g4321

90% of guys tend to agree wirth Mr B here. Most people see the handbook as a way of the (S)ACU getting more money! I know that it is all insurance related but it used to be the handbook was not given out with trials or MX licences since it was deemed not required. I know from experience that everyone having a handbook has caused problems for the local MX club with people quoting rule XXX to the organisers since their little dear did not win his race! Then again I find it quite interesting trawling through the machine regs for sidecar racing, sprinting, grass track and the like! - nothing much relevant with trials which is the only sport I compete in at the moment (although compete is probably not the correct word) Do all ACU licence holders get a handbook as well?

That explains it John Lets see how many trials do I need to enter to cover my

John The question I have is why the ACU licence is significantly less expensive than the SACU licence? I was very surprised to see the difference in an earlier post. Lets say I am not complaining just asking and have grudgingly sent off my

Mr B As far as I am aware - trying to remember from my days on the scrambles club comittee the club has to pay a capitation fee to the SACU for each member rastherthan the SACU giving money to the club from the licence fee. Some of the entry fee is paid to the SACU from each event to cever insurance etc. There is also a permit fee to be paid by the club the permit is cheaper for club MX events - I suspect trials are the same. Gordon.

Copied this from other discussion ACU MEMBERSHIP / LICENCE COSTS

'fraid so

I know from a number of technical articles on the web that rear 'Race' sag (race is a bit of a joke or terminology when it comes to trials riding) is advised to be set at 30 - 40% of total travel - ie anything from 60 - 70mm depending on what travel you have (150 - 170mm). I have set the rear sag to roughly this figure now my new (rebuilt)shock has bedded down. Rider ability - non existant - ie novice. Can anyone give me a suggestion for STATIC SAG - ie for weight of bike alone - I know everyone will say race sag is the important measurement but this will allow me to check the spring rate easily. If anyone has any better articles to look at apart from the Gas Gas (not a gas gas I hasten to add!) website or Trials Australia can they let me know.

Your breakers probably won't know what a TLR is - if they do and they have a 250 tank let me know!!!

Try to find out what diameter the TLR200 carb is - I suspect that it is a 22mm carb. If that is the case visit your local breakers and get a carb from a XL125S or XL185S (or even XL100S!), all are 22mm. They are the same basic design and should not take too much setting up. I would also be inclined to try a carb from a CB125 (single) or CG125 from the early - mid 80's If you go for the XL125 carb even the main jet is the same size.

Straight from the Honda manual Type 660C Float level 24mm Main Jet 98 Slow Jet 40 Needle in 2nd notch Air screw 1 7/8 out This is not for the Reflex (I dont know if the yare the same) have a search on the web under TLR200 and you wiill find some more detailed information

Do you honestly think that the Honda will be offensive 1/2 mile away? At a trial on Sunday I couldn't hear the Honda 1/2 mile away, nor could i hear any of the two strokes. A couple of hundred yards away yes but if that level of noise upsets anyone they would complain if a motor mower was used at the end of the street or if a farmer had the gall to plough his fields with a tractor.. Think about this - how many trials venues are that close to houses/people or have no shielding due to contours or vegetation (trees/bushes). There are always people who will moan at motorsport but I can't see the noise of this bike being seen as offensive and giving them more to moan about. A roadbike witrh an aftermarket exhaust roaring past your house at 2am in the morning, a 16 year old on a moped with 'race ' exhaust, a yob in a corsa (car) with open exhaust and loud stereo or a MX race (close by) may be considered offensive (I like road bikes & MX!) but a trial - NO! If you think the Honda is too loud the simple answer is don't buy one! I won't at the moment because it is far too expensive to throw down a rocky hillside and I can get as much enjoyment out of a bike which is 20 years old and is probably just as loud!

Sorry to cause such controversy with my comment. Lets just say that with the comments I have overheard about P65 bikes over the last few years at the Scottish modern carbs and forks are the two major things that appear to be frowned upon. As you can see from Duckwizard's profile (hate calling people by these 'Mickey Mouse' names) he comes from Scotland and knowing he hopes to eventually ride the Scottish P65 trial then there is little point in him fitting a 'modern' carb.

The way i read your message he could go and fit a disk brake front end from a Gas Gas or similar and it would still be legal South of the Border? Keihan or Dellorto carbs are not in the spirit of P65 bikes!

Dont sound any louder than a 2 stroke. Much better sound! Dont know what all the fuss is about - heard one on Sunday for 1st time and the bike is no louder than anything else. Honda couldnt really make the exhaust larger judging by the shape of the bike & it would not pass the noise regs if it was too loud.

Stricktly speaking are Honda Keihin carbs or dellorto carbs in the spirit of P65 bikes - no. They are certainly not legal in the P65 Scottish and I think they are frowned upon in the Scottish Championships (correct me if I am wrong). Many guys seem to be running Amal Concentrics but these apparently give poor low speed fueling. Mick Grant was the first to use a modified Villiers two stroke carb - dont know model.

Its the same with road bikes - all the magazines give either an excellent write up (if the bike is good) or a fair -good write up if the bike is OK. The best is when they compare last years model with this years model - last years model is always poor at some things while the new model is brilliant at everything. When you read the original test there is nothing at all bad about the old bike. Advertising Pays in that the manufacturer always has numerous adverts for their new super dooper Yamahonduki in mags which have a good write up. The only bikes which get a not so good write up have very few adverts by the manufacturer. Perhaps I am too synical! To get a non biased test you have to either rely on a good rider YOU PERSONALLY KNOW & trust who can identify faults/flaws & differences from experience. Most club riders will say bike X is best because they ride bike X or because the day they tried bike Y they did not get on that well with it. I would expect even a good (read expert) rider would need to try a bike & set it up to suit himself before riding a trial then giving judgement. I like most others who waffle on on this bulletin board whether mediocre riders(me!) or experts like some others would be quite happy to try all the manufacturers bikes over an extended period of time in competition (for no fee I hasten add in my case! - except they can repair all damage) and give un-biased judgement - then again if you dont browse through this website you would not see the results - same as a TMX test really!

I have seen various posts describing modifications to do to a TLR250 or 200 doing the rounds which improve the motor. Does anyone know any details of the modifications?

There is a website which goes through all the various big-bore options & has links to numerous related sites. Well worth a visit http://www.kaila.net/tl125/index.html

The last few trials I have observed at in the North of Scotland virtually all the riders thanked the observer on their last lap - those that didn't it was clear it was a slipup rather than on purpose - many riders come up to you to laugh about how well - or not they get on in the pits at the end of the day. No-one likes observing on a cold wet & miserable day unless the raport with the competitors makes the day bearable. Observing an interesting/challenging section on a hot and sunny day on a hillside in the North of Scotland is bearable - JUST! As a rider (debatable?) I ALWAYS chat to and thank the observer as do all my riding partners - the majority of observers are riders themselves and are giving up their day to watch others compete. You cannot tar all competitors with the same brush.

Having owned a 400 Yam you are correct BUT remember how much more power the Yamaha has than the KTM - try comparing like for like - a 250 2st - say a CR Honda - this has a lot less traction than a 400 Yam - watch the start of a MX race - the 4strokes power away first. In addition the Yam can be made more user friendly by addition of a flywheel weight. The 200 KTM is a very soft engine by comparisson.

John Can you forward me your wheel building contact? I will probably still do the work myself, but just in case! Interested to see your comments on stainless spokes - this is the same as I was told by a wheel builder/spoke supplier when I ordered some spokes for a vintage belt drive bike.

The old fashioned 'plastic card markers' as used in the SSDT are easier to see for riders but are a pain in the neck to try and position when setting out a trial where there are no rocks.or conveniant twigs. Anyway - not seeing the coloured tape on wire markers since the sheep ate it is always a good excuse - I often use it.

There are also a couple of possibilities in Aberdeen - i heard on the grapevine that the bike shop in Jopps Lane may be able to help, I cant remember the name of the other shop off hand - its not one of the main dealers - 'Jim Hay' rings a bell but I am not 100% sure if that is the name or not. I will confirm the 'possible name' next time I log on.