wherry

Crikey!

It's all Gassers and Betas round here. Only a couple of Monts and Scorpas are out usually.

Sorry could you explain that in more simple words.............. Preferably with no numbers included! Seriously, that was my first trials bike and I'd never even heard of Bultaco, let alone thought about frame/model numbers. It's only in the last year or so since I've got back into trials and read some of the learned posts on here that I've got to wondering what one I had back then. I thought it might have been an M80 but Woody's excellent post seems to indicate an M91 which is great. I'm not totally sure why it seemed important to identify it but I'm pleased I have.

OK so if I've got this right my old Bultaco was an M91. 1973, 250cc, blue/silver homerlite tank, arched bottom yoke etc. I always wondered what model I had. Pics from around 1980-1981.

I can think of a suitable noun. Maybe he should think about buying a Chocolate Factory.

I hope I'm wrong because another manufacturer would of course be good but I just don't see how they can have a workable business plan in today's financial environment. They are launching a completely new brand on the market at precisely the wrong time, unless they are looking at seriously undercutting the competition. If that isn't or can't be the case I believe people will either hang on to their current bike or they'll stay with a known and trusted brand. The endless discussions on availability and their appearance at events, that seems to never happen, allied to the fact that a lot of people regard them, rightly or wrongly, as clones of existing bikes just makes it all the harder for them to break into the market when they do appear. Again I hope I'm wrong but I've just got a feeling it might all go belly up.

OK I haven't ever had anything to do with electric vehicles or bikes so how does the transmission on these things work? Is the motor hooked up pretty much direct to the driven wheel(s)? And if so is it a fancy controller that allows the power to be fed in and out? The reason that I ask is that this topic has had me thinking about an electric bike and what it would take for it to appeal to me. It seems to me that to replicate the characteristics of a petrol bike it would need to have a clutch and/or a gearbox maybe (or maybe not - I don't know the torque characteristics of electric motors). Stating the bleedin' obvious - A lot of modern riding is done on the clutch with that controlling the power applied almost instead of the throttle so I think you'd need to have something that replicates that to appeal to a broad spectrum of dyed-in-the-wool petrol-heads. If it was significantly different you'd have to develop a new riding style that I suspect a lot of people would baulk at, particularly if the petrol bikes are still around at the time.

'Urgent Competition Parts'. Always brings a smile to my face.

On a '99 with the Paoli forks it's 360ml of 5W oil each leg - Levels are 70mm for right leg, 125mm for left. The '97 and '98 have got different fork tubes (stanchions) so how much difference that makes to the oil volume I can't say but I don't reckon 360ml would be a million miles away. As far as I know the only difference in the tubes is colour/surface finish. Remember too that you can add a bit more to reduce the air gap at the top of the forks if they bottom out too easily with your static sag preload settings so the specified oil volume is only a guide.

Yeah I can't wait for the new Electricidad Electricidad. Comes with a soldering iron to mend it when it breaks down too... Only joking GG fans.

Yep BVM. Take a deep breath and ring 01453 762743.

Yep. You've only got to have a look at the Oset UK site - http://www.osetuk.com/index.html - and watch the videos on there to realise that full-size main-stream electric bikes are going to happen soonish.

Have a look here

This caught my eye the other day, on the front page. Westmorland Motor Cycle Club Ltd. Results for John Wren Muliti-Class series round 1 At the bottom of the results was this message:- "thanks to all observers for putting up with the rubbish weather . would all riders please keep in mind observers give up there time free so we can hold trials if you disagree with the marks you are given please see the clerk of the course at the end DO NOT give observers abuse. We would like to thank the young girls who observed for us and hope the incident will not put them off from doing so again please accept our apology thanks to everyone for turning up and for the regular helpers." Now it's difficult to comment without knowing the full story but surely somebody somewhere should be feeling pretty embarrassed. And rightly so it appears. IMO it should be a prerequisite of any championship that to participate and collect points you HAVE to observe and/or set up/take down/man the tea van etc at one round of that championship. That way everybody might appreciate a bit more what they take for granted every weekend. I think what most riders that don't observe don't get is the following:- 4 lap trial, 40 riders. Their attempt at a section is one of four each one probably memorable to them after the event. The observer, though, has to watch 160 attempts at that one section and it is very easy to lose your concentration and make a mistake - I've done it myself where I've watched someone carefully through my section, mentally applauding the line and throttle control, and then had absolutely no idea what they scored! Easily done. Give 'em a break.

Yup. What Addict says.

Nah nothing juicy today I'm afraid. For a change.................

Yeah that's good but there's also a 315R link near the top, just above the 1967 Trial 250 - http://www.apexmotosports.com/montesa%20parts%20book/e-1.htm - that takes you to those pages. Sorry I should have been more specific earlier on. I only realised it was the Apex site when I had a look at my browser history for something else.

We've got an ace real ale pub in Ipswich. I get that in there!

Maybe you'll get choice paralysis and take up croquet instead.

Straits Mill at Braintree isn't a million miles away either. Braintree & District MCC

Yep the Dabbers had one there at the end of Feb. 2008. That was the 1st trial I did after my 20yr 'sabbatical'.......... Just right for beginners or 'New Starters'. I'm not sure if it's happening this year though - I can't see any 2009 dates on their website.

Right in that case you'll need to know about Jeff Hibbs' place at Santon Downham near Thetford. He's one of our Centre Experts and he's developed some land over there where there are several trials over the year, both ACU and AMCA. Again I can let you know when they're on. My club, Norwich Vikings, have got a Novice/Wobbler round there on the 22nd March, for example.

'Chariot Of The Gods' springs to mind!

Is this it? From Lingo's 315 Age post - http://www.x-trials.kr/maintenance/1009