Near enough spot on. Like you say most of it is the attitude of today's youth, in a throw away world, no respect, for there machine, if it is not brand new.(With all the added glitter).No respect, for other peoples property, No respect for the people who have put on the event for there pleasure? And most are in and out of the sport within a couple of years. The lads(lasses) with the right attitude, usually spend time, trying to update a older machine. and It is these Guy's who will eventually move on to the more social atmosphere of twin-shocks/ pre65, events.
Or would probably save up and buy, a proper trials bike with a seat if they were available. And events for new machines with twin shock absorbers at the rear????? were catered for. and were available.Sporting trials they were once named!!! [Manufacturers take note], you need to put a "Sporting Trials Bike" into your next catalogue.
And what you are saying is, Bring back proper motorcycle shaped machines, that can be ridden on the road, to even go to work and back on(needed that this week) then on a Sunday, you can go out with your mates for a pleasant little competitive ride over some off-road terrain on the same bike and then even share a pint and a tale or two afterwards.
Riding a po-go stick with an extra wheel attached is not like this, firstly you have to make sure that the nearest A and E is open, then you have to find someone who can go along with you to shout and ridicule you until you fall off, or run out of time, po-go-ing.Then you have to be unpleasant to every one around you, and when the episode is over, you climb into the van, slam the door, and get nagged by your parent, or minder, all the way home. Real good fun ay. So which branch of the sport would you choose? Manufacturers will wake up when it is too late???
To set up any new enterprise in the present monetary situation is a risk, even one building small volume bikes. and if you delve into setting up a workshop capable of producing these bikes, you would be amazed at how much it will cost. If you did go ahead, how many bikes or frames would you sell? and at our age, ay Ron, would we want the hassle. It is a nice thought though.
Jon Bliss was one of the works riders at "Saracen" perhaps he could get,interested? and he is up and running. one of the Chinese motors would fit in a treat, and they ent half built well now a days (the engines that is).
Is ten and a half inch ground clearance not enough for you then OTF?
I am so glad you have found the "Trials Central" web site, as YOU are a part of trials history,
Keep watching and posting on the site, as I am sure you can provide us with information and photos about your- Saracen's and other makes of trials bikes of the time, I have an "Off Road Review " with a good three or four page history about Saracen, most interesting.
Isn't it about time we updated to the electronic age, and used small computers/phones. for observing. I'm sure some one should look into this area, as I think the technology is in place to try this?
Yea, thanks for that Johny, must check and see if I have a screw loose!!!!
My Boots just keep on getting more comfortable, I have doped them with saddle oil a couple of times, and they have started to take on a new retro look, that could become fashionable. One thing I might say is that we should find out if, when they eventually die, we can replace them with the same. Are they making another batch?
Looks like a really original bike, You should be able to turn this into a trials bike quite easily.
You may need wheel rims,tyres, new footrest positions, change the fork yokes, and detune the engine, fit a head with smaller inlet port, and a smaller carb, gear it down on the back sprocket, I am sure the gear ratios will be OK for a start.I would fit PVL ignition as well.
Firstly, Wow, not some interest in chairs, At Last, Ay Andy.
Robin, It would be good if we could have some close up pictures of your, or someone else's sidecar, as with the ACU dimensions,I'm sure we could work things out from these two elements.
Mine is for fitting to a British bike a BSA, I have built a replica Kendall chair for our Ariel, but his is only for show. so I am fitting a competitive chair to the BSA and fitting a 300 cc engine. I have until March to build it so need to get a move on.
PS, good luck to you Guy's in the US with your projects.
When I did my apprenticeship a long time ago, One of the guy's at work had a brand new HT3. In-fact all the guy's bar one had four stroke trials bikes and this is how I got into the game originally. If you started work at Youngs Garage in Banbury on the agricultural side, you ended up riding a trials bike. There was more work done on these bikes, than there was working on tractors. Happy Days.
Anyway back to the plot, Roy Steel's Ariel HT3 was used on most practise sesions, So I got to ride it quite a lot. He got criticized for not buying a HT5 for as has been said there was not that much difference in the price. Roy always said he had made the right choice, and it is not until now owning a few HT5's that I think he was right, because the power was always that bit softer, and I think found more grip.
If Sam had have rode one,there would have been a lot more sold. Incidentally the HT 3 had the single sided 7inch front BSA type brake fitted as standard.
I have been told that this is a good sorce of bends, but you will need to TIG weld them with stainless wire. www.ojzengineering.co.uk/product.php?product=13
I too could do with some information about, who builds, trials sidecars? Does every one build them to the ACU spesification ETC? I agree with you guy's there is not much information forthcoming about the sidecar scene, some of them must have a computor, with the law of averages. Perhaps Robin can put us right?
Regards Charlie,
PS Still looking for Ray Rounds, BSA Victor Outfit.
Well if it is a Panther, well done for getting it back out of the shed. I would gear it down as much as I could. If it has a Burman box you could probably go down a couple of teeth on that, I would use the 17 engine sprocket and even think about a bigger back wheel sprocket. Well done again for getting the old bike back out.
Well after being promised a pair of "SuperDuper" trial boots, just like his, by my good old bruv. Just before I desperately needed a pair,(and I was a bit crafty, as I had already bought a pair of Askews, as a stand by). He dumped a pair of "Diadora Muds" at my feet still with the address from a Geeser that had sold them to him, off of e-Bay. Well I was disgruntled to say the least, and refused to even look at the boots for over a month, Then one morning it was really wet, and I had the duty to walk the dog across our vast estate,well a couple of fields!! so with me wellies in the other car, I forced my self to step into this pair of boots.
Urm. nice fit I thought, and the toggles are easy to use, I bet the ble*ders leak, cos most trials boots do.Well I was jumping into puddles just like a kid to test the theroy. But they would not let in water. And do you know the more I have warn them the more comfy they get. Now they may not be proper trials boots, but you try taking these off of me now. The Askews are sat dejected in the corner of the back kitchen, just hoping for a outing.And I am still priming the Bruv for the pair of "SuperDupers" he promised me.But would not probably wear them.
I have promised Natalie James, that I will try and find her father Derek, and late uncle Ray's Ex works BSA Victor sidecar outfit.
This is the one built firstly and ridden by Arthur Pullman.
Derek has recently got involved again with the classic trials scene and spent the weekend with us at Stoneleigh, and enjoyed it immensely.
He can not remember who bought the bike from the Round's but thinks they may have been local to the midlands. If any of you, Have any information or have, or can remember this outfit, in shall we say from the eighties, or know if it is still about today, Natalie and myself would be more than interested in meeting up with the plot again. It was a works bike, and I am collating information about the BSA Competition Department.
For information about the trial look on the website.
If you are referring to Steve Saunders, No, he did not make it to the trial, has he could not get away from a prior engagement,although he tried.
He sent me an apology and said that he will defiantly ride next year, and would have this, if he had been invited earlier.
Now that a lot more people know of the shows existence, it may not be has difficult to contact people.
I am sure that anyone that tried the new format Express trial will spread the word on how much fun they had riding the event. And don't forget, this event was put on to encourage people to take up Classic Trials Riding and to put the "Fun" element back into riding a trials bike.
What is classic trials ?
in Classic Trials
Posted
Hi Guy's.
Hi OTF.
Near enough spot on. Like you say most of it is the attitude of today's youth, in a throw away world, no respect, for there machine, if it is not brand new.(With all the added glitter).No respect, for other peoples property, No respect for the people who have put on the event for there pleasure? And most are in and out of the sport within a couple of years. The lads(lasses) with the right attitude, usually spend time, trying to update a older machine. and It is these Guy's who will eventually move on to the more social atmosphere of twin-shocks/ pre65, events.
Or would probably save up and buy, a proper trials bike with a seat if they were available. And events for new machines with twin shock absorbers at the rear????? were catered for. and were available.Sporting trials they were once named!!! [Manufacturers take note], you need to put a "Sporting Trials Bike" into your next catalogue.
Regards Charlie.