takes up the slack, then re-tighten. Or It's mechanical, which means a spring pushes the tensioner against the blade which takes up the slack. To stop the spring being force back under load, there is a simple toothed ratchet mechanism.

Having a works HRC machine would certainly be better than having a customer bike but in my opinion the top five would still be the same top five in the same order. As for what sells at 'mr average' events, heres the bikes at Sundays Midland Centre Trial. Beta 21 Gas Gas 16 Montesa (2 & 4t) 11 Scorpa 10 Sherco 6 Is that typical of any 60 club riders in the UK? If so, it makes a mockery of the 'what wins sells' saying.

One of my friends bought around a barrel (well the liner) from a 2000 Honda XR400 tonight to see what I thought. The bike has been burning a lot of oil recently and he decided to change the valve guide seals and piston rings. However, upon checking the barrel there are some very minor marks. Certianly NOT scoring, more like 'water' marks for want of a better description. I was wondering if it was worth having the barrel honed or if the new rings would possibly clean/polish out the very faint marks? Any advice welcome.

I know it smacks of incompetence, but putting on a trial like the Colmore takes a lost of people a lot of effort and we simply didn't take notice of who had the runner up trophy last. We think we had it up to 2004 but really can't be sure, it's very frustrating as the Cranmore Trophy is actually a nicer trophy than the Colmore Cup itself!

Seen in 2001 but not awarded due to foot and mouth, the Stratford-Upon-Avon Club have lost the Cranmore Trophy, awarded to runner up in the Colmore. Each year at the end of the Colmore, we have an award ceremony to present the big trophies. The winner gets the Colmore Cup. Some years, the runner up isn't present, so the Cranmore cup hasn't always been given out, however none of us can remember exactly the last time we did present it. But it's gone. Obviously we know who was runner up in the Colmore over the last six years and we've written to them all and it seems no one has it. Here is a picture of the Cranmore Cup, if you have this trophy please get in touch as we would like to present it at the Colmore again this year. Thanks Pete

Welcome to TC. Consider Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco or Scorpa. Buy by condition and spend as much as you can afford. Remember, you only get what you pay for. The newer the better, but a well looked after 6 year old bike will be a better buy than a wrecked one year old bike. I suggest that you pop along to a local trial and ask around, you might even bump into someone you know who will let you try out their bike. To be honest they will all be a hell of a lot better than you need at first and certainly don't discount a good 200. When you have an idea of what you fancy, post a question in the appropriate forum and you will get a list of pro's and con's for that model/year machine. All the best. Pete

Welcome to TC Andre. Don't let me put you off building a classic bike, but to get one that is reliable and competitive, you will need to spend as much as a fairly decent second hand modern bike.... possibly a lot more! If cost is the main factor for going the classic route, it's worth doing all your sums before starting and you will see what I'm getting at. Let us know how you get on.

And possibly to make use of a new 'home' market rather than being a Japanese import.

Better than setting fire to it inthe end then!

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR: THE COLMORE CUP TRIAL Organised by: The Stratford-upon-Avon M.C.C. Date: 2nd March 2008 Permit no. : ACU20978 Announcement: The Stratford-upon-Avon Motor Cycle Club will organise a National trial held under the National Sporting Code, The Trials Standing Regulations of the ACU, the Novogar Championship Regulations and any final instructions that may be issued. Eligibility: All riders must hold a current ACU Registration Card or SACU Licence. Other riders must produce a Licence and Start Permission confirming Insurance from their FMN. Officials Stewards: ACU: John Lightfoot Licence No. 52242 Club: Ron Langston Licence No. N/A John Cart Licence No. N/A Clerk of the Course Alan Wright Licence No. 0-026999 Secretary of the Meeting Richard Gill Tel. No. 01212465823 23 Hillwood Avenue Shirley email: gill.rf@googlemail.com Solihull B90 4XR Point of contact for Child Protection issues Richard Gill Entries. To be received by the Secretary of the Meeting before Sunday 24th February 2008 together with an entry fee of

Doesn't Ducati already make the stators for the Beta REV3?

You've almost certainly flooded it. Taking the carb of won't do any harm but it probably wont 'un-flood' the engine. If you leave the plug out and kick it over, (With an absorbent cloth over the plug hole to catch the spray) you will get the excess fuel/oil to reduce, however this is a dodgy way of doing it as the spray could be ignited and set fire to your bike. Alternatively, you can take the spark plug out, drain the fuel tank and turn the bike over. You'll be amazed how much oily fuel comes out. But I say again, be very careful the HT lead or Spark plug doesn't ignite the fuel spray. Do all this with the fuel turned off (or disconnected) and when you try to start the bike keep the throttle full open. Check the plug to see if it's dry, if not you will need to repeat the above process until it is dry. Then try starting the bike with the fuel on. This has happened to me a number of times when I've forgotten to turn the fuel off and put the bike on my trailer. The bouncing up and down on the road floods the engine. I hope this helps, but be wary of fire.

And for the Vale of Evesham Centre Championship round... Click HERE

Try HERE

If it's an '08 bike, won't you simply take it back to the supplying dealer?

Ross Danby outclassed the rest of the Midland Centre Experts to take the Vale of Evesham Midland Centre Championship Trial at Grove Quarry on Sunday. Danby had just two single dabs, both on the second section in Dovedale wood (observed by yours truly) from runner up Mark Hicken who finished on 13 with John Cowley on 16. Set out by Evesham's own Dean Basford in Dovedale, the A route climbed up the steep wooded bank turning back accross a near vertical rooted camber to the ends cards. As the first real tester of the day, the experts stood and pondered the chances of making the camber for a considerable time. Ian Watts was the first brave rider to try and subsequently fail, quickly followed by Buster Regan and John Luff. It was local rider Mark Hicken who showed the way to go with a spectacular clean which needed maximum revs and 'supermoto' sideways style to achieve. Steve Harris and John Cowley posted the only other cleans here, both on the first lap, with the majority of the A route dropping fives, anything better was a real bonus! On the easier B route, Darren Butcher set the lowest score but as an expert was not eligible for points, so top spot went to Over 40 class rider Clive Charleton who kept his head to finish on seven marks from John Holland on 13. First Clubman was Alan Newman who seems to be getting to grips with his new Scorpa at last, from Mick Chapman (both Stratford Club riders) on 16 marks each. Congratulations to the Evesham club for staging a superb event and for making sensible allowances for the forecast wet weather. Pete

I say give him a chance. He'll get on the pace, lets just hope it's the best pace

Top Farm near Broadway when it dries out a bit. We will have four sections there in the Colmore on 2nd March and a club trial there in June.

Welcome to TC