Beta 200.Perfect for a beginner,plenty of power,soft low down.
Ok,maybe I'm a bit biased as I have one but having ridden twinshock (badly) for 6 years my first modern bike is a Techno 200 1999 model.It is brilliant for club trials,very easy to ride.
I have had a go on most of the 250,270,280's and while the power is great fun for wheelies and mucking about on,most of the time it just gets you into trouble in a section.
Different if you have aspirations to ride National level type sections with big steps and hillclimbs,then the power in needed.
Though in defence of the organisers,they have a very hard job.If everyone in our sport was honest enough and not hide Betor fork internals or Yamaha cranks etc there would be no problems.
I suppose some people will do amything to win.
I remember riding the nostalgia trial a couple of years ago on my Bulto,there was a Majesty with a complete modern Gasser front end and rear wheel,disc brakes and all.
Looked great but hardly in the spirit of twinshock is it.Sadly it broke down and did not finish the trial.Shame.
I'm not knocking Graham's bike, I don't do that...
The front nearside slider at the lower pinch bolts had been repaired using a bracket arrangement, yes it was at Alvie last year and I always scruitinise Bultacos!
Maybe, just maybe at Alvie this year I may forego my BSA B40 and ride a Bultaco!!!
Big John
Sorry if you thought I was having a go,I'm not.
I had the two Bulto's myself and enjoyed them very much.I sold them to put more time into my mountain biking but a year later I missed trials
so bought myself a Beta 200 late last year and am enjoying it.
Maybe if funds allow I will reknew my love of Sherpas.
I have a twinshock Husky which I plan to race with the classic club next year,but that's another story.
p.s. Graham has a pre-74 Pursang and plans to race it as well.
The Bultaco Sherpa 250/198B is rare because they were a small production run. The Bultaco company was ailing by the time they were producing the 6 speed 340(mod. 199B) and the five speed 250 (mod. 198B)
Yes I've seen the highboy Bultaco you mention, purposeful enough bike but looks a bit odd. I thought it was a bit of a bitsa to be honest, but that is probably the purist in me! It has late 340 sliders/forks and a strange set up regarding the sidepanels if I remember correctly.
Big John
The forks were from the 198.I put an autojumble front wheel on as well,from some Japanese trail bike,don't know what.Better front brake.
The panel set-up was a bit cheap looking.
Good spot on the forks.You know your Bulto's.I think Graham rode it at Alvie last year.
Not quite "box section" swinging arm but certainly not round tubing, it had a rounded edge to it, same as 340 spec but with 250 motor. Yes abreviated rear sub frame and a special airbox with a big rubber bung on the left hand side. Rare beast!
Big John
I didn't realise they were so rare.I will have to make some moves to get it back.Again.
I also had a Miller Highboy framed model 92 350.Bought it from a Traffic Cop from Bearsden.I was returning home from a trial in Bonhill with the 198 on the trailer when I saw the blue lights and siren behind me.A traffic beemer,I thought the trailer lights were not working or something.Big cop came up to me and says'nice bike,I've got one something the same,would you like to buy it?' It was the highboy.Needless to say
Now then, this is one for Snr. Greeves, look at that Bultaco that bike is now in the possession of a certain AGB!
The carb is a big give-away, its a mark 2 Amal, that's a 250cc Bultaco Model 198B, very few of those made!! I believe that it is currently not for sale, may swap for a nice 340 maybe?
Big John
I didn't realise the 198b was so rare.I had one,twice.Sold it then bought it back the sold it again.It resides in East Kilbride at the moment I think.
It had a mk2 amal,box section swing arm and frame rear rails stop at the mudguards and don't join up behind the seat.Am I right enough in thinking it was A 198b John?
As an ex twinshock rider it sounds like a good idea.If it was a big event like the pre-'65 and a few big names got involved I think the entry and the interest would be good.
I would certainly try to beg,steal or borrow a bike to enter somehow.
I think a lot of bikes would be dusted off and brought out for a yearly outing in the Highlands,a bit like the Scottish entrants for the pre-'65.I am on the trials committee for the SCRMC,who run a trials series in Scotland for classic and twinshocks and the older bike entries are very poor,perhaps 4 or 5 at a club trial.But then the pre-'65 comes along in May and there in 20 plus Scottish riders entered.Where are these bikes the rest of the year?
A twinshock event would be a breath of fresh air as most twinshocks are left pretty much standard,there is some tricked up bikes but not too many.The pre-'65s on the other hand.....
Scottish Classic Racing Motorcycle Club run a trials series.Most of the venues are pretty much central/south west Scotland.We have trials in Balfron,Bonhill,Kilbirnie,Thornhill and Abington.The Abington trial is a 2 day event on a great piece of land.Not to be missed.Unfortunately we do not have a website but if you go onto the Lanarkshire website and e-mail the secretary,Alan Scott he will give you details of both Lanarkshire and SCRMC trials as he is secretary of both.
Lanarkshire club trials are good for your twinshock,the B routes are not too stupid.
Hope to see you at some events this year,I have a Beta Techno 200 at the moment,I had Bultaco twinshocks for a few years but retired to take up mountain biking then missed trials too much so bought the Beta.
I have a 1999 Techno 200 after a few years with Bultaco twinshocks.
After every trial I wash my bike thoroughly with a hose the soap and hot water,I'm not too keen on pressure washers as the tend to strip paint and blast grease from bearings etc.
Then I clean the whole bike down with wd40 or similar,its also a good way to check all nuts and bolts etc for tightness.
I will then take the chain off and if its clean,soak it in a bath of oil for a day or 2 then drip dry before refitting.
Take the air filter out and wash it thoroughly,dry it and spray it with a filter lube and allow to dry before refitting.
Then check wheel bearings,swing arm bushes,head races for play.Check all levels,water,clutch and brake fluids.
I always drain the gear oil to check for any metal etc in it.I replace it after 3 trials,I use ATF as the clutch action is better with it.
Check tyre pressures,spoke tightness,brake pads.
Seems like a lot of work after every trial I know,but there is nothing worse than getting to a trial and something breaks,falls off,runs out etc. to spoil your day.
I'm quite thorough I suppose,I enjoy tinkering in the shed anyway but in 8 years of trialsI have only had to retire a couple of times from mechanicals,and even they were
2 Stroke Mix
in General Trials Talk
Posted
50:1 fully synthetic 2-stroke oil.