steve

Are there an results yet - any news from anyone there?

Very good point. In order to ensure the tyre goes on with no damage always pay attention to the opposite side and make sure it is pushed right into the 'drop centre'. Buy some decent soap and never use tyre levers for fitting - if you can't get it on without then you're not doing it correctly. I use a wheel holder that I made to hold the rim steady and above the floor clear of disc or sprocket. It also has a bead breaker built in which could be used to assist in fitting. I prefer to stick my big work boots on or even Trials boots and stand on the tyre. Soon pops over even with cold stiff old tyres. I've never fitted a Dunlop but I pretty sure that if the tyre will seat then there's no way it's undersize.

So here it is then - the finished job. Well done Paul, thanks for sending me the photo's. Here you go everyone, enjoy. Bike looks fantastic, the paint job on the tank took me by surprise Paul.

Yep - looks as good from this side! Where have you saved some weight apart from the silencer?

Very nice indeed Sir. Could you post a picture of the other side?

Paul, if you stick the one I made in a lathe and turn the face profile to match Std then it'll look very similar. I always meant to do it but never got round to it. The holes are the right distance to use a pin spanner from an angle grinder with!! It was the best I could think of as I couldn't mill a slot.

If you've got a good contact in Spain then how about these guys Paul - I tried but the language barrier was a bit tricky. They wanted stupid money to post it. almacendclasicas.com

I have just recieved some more photos of the bike from Paul. It really is looking superb and very close to finished. Amazing job. This is what Paul said about it in the email - "The only thing I'm waiting for now is the tank which is coming over from Spain and should arrive early next week. Work done since last time is lots of polishing and chroming, and wheel rebuild. I did try a OKO on my other 330 but could not get it right so went back to the del orto which is great so it will be fitted to it tomorrow, then just waiting for the tank. i will send the finished photos next week and then sadly the end to a really good post by you" So here's the photo's - Enjoy

A nice little find there Martin. I noticed the Aprillia clutch casing on the picture - would that be from the later water cooled Climbers?

I'm glad you enjoyed your day Jamie. I see you had a good ride. Well done. Do you know why the club uses double subs on every section? You mentioned your club uses different colours. The point I'm trying to make is why can't all clubs mark the same? Imagine if road markings, signs or traffic lights changed as you drove around the country. How confusing would that be!! This of course is not the fault of the Oxford Ixion club. I wonder if there are any recommendations from the ACU on marking?

Yeah, awesome photo's fella. Thanks.

Hi, Anyone else on here enter the Oxford Ixion Trial last Sunday at Lower Ridings? I was wondering if there were any results available for the Trial yet as I haven't been emailed any. Also wondering what other riders thought of the Trial? I haven't ridden a Trial at this club for many years and have recently returned from a 10 year break. Although the club is in my centre it was still a 1 1/2 drive for me and I was a little disappointed with the event. I will try to explain what I didn't like and please remember that this is only my opinion and I am still very grateful for all the organisers and observers for giving up their time to put on the Trial. My biggest gripe was double subs. The trial had 16 sections, 3 laps - all double subs. In some instances a double sub is necessary. Perhaps 2 sections in a stream where queuing would be impossible between them necessitates a double sub. Or where observers are in very short supply. However on Sunday most (not all) subs had their own observer. All the subs were in woodland with ample space for queues. Because of the double subs though there were very long queues at many sections. On several occasions I counted over 20 riders waiting at a section. On one occasion on the last lap I queued so long I had to use choke to restart the bike as the engine was stone cold !! The second thing I think could be better was the marking of the sections. There were no pegs, only small pieces of paper stapled to trees / logs. They didn't use different colours for left / right either. Hard route was red, middle route white and easy was blue. I think the ACU should insist on a standard format for marking sections out. Most clubs use Red / Blue markers with variations for the easier routes where necessary. On more than one occasion I glanced up to see a red card and instinctively wanted to ride to the left of the card. Another point is when riding I tend to look down at the ground ahead of my front wheel as I'm sure most riders do. It's not easy to spot a marker half way up a tree! On one particular double sub there were so many white pieces of paper stapled to all the trees it was so difficult to see where to ride. I witnessed several riders passing the wrong side of a marker and on the 3rd lap there was 2 clear paths worn on the ground either side of the tree where a marker was. I never was 100% sure which side to go (I don't think the observer was either as he was cleaning riders that went either way!!) I think for the standard of rider present at the trial the severity wasn't too far off. (Though I haven't seen any results yet) I personally chose the wrong route but that was no fault of the clubs! The organisers and riders were very friendly and there was a good entry so the club can't be doing too much wrong. I hope my comments will be taken as constuctive critism. What do you think? Agree, disagree? Perhaps I am out of order for daring to comment?

very good, thanks for posting link

As promised I just received some pictures from Paul of the bike. I have to say it is looking superb. From what I can see the frame has been modified to drop the pegs down and rear. Frame and yokes have been sprayed or powder coated. Swinging arm has been polished. Exhaust resprayed. Some nice new shiny shocks which will not only perform great but look the dogs danglies !! Even the head steady has been polished to within an inch of it's life!! Looks like all the fastners are new - stainless Paul? Paul also told me the wheels have been rebuilt with stainless spokes. What carb are you going to use - I was eyeing up an OKO which I think would slot straight in. So here's the pictures - Keep up the good work Paul, and can I have a ride when it's done?

Agree with you that Bou is in a league of his own. He was awesome. I love watching him ride, it just looks effortless. Of course we know it isn't but his timing, balance and control are so perfect. Interesting there was 2 bike failures. It's rare to see a bike at top level have any problems but with weight shaveed down to an absolute minimum and sections getting bigger all the time prehaps we'll see more. Didn't look too good for Gas Gas though eh!!

Sounds great Paul, really looking forward to seeing some pictures.

MCE was the guys I was trying to think of on the phone yesterday John. Started ouot in Kettering years ago called M C Edwards. Then had offices in Wellingborough I bellieve. Glad you got it sorted.

Great to hear from you Paul. Glad you're cracking on ok with the bike. Please do send me the pictures and I'll stick them on for you. Steve.

No need to dig those spares out Mr Dabster - A difficult descision was made and I've sold the 330. Pretty sad to see it go really, I loved it because it was pretty rare over here and rides as good as any twinshock. Always a worry that if anything breaks it could be difficult to find spares though. Hope the new owner will post some pics on here as I'm sure he'll be giving a good make over.

There's a couple of moves he pulls right near the end of the video that are just awesome. Love the one where he jumps onto a rock front wheel first and swings the back round 120deg landing it onto a different rock. Just a bit different to the normal hopping on the rear stuff.

I've got a really nice compressor for sale if anyone is interested. It's brand new the box has never been opened. 2hp, 25ltr Reciever, aprox 8cfm. Proffesional quality.

I just found this site with some good user manuals on. In spanish but you can still get the oil capacaties etc... http://sites.google.com/site/documentacion...ntesas-de-trial My Cota 330 has 210cc per leg. A cota 242 has 200cc SAE10 per leg

Almost forgot about those shock parts Mr Dabster - do you still have them?

I suppose the risk with weld is that it might pull the shaft. You've nothing to lose by trying though. If it does bend perhaps weld all round and re-grind the taper.

Ouch, now that shaft is nasty. Looks like they used a Stihl saw !!