jon v8

I dont think its worth putting too much emphasis on the weight of the bike.Picking the trials you ride is more important,doing difficult or wet trials where grip is a problem is only going to tire you.Having a day off to observe would be a sensible choice then... On the odd occassions that I have ridden modern pogo sticks I've found them hard work in terms of bu--ering off as soon as you think about the throttle,pulling your arms out of the sockets.Then they squeeze you back together with brakes that make your eyeballs drop out.What I'm saying is they are difficult to dribble along on,with the clutch out in the "classic" style.As a contrast my old TY250 twinshock just wobbles along with a soft old pudding of an engine - but will find grip where there is none and steers well enough to go around obstacles with the clutch fully out.(Has cleaned many climbs where mono's have failed) Keeping your feet up and not struggling is key to not tiring yourself out,start jumping around and yanking on the bars or footing and you will soon be knackered.

Certainly have,thankfully most of those cars have been scrapped now.But the new ones have even more inventive and expensive ways of failng.....

May to December is a long time - seems fair enough to name the company/individual concerned - Let other forum members make up their own mind.Afterall,trials is a small community,most people have enough knowledge and or contacts to make up their own mind. I run a small garage repairing Land Rover products,and have done for many years.One of the things you learn from this is that whatever you do,you will never satisfy all of the people all of the time,even if you gave a 100% refund with every job you did for them.You also realise that for those small minded types, there are many,many more who are reasonable and appreciate that the world is not yet square.Those individuals are the ones who will come back and have repeat work done,30 years on I still try my best and many come back.A shyster will gain a poor reputation - quickly.Bring it on I say.

Cant possibly answer this without giving a biased reply - Sorry. (But any of the Ty's or a 200 Fanny would be a good start.)

Well done,enjoy it.Get used to it then do some trials on it.(You can also join us in the unofficial TC early Cota owners club...)

Just received my new gears from Mick - I'd just like to say they look absolutely 100% top notch,cant wait to get the box built back up so I can try it out with a decent choice of ratios.The quality of machining is second to none.

From memory its chrome - I had a 1987 241 which sent most of the hard facing of the crank pin around the motor after 18 months use from new.... After that I had a Ty250r - unbreakable.

I think the problem you will have is boredom if you buy a bike like the Bultaco.The local green lanes will not challenge you or the bike anything like enough.Once you get used to a "proper" trials bike - even an old twinshock one,you will need more than a greenlane to challenge your skills.Only by riding a trial that someone else has marked out will you then progress.On your own you will only do what you are comfy with - a classic trial will take your enjoyment to a different level.

Looks like you are doing well enough with the Enfield. If you actually want to compete in classic trials the Bultaco would be ideal,the Fantic less so because there are fewer choices of events where air cooled mono's are catered for.The other thing I would say is dont get too hung up on the purchase price,even doing your own spannering the cost of doing up a cheap runner can be more than one thats ready to go. Joining local clubs to you and watching a few events is the best way to get the feel of what to do,observing is an even better way - amazing how much you can pick up there.Classic trials tends to be very friendly - many riders just going along for a day out and a good laugh,and are happy to answer questions. Dont give up on the Enfield though,with more mods you could make that into something very capable.

For really wet,cold trials I wear nitrile workshop gloves under my standard Hebo trials gloves.Works really well,cos the nitrile gloves are waterproof and binable.So I can take two or three pairs as they can rip when you take them off.Plenty of feel and good grip.

I dont think I'd bother,if the TS motor is not enough for you there is plenty you can do to get more from them,a 270 or 320 upgrade with a lighter flywheel is the way most go.Then there are the electronic ignition kits with built in advance,Dellorto carbs - then you could go for a modded exhaust system. Its not going to be many years before enough people get so fed up with modern pogo sticks that the air cooled mono class becomes as popular as twinshock is now.Then the Yam mono will regain its favour,probably rocket in price and be the one to have.Time marches on and air cooled monos were where alot of people started. I cant say too much though,because I've nearly finished putting an xt225 motor in a TY175 frame.But that was for a different reason,I wanted to see what it would be like to have a four stroke alternative to a Honda which Yamaha never did....

Its a shame we had to cancel,but it was the right decision,I've just spoken to the landowner and its still running wet there.I've got no plans to put in a trial till our next one in March,I've got too much going on.If any club members want to do anything they need to get in touch and we will see what we can fit in.

Unfortunately we have had to cancel our trial at Emborough Ponds on sunday. The ground including the car parking field are badly waterlogged.Please pass on to anyone you know who was planning to join us.Thank you.

Christmas is close.... Or just order them and dont tell her !

Bin them,and get some Falcons,Rockshocks or NJB's.

Get on and have a go - a mate of mine put an XL250 engine into a small wheel KX80 frame.... Lots of cutting and welding,but was great fun around the farm ! As long as you dont lose the basic geometry of the frame I cant see that it matters too much.Obviously a unit Beezer motor is going to be heavier than a 200 Fanny - but its for fun,so it wont matter. Must get around to finishing my TY/Serow project,drinking less on a monday night might help.

Wot yer sayin ? Down yer we all speak proper...

I'm getting this for Christmas; http://www.bvm-parts.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=123_28_55&product_id=1627 Just need to get up there to try one on.... Very kind of my wife and kids !

I went out practicing on my Ty250 yesterday - first time I've ridden properly for months as I've concentrated on riding my AJS all year.(Not ridden that since the Guy Fawkes trial,so very rusty) A mate came along on his recently aquired Scorpa 125 4t, now I know the Scorpa is only a 125 but I thought its would be miles more capable than my old nail... Ok the brakes worked properly and the rear suspension was much better,but I was suprised how well the older bike compared,esp in how well mine steers and grips - nowhere did the modern bike find grip that mine couldnt. In the old quarry where I play there is a very steep hillclimb,much steeper than anything I've ever seen in a classic trial.It follows a short steep drop,so no chance for a run up.You just have to rely on pickup from nothing,which the TY did in second with no problem at all.The Scorpa also did it in second but ran out of steam and needed a dab at the top to help it over the crest. One last thing I would mention,on the video that Andy put up of Mick on the 320 - those original tail pipes always make them sound horrible and flat,they sound 100% better with the alloy WES type system on them. PS, We got VERY wet yesterday.....

There is something wrong with your bike,probably a worn carb making it go lean when you whack the throttle open.Its never going to be a 300 Fantic,(246cc)but then most people found them too much and prefered the 212cc engine in the 240.Despite what people are saying about removing or trimming the flywheel weight,I removed mine and had problems with stalling it.Made even worse when I started using my HT on a regular basis -which is ridden just on the throttle.I ended up putting the weight back on and now can rely on a dependable motor that will really lug down low and give grip where most others - including modern bikes, really struggle.

Most riders "think" they need instant mega power - in truth if you learn to trust that it will do the same thing each time you open the throttle,you will realise it will do anything you want.Leave the clutch alone and concentrate on steering it - you will become a much better,smoother rider.Twinshock trials should be laid out without monster steps/climbs etc - they are for modern bikes.

I dont know what layout your bike has,but I had a similar problem on a TDR250 Yamaha which was caused by the o rings which sealed the float needle seat into the carb body shrinking.I think this type of float seat is only on later carbs,does your float seat screw into the carb body ?

Back when they were new most people tried to calm them down - not make more power... Making them smoother with more base gaskets,and fiddling with carb settings was the norm.Changing the clutch plates for CB125 ones and lengthening the clutch arm was also popular. Despite it being a very pretty bike,it was not easy to ride,the 200 was much better - I went back to a TY250r Yam,which was better in every respect except looks.

My view is that its a case of putting on trials that riders want,with sections that dont scare them / kill them off ! Thing is all these classes have a lifespan,at the moment my club is enjoying good entries,with the team doing all we can to keep the sections welcoming to rigid and pre unit bikes.It seems to be working,with good numbers of old bikes.But you have to realise that the riders get older as well as the bikes and riders are less daring the older they get. My club has recently decided to have a twinshock class at its scrambles meetings,something they put off for a long time.But they now need to do it to get the entries back up.If thats what it needs to keep the meeting viable it has to be. If I had to add an AC mono class to Bath Classic to keep it going, I'd just get on and do it.But for now we are fine - Riding old bikes for fun is what its all about.

Nowt wrong with a TY80 - I would have chewed my arm off for one when I was a kid...