jon v8

I find that a decent hangover from the night before is the best way to start,then several cups of tea and a bacon roll to go on with.Yesterday was a bit on the warm side so a quick break for a drink after the second lap was in order.

Well thanks to one of our club members,(Thanks Alan) I now have another 247 Mont.This time an early Mk2,complete less the tank/seat unit.it still has the steel yokes,not had much time to check it out,but apparently it runs well,alll gears and clutch work well etc. So, i now have everything I need to build my early MK1 up,the biggest cost I think will be paint. Its not going to happen for a while as I have other projects in the queue,but its there in stock,ready to be done. Trouble is I rode my "new" AJS rigid today at our Bath trial,what a bit of kit ! needs a little carb fiddling,but I can see why they were such a favourite back in the day.Even on the first ride its easier and steers better than my Ariel.such good fun the twinshock projects may have to wait awhile....

Yep, Stacey and son too.Excellent service.

The other thing to do is to chat to people at your local club trial,in the last 2 years I've bought at least 4 bikes that were just offered to me.None were as expensive as you see advertised.

My Ty250,nothing special - at all,but possibly the most reliable and honest bike I have ever ridden.The term "Does what it says on the tin" could have been written for it. Because of its relative low value, I doubt I will ever sell it.

You could try Paul at; http://www.cottonvil...o.uk/index.html

I'd try a set of Falcons on there,I recently put a pair on my HT5 - really pleased with them.That they can be completly rebuilt and their length altered really appeals to me too.

Have you looked at the spark when the engine is hot enough to play up ? It could also be an air leak causing a weak mixture or even a tight tappet. Those Electrex world units have a very good reputation - but there can always be an exception.

Here you go,Montesa must have thought the front end was too light to have specced yokes as heavy as that !

Martin,that Mont was looking very smart,it was a suprise to see it.Once I get all my British scrap and the Yams sorted I'll get onto sorting my Mk1 out.Most of the cycle parts should be easy enough,all that worries me is things like getting a rod kit and piston etc.I guess I should slowly start amassing bits for it.I notice mine is a bit different to Greeves bike,mine has steel fork yokes and the first part of the exhaust was chromed. I just looked through all the pics my son took at the trial last week,sadly there are none of you or I would post it up or mail it to you.Shame I couldnt get to ride my "new" Ajs.... the sections felt good when we tested them on saturday. The joys of running an event eh ?

I've been given Mick Ash's number so I might give him a ring,but I've also got a sniff on some original wide ratio gears,I'll maybe find out at our charity trial on sunday,(Plug,plug ! ) what they are likely to be condition/cost wise.

As part of my refurb / upgrade project on my HT I want to sort out the gear ratios. It currently has a standard GB road box,which has been made low geared enough with a large rear sprocket and small engine one.But although first is fine,second is too big a jump - then third and top are all done by about 25mph ! So looking at what was originally supplied as a wide ratio box i now know what I need to change.Knowing that the 4 individual cogs,(Mainshaft sleeve,2nd gear mainshaft - then the two layshaft gears they mesh with) are like hens teeth,I wondered about the new ones that were around little while ago.(Why didnt I just buy them then ? ) Are they the same tooth count as the original trials sets or have they gone even lower ? And who was it that did them ?

Its called a Yamaha Serow.

Try this place; http://www.saftek.co.uk/vintage/index.htm They have done some linings for a 1924 Humber car I was doing for a customer,they seem to be able to make exactly what you want. Or there is also; http://villiersservices.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=146 Not used them so cant comment,Saftek did what they said they would,quickly and a good job.

My farmer mates had a 348 Cota back in "the day" when I had a Beamish.Now my memory is not perfect,but the Mont seemed to be alot more hassle to keep going and the clutch was always a pain.My TY250's seem loads better than how I remember my RL,esp in how they steer and grip. So my money would go on a TY - anyday,they are very easy to keep on form.

Mine were either £128 or £138,cant remember.The reason you cant get them next day is that they keep all the parts in stock and build to order in batches,so from ordering you have to wait till they do the next trials batch.What I thought was very good is that they reckon they can rebuild or repair ANY shock they have ever made with parts from stock - I like that mentality. You can also alter the length of them by screwing on different length ends.Mine took around ten days to arrive from ordering.

Falcon - transformed my HT5. Cheap too.(And rebuildable)

I voted - but its a secret ballot,so I'm saying nowt but the fact there are some very nice bikes to choose from - not just from one maker either.

I will do something with it,I just need more time.... It seems they have a loyal following,and were obviously successful at the time.I'm going to try to get the original reg number back with the help of the VMCC,bit of a shame they dont seem to have a Montesa specialist listed.I have been to the Wiltshire records office and found its original listing in the VRO book. The bike,although a bit rusty from spending years parked in a garden is complete and from what I can gather almost 100% original,so well worth saving.

We should start a MK1 Cota owners club.... The one I have is a big hub one with frame and engine number 21m1241 - I think,its a long time since I looked at it.The reg number is about 15 or 20 away from the one that "Sparky" Telling rode in the Scottish. Its basically complete,but is way down my list of projects.

I've just bought a slimline Majesty style tank for a TY250 project from Craig Mawlem at Majesty Yamaha - its a work of art and no more expensive than other alloy tanks I've seen for sale recently.

We often find it hard to get enough observers,as already said you cant force people to do it - we are all volunteers after all.We give a meal voucher to our observers and I have taken hot drinks out to observers on occassion when its been really cold. I rode for 20 odd years before putting anything back so I cant complain if people dont want to help out.The only thing I would say is that for riders who want to up their game there is nothing like observing to build a picture of how the better riders approach a difficult section. Touble is closed to club trials are often 3-4 hrs long,its a long time to hang around in the cold/wind/rain with no heating or loo facilities.....

Welcome to the forum,I was very tempted by your products when I spoke to you at Telford - they look very smart,maybe a bit later on when more cash finds its way to me......

The other nice thing about Falcons is that they can rebuild from stock any shock they have ever made.You can also alter the length of them to use on a different bike. Unusual nowadays to be able to repair stuff,shame other stuff doesnt follow the Rockshock / Falcon example.

I wouldnt worry too much about blowing the seals on Betor shocks,the ones on my TY250 blew within months of buying the bike - they were new when I bought it.My lardy frame may have been too much for them,but I have to say they work better now than when new,(Far too stiff) but the new Falcons I have on my Ariel are very plush in comparison.Plus the Falcons are completely rebuildable/repairable,I wont be bothering to try fixing the Betors...