brucey

I use a Delorto on my Cub. Have never looked back since! O.k., you may not be able to do the Scottish 2 Day Classic, but I wasn't going to anyway :-)

I have a similar system on my Cub. I'ts ok but does get warm if you don't stop every now and then. I fitted an external oil filter assy to help keep the oil clean/cool and add another 250cc capacity.

It all depends how much you want to spend, what skills and facilities you have and how much you want to modify the bike. Without knowing the above it's hard to say. There are a number of companies selling modified parts. I would suggest as a starting point looking at an aftermarket trials swing arm and footrest/back brake kit. Then cut unnecessary lugs off the frame and fit a bash plate. There are loads of photo's (including some of my Cub) in the pre 65 section somewhere. I built my own Cub and widened and lengthened a standard swing arm. My bike also uses a standard frame with strengthening gussets around the headstock. Choose your budget and plan accordingly. Have fun building it! Hope this helps. Bruce.

It isn't uncommon to loose a small amount of gearbox oil through the breather. I haven't a clue why! My friend (who also has a JGas) has the same problem and thinks it may be down to changing atmospheric pressure!

Many thanks Huski. I checked my friends virtually unused 2013 Jotagas and found he also has around 100mm free play in the gear lever! This is pretty much the same as mine! I think I need to be a little less paranoid and go out and ride/test it in anger instead of just changing gears in the shed and frightening myself! Thinking about it, there is no way replacing the copper washer will give the gearchange more throw. However, I can see how it could jam the selector barrel making it harder to change/select gears. Bruce.

Many thanks for your replies. I got some additional information from 'thehellteam' website (all be it too late!) I still cannot find the copper washer as a seperate part so I have ordered some 19mm copper bar to turn up a new one. I can see how this can lock the gear selector if it's too tight but not how it can make it loose! I also spoke to Freestyle who were very helpful. They said it may be a worn or broken component/quadrant on the clutch side of the gear change mechanism. I'll try the washer (easy fix) first and work my way up to taking the clutch off. Thanks again, Bruce

Hi, I have just read this post with interest. I have exactly the same problem with my 2012 JotaGas 300. My Son accidentally removed a plug on the bottom of the gearbox to drain the oil. It had a spring inside and 2 small holes drilled through the bottom of the thread. He replaced it and found the proper drain plug. Unfortunately, it was leaking oil. I removed the same plug again and replaced the copper washer which was damaged. I now have exactly the problem described above. I can't find the bits in the parts manual. The copper washer looks like it may have had a step machined in it but I only had a flat one. It may be items 16 and 17 on the Selector page (19) of the parts manual but this doesn't show a washer at all. I'm not too far from Freestyle so can ring them. If it's a simple fix, I'd rather do it myself. Did this problem get resolved? What does this part do? Any help appreciated. Bruce.

One of these: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=trials+bike+seat+insert&nord=1&biw=1920&bih=934&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi176vkkvPJAhXFthQKHdLVAQUQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=8SdwjWsWXNa3aM%3A

You can buy or make seat inserts for trials bikes to make them a bit more road friendly. I have used one on my JotaGas and it makes it possible to sit down easily. Google it. If you cant find any details, I'll post a picture of mine. Hope this helps. Bruce.

Thanks Gasserguy. I did read your guide and it was very helpful. I seem to have fallen at the last hurdle! It's good to know that trials bikes are exempt from Type Approval as I was imagining all sorts of things on that one! (especially after owning a couple of kit cars in the past). Steve wrote a covering letter saying that the bike was imported before the NOVA requirements were in place but the DVLA didn't accept this and advised me that I need to get the bike NOVA registered myself. Very tempted to go the dvlaadvice.co.uk route as they could save me a lot of grief for a reasonable fee.

Fantic240, I managed to road register my Tiger Cub with an age related Number Plate about 3 years ago with no problem. I think the problem with my 2012 JotaGas is that it was imported by Steve Saunders at around the same time the NOVA requirements were just being introduced and it wasn't registered. Looking at the other responses I can do this retrospectively. I just don't want to be saddled with an import tax bill!. I'll have another go at phoning them if I don't go down the dvla advice route.

As it says in the title! I wanted to road register my bike so I could insure it tpf&t, I'm not that interested in riding it on the road. Maybe the odd road trial and a few local green lanes. I sent the V55 Application form off with insurance, MOT and a letter from Steve Saunders (who has been very helpful) stating that when the bike was imported (in 2012), the NOVA system was not in place. I also note that Steve Saunders has supplied a V267 (Declaration that a vehicle is new) to the DVLA since my original application. I can only assume the DVLA asked him for this themselves. I got a reply today rejecting my application for the following: "The original type approval certificate was not enclosed". I have looked on www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval and have no idea how to obtain this for my JotaGas. Figures of £100 seem to be banded about on the website though! "Following a check, a NOVA' is necessary" Again, I looked on www.hmrc.gov.uk/nova and again have no idea how to obtain this for my JotaGas. It looks like I need an account before I can apply for a certificate. I spent 30 minutes waiting for the help line (0300 200 3700 @ 9p/min) to answer without success, then gave up! "Your Identity Documents were not enclosed". I didn't look into this but am assuming this is a simple fix with a copy of photo ID or similar. It looks like it has become more trouble than it's worth. I now have the insurance company chasing me for a registration number to replace the temporary frame number they issued the certificate on. It's a shame because I think all bikes that can be registered should be to make it easier to trace stolen bikes. Beta seem to road register a lot of their bikes for this reason. Any help or words of encouragement before I throw the towel in would be appreciated. Bruce.

I just spent more money than I have ever spent on a trials bike purchasing a second hand JotaGas! I could have bought another Beta Evo, but I just fell in love with the Engineering on the JotaGas. I'm an average Club level rider who wanted something a bit different to share with my Son. The JotaGas is way better than my ability and makes me a better rider for it. I don't intend to sell it any time soon and think these bikes may well become future classics. Oh, did I mention I am enjoying riding it immensely:-) I really hope the brand continues and it's UK Customers are supported in the future.

That's very useful. Many thanks. I'll give those companies a try.

Brilliant! Many thanks for posting. I really enjoyed that (including the surprise :-)). Bruce.

O.k, I tried my existing Insurance Broker and NFU as suggested. I'm having problems finding an insurer to give me a policy without an existing Registration Number. Neither of the above will entertain the idea of insuring the bike using the VIN until the DVLA issue a registration number. Any ideas?

I have just purchased a 2012 Jotagas which I'm trying to get road registered. I believe I will need to have an MOT, tax and insurance to do this. The original importer has been brilliant in supplying their documentation. I also have a 1965 Triumph Tiger Cub Trials which I got classic bike insurance for (£50 fully comp). However I don't think they insure modern bikes. Can anyone recommend an insurance company that would insure either the Jotagas separately or preferably both Trials bikes on a multi bike policy I am more interested in theft as road use will be very occasional at best! Any advice would be appreciated. Bruce.

Thanks for the info. I've emailed Steve Saunders and requested the documents I need from them. I'm assuming I will also need some form of dating certificate to get an age related plate. I'll look at getting an MOT once I know I have the correct documents. Bruce.

I recently bought a 2012 JotaGas 300 from a Dealer and would like to road register it for insurance and security reasons. I have his receipt, and both the frame and engine numbers available. Before I go to the expense of getting it MOT'd and Insured, how do I obtain a dating certificate with no official importer? I have been through this process with my 1965 Triumph Tiger Cub but not done it with a modern Trials Bike. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Bruce.

My Son's Evo 290 was rattling quite badly. We tried changing the small end and fitted new rings but it made no difference. We then took the barrel to a guy who measured it accurately. Lampkin's supplied an oversize piston that accounted for the wear (we are talking less than 0.1mm difference). The new piston also came with a small end and rings! I was quite sceptical as we didn't touch the barrel. However, it is absolutely silent now under all conditions and runs really well. What I'm trying to say is; it may not actually need a re-bore/re-plate at all. Just an oversize piston fitted. Get it measured first. Hope this helps, Bruce Bruce.

I use mountain bike knee/shin pads under my trousers. They are brilliant. I'm a 56 years old and have been a type 1 diabetic for over 40 years. I have scars on my shins I got when I was 15 (Greeves Anglian!). So look after my shins and knees. I got them from e bay. They are handed and are a bit like pulling on a pair of stockings! Because the knee pad and shin pad are attached to the same bit of lycra, they don't move. They fit easily under my trials boots and give good protection. The label says "SIXSIXONE RHYTHM KNEE" Hope this helps.

I just fitted a side stand to my 2009 Evo. You are right. Your mounting bracket is held on by 2 off M8 screws that screw vertically insde the casting under the lhs of the swing arm. the 2010 bracket is different. If you go onto the Beta Website, you can download the parts manual for your bike. You can also look at the difference between the 2009 and 2010 side stand mounts. I bought mine from e bay also. Mine was beeing sold as a 2010 side stand bracket! but they are quite different and easiliy recognisable. I also bought the spring and stand from ebay but I had to make a small spring extension bracket, a pivot bolt and a bump stop. There is some information on this thread: http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/51762-2009-290-beta-evo-help/ If you need more information, contact me. Hope this helps, Bruce.

Thanks for your advice and suggestions guys. I fitted the side stand (after having to disassemble the rear suspension again to clean up a heliciol with an 8mm tap!), made my own spring bracket, pivot bolt and bump stop and everything looks fine. Virtually all the play has gone from the rear suspension after replacing a very rusty pair of pivot needle roller bearings AND tightening the others up properly (my fault!). The swing arm protector didn't fit because it was the wrong one! I fitted a new one from Lampkins and everything lines up now. I fitted a few other pattern parts to tidy the bike up a bit and everything is now looking fine. I wasn't sure what to do with the mixture screw extension thingy so I used a 'P' clip and attached it to the top of the carb. I'll look into removing the rear tube when either it blows or when I replace the rear tyre. Is it normal for Beta spokes to get so tarnished? It makes me appreciate the stainless spokes on my Cub! I will be trying it in anger one evening this week (between thunder storms). Seems a shame to get it dirty now! ...........only joking :-)

Sent the frame and engine number to Beta UK (John Lampkin). They couldn't say if the frame had been changed but I have had a really good look at it when I removed the swing arm to grease the bearings and change some of the suspension bearings. It all looks fine. The swing arm protector was the wrong one (Correct one from Lampkins now fitted). I've taken a punt on a side stand and mount bracket from e bay as it looks like the correct one for my swing arm. I believe this was ex BMV stock. I'll make the other bits in my workshop. I've also had the carb off to check and clean it. Hopefully I will have it all back together (with a few other parts also ordered from e bay) ready to test ride at the weekend. My Son has already said he would 'help' test it! I'm generally impressed at the quality and design of the components fitted to this bike. I think it has been fairly well used but certainly not abused too much. I'll keep the Cub for polishing and this for riding! Roll on the weekend! Bruce

Many thanks for your reply Steve. I seem to be your 1st post! Did Beta UK transfer the VIN number or amend the registration document when they replaced frames under warrenty? Does anyone know if the position for the bottom fixing bolt for the swing arm protector can be used to indicate which year the swing arm is? Are the mounting holes for the side stand bracket already drilled in the swing arm? if so, where? (maybe I need new glasses!) Bruce.