big john

Yes, superb... the way it was! I actually know most of the riders in that clip, having got to know them over the years. Unfortunately, Gottfried Engstler from Austria seen riding a Bultaco 325 is no longer alive, having been killed in a car accidnet many years ago. He was a real nice guy. Great video isn't it? What a great sport we have! Big John

Ford Electric Blue is a close match for the 199A frame! Big John

Hi Paul, RAL5015 code is actually the Sky Blue that was used on Bultaco 340 (Model 199B) front fork sliders, yolks & side panels. I don't know what the Ford Electric Blue RAL code is, but there must be a code for it...somewhere! Big John

If you have a look at the todo trial website in Spain (google for it) under products, they are available from there! Big John

Correct, it was only when NCR Computers sponsored the SSDT that the numbers changed to black numerals on a white background (with red NCR logo at the top) and at that, only a board fixed to the front was used. Up until that point it had always been yellow numerals on a black background. Big John

I think Steve Saunders (SXS) stocks the correct Repsol oil for the motor; BVM Moto at Stroud definately stocks the ELF HTX740 specific transmission oil its about

see what reading you get for 1 revolution and if it reads around 1800 rpm on idle or thereabouts that is the setting you need, if it reads half that or double, then you have the wrong setting! Big John

ormplus - Wullie, blunt as usual!... Job done! Noo bu*ger aff! Like it! Big John

They are just good friends... remember, there are always contractual obligations to be honoured! There is a finite date when a contract starts and ends! Big John

Whoa there boy, ever heard of having to eat one's words? Big John (patience is an art!)

That's why I buy 4RT! I got a little fed up of continually fixing the others I have owned! As "Munch" said right at the start in 2005 "4RT - Quality Worth Waiting For" He was right! Big John

The Pathfinder model by Greeves used the 6 speed, all alloy 169cc Puch motor manufactured at the company's factory at Graz in Austria. Developed for and used in many International Six Days Trials and specifically for Gelandesport (now enduro). Only Mick Wilkinson really liked the Greeves Pathfinder bike when given one by the factory. His elder brother Bill hated them (he still does!) Walther Luft (a very old friend of mine) used the 169 motor in a self made frame to win the Austrian Championship a couple of times but his version was heavily modified by him, being a very clever engineer. I think the chap I met in 1970 that had a controlling hand in things at the Puch factory was former ISDT rider Hans Maditz who accompanied Luft and fellow Austrian Peter Bous to the Scottish Six Days in 1970. That was Lufts' first SSDT. Hope this helps. Big John

Start bike and let it idle, I presume you are either to hold the tachometer close to the HT lead or have wrapped a small wire around the HT lead. The RPM for a 4RT is 1800 approximately. If your tach is showing around about that figure (1800) the tach, it is set correctly... if it shows your bike idling at say 900 rpm or much higher or lower (3600 rpm), then you have to adjust the tach to another setting as it is set incorrectly. Note: some tach's don't pick up any reading at all, because the 4RT is fuel injected. Big John

I saw this the other day, blimey that must be weird! I thought all the tables would have been screwed to the floor? Big John

Bultacos were not manufactured with a primary drive that allows this type of engine start. Bultacos have to be in neutral and the clutch disengaged for the kick start to operate. Big John

Couldn't have timed that better, no trials applied for that weekend (30/31 July 2011) in Scotland so we can all go and watch! Big John

You don't say where you just read this, so I'll take it as heresay at the moment (unless I've missed something of course!). I think it's a well known fact that Honda don't wish to become involved in two-stroke development or technology, they are firmly behind four stroke development and have been since 1984. We will have to wait and see if their direction changes over the next few years! Big John

The electrical problem suffered at the Scott by Doug Lampkin is, in this case unique to the "factory" bike he is supplied with. The electrics used on Doug's bike are not items used on production Betas. The electrical systems are bespoke, as is the motor on the factory bike. OK, to the general public, it doesn't appear satisfactory, but we are talking about a factory competition machine which is totally different to production machines. The electrics are designed to run Doug's motor and would probably not work if fitted to a standard motor. The world championship machine is designed to do that job, not the Scott or SSDT. Big John

Sorry I didn't get a chat with you after the auction Fred. I'm glad I only saw those instructions of yours after I came back from the Scott and not before! You had me worried for a bit there! Big John

Aha, Fred what are you wanting to buy at this years' auction? Big John

Indeed, sorry I did mean Milton Buzzards! Big John

Just been speaking to Julian Wigg (aka Big Wigg) on the phone, who was telling me that Ian Anderson was actually a customer of Julian's and he bought an Ossa MAR from him, but it had to be repainted and coloured all in black. So everything was coloured black, even Preston Petty plastic mudguards were fitted...in black! He remembers Ian Anderson as a "very knowledgeable bloke" who had been to the Ossa factory and knew eveything about Ossas before buying one off Julian. Julian had a number of "high profile" customers when he had his trials shop back in the 1970's/1980's including Barron Anthony (real name Anthony Osmond) one of the Barron Knights pop group, who had a Bultaco Sherpa with just about everything chrome plated. The tank even had been signwritten with "Get down Shep" the title of one of their send-up songs about Blue Peter presenter John Noakes! Barron Anthony was a member of the Leighton Buzzards MC. Big John