fullchoke

Hi Dave, South of Portland, rural. Been here since 1962. Secure here too, but not liking the population growth so much....traffic. My Dad used to say "where are all these people going"! A certain % of the population is always going somewhere. It is just that population base is growing faster all the time. I'm thinking of moving farther out, now that I'm retired. I've got a 1987 D-50, but with the auto trans. Was one of those Air Force D-50's. Has all of the junk you removed. Mileage doesn't come close to yours. Never will with the auto either. Greg

What are your tricks for getting that kind of mileage from your D-50? Thanks

If low down torque was absent that would be a major problem in slow going. I didn't think about that big issue with a MX bike... I should have considered the powerband, if it comes on quickly, not so good for Trials, but probably ok for trail riding, if geared down in those years. Later MX bikes were ported for HP, and hard to handle even on a MX track. I saw a few trying the steep hills, I used to ride, back in the 70's and early 80's, and once they fell off the pipe they were done instantly. Once in a while you saw parts coming down the hill.

Do people ride the early Challengers in Classic Trials? They were a light 250 bike in their time, and with a big sprocket, I was wondering how they might work with that leading link front suspension. Bars might be a bit wide, but that can be changed. Greeves may have built a better Trials bike in 1964, but the Challenger seems like it could be good... with a few changes. What do you guys think? Thanks

Thanks for the reply. All of my research has been done online. I remember reading somewhere in my earliest research that not many of the AJS 500cc Trials machines were made. That is the only reference to them I could find. Since the Trials bike wasn't listed in factory brochures as a bike sold to the general public, I've been trying to find out more about the Competition Dept. Of course if a customer bought a Scrambler and wanted to turn it into a Trials bike, that could be done, and it sounds like your book is recommending that not be done. Are you thinking the Competition Dept made some? But they weren't a good option, because of those drawbacks? The bike I have is definitely a Trials bike. If it was factory made is what I'm trying to determine. I have counted 52 teeth on the rear sprocket. It has had a sprocket of a few teeth less, because it has 2 masterlinks very close together. I find this a bit unusual, because a customer making his own adjustments is unlikely to experiment with only a few links differences to make minor adjustments. The gearbox has M1173 stamped on it. I don't know if the "M" could signify a model or be the serial #. It is stamped like a serial number. I would like to know what that number could mean. The gas tank is painted red, it looks like a re-paint. The underside has 2 cutouts welded in, which I find a little odd, as other bikes have the panels that run around the backbone stamped out to make clearance requirements, to save time and effort. This tank also has no scrapes or dents, like it was run carefully at slow trials speeds. The frame number is stamped vertically, and facing the engine on the frame post under the seat. Which is not a standard location, from what I can find. The number is 7528c. I really appreciate any help, and thoughts, on this bike.

I'm in the US, Oregon to be exact. I'm not sure about the rules here, but I think they may be followed closer to preserve the historical nature of the bikes and Trials riding back in the day. As a spectator, you see a class event like Pre-65, and you take it at face value, I would think that interest could be lost, by both rider and spectator, if the classes are in name only. There needs to be definition. In motorcross the AHRMA doesn't allow some Pre-65 built bikes to be run in the Pre-65 class, they must be run in the Pre-68 class, if they are deemed to modern, even if original. Their handbook is large, you can see it online. I get the impression it is used, but I don't race so I don't know how close it is followed.

Here is a slightly different perspective.... This is my 1st post outside of the Introduction thread. I have never been a Observed Trials rider. I have never had a bike built as a Trials bike. I now have acquired a 1957 AJS 18CS that is set up for Trials. It has probably been that way since 1964. I enjoy looking at vintage bikes in a static display, watching, and hearing them perform would be even better. As a spectator, I would be interested in the bike.... not so much the rider. If I'm watching a vintage pre-65 event I would expect to be seeing pre-65 bikes, not a modern bike made to look pre-65. I would not expect the bike to be factory original, but I would expect the major parts to be made before 1965. When I 1st began riding off road, we would strip all the street parts and pieces off to reduce weight, and to improve performance 1st, and prevent breakage 2nd. Then we would customize, with bars, tires, maybe seat, etc. As long as the customized changes were pre-65 in a pre-65 class, I see no problem, in fact as a spectator I would expect it, as long as it maintained the pre-65 look and function. As far as cheating goes....I find it difficult to understand. How good can you feel with your performance, when you know you cheated? At the same time nobody should accuse someone else of cheating if they are following the rules. My 2 cents, Thanks

Hello, Being my 1st post here, I should talk about my trials bike. Unfortunately, I may not have one. At least an original factory built example. I have a 1957 AJS 18CS. It doesn't run yet. I have asked all this over on the AJS site. If the Competition Dept at AJS ever built a 500cc Trials. It seems from factory literature (brochure) they weren't offered. I haven't gotten a definite answer yet. I thought I would ask the question here as this is a Trials dedicated site where the AJS site is not as much about Trials. A lot of my searching for Trials info has brought me here. Some of the old timers here may remember, one way or another if a 1957 AJS 18CS was ever factory built in Trials form? I never started conscientiously collecting motorcycles, but I seldom ever sold any either, so I have a few, but no Trials machines. I would really like this machine to be a Trials example and be my 1st. It looks the part, but I don't know if it was customized or not. I fairly sure it has been the way it is since 1964. I have all the info and some pictures over on the AJS forum. Hopefully this post will reach more people with more ideas on the subject. So far the only mention of a Competition Model 18CS Trials bike is that they were rare. I appreciate any help and interest! Thanks