frenchie

Another one on ebay, not sure about the Blue rims though.. Is this the going rate for one now too...

If you fancy a weekend away try Andorra, I think im right in thinking its Tax free... When I bought some Hebo boots they were quoting 40 pct cheaper than France, but they will not post you have to collect. I did nt fancy a weekend away enough but worth investigating. If not Try Joel Correy Trial 70 speaks great English situated in Versoul. Bon Soir Frenchie..

I ve decided to keep it a 320, mainly because changing it to a 250 might just open up another can of worms........ and also in the hope that the coming seasons trials ( In France ) may get away from the tricky, tight, nagery sections and might include some big hills, mud so I can take advantage of the bigger engine. Thanks for the replys and I am on the case and hopefully I will sort it. Frenchie

I.ll let someone more technical minded than me to answer that, but mine involved more airholes/slots and a different air filter.

Hi Thanks for the responses, I run it with a mixture of 2/2.5 pct which in imperial is around 50/1 60/01 I think... using a good synthetic oil. The pick is not slow to pick up in fact its alright low down its only when I have to go up the rev range it seems to feel and sound restricted. The problem seems in my humble opinion the carb set up... and trying to get the difinitive jets. Now I know with all bikes they can be slightly different with exhausts, ignition etc but my main jet of 150 and Tony mentioning 290 seem to be a country mile apart. I will try and get a selection of jets around the 290 mark and see how we go from there. Again any other suggestions jet size or otherwise would be welcome Thanks for your help so far. Bon Soir frenchie

My Majesty is the 320 version and ever since I bought it I have always felt it could and should run better, sweeter, nicer than it does. I have been down the airbox modification route, I ve changed the carb for a new Mikuni and re jetted it, it runs on a lean petrol oil mix . In fact it recently came back to the uk for a very well respected friend to have a look at it and although its improved its still not right. Now, bearing in mind you can write on a stamp what I know about engines, it still seems weak to me and does nt have a crisp engine note or really likes to rev out. My question, is it due to the fact of the engine size and would a better bet be to reduce it back to a 250 with the appropriate jetting etc etc as the 320 is just to big to get to run riight or am I and my band of helpers missing something. Getting to the stage where it may be shown the door and a Fantic in the garage instead. The spec is pilot jet 35 main jet 150 , electronic ignition, full wes exhaust ( year old ) Any help would be really apprciated. Thanks very much. Frenchie

I have just driven a round trip of 350 kms to a trial arriving to find it cancelled due to heavy overnight rain making it unridable to the new breed of trials jockies. A modern trial with a classic class, the trial was deemed to slippery, therefore dangerous for the the top two classes of riders to attempt the sections riding under the new modern rules, also concern was given as between the sections it was too muddy there for, the all in one suits might not stand up to it and the rads might get blocked. If you had non stop rules the sections could have been eased and the trial would possibly gone ahead. Now this is in France, I would hope this would n t happen in the real world of trials, England , but who knows. In nearly 30 years of trialing the tail is now wagging the dog. Pretty p....ed off. Frenchie

Great looking Ariel, agree with Charlie, surely these are the bikes that people wish to see at the big events , and its a shame that the trend is now towards lightweight twostroke twinshock lookalikes. Someones very lucky having that in their garage. Bon Soir Frenchie.

Bonjour, Do you really need the extra power that a 500 adds. A well sorted 350 is more than capable of holding its own in todays Pre 65 sections. Although I do remember quite vividly, Sammy Miller looking at my recently constructed Ariel at the Talmag one year and commenting rather disparaging when he saw it was only a 350. Bon Chance Frenchie

Try Stuart Brown at Bps engeneering, email ..msm.bb@wanadoo.fr He does some sherco replica foot rests that should bolt straight on. Hope it helps.

Across the channel and certainly in my neck of the woods , in classic trials if you hop the front round you are penalised one mark per hop up to the max three, however even this remains a " grey area " and these marks are dependant on the obsever. I recently rode a trial with a top modern class riding I imagaine to modern observing rules, I could nt for the life of me understand it. I watched in amazement what was expected of the riders but was equally amazed at the amount of time during the section it looked like a five, but the riders seemed oblivious to this and carried on, god knows what they were given I really could n t understand the whole point of it. Being an observer in a modern trial must be a nightmare , I dont really want to get involved with whats best and so on, but a least its a whole lot easier going the non stop rule and dare I say less boring to watch.....

Do We not think that things are getting a little out of hand for the price of a new petrol tank I have recently bought a complete running 200 fantic for my son. Where is it all going to end....... To own or restore a Majesty is it a case now of cheque book trialing...........

Thanks Scrumpy jack for taking the time to post the pictures, Another variation of the chrome framed model .

I have noticed that on some recently restored 200 fantics they have what looks like a 300 seat. It looks smaller and lower, they look good can any body enlighten me..

Hi, I had a quick wobble on that same bike not long ago and reckon its winner and as good as anything on the Pre 65 scene at the moment. Contact Stuart Brown via BPS-ENG all the contact details are there, he builds the engines so he will fill you in with the info, may even build you a replica, he tells me things are a little quite at the moment...........

Riders of twinshock and Pre 65 often think that Europe is some sort of utopia for classic trials when certainly in France, it is not. It is assumed that the events here are bigger and better supported with an abundance of trials to choose from. I would suggest there is an average of one big trial per month, and this is possibly the only chance to ride a classic trials bike either pre 65 or twinshock, very very seldom do modern trials cater for the above so to ride you have to travel and thus the trials are well supported. Every weekend in England, centre trials cater for classic bikes and you can ride every week if you so wish, there is no need to travel the length and breath of the Uk just to give your bike an outing, you are almost spoilt for choice... I am not sure if this helps the present discussion but riding in France compared to England, National championships etc is not easy as the whole situation is different. Salut et Bon weekend

This is extremely boring now and possibly my last comment on the subject...but can anybody tell me apart from the " They weren t supplied as standard " why mono forks are any different in any way in any shape or form any better or worse, in fact any different from the forks and front wheel set up of any of the twinshock bikes from around 1980 onwards thus being no more than an sensible upgrade in line with the machines as previously described. Can we move on from this and perhaps find another subject far more interesting.

As an expat living in France I can only gauge the standard of classic trials from comments on here and those reports in the press that I subscribe to. However the state of classic trials in France that is referred to is something I have a informed opinion as I ride quite frequently. I would suggest baring one or two trials in France and Spain, English trials are head and shoulders above what I ride here. Granted the social side of the trial is better as usually is the weather , but the quality of the sections, considering the land avaliable, is often quite poor. The trials are usually won on very little marks lost and I often leave wondering if a 600 700 mile round trip was actually worth while. I was sent a list of results from the Phil King trial, before France I helped and marked the sections as well as riding for many years ,and in my opinion and having spoken to many friends from this centre the trial seemed to be spot on. In Spain they have more classes so yes you will not compete on a 1972 Montesa against a 1982 Majesty ( with Mono Forks ) , however these big trials are run on a business basis with entry fees for a two day trial up to 100 euros . In France its usually two routes hard and easy Pre 65, pre 80, post 80. I think you are extremely lucky to have great trials on your doorstep or within easy reach and long may it continue with the aid of people willing to take the time to do the work involved and its a thankless task getting harder....... Rule Britannia

Anybody riding a TL hHonda 125 or 250 needs all the help they can get....

I am struggling to understand why you are so adamant that Majesty's should be classed in I assume your evo class, if they have mono yamaha forks and unable to compete in the Pre 85 class. Are these forks any different, do they provide any advantage and do they look any less period , certainly if like mine have had the paint removed and polished than say Fantic, SWM late montesa and of course Honda's. I would be interested if others agree with you and if so, is it because of any advantage gained ie. Its cheating, or they prefer just to see bikes in their original state as they left the factory. Bonsoir et bon weekend.

If the rules or lack of them allow this type of machine to be ridden in a classic trial being classed as a twinshock then the rider has every right to ride then so be it. Chris Koch is a superb rider and would have possibly won the trial had he been on a Bultaco or even an Italjet as if my memory serves me correctly, he was sponsered or part sponsered on both of these if not others in the halcyon days way back when. Its about opinions, you cannot compare a Majesty with mono forks to this and anybody who does has, in my humble opinion been sniffing too much Bel ray........ Bonsoir

Fitting mono Yamaha forks to a majesty is in my opinion just a sensible upgrade to bring the bike in line with the last of the twinshock models that had these type of forks and brake fitted as standard, and most people riding majestys would stop there in the interchange of mono and twinshock parts . To the purest this may be contary to what twinshock trials is about , but to someone one looking to level the playing field its considered to be fair and reasonable. Again and this point has been laboured and discussed over the last weeks where do you draw the line. A mono yamaha engine in whatever frame is contary to the spirit of the twinshock idea, its a blatant atempt to gain advantage and pushes the morals to the extremes of what is acceptable. Most people out there know now where the limits are and clubs actively organising twinshock trials and to a certain extend riders should make this known. Modifications should welcomed and endorsed , but should be keep solely in the spirit of what twinshock trials is about. Not everybody knows what is allowed....but everybody knows whats taking the michael........... Salut

Hi Any of the last of the twinshocks are winners in the right hands. As always it comes down to personnel preference. A new majesty frame still has a motor nearly 30 years old so its hardly a new bike . The Honda' twinshocks that a lot of people lust after won bugger all in their day so it just goes to show. Im convinced if I got on my sons 200 fantic I would do just as well as on my majesty with all its bells and whistles. Just cos it shines and costs a lot don t mean it will make you a star......... Salut....

Bonsoir, Try Stuart Brown BPS-ENG.COM he makes these seat and tank units with petrol caps and seat pad, All the frenchies and spanish buy from him . Look at his web sit as above or try 0033 6 87 38 35 30 he does lots of other trick bits for the Honda as well........

I dont know if anybody is interested but the TY trials club in France is organising an event centred in Paris on the 21st june. For only TY's of any capacity from 50 cc up, there will be a grand tour of Paris taking in all the well known tourist sights and some not so well know. Bikes have to be taxed and insured ...........Remember the Tour de Effel was scaled by a JCM perhaps its time to try again. If of interest the man to contact is Christoph c.barrow@wanadoo.fr Longest wheelie down the Champs Elysees....... etc etc.. Frenchie