old trials fanatic

I rest my case re "service" i think the weight of opinion is coming down on the "could deffinately do much much better" side. Geoff Bungay of Mainly Spanish used to be a Miller employee and has some very interesting tales to tell. I wont repeat them here as it's between Geoff and Sam but i find Goeff a genuine bloke of the old skool so feel the tales have creedence. Anyway the topic was about SM levers which are particularly poor quality i agree but anybody who reads this forum who now buys them should be well aware of their shortcomings Everybody has their favourite suppliers and i feel good service should be both mentioned and rewarded. Criticism should be noted and taken as a chance to "change your act" and instead excel. Lets face it couldnt get much worse on an interpersonal skills level at SM mansions could it? Sammy Miller fulfills a definate need in what is basically a minority sport as not everybody has the oportunity to drop into their local dealer for parts for our bikes. I see nothing wrong in voicing an opinion, which after all is all it can ever be, highlighting poor service as long as you also balance this by extolling when you receive good service. We should all use our considerable power as consumers and vote with our feet so to speak. Re the levers as i said before if nobody bought them he wouldnt sell them. If nobody patronised Sammy Millers he would ask why and rectify the situation, take that last statement with a very large pinch of Irish salt as 38yrs of dealing with him on and off has taught me otherwise but then again it is Easter a time of redemption? , hopefully maybe. The positive things to come out of this are: 1) Dont buy Sammy Millers levers. 2) Remember only tighten any levers enough so that they dont move in use only when they are hit. They should only spin round when you give them a good slap 3) When you get good service tell them and remember to tell others. 4) When you get poor service tell them and remember to tell others. 5) No matter what you may think at the end of the day you only get what you pay for. Enjoy your trialling this Easter and remember there are worse things happening in the world than breaking one of Mr Grumpys cheepo levers.

Two things my old man once said to me. "Manners especially in business costs nothing" and "The world doesnt owe you a living. Nobody has to buy anything from you." Always remembered that. My previous comments were based on trading with SHM for 38 years. I have bought his SM levers twice. Both times they broke when the bike was droped in a trial. Both times the levers snaped clean and the "metal" showed an obvious crystaline structure. They were very very difficult to weld even using TiG. My welding friend worked for Rolls Royce Aero and did know his stuff. However i do not "blame" Sam he is a businessman as i stated before. His levers are sold on price however i quote from his 2006 catalogue page 10 "SM levers: these are one of our top sellers. A strong lever with a two piece clamp. They are available with black or white blades and spare blades are available seperately." The only levers he sells where he states "they are very forgiving and bend rather than break." are the Amal ones. By the way the spare blades are just as bad as the complete levers. Wonder how many spare levers they sell? Perhaps they are also "one of our best sellers". A trials bike by it's very nature will be dropped or fall over. I think you are now aware of the shortcomings of SM levers. The mans trials sucesses speak for themselves and i did not comment on them nor did i comment on his museum or his business empire. Good Luck to him. I personally choose to shop elsewhere whenever possible based on my personal dealings with him in the past. I agree his turn round and delivery is usually good but his and some of his staffs telephone manner would not be in line with current tele sales training proceedures shall i say. Before you ask i work in a National telephone sales operation. In the end you pays your money and takes your choice especially when it comes to who you spend it with. Anecdotal advice on this board is only meant to help others hopefully not make the mistakes we had to learn from. There are old fashioned, when it comes to friendly service, dealers out there you can choose to shop with them or not. Please however do not try to spin or re interpret my previous posting. Legs youre probably right mate.

Just a sidestand, 340 frontpipe mine has a small dent in it and a kickstart as mine is rather past it's best and Dave Renham only has the replica kickstarts which are not the same as the 340 one and 325 frontpipes. He doesnt have any side stands either. If you have either please let me know. Thanks

I think we need to remember that we are talking about a "Sport" here not Gladiatorial Combat. Of course a rider should have the option of taking a penalty if he feels the potential for injury is unaceptable. TRIALS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUN FOR CHRISTS SAKE!!!! It's ok if Daddy is paying for the new parts on the bike or that you are not old enough, or wise enough, yet to recognise your limitations but this should always be at the riders discretion. Perhaps the point is should organisers be laying out sections that are obviously "deangerous" ? I dont mean impassable due to weather, slippy mud etc. I mean BIG drops and Massive rock steps you all know the sort of thing. That sort of thing nearly killed off trials completely not so long age and it's hartening to see that some organisers have seen the light at last. Some sense of progression is needed again. Closed to Club trials should not present obsticles as hard as Restricted or Open to Centre trials which should not present obsticles as difficult as Nationals. Surely that makes sense? Riders would then enter the events that best suited their ability. Hopefully the situation would then not arrise where the rider felt he needed to request a five? However as stated before the option must always be there for the rider to choose. I wouldnt want the responsability for a rider ending up injured or worse paralysed because i had "forced" him to attempt an obsticle which could be deemed as dangerous. I think the organisers should have a long hard think about the trials they set out and not set them out because "so and so will be here and we have to take marks off him" SOD HIM if he doesnt like it then HE can go elsewhere. I would be more concerned that the majority of the entry had a good fun day out on their bikes. If that means somebody wins on 0 or 1 mark so what? Just look at the rest of the scores and the faces at the end of the trial to see if you got it right. Just my humble opinion and i appologise for the length of my post but i do feel very strongly about this

Miller levers have always been like that. Amazes me people still buy them from him. Suppose knowing Sammy if they bent instead of breaking he wouldnt sell them as no repeat business. If youve ever been to his place and been "served" by him you will know what i mean. Could tell you a few stories but wont. I always use Trialsbits.co.uk if i can as at least Amanda trys to give good prompt service and her prices are competitive and she's always polite. Even when i have a rant. Then again i am a Grumpy Old Man.

Mr Dabster so you've got a sidestand. Do you want to flog it?

Looks like a "Bitza" mostly 340 frame etc, earlier exhaust tailpipe could be a 340 or a 325 engine hard to tell from a piccy. Brake and gearlever swaped over but thats just rider preference using earlier parts again. Guess somebody has found a source of old parts or has had some "remade" but not all as 199B. Wish i could get a front pipe, genuine 340, for mine as only 325 ones seem available withought getting one made using mine as a pattern. Same with side stand.

Thanks for that. They dont know what the forks going on with all that swapping around. Just combining all the best bits thats all. Will try a lighter grade and up the qty as you suggest. Daft question but do i get some 5W oil and mix in equal parts with 10W, which i already have, to get 7.5W

Generaly speaking ACU wise it works like this. You join a club and you can then ride at their events if trials are Closed to Club level. The club membership also then entitles you to ride at other Clubs events in the same center at Restricted to Centre or Open to Center events. You can also ride at National Events. Once you have joined a Club the ACU require you have a Competition License which is obtained by sending the ACU an application for Competition License form signed by a club, of which you are a member, official. The license lasts for a year renewable Jan 1st. You can then enter events organised by other clubs in your center status as above. If you wish to ride "out of center" then unless it's a National you will have to join a Club in the center that you then wish to ride in. Your Competition License is valid anywhere in the UK. Hope that make some kind of sense? Most clubs have a day license facility where you can ride the first time while your application form is in the post so to speak. Some clubs turn a blind eye but there can be serious problems if you have an accident of injure somebody else as you wont be covered by the event insurance. AMCA clubs are a bit different. You dont "NEED" a license but entry fees are cheeper for license holders. Plus i think if you are a member of one AMCA club you can ride in other AMCA clubs events. Just talk to the Club secretary of the club you fancy. Get the address from the ACU website where you can also download License application forms. Good luck and enjoy your trials. The above sounds a lot worse than it actually is and you only do the license thing once.

Well not actually Betor fork oil but oil in Betor forks Swapped the bits around in the shed the other day between the Sherpa 340 and the BSA B40 trials special. I'd bought some forks off flea bay NOS and have put the stantions in the Sherpa and the Sherpa ones in the BSA B40 which has OSSA sliders as the ones originally in the B40 were marked. All bits swapped over no problem as they are both Betor and now i can put the old parts back on flea bay to recoup some of me money So just thought i would ask: What fork oil do you guys use? Haynes recommends SAE10w but gives 150cc and 180cc in two different parts of the manual, typical Haynes I'm 14 stone of rippling flab and like a soft feel to the forks. Should i use SAE 10 fork oil and is 150cc or 180cc best or do you have any better recommendations? Just fitted new seals and the springs measure 475mm. Thanks in anticipation

OOh err that is different and i must say probably the neatest Bultaco front pipe i've ever seen Love to know the history of this bike. Keep us informed. Where did you get it from?

I came across this site when i was looking for some piccys of an Alta Suzuki for a friend who has never heard of one. http://www.eurospares.com/newadd.htm Theres a hell of a lot of stuff on the site but some very interesting old photos that might just be of interest to any trials fans of the trials bikes and personalities of yesteryear. Peter Gaunts BSA side valve trials special for instance Anyway just thought it might be of interest to somebody

Yeah very very nice. Obviously very trick without being "in yer face" just how i like em

Whats the barrel off? Might be my eyesight but the exhaust port looks to be on the left instead of the right. If so definately a "special". Frame looks fairly standard as much as you can see from a photo but would like to know if it's my eyes or that barrel looks like it came off "something" else. Any chance of a close up? My 340 is much softer on the power delivery than my old 325. Suits me as i'm pretty crap and getting on a bit. Wonder why Dave Renham doesnt market a "Comerfords Conversion Kit"

Oi i have it checked regularly along with me exhaust Havent had or seen a bike "scrutineered" for a while though. Not even for class elegibility Probably worried it might put some riders off and we need every one that we can get at the moment for events to stay financialy viable. Do think it's a bit pointless having it in the ACU book if it's not being done though. Ball ended levers still complete with balls and kill switches on ALL bikes i would have thought a must.

Ossa yokes are fine just thinking of trying to find some with less offset to shorten the wheelbase a bit further. Dont fancy cuting and rewelding the frame as it's OiF. Been trying to weld the "Universal Tensioner" but dong know what the metal is but it's soft and it dont weld very well so once i have all alignment done will have to make one from scratch. Also going to have to get a spring made as all the std ones are the "wrong" hand. Do wish i could just leave things alone Good luck with the cub saw one recently with Montesa cota yokes. Seemed to work well enough and they are a lot cheeper than alloy billet ones.

Glad you are both happy with your frames. I think i just got a very bad one. Must have annoyed Howard at some time or another. Most other people i have met seem happy with them so it must be me or mine. Did wonder at one bloke on Sunday though. "Ahh Howard does good welding eh" err perhaps he does perhaps he doesnt but i dont think he actually builds them and apart from that mine was braized not welded? Whatever. Havent got an oil filter fitted. Couldnt think of where to put one to be honest. Like dirtrider i will be changeing my oil regularly after every other event. Oils cheep enough anyway. Got one of those magnetic sump plugs but havent fitted it yet. Too busy buggering about with chain tensioners, footrests, oil leaks, front forks and trying to source a pair of yokes with less offset. Never ending isnt it. Oh well all part of the R & D process. To be honest i'm just a fussy old bugger who likes fettling. Never satisfied. Well if youre crap at riding what else is there. If you fit a filter post a piccy.

Thanks for the comments also the compliment twinshockdude your bike always looks well trick and very professional. Grasped the angle grinder and mig welder with both hands and the chain tensioner is now mounted on the swing arm. Also double checking the sprocket alignment. One thing i did find on inspection was that the chain could catch the bolt mounting the chain tensioner when it was fitted in its original place. Especially when going from a closed throttle descent straight onto the throttle again for a climb or rock step. There seems to be very little clearence on my swing arm and i've had to modify quite a lot of bits and pieces on the frame along the way. Footrests are also being moved this weekend. Will have to wait and see what it's like with the tensioner moved. May not have been the problem but it's now got a much better mounting so watch this space. All in all i've not been too impressed with the quality of the Faber frame. Perhaps mine is a Friday after a good session down the pub one? It came covered in flux around the brazings, rear spindle lug one side 16mm the other 17mm, silencer bracket incorectly positioned etc. I've also had to weld on brackets for the chain guard, new frames have them now. Slim down the area around the brake plate as the Cub one would not fit unless i did. Remove and refit the silencer mounting plate. Fit a lug for a side stand. I gave up on the spindle lug and have had a special spindle made 17mm one end and 16mm the other. I just hope the James frame, not Faber, will be made to a much much higher standard. Same thing can be said of the Faber frames for the Cub. Very poor compared to the Macdonald frame. Oh well cest la vie. All part of the fun so they tell me. Hopefully will give it a try out at Clifton next month. Even if i dont finish theres no better test than an actual trial. Just got to get a licence now. Bugger more expense.

Any good engineering firm should be able to. I bought my PVL from Alan Whitton direct. I'm amazed that people sell the rotors without broaching them You could give Alan a ring on 01246 419805 but i know he's very busy at the moment with people wanting stuff doing for the Scottish. He's also doing some stuff for me so get in the queue Who did you buy the PVL from if you dont mind me asking Perhaps you should ring them and point out that the rotor has no keyway. It should have otherwise the rotor could move insitu and upset the timing If you do use Alan or an engineering firm then make sure you clearly mark TDC on the rotor so that the keyway can be accurately machined. Good luck.

OK took the B40 for it's first run today up at Burrycliffe. Didnt enter as this was the first time the bike has actually moved under it's own power, well if you dont count 20 yds down the drive, and as of 10:00 last night i had just finished the airfilter. So had a little ride around before the trial, observed a section to help out, then had a little ride after. Actually i was quite surprised as it wasnt that bad all things considered, oil leak from the front fork seals also the rocker spindles and chain case but nothing some silicone wont cure. The chain did jump off once however and after talking to a couple of guys with Faber framed B40's they said the chain tensioner being fixed to the frame not the swinging arm wouldnt work that well especially over rocks. So looks like the Mig welders coming out tomorrow night but thought i would ask the assembled multitudes opinion first. So guys anybody modified the chain tensioner mounting or have any experience of where you should mount one?

"Keeping the rotor in place while you tighten the nut is a real challenge. How did you stop yours from rotating on the shaft?" Err i know it's a bit obvious bit i used the woodruff key I assume the person you bought the PVL off had already slotted the rotor?

Thanks for the explanation surely placing a rock in front of an obsticle to make it easier to ride over has GOT to be cheating Perhaps with a little more effort you could build a ramp like the Egyptians did to build the pyramids? My own slant on all this is that clubs struggle to find land suitable to hold a trial on. When they find some land they organbise an event and lay out suitable sections for the type of bikes and riders they hope to attract. You use whatever is available on land which is a shrinking resource anyway. A lot of terrain is not suitable now as the bikes have got that good that there are not obsticles sufficiently tough enough to test them. Then the riders are allowed to make the section easier? Surely the natural evolution of all this is ever bigger and more dangerous sections that are then "modified" by the riders that then need "minders" to further make the sections easier so their hero's can ride them and are there to catch the bike should the "hero" loose control because the sections are so dangerous Err someone should make a stand. Remember back in the dark ages before most of you were born taking part in "time and observation trials" a regular feature in this centre. Also time limits were much tighter than now. You only had time for a cursory look to see where the section went then you rode it. Otherwise you went OTL. Sections could then be made slightly easier with more choices of line, wider, seemed to work. Just a thought but if you have a choice of lines and less time then you havent got time or the inclination to "roadbuild" This idea of "kickers" just seems wrong to me. But then again IKBA with honors

"Let me guess. Bonsall quarry section 9." Damn i've been rumbled. Must get a new disguise. Enjoyied meself on Sunday. You do get a different viewpoint when observing. Just found it interesting to watch the way some riders reccy a section. As long as people arent too blatant i see it as part of the sport. Not strictly legit but always been there. Just makes me laugh, inside as some of them are bigger than me, how some guys take a good old swing with the boot whilst others seem to shuffle their way through. Wasnt having a go at anybody in particular but do agree with most of the comments. It has always amazed me how some of the "names" get away with it. Dont know about "kickers" for logs though. Perhaps i'm too old for that Wonder if my opinion will change when i'm back on the bike and suddenly start "shuffleing" myself Also true that i dont think it made much difference to the section in question as most got through with cleans all day or just the odd couple of marks lost, mostly a dab or two, if you got off line. Then again i'm biased as i have always liked sections like that. Ones that reward precision every lap. Dont know if i'll say that either when the bikes finished. Looking forward to getting back in the groove and the club in question seemed a nice bunch and sections were testing but not bike breakers. Probably wont say that when i get back riding.

Probably not the right forum for this but i like the clientelle here I was observing on Sunday at a Pre 65 classic trial as the bike isnt finished yet got nothing to ride so thought i would help out by observing. You know Classic Trials the ones with the relatively easy sections. I was amazed, probably shouldnt be, by the number of riders who seemed to think it ok to blatantly kick, uproot and generally remove rocks from the section. When i jokingly asked one of them "Do you work for Tarmac Roadstone" as i admired his roadbuilding technique all i got was "no but that rocks loose". Ya dont say!! I pointed out that if him and his mate teamed together they could probably inadvertantly "trip" over the rock step that was causing such concern and "being loose" that might just roll out the section also. Now am i being naieve here. Always remember Dave Thorpe being one of the worst for this back in the dark ages when i used to ride. He could have turned a rocky stream bed into a patio with water feature with one kick of his boot. But i didnt expect it to be so blatant still. So what is acceptable obsticle removing technique and what isnt. To me i've always thought it cheating. I know cheating doesnt matter in the modern world in which we live but the sections were pretty easy anyway, not that that should make any difference in principle. Just wondered what the concensus was.

Noticed a clean MAR just sold on e bay and a Woodie was the winner. You bought another one Woodie?