mike rapley

ProClean is the answer, about 6 quid a bottle, fantastic stuff.

I'm on my fifth Mont and have never yet run out of gas anywhere. Pull high gears and kill the engine waiting at sections and it'll run forever on a tankful. I reckon the consumption is better than my 125 Scorpa four stroke, that just drinks fuel.

Not a bad trial but almost every section was a double subber - makes it easier to get observers I know, but oop north we go for single subbers most of the time, that way you get 40 sections, not 20.

Me thinks Trialero13 is probably Carles Casas, hi Carles, many times the best foreign rider in the Scottish, see you in May in the West End car park, Fort William

Definitely no leaking tank, just a fat rider and big handfuls.

From Mike Rapley - The exhaust mod is easy - strip the exhaust pipe by drilling off two pop rivets at the header pipe end, pull out the guts which is a perforated tube with a large sheet of fibre glass wrapped around it. Grind off the heads of the four steel rods then punch them out. Replace the packing round the perforated tube and put it all back together and pop rivet it. Only snag is I bet you can't get all the packing back in. I had to lose about a five inch strip, the whole job takes about an hour plus tea break. It's a bit noisier but certainly seems to help it. This tip came from Peter Gaunt who the older ones amongst you will know has a history of small bike development from when I was a kid with the Gaunt Suzuki and the Gaunt Jawa. The other guy riding a Scorpa in the DK Mansell was my mate Ephy Wilson. The guy who reckons it will run all day on a sniff of an oily rag isn't giving it big enough handfuls. I reckon mine is thirsty. I used two full tanks in the Mansell and was on reserve for the last mile. Haven't done anything with the bash plate, but I think it's a good idea. Before I bought mine, I rode Martin CRosswaite's bike in last year's Peak trial and his had extensions welded to the bash plate. Got a Cleveland entry this Sunday but I shall be on the Mont, so the Bootle trial is still the next outing on the Scorpa.

Have been reading the stuff you guys write about the Scorpa four stroke. Here's my bit. Most of you will have heard of me and may know I've had a 125 four stroke for a couple of months. I'm doing the ACU Classic series on it. Mods to date - change the bars to Renthals, footrests to Hebo, lengthen clutch arm by 35mm but YOU MUST ALSO ADJUST THE CLUTCH BEHIND THE COVER - it makes all the difference. The clutch is fine, doesn't need hydraulics or anything. Have taken out the four steel rods in the perforated tube in the exhaust, this opens it out and provides a bit of extra zip. Not good on big hills but second is OK to use with a bit of a run up and bottom on everything else. Have backed off the rear spring a full turn, improves grip and put forks through yokes 10mm, stops it oversteering. Front forks my need sorting with different oil, they are not the best, but OK Have had a Veteran club trial win and whilst it's not as competitive as my Montesa, it's great to ride, people look at it and it's different. Don't know about uprating the motor above 150cc or so, it's a bit like throwing cash at something that's not worth it. Why worry about the rear mudguard, can you see it when you are riding it? I've seen one with a 250 airbox/mudguard grafted on and it looks a mess, don't bother. Next time out - Bootle on March 21, Welsh Trophy early April, Hooper Trial late April, see it then and decide yourself. At the end of the day, they have to be ridden, it's as simple as that.