alan_nc

Hey, it's not a bad schedule. Most of us....with a little driving..... can get to enough events to qualify in our class. I am glad they are able to put on this many events. Alan

Had the same problem within the past month. Thought I was going to either break the flywheel or the puller. Several days of penetrating oil and banging the puller didn't work. Ended up heating the shaft with a torch. As mentioned , it really came off with a bang and came flying. Nothing seems to be hurt- I'm now riding the bike again. Watch the heat, I worried about the seals. Alan

Has anyone ever seen any differences between the specification on the front forks on 74 and 75 TY250s? Reason I ask: I have an early 74 and a very late 74 (possibly 75) and there seems to be an angle difference between the two bikes (the early bike has a steeper rake - tire nearer frame). I have look carefully at the welds and it doesn't look like anything has been altered, nothing bent. The down tubes and all of the other parts seem to be the same. Thanks in advance. Alan

I'm not sure that this will do you much good but..... I use 110 leaded gas in my Sherpa T. This is a gas that auto racers and small airplanes use so it is available most places. I really think that there is no reason to not use regular petrol from the pump. Alan

Well, as the owner of a couple of TY250's and a Model 92 Sherpa T, I would sure go for the TY first. The Bul is a great bike and a ball to ride but (at least I) have not been able to make it a "first kick starter" all the time. That becomes a real issue in a Trial. Mine is an older model so it is a bit heavy. Sure has all the power you would ever need. The TY's are tame, start 1st kick every time, seem to have no problems and I have been able to get any parts I want either used off Ebay or new from several suppliers. Also parts for the TY are much less expensive. My .02 Alan

It really is funny how people view the price of a motorcycle. I have a Model 92 Sherpa T (350/well 326cc). I had it on craigslist and when I suggested $1,500 all interest would die. This is a good clean bike that I have ridden in a Trial this year and is ready to ride. Oh, well it doesn't take up much space in the garage. Alan

U.S. Ebay has a 350 Sherpa T listed right now. Probably should go with this bike. Less than 500 miles, never had a wrench put to it, chain never adjusted. My grandmother never had any kids either...... Alan

You can email your comments to Ed Peacock. He is the Trials coordinator. I really think Ed would like to add more "classes". The AHRMA Board is something of an roadblock on just about anything. You might want to follow things here: http://www.vintagebikeracing.com/ Not trying to start a fight here.... I'm a AMA and AHRMA member. Alan

Great Video. Thanks for sharing. Alan

There is a AHRMA event near Gainsville each year (See Daytona - not really there). It's in a MX park which "I think" is open all year. You should be able to ride there. Alan

Pardon an "off-topic" question from a Yank. Do your Trials in the UK require that bikes be registered? Alan

I agree that AHRMA is not headed in that direction.... although I would think they would want any bike/rider they could get. You might check in at the ITSA and STRA sites. Our local club (CVOTC) will let you ride anything - they won't give you a special class for it (you would be riding against modern bikes) but you sure can ride ....and we would welcome you. Alan

Has the problem been solved? I haven't heard anyone mention spraying WD40 around the carb boot and then around the crank seals. Quick, simple way to see if the rubber parts are no longer doing their thing. Alan

On a '74 TY240 there are 3 coils inside the mag. Only one (I guess) feeds the spark, other two for lights. Is there any reason to leave the lighting coils inside a "non-lights" Trials only bike? Second question: what is 434-81332-10-00 PLATE, TIMING since there is no adjustment to the timing what does this plate do? Thanks Alan

I am rewiring a '74 TY250. It still had the original wires (several leading nowhere). On most bikes with a condenser inside the flywheel I relocate it to somewhere near the coil under the gas tank (Bultaco, BSA Bantam). Is there any reason that I "should not" do this on the TY? Theory is that it gets less heat/water/oil and won't break down as quickly. Thanks Alan

O.K., I'll bite: I have never heard of a TY125. What did I miss? Years? Number built? Alan

Doug, I don't think BSA ever made any Trials Specific Bikes. There are quite a few Bantams used in Trials and the B25's are also used. Just me, but I would think the 441 would be a bit heavy for good Trials work. The frame would need to be altered to allow a better turning radius and you probably would want more ground clearance. Someone here may be able to tell you if the swingarm will allow a modern Trials Tire. The Bantam won't (you either need to use a Cub swingarm or modify the Bantam unit). The later Cub's seem to work quite well in Trials and don't require much modification. Good luck with whatever project you decide on. Alan

You are probably already doing this but I "bed" the brakes to the hub. I chalk the mounted shoes and with the wheel off the bike rotate the hub in the wheel applying the brakes with the lever. Sand down the parts where the chalk is missing. Usually repeat the process 4 or 5 times before I am getting pretty much full contact between the shoe and the hub. Also take a dremel tool and grind 3 grooves in each shoe to move water away. Hate to do it but also remove the wheel and brakes, clean and replace, if I ride in a muddy or wet trial. Alan

Tony, Thanks. It is going to make it tough next year. Our local group has gone AMA for (I understand) insurance and overall advertising and coverage. We have not, but now for sure, could not host an AHRMA event. I have stayed out of the arguments, but for the sake of Vintage competition, either AHRMA and the AMA need to kiss and make up or AMA needs to start a strong Vintage program. We are the ones who want to compete - guess we need to do something about it. Alan

Guys, I'm really not anti-AHRMA and am glad that the events are still going on. Can you give any insight to why AHRMA was dropped from the events? I had hoped to ride enough AHRMA events next year to be a contender, might be tough to find that many events. Alan

Any Press is good Press? Well if you have your latest issue of Vintage Views you see the cover is a Trials scene. I got excited .....until I read the article and Ed's notes. I know that Mid-O going away was a blow to AHRMA and the Jeep School Trial was put together quickly but "HOW MANY RIDERS"? Then you read Ed's comments and find that two of the final events have been cancelled. Don't really think any of this is good news for Trials. Alan

Frankie, The wheel I'm using is a WM2x18 and it will fit a 4"x18" with no problem. I'm using an 80 tooth rear sprocket and a 14 tooth front (would go to 13 if I could find one). Pulls O.K., but runs out of steam if it's a long hill. I'm running the standard 3 speed trans, never use anything but 1st in sections. Let me know if I can help with any questions. Alan

Frankie, I did not have to move the engine to line things up. I am using a stock rim from a '66 Cub (don't know which wm that is). Someone else may know the answer to this: Will the 18x4 tyre fit on both style of rim? I thought the 4" dimension was to wide for one of them. The real problem I had (still have) is foot peg position and mounting. I use the bracket for mounting rear pegs and have re-drilled it for my 'rider' pegs. I have cut and re-welded the rear portion of the frame (under the seat) so that you can stand on the bike without standing bow-legged. The bike I use is a numbers matching '59, but I have mounted a '65 gas tank as they are much narrower. They really are fun to ride. As far as we can tell there are only 2 of us in the USA that compete/have competed on Bantams. Alan

Frankie, If you are going to use a "real" Trials tire you will need to go to a Cub swingarm. They give you about 7/8" more room. It's a direct bolt on, no cutting or grinding - just push the pin out and put the new one in place. Once I had gone to the Cub swingarm I went ahead and used the Cub rear wheel/hub/brake. It isn't a problem lining it up but I sure can't tell you what the exact offset is. Alan

I truly don't know if it is growing or shrinking - our club has had slightly lower attendance this year but that is due to many factors. The comments on bike availability; Would seem that a manufacturer could make a bike that would use one of their stock engines (maybe some minor modifications at the dealership), a stock frame that with some minor mods (used on several bikes) and make a Trials bike available. The Yamaha TY series did a pretty good job of that. I would think some modern version of that could be worked out. It really would be nice to be able to go into a dealership and pickup a part. Might also give us some better 'club' support and national publicity. Taking the time to create a 'fair' Novice line is also a big item. Most of the club events that I have ridden in only give lip service to a Novice line. I rode with the experts in our last Trial (just because of numbers) and learned more in one Trial than I have in the past couple of years of riding. The guys took the time to show me my line, when to clutch or brake, and where I needed to be body-wise on the bike. Well, we are talking to the choir here, we are all going to continue riding anyway. Alan