twinnshock

The bike looks fantastic. My guess it will sell at

I agree with the Speedo and Continuous horn, but the reflector is only required if the bike is fitted with lights. Ie no lights, no reflector required. If you think about this it makes sence because what use is a relector during the day! Also the Speedo is a legal requirement but is not required as part of the MOT test. Stuart

Again this is a bit of a large subject. The early 325's on paper produced the same power as the 250's but did produce more touque. As time went on the 325 was made sharper. My own opinion is that the 250 is a better bike for us southern softies here in East Anglia who ride mainly on mud and sand and the 325's are better suited to a Yorkshire rocky burn. Incidently the bigger bike was initially called a 325 and later called a 350. This name change took place with no actual change in capacity. A 250 engine is for sale on ebay at the moment. But be carful with this engine because the description states a "199" engine number (ie a 350 from about 1977/78) but the pictures show a much earlier 250 engine despite the black paint. Stuart

Bit hard to start on this one, as you do not state what year is your bike is therefore my comments will have to be very general. You are right in that the 250 is a softer less aggressive bike than the 350. In the mid 70

Bit of a theme with me on this one! Is treatment available on the NHS? (listed in order of purchase) 1971 Bultaco Sherpa 250 (Model 80) Sold to by new bike below 1978 Bultaco Sherpa 250 (model 198) Sold when hard up apprentice. 1978 Bultaco Sherpa 250 (model 198) Bought after 6 months suffering from withdrawal symtoms, I still have this bike. 1978 Bultaco Sherpa 125 (Model 185) I still have this bike. 1977 Bultaco Sherpa 350 (Model 199) I still have this bike. 1971 Bultaco Sherpa 250 (Model 80) I still have this bike 1971 Bultaco Sherpa 250 (Model 80) Next project. I have never owned a "trials" bike which is not a Bultaco but my son does have a GasGas Twinnshock

Slightly off topic! I have been asked to put a set of new plates in a friends Pursang to cure the clutch slip. Last night when taking the clutch apart I got a bit concerned with the amount of up and down movement. Bottom line is the gearbox main shaft (and clutch pushrod) has snaped in half! We have been riding this bike in this condition. Twinnshock

Not being able to select neutral is usualy caused by clutch drag. All Bultaco clutch's drag (Fact) but this can be reduced by carefull set up. Some people recommend using Pursang clutch plates (or Frontera they are the same) but in my experiance this is not neccessary. I always run my clutches with one plate less than fitted originally (the last plate, the one just under the outer spring plate. Not sure if this makes a big difference but I tried it years ago and it seemed to improve things and have never fitted this last plate to a clutch since. All the previous advice about cable condition and arm operating levers is the place to start as if these are not in good condition or set up correctly you are wasting your time. Also new springs are a good idea with these matched for length as best as possible. I adjust the nuts so that the thread is protruding just beyond the nut and then pull in the clutch lever and hold in this position with a cable tie on the lever and handlebar. With the clutch held pulled in I then rotate the clutch via the kickstart and carfully adjust each spring adjuster until clutch plate wobble is either totally eliminated or at least reduced to the absolute minimum possible. The nuts should have about 1 to 1.5mm thread protruding. Don't forget to secure the nuts with some locking wire. Finally I replace the primary case cover and fill with 300cc of ATQF. This is what I used back in the 70's when the bikes were new. You can not teach an old dog new tricks! The older bikes do not have adjuster nuts but use a non adjustable pin and cup arrangement. My Model 80 (1971) with new springs and the one plate removed will slip the clutch with a sharp kick from the kickstater when cold but a smooth follow through kick will get her going and she never gives a problem when warmed up or actually slipping when riding. Twinnshock

I am about to make a complete prat of myself here. I haven't seen the mag or the photo but I think the chap in the wet suit was one of Maria's Brother's. From the program either Tom or John. We saw him several times on the Tuesday. If we are talking about the same chap I agree the hair looked just like a Jimmy wig as available at several outlets in Fort William. Twinnshock

Legs I am sure you would still prefer "Horse and Hound" Twinnshock

My sons 2000 TXT after a lot of use developed a knock that was rather harsh and matalic (piston slap) when you blipped the throttle with no load. the knock was only at relatively low rev's and disapeared as the rev's increased. Bad news is that our problem was caused by the chrome in the barrel starting to peel. I guess just general wear and tare on a well used engine. Twinnshock

if you have a look at Dave's website you will see them under new items. http://www.bultacouk.com Twinnshock

OK not to be left out. This is what I ride, a 1971 "Slimline" Sherpa. Photo taken a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunatly all photo's of me I have my tounge sticking out. Also notice the gloves, I have another pair just like these at home. Twinnshock

I have just checked the Dunlop's (D801) on my Bultaco and these are not road legal. I also have a Mitas thrown to the back of the garage, worst tyre I have ever tried but nothing on it to upset an MOT tester. Twinnshock

I am not sure about Norfolk, But you could try Chris Edwards Trials Park, Corton just North of Lowestoft. 01502 731627 Chris is the local Sherco dealer (and also a farmer/landowner) Do you need a passport to leave Norfolk for Suffolk? If you do use the Trials Park I would suggest that you make sure that you clean your bike thoroughly the same day (but we always do that don

why are you doing this ? Just to wind us all up Stuart

Have you tried GasGas UK direct.(the importers) They operate a mail order service that is excellent. Also the technical knowledge and advice is second to none. I have always wondered about this as if effect they are cutting out the dealers but I guess if they chose to do business this way who am I to argue. Stuart

John McCrink has owed a Garelli for many years and has used one for back marking at the pre 65 scottish over the last couple of years (he is on the comittee) so should be a good source of advice on these bikes. John runs an online spares company Classicoff-road.com I suggest you give him an email Classic off-road.com Stuart

Whilst riding in competitions I seem to quite oftain knock my helmet on low branches etc. If I did this with out a helmet it could be quite serious. Is it that If I did not wear a helmet I would take more care or is it I can just not judge were the top of the helmet actually is, and do not duck down enough? On a somber note, about 20+ years ago my girlfriend's(at that time)16 year old brother was practicing low speed turns on a farm track. It was the summer so the track was packed hard and very dry. The bottom line was he fell of in a very low speed full lock turn, hit his head cracking his skull. He never regained consiousness and died in hospital about a week later. We will never know but I believe if he had been wearing a helmet he would have got up with only hurt pride. I have always felt bad about this as It was me who introduced him to the sport. I will not ride a bike without a helmet. It is a bit like the old seat belt debate, it took a change in the law to get most people to see sence and start wearing one. And my day job by the way is I am a automotive seat designer and witness crash tests on a very regular basis. When I see cars travelling with people not wearing seat belts in particular children I get very wound up. I feel the same way when I see sombody on a bike without a helmet. Am I turning into my father? Stuart

Quick Nick. I think I was a bit slow picking up on that one. The prodical is now 18 and riding Novice (Not youth A) We can put the 280 stickers back on! Now thats a confession ! Stuart

For some reason or other, I seem to have a collection of Speedo's sitting on my desk at the moment. The one from my sons bike is from is GasGas 280 04. But also with it on my desk is one from one of my Bultaco Sherpa's and I have just managed to pick up a new correct Speedo for my Bultaco Frontera and this is also on the desk waiting to be fitted. The Gasgas one is electronic and came with the bike new as most of the trials my son rides are not on the road he prefers to keep it safe from damage. I also have a GasGas wing mirror that was supplied with this bike. I guess this would add a new look as he attempts Laggon Locks! An original but second hand Speedo from a Bultaco Sherpa recently sold for

I have spectated at Laggon locks over the last couple of years and it is very noticeable that some riders arrive along the road on relatively clean bikes were as the riders coming of the moors are absolutely covered in mud. Me and my friends have taken to "Booing" these mud clean riders as they make there attempt at the group. Whilst this is not exactly English done behaviour, it is the least we can do to express our opinion of these people who blaintly cheat. So as a warning we will be there again this year, you have been warned I am not convinced that the riders who skip the moor's are first timers. I think it is the "moor" experianced riders who know the route and the short cuts. Stuart

Road legal trials tyres are available. Mitchelin X11 I believe are road legal in the UK but are marked up not for road use in the States but if I am wrong I will soon be corrected on this. However I must confesss using Dunlops on most of my Bultaco's. I remove the "not for road use" wording with a dremmel and they go through the MOT each time OK. The low pressures do not seem to be a major problem at the speeds we run at in trials. I occationally ride a 500T Norton and if riding a long distance trial (Arbuthnot) I tend to up the pressure a bit as this seems to avoid the percussion punctures that these rigids seem to suffer from. Most Trials bikes are supplied with a speedo from new. I know that GasGas are, as the speedo of my son's 04 280 is sitting on my desk at home. Speedo's are not required for the MOT but as I understand it are required to actually be road legal but this point is oftain debated. A friend of mine rode the 03 Scottish on a 79 Bultaco, he fitted a speedo and a short bit of petrol pipe that disapeared under the engine! and he was ridding with the police team! Most pre 65 bikes in the area that I live are fitted with bicycle digital speedo's from Halfords. Cost about

[sounds like an explaination of a Raleigh runabout clutch. That worked well enough.] Dabster Nice to know that as well as Bultaco you are an expert on Raleigh runabouts. Stuart

They do not mark the bikes at the pre65 SSDT. All they have is an official who looks the bikes over as you push up to the start ramp and makes a note of any obvious non original parts ie tubless rear wheel, Mikuni carb etc.. Stuart

We have sold our 200txt and moved on (for an 04 280 pro) but from memory:- There should be a hard plastic flap that is attached to the back of the air box and extended upwards and fits into a molded plastic slot on the underside of the rear mudguard. It is posible to remove the rear mudgard (either with tools or hard contact with ground) and this flap just pops out the mudguard slot. If a trial was particulary wet we always added a bit of duct tape in this area but nothing permanat. Have you got a parts list ? If not go to the GASGAS uk site click on technical support and then follow link to Jon Stooley Technical Pages. On this technical page you can download the parts list for a 2001TXT in pdf format which is apart from small details (forks and graphics) basicly the same as a 2000 model. The flap you require is shown in the plastics section item 9 and is listed as a Shock Absorber Protector. (?) unfortunatly not shown in place. In practice if this part is missing it would not be to difficault toa make a replacement from a piece of plastic Sheet. Stuart