ian640

Yes - around that time. I thought about it when Yamaha launched their 2WD WR450. I wonder if such a 2WD concept would offer much advantage overall in trials? I can see it being handy on slippy climbs but what about other situations? There seemed to be lots of innovation in trials bike design in the early 80s. Cheers, Ian.

Thanks to the CHG club for another great day out. Great to see the C90s at the finish (I stopped to help when one of them expired) even if a few sections missed. Entries for the Edinburgh Trial (in October) open around July if you want to try some sections in the dark.... Cheers.

I had a quick test ride on a friend's 2010 250 at the weekend and it felt very stable, light and with such a soft motor. I've been looking around for a new bike for a while and tested a few, but this one felt just so right I've gone and ordered one. I just hope it's as reliable as my last Sherco, a '99 badged as a Bultaco and bought just after the marque was re-born. My only worry is forgetting to pre-mix the fuel after a couple of years on 4Ts....it won't happen. Collect the new bike on Saturday, first trial a week on Sunday then a run around Scotland (observing) and we'll see how it goes. Feels like Xmas did 30-odd years ago. Cheers

Fuel tank breather?

1983. Recall that there was a Jumbo at the SSDT in 1982, but don't think it was ridden in the event. Great pics, more quizzes would be great

I remember the bike. I think it was a special edition launched at the same time the use of the Bultaco name and thumbs-up logo ended and the bikes became 'Shercos'. At the time I had one of the original (red) Bultaco Sherco 2.5's from the first batch, bought just before Graham Jarvis won the 99 SSDT. Perhaps Malcolm Rathmell/MRS could help if you want to obtain the graphics set.

HI, A bit off-topic, but this is related to a recent debate in the MCC (Motor Cycling Club) after a competitor entered one of our overnight LDTs on a Beta Rev-3. He finished, but won a silver medal - not the coveted gold which is often achieved on a very diverse, and unlikely, range of machinery. In the end the club decided to do nothing about it as the MCC events aren't really trail or 'classic' bike specific and are open to all. Whilst most competitors use a trail bike or old British machine, competitors on conventional trials bikes never seem to have done that well awards-wise - probably due to the comfort factor. MCC trials are generally 200 miles and often much longer in distance. The ACU rules for the trail bike championship, or at least my understanding of them, are pretty clear - a trail bike must have factory fitted passenger footrests to be eligible for the championship class. I understand the Explorer and Alpina both have this attribute. But, if you dig down deep enough to find a definitive set of rules that covers everything the result can be a rule-makers (and scrutineers) nightmare. Ultimately I can see a specific or open class for machines such as the Scorpa 'Long-Rides', Montesa 4RTs with a tank and seat unit and Bultaco Alpinas. This doesn't have to be the 'premier' or championship class and, in my opinion, is favourable to a 'no-award' policy, because it keeps LDTs open to all, and still allows them to compete for an award. And keeps the enjoyment factor - what LDTs are all about. Cheers.

Thanks - I feared it might be a minefield. Friend of mine is building a kit car and apparently he can use the reg number of the donor car because a certain percentage of it will be used in the kit car - interestingly a new chassis is being used. Not sure how the percentage is measured or if the same principle can be applied to bikes. Cheers.

Hi, If, for example, I built a Hi-Boy framed TL125 using a new SM frame and an old TL125 as the donor machine, can I register it for road use? If so what's the process? Will it have a Q plate or can it take the number of the donor bike, for example? Thanks in advance.

Fuel tank breather?

Is this really the case? Not seen any hard evidence at all that Honda are pulling the plug on trials, in fact aren't Montesa fielding a team next year? Cheers.

Hi, I'm sure your question will be answered here (sorry I can't help) but you might try the Horizons Unlimited forum for this and other questions on the TS185 as I believe a few two wheeled travellers use this robust machine for their travels. Cheers.

The Best Twinshock Ever? RTL360 IMHO. Shame you couldn't pick one up at your local Honda dealer. Surely the SWM Jumbo was the real challenger to the RTL in 1983 at least, but in my local events at the time the Fantic 200 and Montesa Cota 200 seemed to be the bikes to have. The Fantic 240 and 300 and Montesa 242 were around as well, and Armstrong 320s were popular....

Thanks, I'll try the SM ones and report back.

I've searched high and low for some plain black trials pants with no writing or graphics, but no luck. Can anyone recommend a brand or source? Thanks in advance.

Thanks. I think there's some oiled Gaernes in the pipeline.

No I don't, but I regret throwing out my Ellgren suit....

About four years ago I finally threw out a pair of Gaerne boots (not the SM ones but almost identical) that I bought in 1982 or 1983. They were still usable and I was hoping the latest Gaerne boots would be of the same standard. Currently using Sidi boots that are now starting to fall apart after four years of use - perhaps I shouldn't jetwash them....which leads to another question, what's the best way to clean boots that are well and truly plastered in mud?

Received my copy yesterday Great production on the whole. Good that it shows some of the going in between the hills - half the challenge in the SSDT. Great soundtrack. Cheers.

Thanks to all. Good point....

Hi, The standard kill button on my 08 Rev 4 sticks quite often, so I've got a replacement item (different part, kill button only rather than the 2-switch lights/kill button unit) from Beta UK. Question: I want to remove the original 2-switch unit from the bike but its housing fills the gap between the upper and lower handlebar clamps. Is it OK to just remove it and leave the gap or will the gap then be too big? Anyone else removed it and just left the gap or are different clamps or something to fill the gap required? Thanks in advance, Ian.

Yamaha have a new model, the WR125R - liquid cooled. Bottom end looks like the XT125 and that of the Scorpa 125/200s. So maybe Scorpa will be using the new motor as the basis for their smaller bikes...The new Yamaha motor also has fuel injection, IMHO a quantum leap over a carb.

Thanks, totalshell. Not sure if the event on the page you've referenced is the same - it sound like the MCC's Edinburgh Trial - but that was first run in 1904.

I recall reading about the existence of an event called the ACU 1000 Mile Trial - I forget where. Possibly run in the early 1900s. Does anyone have any information on it? What happened to it? Just out of interest. Thanks.