jon v8

I bought a couple of lots of Castrol arrows in the last few years,they are not cheap....(Or the steel pins to put them on) Just looked through all my notes and cant find the contact numbers.From memory it was a separate merchandising company,it certainly wasn't direct from Burmah Castrol in Swindon. If you get stuck their customer service number is 1300 554 890 if their webpage is still current.

Its no problem - I just get a loan off Moneybags Breffitt ! He is CONSIDERABLY richer than yow !

V power has ethanol... I've been having problems with fuel for about 18 months,it wrecked the fibreglass tank on my Yam and I've had to drain the float chamber on all my bikes before each trial.Keep finding water globules in there caused stalling on the Yam and my Ajay spits at me. The Aspen fuel is ethanol free so I'll give it a go,it even smells totally different. Seen any results from yesterday ?

Yer too late Ken, Stevo has just bought one,was in bits on Ebay. I know what you mean though,those Velo motors are Gas Gas slim,make a cracking bike. That all alloy MOV engine must be quite light, I was talking to the new owner,it has had a long history of being used around the Stroud area. Just picked up some Aspen fuel for my Ajay,going to try it out at the Talmag...

Do a bit of observing - watch how the better riders go through the sections,there are many variations on style,but its amazing how much you can pick up from it.You can also watch the bikes closely,see how much the suspension works at certain points.I rode a trial today where most riders were having problems just into the last section on a left hand bend around a hazel bush.The markers gave plenty of room to go right out and back in - setting you up for the next part of the section.By going too close to the hazel they then were too tight to the next tree on the right.Very simple mistake,but many were making it. Don't give up - Learn !

My programme turned up in the post,and I've phoned and changed class.I realise I should have entered class D,not B ?

The spring clip on my AJS is fitted on the inside face,thats how it was when I bought it,so I decided to keep it that way as it clearly works. See you at the Talmag if I've got an entry - not heard anything yet...

Last one was supposed to be 11am,but we got going at 10.30 cos it was cold and people wanted to get on... I'm not going,but if I was I'd plan on a 10.30 start.

I received a stainless steel front pipe from SM products yesterday, fits very well,much better than the chrome one it will replace.(SM one from about 2005/6)

Interesting thread,at a new years eve party I was trying to explain to someone what I do as a hobby...Most peoples eyes glaze over when you say "No,its not Motocross" but this person remained interested so I went on to explain that Classic trials is a minority pastime and I ride a rigid bike which is even less popular. So my question is how many rigid bike riders are there ? My guesstimate is that there is 100 or less in the UK,and what about twinshock riders ?

Just a thought,Ebay may not be the best way.Did your Father in law not have biking friends locally ? We try to keep bikes or parts local to the area or club if possible,saves all the fees and postage costs.When I was trials sec to Bath Classic I used advertise members bikes on our website and in the club mag.It was nearly always successful and both parties were happy.

Its true,and whilst we all like to moan about this and that,it doesn't matter if you ride a girder forked rigid, framed concrete mixer or a 2014 Gas Gas - there is plenty of choice in trials to ride.We need to realise this and do all we can to help it continue...

Nothing,my dad built most of their house with a cement mixer powered by a side valve mk10...

Excellent choice Andy,I'll be off early as rigids get sent off first.Hopefully I'll do better than last year as I had the early stages of bronchitis,shouldnt have been riding really... Catch up with you fer a natter at the end ?

I've put my entry in too,what bike are you riding it on ?

So whats this ? Pre-Talmag practice..... Unfair advantage methinks,glad you ride in the springer class ! Glenn,forget the Cub - unless you want to stick it in a glass case on display, a C15 or B40 is much better.

Ken, you bin sniffing the cork again.... Remember the gun is loaded ! What happened on the last lap at Cowcombe ?

Seeing as its been a bit quiet on here over the festive break I thought I'd stick up a pic of some of the bits I've collected for my new Ariel.The BTH mag has already found a home on my AJS for now,along with the new carb from Surrey Cycles... The hubs and fork yokes from Alan Whitton are pure art - almost a shame to stick them on a bike that's going to get filthy.John Bartram is building a frame and swinging arm and then the build will start...

Maybe closed loop is a bit OTT for a trials bike,but you are wrong about it doing nothing for performance.It need have nothing to do with maintaining Stoich either,wideband sensors could be a great help with valve problems mentioned earlier.Being able to accurately hold mixture at 12.5/1, air / fuel for max power without the risk of lean mixtures along with a knock sensor could make the motor last a lot longer.

Merry Christmas,I've just opened the first bottle....

Seem to remember the 4.1's had a 3 speed box aswell. I had great fun with a brand new Fairmont on a trip to kal back in 1991,the rental company said sealed roads only.I took it back covered covered in red dust,they didn't say a word,I would have happily paid a cleaning/fixup fee - we had great fun ! Mick Andrews would easily cope with the poor handling of a Concertina with his bike on the back,pure talent on a bike - 4 wayward wheels wouldn't make him blink...

The simple fact is fuel injection is way better than carbs can ever be.The trouble is there has to be a compromise on development costs,price of parts and design life etc.In my work world of Land Rover products EFI transformed the Rover V8 engine and made it run properly.The current crop of Ford/Jag/LR v8's have engine management so accurate you could never imagine a carb being in the same universe.Power,driveability and emissions are all excellent,and its extremely reliable. Trouble is with bikes is that they don't have the same R and D budgets,if they did and emissions laws were applied to bikes in the same way that cars are - we would have said goodbye to carbs long ago. Most resistance to EFI is like anything else,a lack of understanding,once you learn how it works is actually very simple and easier to work with than carbs.This is because generally you can view live data to see what is actually going on.I wonder how long it will be before Honda use wideband oxygen sensors on their 4rt - that would take the whole thing on a large step...

Dunno what all the fuss is about - real trials bikes don't have rear suspension... My tip is to get someone to video you riding over rough ground,you can then see exactly how well its working and alter it to suit.Its amazing when I'm observing how many bikes I see where the suspension is virtually solid - they had just as well join me in the rigid class for all the good its doing...

This is the engine in my Ajay, its a real mishmash of parts,even the crankcases were not a pair.The crank is a 1955 road version which I had balanced to 62%.Barrel is an Alfin which has been messed around with,stud centres altered etc.Head is bog standard as far as I know,but not its age.The piston is an Aussie JP one which has had material removed from inside the crown to reduce weight and the pin bored for the same reason.The piston was also coated in a modern high tech low friction material which works very well. Its running a 626 Amal MK1,one of the premium range.I've just replaced the Lucas racing mag with a new BTH electronic one as an experiment.After a lot of fiddling around to get the timing right it is really proving how good it is in terms of a strong and accurate spark.The engine has never run so well... Its not cheap or easy to build a proper bike engine,and you get told a lot of rubbish along the way,spend the time and the money - be prepared to experiment and you end up with a lovely bit of kit.So satisfying to ride,and listen to.

About 25 years ago my neighbour had a 325 which ran like a chaffcutter. I realised that the carb on my new Fantic would go straight on to the inlet rubber.Without any adjustment at all it completely transformed the bike. A worn carb goes in the bin - simple as that,its no good for a rider who actually wants to compete.I've said this many times - the biggest thing with a trials engine is that it responds cleanly each and every time you open the throttle,you have to be able to trust it.A new carb will respond to tuning and along with all the other bits and pieces you need to have in place,make the engine run properly.