NoTraction

There were some lovely bikes there…. I suppose I just said Bantam because they usually look the most ‘trick’, Draytons etc, so thought they were most likely to feel a bit more modern like the Fantic…. It’s a bit of a minefield with the old bikes unless you’re clued up. To be fair, I’d love a well sorted Cub or C15 but that would be nothing like the Fantic so getting off topic a bit…

The difficult but is educating yourself on what’s good and worth having and what’s unsuitable. I’ve been looking and it’s a bit of a minefield if you don’t know what you’re looking at..

Thanks Rich, What’s the BMCA British series, I don’t know that one? I’m going off at a tangent now but I rode my Fantic at a Golden Valley Classic and Twinshock trial the other week on their Clubman route and had a great time, a day full of ‘real motorbikes’ but those trials are few and far between. I do like that I can ‘do more’ on the modern bike but it’s all rev and squirt and lacks charm. And although I love the Fantic I’m thinking there is more variety and more of a ‘scene’ for the pre 65 bikes. I’d love a Cub but with other trials bikes I’ve found that I get on better with two strokes, hence wondering about a Bantam. Interestingly, (or stupidly), I didn’t realise my Fantic had a reed valve!…. And the brakes, which I keep on top of, are no problem at all…. Guess I need to try and get a ride on one..

This might be an odd question to ask but there’s a reason… I bought a Fantic 200 last year (been riding modern bikes for a while) and it’s a cracking bike to ride, and always puts a smile on my face. The only thing is that at my level it doesn’t really fit anywhere in the local trials I ride. I ride Sportsman and easier Clubman/middle routes on the modern bike. I also have friends who ride pre 65 bikes. Where I’m coming from is that there isn’t really a class I can ride in competitively at my level as Twinshock class always seems to follow the Middle/Clubman route which is often beyond me on a modern bike let alone the Fantic whereas pre 65 always has an ‘easy’ (Sportsman route) and a ‘hard’ (Clubman/middle route). There is always a good few chaps riding pre 65 bikes on the easy route. If I want to ride the Fantic it has to be in Sportsman against modern bikes really as there is rarely an ‘easy Twinshock route’. I know score isn’t everything but it’s nice to try to compete in your class. I’m not a young bloke and I don’t bounce so well these days so Middle route on a Twinshock is not really for me… So the question is, how would a well sorted Bantam compare to the Fantic? I guess the fact they are twin shocked and 2 stroke might be where any similarity ends but my thinking is that if I rode one of those at least there would be a specific class I’m capable of riding in to a reasonable standard. Can anyone advise on this?

I bought a pair from Saunders Extreme for my TRS Reiger, they were only about £20 from memory. Would they be the same?

So... mines 2018. I'll need to look up the part numbers from then. Definitely different on new ones as you say 👍

I see you didn't get a huge response to this, but how did you end up? I'm just going through the same process with my 4Ride which I'm planning on fitting a 4rt kit to (tank, plastics etc) for giggles and kicks....

Thanks - as is always the way, a curve ball has been thrown in. Someone has just emailed and asked if I would like to trade the Harley for a Trials spec Tiger Cub! The head says uh-oh, the heart says ‘where do I sign’!

That’s brilliant 🤣

I’m looking a buying a classic trials bike of some description. Unfortunately, when it comes to motorbikes, I love everything! I’ve been riding trials for about a year on modern bikes and have become fairly addicted so I’m flogging my classic Harley as it now languishes in the corner and want to sample some classic trials bikes. So I’m just wondering if there are any particular brands or bikes out there to avoid due to inherent or unfixable issues, I guess I’ll be looking at SWM’s, Fantics, TY’s and the like from the early 80’s. Love the style of SWM’s but know nothing about them otherwise. No idea what the difference is between front kick and rear kick Fantics (200 I think?). Like the look of Bultaco’s but I rode a mid 70’s Sherpa and didn’t take to it at all, rattly old bag of bones I thought. Might just have been that particular bike! Really like the look of the TLR Hondas but again, are they imports that are hard to get parts for? So just trying to find info generally on the older bikes and what might work best and what to avoid. If anyone could point me in the right direction I’d be grateful, thanks.

So I’m told - it’s frustrating, I’ve had all sorts of bikes over the last 40 years and when I was told there was a learning curve to starting them I thought it was probably a load of tosh - how wrong I was! Still, only had it a week. I’m sure it will come! Wish it would come quicker though, how hard can it be!

I’m having frustrations starting my ‘21 TXT 250. Obviously not as much compression but still a bit random to start. I guess this would work the same? Makes you wonder why they don’t build something into the design to make them start easier!

So I had a bit of practice on my mates today. Think I got it nailed! 👍

I'm practicing tomorrow with a mate whose got one (TXT 250 Racing) so I'll have a bit of a session with it and see how I get on. I've been spoiled starting wise with the Beta, 1st kick every kick whether its a positive kick or a lame half prod - apart from when its been on its side or upside down then its a bitch.... (usually somewhere awkward...!). 😉

Thanks, that’s reassuring! Loved riding the 250 👌🏻