bigplonker

Would be grateful if you'd give contact details for entry. Unlikely to be able to enter this year but would very much like to have a go next year. Is it a tough event or about okay for the average trials wobbler? Many thanks.

No, Woodbridge or Woodfield was completely wrong. It was actually Elderfield Motorcycles (Farnham, Surrey) tel. 01252 728270. Give 'em a bell. They may be able to help.

A bright yellow. Very similar to Beamish Suzuki yellow. An enduro-type motorcycle shop just on the southern borders of Farnham in Surrey (forgotten name but I'm sure you could look them up... Woodfield or Woodbridge m/c's?), recently renovated one. They may be able to tell you the exact spec. If I remember their name I'll get back to you.

More advice please! The hot starting problem continues (no problem when engine is cool). Following on from my recent similarly titled posting... I duly purchased the second-hand JCM Motoplat red box coil thingy advertised on eBay (thanks to the person who alerted me - sorry, forgotten name). Arrived in the post yesterday. Attempted to fit it this afternoon and, as usual, failed miserably. Problem seems to be that the 'red box electric thingy' (my description) that's currently fitted under the petrol tank is somewhat different to the 'new' Motoplat one. The currently fitted one is box-shaped, doesn't have a brand name, has two male prongs (one large, one small - same as Motoplat item) plus an HT lead and a small 'built in' wire which earths (I presume) onto one of the two bolts that hold/connect the unit to the frame. The Motoplat item is cylindrical, bigger (when fitted, there's no space to get the plug cap on or off), has an HT lead and the two male prongs that fit into the female connectors, but instead of having the small 'built-in' earth(?) wire (as on the 'old' unit), it has a separate 'thickish' wire with a 'washer-type' connector at either end (one end presumably earths to frame and the other end presumably somehow connects to..., er..., dunno for sure but maybe the Motoplat unit????). I've taken a photo of both units side by side which I'll attempt to load, soon as I can, onto this Photobucket wotsit that I recently joined. My questions are typical of a gormless idiot with no mechanical knowledge whatsoever and even less knowledge about 'sparks'... 1) Is the Motoplat unit completely wrong for my JCM even though it apparently came from another JCM, albeit maybe a different model? 2) If I fit the Motoplat unit but without connecting the thicker earth(?) wire supplied, will I (and the bike, and perhaps the whole village) disappear in a puff of blue smoke the moment I kick-start the engine? 3) Have I ruined the existing unit by prising a side panel off and peering inside (curiosity y'know) to be confronted by what appeared to be a solid mass of black plastic and nothing else (surprisingly, no wires or cogs or weird little electrical thingys)? 4) Is there anywhere I could send the existing little red box thingy to get it repaired (if indeed it's malfunctioning)? (I believe someone kindly suggested earlier that Bradford Windings - or some similar name - don't have previous posting in front of me at the moment - might be able to help.) 5) Could the cause of my hot starting problem be something else entirely? 6) As the existing unit isn't a Motoplat item, what is it and where could I source another? (Have emailed the JCM's birthplace for advice but didn't understand their response due to not concentrating hard enough in French lessons at school. I think they were on about a solution costing 400 euros - about 380 quid. Pardon?) As before, any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks Wayne. I'll keep an eye on it.

Baldilocks - thanks for the offer of further info if required. Very kind. Firstly though, I'll try my hi-tech solution of bashing the mysterious red box thing under the tank with an axe and see how it goes. Failing that, I've emailed 'Trail70' out here in France (Joel Corroy's bike shop - he of JCM initials who originated the brand) to see if they can offer advice, but as my French is appalling they probably won't have understood a word of my message. Ho-hum. Interesting that you did the SSDT on one of these. I presume it got you round okay, despite your mention of weak sparks at low revs. Haven't noticed that problem with this particular bike. Mind you, I've only ridden her for about five minutes. Incidentally, the rear shock seems fine and the engine's sweet as a nut. According to the previous owner (in Cumbria) the bike's never been trialed, just trailed a bit by him and the first owner (a lady). Lack of scratches on bashplate etc. seem to confirm his story. Strangely, he never mentioned the hot-starting problem! Anyway, yes, it would be nice to get her running right again. Sadly, I know little about electrics though (which I presume is the cause of the problem).

Thanks for the advice Lee. I'll check it out.

Help! I bought a 240 JCM trials bike some time ago which appeared to work perfectly. However, I've since discovered that when the engine is hot, she's difficult, nay impossible, to start. Then when the engine cools down, she starts perfectly again. I suspect that it could be a problem with the little red box thing under the petrol tank which I think is something to do with electronic ignition perhaps??? I've thrashed her with a leafy branch, called her a few unprintable names and locked her away in solitary confinement for a few months but she still flatly refuses to behave. Any technical advice would be much appreciated. http://s605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/b...nt=P1000738.jpg

Thanks very much to everyone for all the advice, as a result of which I've been feverishly searching suggested sites (and more) for helpful info. Also, have tracked down and bought a copy of 'Trial' magazine. Now need to improve my French to understand it, but I think I'm getting the gist. Incidentally, I live near Felletin in the Creuse region so will try and pluck up the courage to phone the chap at the St Christophe club (my French on the phone is a complete embarrassment) and enquire about joining, or attending the next meeting, whenever and wherever that is. Also, just as soon as I get time (there's always a million things stopping me!), I will reply to the very helpful people who have kindly sent me informative emails. Apologies for not doing so immediately. Meanwhile, I shall continue on my steep learning curve. Thanks again.

Moved to France about a year ago and have been trying to find out if there are any twinshock trials in my area (Limousin). Have so far discovered the '3 Days of the Indre' and '4 Days of the Creuse' trials which, apparently, cater for twinshocks. BUT... I still haven't discovered anything about a rumoured twinshock trials championship series. Anyone know if such a series exists? Also, any info about joining a French trials club would be much appreciated. Have heard of a 'St. Christophe Moto Club' which is apparently near Gueret and, so I've heard, caters for twinshock trials. Apparently Charles Coutard's dad is the man who could probably provide all the answers. Anyone know how to contact him? Would be grateful for any info. "Merci beaucoup", as they say around here.

Er, just joined. So, apparently, the next step is to introduce myself... Well, I'm an old (60!) trials fart who used to wobble around in the SE Centre as a member of the Sunbeam Club, most recently on a 250 Greeves (but before that, various Bultacos, a Jim Susans HT5 Ariel, etc., etc.,). Then, last year, I emigrated to France. Having sold my Greeves before moving, I then found myself trials-bike-less for the first time in about forty years. Suddenly realising that life was hardly worth living without a trials bike, I started looking around... Spotted a mint 250 RTL Honda on French eBay going for about five grand. Tempting, but decided it was a bit pricey and it'd be a shame to wreck it in a trial. Also, I vaguely understood that there was some kind of French twinshock series. Obviously the RTL wouldn't qualify. So I eventually snapped up a mint (absolutely mint - only done 90 miles and never been trialled - lucky me!) 340 Bully from England. Again, it will be a crying shame to wreck it in a trial. But I'm prepared to do so... IF I can discover more about this rumoured French twinshock series. Anyone know anything about it? Or who to contact? Any info gratefully received. PS - Shall now attempt to add photos (just for the hell of it - and to see if this 'add photos' thingie works!) of my old Greeves and a KT250 that I rebuilt. (Just checked 'preview post' and photos don't seem to have loaded. Seems I'm as good with computers as I am with trials riding!)