big john

Correct 1974, filmed from helicopter, winner Rob Edwards. I was spectating at that event when I was still at school! Fantastic! Big John

Never mind that - I'm just stunned that Dabster has a friend I am a friend of Mr Dabster! It's not my 4RT he's talking about so that makes at least two friends he's got then! Big John

I was very impressed with the whole Scott Trial set up, very professional indeed. Easy to find sections with spectator direction signs which was brilliant. The charity auction I enjoyed very much (even although I had to spend some money, worth every penny). A nice friendly atmosphere, well worth the trip down from the highlands! Big thanks for a brill weekend from me and the lads. Big John

t'beer was awreet at t'creeket club! Breakfast were even better at AGB's house in't morning! Big John

I use 6 inch Renthals (see photo) and they are rolled quite far forward in the clamps, works for me! Big John

Believe it or not but I had to forego an invite to ride Cabrianes this autumn from my friend Mr. Greeves! He had a very nice Bultaco available for me, but due to other committments, I couldn't make it, maybe next year. Big John

Which also goes to prove Stu that the British Pre-65 scene has got completely out of hand! Big John

Why not give me the RTL roling chassis, I would put an engine in it and try to ride it . Its a shame to have a bike like an RTL which is sitting unused No deal! I'd prefer that '88 motor... Big John Sorry, changed my mind, don't need it now!

Nonsense, I'm working on several projects at the moment, but I would like specifically a 1988 RTL motor! Big John

I've got a better idea, replace the TLR200 motor back in the frame it came from and sell me the 1988 RTL motor? Big John PS I have a RTL250S 1988 Manual.

Am I correct in my understanding that Gas Gas was bought out by venture capitalists a couple of years ago. Not very likely then that Xispa has any connection with gas Gas whatsoever. Big John

Contact Al the Spanner at White Bros, Darlington, I know they did an experiment such as that you describe! Big John

I am somewhat concerned that there is a direct copy of a production trials motorcycle out there. A couple of points to make here... The first Sherco, called Bultaco Sherco 2.5 was similar in design to the then current model Gas Gas TXT, but only similar, I defy anyone who could actually fit engine parts of a Gas Gas to a Sherco or vice versa, that goes for most of the chassis parts too, except of course those that came from an OEM parts supplier such as AJP; Morad or similar items common to a variety of makes and models. Secondly, there were pesonnel who defected from Gas Gas to Sherco at the development stage, I think similar defections were evident in the motor industry a few years ago e.g. from VW to Ford when the mark 3 Ford Mondeo was launched in 1999. The advent of the Xispa medium sized trials motorcycle appears to be a direct copy of the Sherco, I would be surprised if parts of the engine are a direct fit and therfore there should be manufacturing rights to defend here. Long term it may mean a "copy" at a reduced price, but I do think it is a threat, not a benefit to trials riders going forward. Big John

Hi Woody, Before I start, please don't take this personally, as I respect your postings on here. The Sherpa N was a trail bike produced by Bultaco, it was never a trials bike. It is simply a very lame excuse to ride a Bultaco in the Pre65 Scottish trial. We all know perfectly well that Tommy Ollerton rode a Bultaco in the SSDT before Sammy Miller did so in 1965, history records that quite well, photographic and otherwise. However, the whole spirit of Pre65 trialling was to bring out the old bikes to get them working and have some fun. It has developed into something quite different and what has been happening is the genuine stuff has slowly gone back into the sheds and outhouses from where they were parked up in and around 1967 when everyone had bought Bultos and then Montesas. You haven't seen an Ossa enter the Pre65 Scottish....yet! I predict it will happen maybe this year, the committee will have their eyes peeled no doubt. Should be easy to spot that one! The Ossa trials bike was not commercially available until around 1967. One mistake that relates to you Woody, your name went in the book this year? Oh dear...you'll have to play the waiting game then! That's a wee bit like bolting the barn door after the horse has bolted, isn't it? Didn't you take careful note of the supplimentary declaration of parts sheet which asks the competitor to declare the forks, frame, yolks etc. etc and their manufacturer and year? Onus is on the competitor! Basically what I am saying is this, the Pre65 Scottish is massively oversubcribed, it may not always be so, but for now the organisers can be "selective" and I personally feel they should select and prefer entries from genuine bikes first of all. That is what the spectators want to see. No offense if you are reading this Alan!, but Alan Whitton's preparations have their place, no doubt about it, but they simply ride like a modern bike, not a bike made before 1965. Cheers... Big John

Are you talking about the bikes built for trials and grass track by the Winwood brothers? I remember two being ridden in the 1970 SSDT by Ross and his brother. I think I have a good photo of the Bantam engined bike (Top half) somewhere. It was taken on the Weigh In Sunday at the SSDT at Gorgie cattle Market. I think I saw one recently in T&MX or YOU HAVE USED WORDS OR A PHRASE WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE DELETE YOUR POST/TOPIC. DO NOT TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE FILTERS IN PLACE ON THIS WEBSITE. Big John

Blimey Swooshdave, that knurling is very low, considering you have the lower clamped alloy bottom yolk. I bet "Legs" would know why... Big John

Has OTH got himself a 4RT then? Let's hope the Scott is not affected by F&M (should I say that on here?) If the Hook Woods British Championships can get a way with it, I say get the chemical stuff out and spray the bikes, want a hand doing it? Big John

Greg, Contact Dave Renham at Bultaco UK about the electronic system he has available from stock. Fit and forget... Also PM me and I will put you in touch with someone who has alternative carbs available! Big John

Very sorry to hear that you have had to cancel the Lakes Mick. Truly a very difficult decision to have to make. Lets look forward to the 2008 event which will be worth the wait no doubt. Best wishes, Big John

The forks for Bultacos were manufactured by Betor as were the forks used by Ossa. However there were many different stantion types as they were usually knurled where the stantion interfaced with the bottom yolk gripping area. The later the model, the further down the stantion the knurling was made. It may be cheaper just to buy new as the fork sets lying around now command a high price and you may need to get them hard chromed to get them working as they should. Have you tried Bultaco UK? Big John

No I don't own the first two Seeley Hondas made, nor do I really desire to own them, I'm happy with the two I do have. Big John

Well they are not the two sitting in my garage as I know their numbers! True the larger capacity fuel tanks were made for the SSDT, I should be able to check who rode Seeleys in the trial but I doubt if anyone could confirm if that bike was used. Big John

Back in 1973 (the first time I was actually at the Scott, what an experience) there was an old chap rode a beautiful Scott two-stroke watercooler with purple barrells, round the roads and parked at the roadside section my Dad and I we were spectating at (Windegg they called the section). The bike was absolutely mint, I would doubt if the rider was still alive now, but just wondered if the bike was still around? I have a photo of it somewhere taken with my Kodak Instamatic! I think that was the year Rob Edwards won the trial and they filmed it all from a helicopter which followed him across the moors, now doubt a Scott Expert will keep me right on that Also have photos of Dave Thorpe on an Ossa; Pat Ewen from Dublin & Dist on a Bulto, Sid lampkin on a new for that year 325 Bultaco and so on. Can't wait for saturday 20th October! Big John

Hi Charlie, To be honest my old pal "Tweedside Tuner" Mel Hume changed the oil in the forks recently as a favour (I have been busy recently) and I'm not that sure what is in it, knowing him it's probably Silkolene fork oil 10W, but I can let you into a wee secret here, the engine and gearbox of my Matchless is lubed by Castrol Classic GP50!!! Back to the subject in hand, fairness has nothing to do with it. What did the regular trials rider ride before 31st December 1964? (when I was 7 years old) Certainly not Otters except for Scott boy who was a factory man after all! For sure there have always been "specials" and "Bitsas", Pre-1965 and sure enough a number of British Bike trials have a specials class, but at Kinlochleven it is just not possible to have this, it simply flies in the face of the whole concept of riding "Scotland". The Pre65 has for many years been massively oversubscribed and I have heard almost every conceivable suggestion as to how to accommodate 360 riders up there (the maximum is 180 because of the RAC permissions for road trial legislation by the way). What IMHO the organisers have tried to do is recreate a old "mini SSDT" as it was in the days before Sammy brought out his version of the Sherpa. The organisers have a tough job on their hands and always have had with machine eligibility, that problem will never go away. It would be best for all having original type bikes up there instead of the multitude of specials and so on. After all, the Inverness club can easily cater for that side of Pre65 trialling! Not an easy subject, there are many twists and turns, but for sure the organisers are unmoved by the appeals for legalisation of the Otter type of machine. Oh and in case I do get a wee hurl next season at Kinlochleven, I may be BSA mounted (B40, maybe just for a change) but even that has proper BSA forks, frame and nothing fancy. I had considered spending some dosh on getting it tricked up like Eric Boocock's BSA, but in the end I settled for fairly standard. My advice (for what it is worth) to all concerned for riding up north in 2008 and beyond is this: Enter on as big a bike as you dare ride. Enter on as original a bike as you can get your hands on. Don't switch bikes just before the start i.e enter on an AJS and turn up with a fancy Cub! (You can bet your bottom dollar if you do, that will be noted!!!) Don't even think about riding a Sherpa no matter how old you think it is, that goes for Montesa and Ossa derivatives as well. Take a note out of Clive Dobson's book (Norton 500T rider of note whose bike isn't full of Lotus parts or anything remotely manufactured overseas!) Over to you Clive if you have read this... Most of all, if you do get to ride Scotland, enjoy it , for that my friends is what it is finally all about. Big John (Remember that disclaimer guys!)