jon v8

Its true that I make the point that we dont have awards with Bath Classic - it does mean that as organisers we dont have to worry about trick bikes and accusations of cheating etc.BUT it does not mean there is no competition,the results go in TMX and up on our website etc,etc. Actually we had a conversation at Telford on Sat where we talked about our own private competitions we have often just in our own minds.The ones where we work out which riders are of similar abilities and ride in the same class - so we pitch ourselves against them.I've done this ever since I started competing 27 years ago. So there is competition there and LOTS of banter,mickey taking etc.All part of a fun day out,which is what we are trying to do.I was pestered last night at our club meet to write a report for our mag,part of this will be to reiterate my statements about keeping the sections sensible,to encourage older bikes out again.I firmly beleive that the majority of the problem is in marking out trials where you need a trick bike to get around.We all have our different ideas about what is good and bad in terms of bikes,I like to see bikes that show signs of having worked hard in their basically original form. I also didnt realise how much people like to see big old bikes being used.Last summer we ran a trials demo at a local steam rally,which was well received.I took one of my Yams and my HT5,and it was very noticable how I could ride around the sections on my Yam and people would be watching.But fire up my Ariel and have a blat round and the crowd would double.... The other thing we did was to try out each others bikes over the weekend,which was good - but nobody wanted to ride my HT ! (It was the only pre-unit bike there) So clearly 99% of this is about perception,here in the South West there are still plenty of mostly original Pre 65 bikes being regularly ridden - along with some very trick stuff too. I dont think there is a single right or wrong answer,I'm just glad that around me there are plenty of trials to ride amongst similar minded riders.

Bit of practice.....

The drive home was 'Interesting', glad I was in my 185,000m Discovery with decent AT tyres... we saw plenty of bashed up cars on the westbound M54,and several people overtook us on the way back to Brum.We chose to stick to about 22mph in the slow lane, I think there may have been a few oppertunities for you at the show Wayne,seeing the poor quality and high prices on offer at a few of the stands....

Yep,he was fine - no prob,happy to chat.Must have been my charm - my Mum,(Top lady,my Mum) reckons I should work for the UN as I have a 'way' with words.I think its her polite Mumsy way of saying I'm full of sh-t !!

Well I was about

Thats odd,compared to how I found him yesterday - had a very pleasant chat about the new bike.Even after I had made it fairly clear that it was old bikes I'm interested in.

This is what yer need - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Egt1Hq4wpE See you at Telford.

Come and ride Bath,Somerton Classic or Golden Valley,big bikes are catered for - and welcomed.

I think - and its only MY opinion,that you can fiddle around with classes,argue about eligabilty etc forever.BUT Twinshock trials must surely be the cheapest form of motorsport by a country mile.So the first point is,what does anyone expect to spend ? I'm told that fishing or say clay shooting can cost thousands,wheras trials bikes are slowly going up in value.So if you dont like it after a few trials,chances are you will only lose the cost of the fuel to get there and the entry fee's. My club,Bath Classic MCC does not have any awards,you can look at that two ways,first off it means there are no rows about using this or that on a particular bike.Secondly nobody much has ever moaned about no silverwork,a couple have suggested that a B route cup would encourage the novice riders to try harder.From a personal point of view I dont think it matters,I just like reading through the results and seeing who has beaten me or if I've trashed them.(And I think we all work out who we are similar to in terms of ability and judge ourselves against them - even if we never admit it.) I think its ALL down to marking out - put on trials that people wont find intimidating,esp the novice or clubman route.And making sure that newcomers are welcomed and helped.We try our best make sure people are included,and join in the banter during the trial,cheer them when they have a good ride or help if they are struggling.A few gentle words of encouragment esp with machine prep,tyres too hard,cant get grip etc. Nearly every trial we run I get returning or novice riders phoning and asking if they can ride and what they need to take part.Its very nice to be able to tell them how little they need,bike,helmet,boots and 12/

Yea, I was there alright - I was robbed ! given a five on S2 for the third lap - should have been a clean,a one and a clean.Made no odds,the only other ugly git in my class didnt finish.And I just opened the results for last weekends VMCC trial,I beat him there too !(He is just rubbish and I have no shame in mocking him horribly - at any oppertunity) Spawtydawg was there too at the GV trial,but I didnt get to natter to him either.I spent most of the trial playing with the pilot air screw to get it spot on.(Supplied by Billetparts.co.uk) Be interesting to see what tempts me at Telford,I've just found a brand new pair of shocks that will do what I'm after trying on my Ht,forgot I had them - so thats one less thing to buy.

Interesting method for jacking the back end up.

Yea, it needs something.... Poor old thing is still going,just done a Golden Valley on it today.People seem to like seeing it around,ask lots of questions about it - but its nothing special,just an old shed. The piggybank is going to Telford with me so who knows what I might come back with.

What ? You were not there to see what I got up to on holiday in France,my wife disowned me....

I too tried the Borat mankini,but the colour clashed badly with my wig - and my false boobies kept falling out.

I think modern,cheap technology has alot to do with youngsters not being involved in older pursuits.My 13 yr old son is too busy making HDF films and uploading them onto You Tube to want to help me fix my bikes.... A couple of hundred quids worth of kit and he was away.(Plus kids seem to be born with IT skills in them now) That and the education system that makes children feel that unless they go to Uni and get a degree they are a failure.(Forget the

Sorry,maybe next year.Riding Golden Valley instead.

Sorry,cant help with a new one,but I saw one,(Fibreglass)on Sunday with a big hole in it....

Well I had a good chat with John Shirt this afternoon,he was VERY interesting to talk to and happily answered all my questions.The big one being about the head angle - was it changed or not.As Samyam said the angle was not altered,so the one I'm repairing has been altered by someone else.When you check it over carefully its quite obvious it was done intentionally,not just bent in a fall etc.(So "That" article is clearly wrong) John also discussed with me in some detail about how he moved the engine up and how the front engine mounts/downtubes were changed.Its all very clear now and I know what I need to do with the jig etc. Just need to find the workshop hours to do it !

Well done - they are good bikes ! Cant help with the fork oil cos my book is at work,if no one else answers by the morning I'll look it up. Mine has run happily since 2006 on Castrol TTS at 50-1.It rattled when I first built it and is exactly the same now,but it does all I ask of it and pulls very well. I find the only problem with them is that they are so easy to ride and look after its tempting to leave my HT5 in the workshop and use the TY....

I cant see what all the fuss is about,I've just got back from a VMCC trial where I rode amongst 80 odd Brit bikes with just a handful of twinshocks.Mostly pre unit,from shed to posh,barb wire to polished billet.We all had a damn good thrash round and nobody moaned about me having modern levers on me HT. Move to the South West if you want to ride or see old bikes being used....

That Bianchi looks too nice to use - I'd have two,one to ride,one to keep.

It made me wonder seeing the

Thanks for doing that Bo - shows that yours clearly was not cut/bent/welded etc. So was the one I fixed bent and repaired or was it a 'works' modded one ? Think the best thing to do is wait and see what the main man says.

Well today I spoke to John Shirt JNR,who was very friendly and helpful.Unfortunately his father is out of the country for a while, but John JNR assured me he would be happy to answer my questions.He did say there were no documents etc and all the info is in Johns mind. He is the man who knows,so until then I'm going to keep an open mind ! P.S. Bo, could you post up a photo of the other side of the toolbox area on your Majesty and check the top tube with a straight edge ? No pressure !! See you at Golden valley on the 29th ? I'll be on my Yam as the Ariel is in dry dock.....