charlie prescott

Hi Guy's. Just wondered if Jon Bliss is still building the "Cotswold Majestys", and can you still buy a Mini-Majesty frame from Craig Mawlem? Just seemed to be cracking little bikes at the time. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Am I hearing and seeing correctly? Did the word "British Twinshocks" get mentioned at last and not the "Before a certain date in the sixties" keep it up guy's this is the wording we now need for these bikes. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Just looking at which length of rear supension units You guy's think are best on the "Otter's" that you ride? Do you think that 13" that is specified, are best, or 13 1/2" or even 14"? Knowing that the length of these also alters the steering head angle. Let me know, I am very interested which units you think are best, and what also is the best make to use in your opinion? Or even what make do you use? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Tony. Yes The Motorcycle Sport, July 1986,has the article about the Red bikes.I have checked in myBSa D 14/4 workshop manual and the Bushman frame is the right one and it is diferent to other Bantam frames. This is the swinging arm you need. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Tony. Look I have double checked, and it was a "Sports Cub" swinging arm Brian Martin used on Red T2. And I know they are wider. Red T1 had a special frame built firstly, when it had the D7 motor(3 speed). this is the frame that used the C15 swinging arm. This frame was abandoned, not because it was not any good but because of management decisions. When a D10 engine replaced the D7 in Red T1, a bantam frame was then again used for this bike. Originaly Red T1 was fitted with Gold Star front forks, but again these were changed on RedT1 and T2 to BSA C15T forks. Mick Bowers used Bultaco forks on his version in the end, these were painted Black. The front wheel on T1 and2 were of 20 inch not 21. I suspect Micks was 21". The air filter used eventually was from a Victor Enduro. The fuel tank Victor with Black side panels. Eventually a Amal 626 carb was used 140 main jet. I have gear ratios etc if you need them. There was trouble with the kick start on there bikes and the Clutch was a nightmare, I have been told that other clutches from the far east are now used? but if you are building a replica this should not effect you?. I will measure across the swinging arms I have, and on the Bantam built by a "Works tester". when I get to the workshop. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Oldun.(Tony. Some of the hubs are definitely different. The "Red" works bantams used a Sports Cub swinging arm which is wider. I know they also tried C15 arms as-well I will do a bit more research for you. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi Oldun. The bantam hubs are slightly wider than a Cub hub. but we usually widen both back hubs for trials use. what does the swinging arm measure between the spindle plates? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. One "HOP" and it's FIVE, Simples. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. I for one thought Sprite 1966, this is when the company pushed there kits, and you just think there were none before that time? I can remember "Jonah" riding a bike that had a Sprite sticker on it but it looked nothing like one of the production kits, but more like an old Cotton with mods. I will mail Chris Leighfield,for his comment, has he was one of the Sprite boys along with Denis Jones, and I know Chris is in contact with "Jonah", so he may be able to get his opinion. What I can say is that the bike he rode in the Scottish of 1965 was a joint venture, Frank Hipkin supplied the frame,Roy Bevis the forks,and front wheel, and the Cotton that Jonah had been riding up until that time provided the rest of the bike including the iron barreled engine, and has every one knows Jonah's engines were always clapped out. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Look it will be paper contracts that is the problem. If you have had any dealings with comercial law, you will know what I mean. And until everyone is happy, nothing gets signed. So you will all have to be patient until the problem is sorted, Good luck to Ossa. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi OTF, NO I think it is the only bike that Greeves have? Regards Charlie. edit, for wording

Hi Guy's. Look, This is a long time thing? This two day trial has now been running since 1985? And over the years people have come to work one of there holidays around this event,and has I have stated the SSDT,the following week. Now, over the years since the event started, the publicity has been good! and it has got to be one of the events that every classic trials rider wants to compete in before they are to old, and are unable too. The "Names" the Press, and usually the previous winners of the event, will always get a ride? with in reason, on what ever they turn up with? A few Rigids will always be included, as this puts the Pre65 element in to the trial. The rest while the event has such a vast draw from the "One of the things I need to do before I die" brigade, will always suffer a ballot of some description, or an entry refusal. There is only so many hours of daylight in 24 hours. And you would not want observers out longer anyway? I feel the only answer if change, was viable. Would be to have two separate trials. One the week before the SSDT, and one after? this is the only way that people wanting to compete in this event, would all get a ride? But then it could get to many entries again? And would the people putting on this event want too, or could they even cope with two trials as close? And would the land owners want more damage to there land? And I believe the policing laws in Scotland are not condusive? So it looks like you are stuck with what you have got Girls and Boys? Has long as there are engineers, mechanics, bodgers, ETC, putting machines together that slightly resemble something built in the fifties early,or late sixties. You will always have this trial? with its controversies! And if it went it would only be another nail in the departing British Bike coffin. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Andy, Good on yer, cant waite for the snippets, from Ron. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Doubt it, have you ever had a discussion with the man? Well, I could not get any straight answers, about anything to do with Greeves, All I got was a Maybe!!! and we now know what that means?? Have they actually got any bikes then?? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Big"J" I like Mettise, Thought you were on the reserve list!! That Is the problem with words, and phrases. They all have a different meaning to those who are interpreting them. And this is the crux of the matter concerning machine specification? You can read into it whatever you like! and in most cases a scrutineer of a trials bike is not going to care very much?? as long has nothing is falling off, and the brakes actually seem to work??? So basically you can hide what you like on a machine if you can get away with it?? Just spotted a advert for a "Trials Cub" with hydraulic clutch, Pre65 it says!! Well I could have made a clutch on Cub work with hydraulic before 1965? But it would have been a job hiding the Austin Mini master cylinder?? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Now if the two day Scottish trial, only had a few entries, sent in , they may think about changing things? But we all know that this event is always well over subscribed, and while there is an alleged ballot,people will always whinge. There is no way that this event is going to be anything else than it is now. Then only slight change may be made by pressure from who ever is sponsoring the event at the time. The club are under no pressure to get more public up to witness the event, although the numbers may help the local economy. But don't forget the Six Days is on on the following week, and this event brings the majority of spectators up to the area. So the only help to the club we do talking about it, is to perhaps add a few more faces that may now go up to Scotland, to take a look at the event themselves. See you there! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's The oil I use on my "Muds" is Flexalan, lanolised leather dressing. we have been using this for years on saddlery and boots etc.with no complaints. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Well if you want to build a Pre 65 Bantam, with suspension, you have to go for the D3 frame? Although the D7 was about before 1965, There was never a works model to base,a trials bike on. The factory did not start to play with the later Bantam as a Trials bike, until 1966! Also you would be restricted to a 3 speed gearbox. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Your boots no matter what make, are only as good as the care you give them. I am sorry your "muds" have split. During this bad snow spell I have been treating my boots with saddle oil, on about a third day basis,(wearing them every day). So I am hoping that mine don't do the same? my moto is, [if they squeak, oil them]! treat them as saddlery. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Has you say, the Scottish club have the right to choose, just who they want to ride in there trial. But perhaps the "Pre65" prefix should be dropped from the title,and replaced by a more sensible, BTS's (British Twin Shocks). The two day Scottish/British twin shock trial. would seem a far truer title. Now I believe that this year, photos from both sides of the machine were required? I wonder if the committee would like to publish these pictures on here, or on there web site. We then could all decide, if the bikes should be eligible for a title of (pre-65) or BTS. And a very good use of the photos it would be to anyone interested in motorcycle engineering. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi OTF. Mine would be a size 10. Why do manufacturers do this? It must have cost them a fortune to design the boots in the first place, and then when they sell well, pull the plug! It makes no sense to me at all. To be honest the boots could have been priced a lot higher, well the same as the trials boots anyway? The boots were placed in the wrong marketplace, to my mind, Why ATV boots? surely some market research was done by the company, in the first place? These boots are just brilliant for walking in, and could have easily been targeted at the Country Set, and shooting brigade. But I would use um as trials boots any-day. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's My "Mud's" are half a size bigger than my shoes, and are realy-realy comfy with just one pair of socks. I have worn them evry day in the snow,for the past ten days,and they have kept my feet warm as toast. I even wore them out to dinner and said that they were the New trendy fashion item. I just hope I can get another pair when the ones I wear on a daily basis eventualy wear out? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Andy. Has You know? because you will have read the the sidecar section. We have found 92 HOH, The Round brothers championship winning trials outfit. It was through these pages that we found the bike, but with a twist!!! I first started the topic, after Natalie James, Derek Rounds daughter contacted me after finding a link on Google that picked up a bit I had done on Ron Langston, in the sidecar section. Natalie explained that her father would love to find the outfit again before it was to late. I invited Derek along to the Classic Trials Show, where we met,and he really enjoyed his renewal with the classic trials scene. When I found time after the show, I put up the title 92HOH is Lost. Just hoping that it would do some good. After thinking we were not going to get any replies. Out of the blue my ex wife's brother from the IOM e-mailed me to say that he had just read the piece on Trials Central, and that Tim Fairbrother was the last known owner. I e-mailed Tim and he told me about Peter Rydehouse had told him, that he, Peter, was told the outfit was somewhere in deepest Yorkshire in a sorry state. Well Natalie, got onto the Yorkshire Post, and they ran an article in there paper, and very good it was too! Reading it, Mick Wilkinson, rang the Round,s to tell them where the bike was, and also gave them the owners number. The rest is ongoing History. But you see if it was not for Trials Central in the first place being picked up by Google, or my brother in-law not reading the column, this would not have happened? or it may have done? for my brother-in-law is over here for Christmas, and the conversation may have come up about the subject? who knows. So thank you Andy, for giving us Trials Central, The site for all thing Trials. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's , Hi OTF. Cotwold's Majesty's.? Probably "BTS,FEI". (far eastern influence)? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. OK Just going to throw a spanner in the work,s Isn't it about time we stopped using the term "PRE 65"? This was coined in the first place by Deryk Wylde. for the trials championship that he set up. And since then the term as been abused by everyone, that has laid a spanner on a period trials bike since. To my mind, and others, any British Trials Bike should now be named,A British Twin-Shock.(BTS). And there should be different categories within the criteria, including as an end class the now famous "Special" class,and has everyone knows, this is the class, that most machines should fall into? Regards Charlie.