johnnyjazz

Hello friends! sorry if im being a nuisance or overstaying my welcome. lovely weekend tinkering..takes me about 1hr to unscrew a screw but got there in the end! Q/ swapped out 13 front for 11 front sprocket (easy honda oem with plate holes). Noticed the original 13 had some kind of spacer so i used a nitrile rubber o ring, think industrial stye.. is that the worst thing anyone couldv'e used in the history of terrible things? seems to have shimmed it out enough and i will get the 9 tooth with plate and circlip when in UK shortly....11/44 on the road gives me 40mph tops and usable 35mph. will practice with 11/44 for a bit..still too fast, but waayyy better! Q/ new shocks...400 mm betors or 390 mm Ozo ? Q/ suggested best tire pressures for 75% off 25% on road.. currently at 15/15 which i know isnt right! Q/ tickover? is it better that a 4 stroke runs a bit faster because of the oil pump etc or should i get it slow like a stroker..still fettling and feeling my way.. had to get new carb bowls as it started leaking gas...ouch! i love it. deep joy. Thats it for now! thanks so much! Johnny

Love it, timdog! Thanks u so much for great recommendation! anything cheap and effective piques my interest! ...happy weekend all!

Thank you so much Brother MichaelW! now that's what I'm talkin 'bout! .... love it - and inspiring to see its obviously NOT as terrible as the modern naysayers would have us believe! appreciate your kind reply (and previous post on your reflex). OZO shocks. great recommendation, as is everything else coming my way! Also headin to UK to see family soon so can pick up some stuff direct too. 390mm not 400mm i see falcons and betors are 400mm for the reflex..are the OZOs better at 10mm shorter? Anyway..i know if i put dougie on the 'flex -even as it is now- and i had his latest works bike, i promise he'd still clean all 'normal' sections and id be getting 5's in everything! lol.. as mentioned earlier, the modern bikes have advanced exponentially, though on the whole it seems rider health and fitness (compared to yesteryear) certainly hasn't! a quick look at a random selection of pics from a 'non pro' trial in the 70s versus now illustrates that (imho) . i think the cigarettes helped! lol! Talking of which, first ever book i got out the library as a kid in 1980s UK was Don Smiths 'learn to ride trials' . I thought it so cool as he had a fag (* UK usage) hanging out his mouth climbing some massive muddy bank on the front cover!...same with mick andrews, always smoking!.. man, i thought they were cool when i was 12...no wonder the Rothmans sponsorship on TLRs!... nowadays, no one smoking and we all little cry babies! lol...- put me at the top of the list mind you! just curious - how many people put physical workouts - push ups/sit ups/ running etc - as part of their 'trials training'? i do boxing training too (badly) and im generally more 'done in' after doing an hour of trials....Thats why i think the vtg twin shocks are an excellent investment in long term health! well, that was the excuse to the missus anyway.... lol!.. she actually said she might want to have a go on it... the bike that is, not me. sadly. Still, not many wives that barely bat an eyelid when you bring the second bike home.. So she a keeper. the bike that is! lol... you guys are great! peace and progress, Johnny

Thanks Lemur! top tip sir and i very much look forward to getting to Ontario one day to ride with ya!

David! Senor 'Feet up fun!' Hello again Sir i'm back again! this time with a honda tractor. that said, The TY you and others coached me through i more than doubled my money on, and as you know got me a nice tidy 2015 Bonneville T100 so i will always owe you a cold one my friend. Again, as stated prior, in the world of reductive thinking and generic generalizations from ill informed amateurs, i cant thank you, and others here, for your kindness and wisdom and your willingness to share it. I wish i could find this kind of support and openness to help strangers on my doorstep! lol Brilliant points all! Re shocks.. I might be light now but methinks that's only going in one direction! lol... Nah, health and fitness is pretty important to me. i'll take recommendation that 40lb might be better and thus help to keep me off the mince pies. Will widen footpegs first, then investigate the 'down and back' vibe. - luckily after moving to the 'burbs up here, met an old boy few houses down..he's an old skool Harley/Indian vet and has offered to help me fabricate and weld and change wheels etc...who is luckier than me!! - plus some of my 'secret' spots are spots he told me about where he rode dirt bikes as a kid 50 years ago! he just adores that us 'younger' ones actually care and show them respect for what they know. when i tell him how much the stealership charges for triumph stuff he starts crying and says he wishes more people could learn to do it themselves...He was going to help me reshoe the bonnie but with the spoke wheels and tubes and immaculate chrome i think he got nervous! lol.. but knocking up foot peg wideners..no probs!! However, am i correct in thinking thee are no wide foot pegs off the shelf that just bolt on -they all need a bracket anyway for modern pegs - is that erroneous thinking? Very insightful and important point about speed and tire pressures. thank you for the reminder, i guess its all a compromise. they are pretty low and cornering at 30 is a little dicey. Im certainly not a 'speed' guy. i have a great road bike for that. but i potter in the 30-40 mph range on tarmac. fully agreed that for a wee run of a few miles that could easily be 20-30mph... if i could get 35mph tops that be great as its then a beater for running to the bodega etc too.. HOwever, developing skill and technique is more important than that of course! regarding why not just get a proper trials bike and a trailer? i think im holding out for electric technology to pique my interest further when prices come down a bit... i digress.. Great tire suggestions...that would explain why the TY, which had MT43s, was a bit sucky when i was really trying to 'get into it' in my industrial sections when i was in Brooklyn...but great at 40mph! Still remember the looks i got riding through Manhattan (often standing) to go to Macy's to get the nail polish color you suggested for the chips in the tank! priceless that was genius getting that one plated! they removed that loophole of 'grandfathering in' older bikes via Vermont. i believe you can do it still in some states but its much harder and more difficult. That's why i jumped on the reflex when it came under my nose... thanks for top tips on bash plate. I think i ride in a way which is 'lets see if i can get over that big log' and inevitably often end up hitting the bash plate on something! terrible technique lol...all part the fun! i'm trying to get better!. I did the aftermarket one for the TY and it went down well (just for the fun of doing it) but i remember the one on the TY was a composite plastic type where as the honda has a metal one, pretty flimsy looking mind you! lol...we'll see on that one. Get my buddy rich to fab something up no worries!. I'm thinking (esp with your encouragement) to do what i did with the TY. take off all the original stuff (store diligently) and just go for a frankenbike that's plated. When i purchased it i thought some of the fire breaks for the electricity pylons would be ok for a bit of trailing - but man, you've never seen so many signs enforcing otherwise! hence back to dreaming of being dougie lampkin (at least dreams are free!) Thanks again dave, appreciate the time and effort it takes to reply. i posted a pic in another thread asking about a new gear lever, but so you can see my new toy, she still looks pretty nice methinks...... very best, Johnny

Thank you Lemur for such an insightful and eloquent answer. 69! damn..you go man.. i'd love to have the confidence (and skill) to ride more aggressively and try larger things but as my riding is (sadly) 100% solo and quite isolated i must needs be diligent and ride to my ability.- Will start with foot peg widening first as they are stock. most pleased to make your acquaintance, sir and thanks again

Some questions for the mechanical meastros! Please forgive me if answers are posted already. My fingers have been walking down google lane all morning but still not sure. So, despite my best intentions to enjoy the bike 'for what it is' - (a poor US hillbilly cousin of kinda decent Euro bike) my desire to practice all the trials stuff i grew up with in the UK overrides my desire to 'trail ride or green laning' which i thought would take priority. The predicted choir that shall be singing "dump the reflex and buy a proper trials bike" please remember the ONLY reason for getting this bike is it's fully street legal and i have to ride past a cop shop to my secret private trials area. Whilst seemingly happy turn a blind eye to my trials work in the woods, not so to DOT obligations, understandably. Plus for $58 Fully comp insurance and a $6 MOT cant really argue. Especially in NY state...where no one is allowed to do anything fun anymore- unless its to do with horses or mountain bikes...lol! I know there is more twin shock action (dare i say scene?) upstate near Albany but that's a wee trek from just north of the city.... All that said...trying to make a few cheap mods as i have sussed some local PRIMO woodland/industrial spots. Luckily most people here don't even know what trials is so the idea of going really slowly, quietly, not racing others is a bit of an anathema for them.... they think me very strange.. that i practice balancing in the driveway. I explain its the Tai Chi of motorcycle sport, mechanical ballet if you will. They still don't understand. i digress..any help for anything here... Q1: When i got the bike it had been fitted with bar risers which appear to push the bars forward and up. Is this the same as moving the pegs down and back? or (as i suspect) moving pegs back and down will offer a further improvement regarding the center of gravity? confirmation/denial? Q2: currently stock at 13/44 WAY too fast... not sure 9/44 will offer practical transportation on the tarmac in traffic ( its a 2-3 mile ride from home) so, is 11/44 the best compromise? or will that still be too fast? any input appreciated regarding road speeds and trials ability as i need the best of both worlds (impossible though i know! lol) Q3: If i repace shocks.. 400mm 50lb are the right ones? (5'9. 165lbs *edited after) Q4: From peoples experience, is the current skid plate acceptable enough for clubman class c line routes... im 50 this year and had waaaay to many accidents to want more so not predicting any super heavy riding... plus with US health insurance as it is... Q5: Are clutch / rear brake extenders a useful addition? Q6: I understand the best tire is the IRC trials, but as its not DOT legit im looking at pirelli MT43.. any other suggestons? Q7: Is the weight and slight power increase of say, a WES exhaust - worth losing the stealth silence of the stock? Thanks so much for any help. Its just a bit of fun, a distraction project. My inlaws have moved in for the summer. i need the distraction more than i need to 'not waste money on something that will never be perfect'. actually using that analogy, Wife comes quickly to mind .....lol! To conclude, regarding the reflex- My (very humble) overall feeling, as others have stated, is that riders were just better in the 80s! i grew up in north of England and learnt to ride in the dove holes quarry in Derbyshire on Ty80s / 250s. Fantics/ Ossas/bultacos et al as a kid.. it all just seemed more 'analogue' back then, body position, throttle control, sheer strength, AND riders health, fitness and general vitality!.... or maybe its just nostalgia as i still get excited hearing the kickstart music theme song!! Thanks for the friendship, support and encouragement from New York. Peace. Johnny

oh and this is me! ....just enjoying it for what it is...

Awesome Bike, Love it! this is it yeah? again, appreciate the insight as i know not every thing fits everything! Thanks u

Thanks so much timdog! im in NY, US.... might you be kind enough to send me a link for the latter?

Hello friends, could someone recommend (if there is one?) a replacement gear shifter that goes directly on the shaft and does away with convoluted linkage. Looking for one with the offset clearance etc.. Thanks so much in advance! johnny

Awesome Pics Fourex, love the vibe of yesteryear! I shall indeed pass on the 123. Thanks for all the input.

Thank you all again so much for the input! just what i needed to hear. Appreciate the advice and guidance and i learn SO much here from your experiences and willingness to share. As always, time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted! There is also a Honda TL250 going locally...bit more $$ but probably a sounder investment and possibly easier to get parts for!

thanks all so much for replies...super helpful

Hello friends, this turned up locally as a barn find. Ad says its all original, hasn't run since late 70s but turns over, original docs, manual, tool kit etc. He wants $1k for it (obo)... Is it worth investigating further? with a TY resto i attempted, parts were plentiful online and i wonder if this is the case for a euro 70s bike too or if it would be more of a headache than its worth. - isnt there a montesa with a wierd size front wheel that you cant get any more? is that this bike? How does it look to you Montesa experts? And..is the 123 as sound an investment as the 247 or 349- or does none of that matter? Any advice appreciated from a novice! with very best regards and thanks in advance, Johnny

Thanks David, really appreciate your succinct and as always incredibly knowledgeable advice! not that i have any intention of messing with it, but glad to know it's as it should be. Methinks i just got a wee bit confused looking at the parts pic where i couldn't see those holes that were drilled, and it seemed that the nuts holding the steel band on look recessed in the parts pic whereas on my mike they seem to protrude from the band hence making me wonder if something had been removed. i was researching the threads on here about TY flywheels and they spoke about removing a steel band so good to know what that actually means now! on an aside, i see a lot of people talking about the modification of electronic ignitions... am I correct in thinking that the general consensus is that the TY250A isn't a bike that benefits greatly from this and the original ignition system is perfect (esp. if road legal with lights etc)? Not that i am seeking to perform this upgrade as my bike runs great, more just curious as to whether it is beneficial from a performance perspective. I'm also presuming the more upgrades one makes like that it lessens the value of the bike from an 'original' standpoint? many thanks always...i continue to learn so much! very best from NYC and hope all is well down there in the Antipodes

Hello friends, Having read on here about the modifications people do to the weight of the flywheel to affect performance, could someone comment if my flywheel has been adjusted or if this is standard? it appears to have some holes drilled in it and doesn't look exactly like the pic in the parts manual. i know the previous owner was serious enough to swap the front 14 tooth sprocket to a 12 so I'm curious as to whether the flywheel was modified also or is standard. And would someone be kind enough to briefly recap the difference between a heavier or lighter flywheel and the effect it has on the bikes performance? (I'm still a little unsure) with many thanks in advance and very best wishes from NYC, Johnny

Agreed! Feet up fun has helped me so much. we are so lucky to have someone not only with so much expertise but someone so gracious and generous in their sharing of it! -and of course shout outs and big ups to all the other wonderful posters here too who are awesome in their legendary contributions that help us all learn. thanks so much guys! deep gratitude.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but wondering is the lubricating of contact heels something that should be done on a regular basis? if so, how often is it recommended for optimum longevity? sorry for naive question but i wasn't aware aware the necessity to do this. i think my bike still has the original contacts, so its probably long overdue! many thanks in advance.

Hope im not violating any forum rules by posting (please delete if i am) but from a historical collectors perspective the price blew my mind...In case you missed it..from last month at a bike auction in Vegas..Granted they're pristine concours rebuilds but to see them actually sell for this $$s...crazy! i guess some people have very deep pockets... -wife didn't think much of my TY project till she saw this...now she wants to help polish it!

I believe my 74 TY still has the original reeds...is it advisable to change them for the reason stated? and is it usage or simply the passage of time that would necessitate their replacement? thanks always, i learn so much here

Some of the pump gas over here is just so awful with up to 20% ethanol added...i know its a bit more expensive but i found my '74 Ty250 loves this stuff (fully synthetic) and runs like a dream!

...one here in long island...NY https://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/d/east-meadow-1982-vintage-swm-trials/6771451918.html

Thanks so much again friends, appreciate all guidance. the shed is actually solid with a good roof that doesn't leak.. i dint know as i hadn't spent enough time up there, but turns out there is some kind of natural spring in the garden that combined with when it rains heavily causes the whole garden to turn to mush. the shed only has a soil floor with paving slabs laid down so the water is coming up from under those. it is on my project list this summer to sort it out properly and spend some money and time on it in exchange for....drum roll please.....being allowed to bring her inside and tuck the bike away upstairs! hallelujah very happy and very lucky to have such great in laws and wife's dad even helped me hump it up the stairs, bless him! so turns out i now have my own motorcycle museum...hooray! though interestingly even a month in those conditions had started to show wear on the bike in places. super glad i didn't vacillate in my efforts to remedy things. i will crawl back under my rock now and re emerge here in the spring when it doesn't start or nothing works and i need more help..til then, thanks again for being an awesome cyber family that a jazz musician from NY crazy enough to buy a trials bike can turn to for advice! johnny

Hello friends, the mechanical ignoramus here again from Brooklyn NY. please bear with me as im sure you are fed up with me asking for advice, but time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted and if there's no such thing as a silly question etc... having followed all the sagacious insights from you all in my last post about winter storage, i was a bit saddened to find out the in-laws shed where i now keep the bike floods when it rains heavily leaving about 3-4" of standing water for a day or two until it drains. i deliberately raised it up about 6" off the ground on plywood and put some thick plastic sheeting underneath so the bike isn't directly in contact with the water, but i'm aware that its a fairly damp wet environment esp' at the moment as its been raining a lot. i wish i knew more about this stuff myself but am limited in my knowledge of trying to preserve vintage bikes nicely. in my earlier post someone had said words to the effect of chuck em under the porch in the rain and 'she'll be 'right they're built for it' kinda thing, but i also read feetupfun saying these conditions will destroy bearings/seals in no time and a 2T is more susceptible to damage than a 4T (curious as to why that is?)... i gave her a brief spray down with wd40 on exposed parts but wondering is a thick coating of Vaseline better to avoid corrosion? and which parts are most likely to rust first so i can keep an eye on them when i next go and check as i wasn't able to look over new years when i was there as it was raining really hard and the shed was wet. its been there about a month now. am i being super paranoid or should i be concerned? i've worked so hard (and learnt so much) coming here to help restore the bike and get it road legal etc and i really dont want to ruin it with 4 months storage in the wrong conditions. i just want to preserve a time capsule for my son to have one day. the shed is well ventilated so the conditions on the inside generally reflect the outside. a heated storage unit here for bikes runs about $150pm which is a little steep for me right now so the only other option is to see if the mother in law would let me keep in inside. it would have to go upstairs in wife's old bedroom and even then not ideal as id have to get it upstairs (on my own) and then say yes to everything she asks of me and agree with her about anything...maybe that's a good trade off to keep the bike nice? are there any issues or concerns about keeping a bike inside? obviously id drain the fuel but is there anything else i should do? my fear though is once its inside its never coming out and i know we need to ride em not hide em. what would you more knowledgeable folk recommend? as always i'm humbled in the shadow of your expertise and i know so little id rather ask and be ridiculed than not ask at all. the last TY i had was in 1986, cost 250quid and left it at my mates farm in the barn and at 12 years old i had slightly different concerns in life than now and obviously i've got a wee bit more into this one! pics enclosed of finished bike, shed, bike in shed and last one shows how much standing water collects in the back corner when it rains. thank you all so much for any advice, comments or criticism and humbly yours from the land of over priced rent and $1 pizza johnny