malcra

I also used a syringe to bleed the MC/Clutch, from bottom up, worked pretty well once you worked it out. Same system on the brakes for my Gas Gas and Beta's,...

all good fun...however a Norwegian colleague got me addicted to: Katapult Hammerfest or bust..!

looks as good as the iPod, with wifi support....however <rant> I'm a bit of an open source / sharing for all / evangelist and like the iPod, the Zune is a way of locking you into the way you listen or download music. The ways in which in the music is encoded means that you can't simply copy it a friends machine and play, unless they to have a licensed Zune or other Microsoft platform. The iPod is to some extent just as bad, but I guess I think that Apple's plans on world domination aren't as bad as those of Microsoft. The Zune has DRM support in the chipset, which effectively restricts its use and the distribution of the music on the system. </rant> That said, I've recently bought a 30Gb Video IPod whilst on a trip to the US, ($220 or

having split my Jumbo engine (a few times) recently, it looks like a Rotax TL350 motor.

Well the ex-AA man Gary "New-Bike" Jones still buys a new bike every 6 weeks or so; last seen by me on a Scorpa (after the Raga rep, Beta 250, Mont 4RT, Beta 200 in the last 18 months or so AFAIR). I ride in ESW centre every so often and some of the old names are around. I'm in Finland every couple of months (Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere) and have wondered what trials are run over there...though fairly flat some great rocks ! As for Majesty's I haven't seen any recently listed on ebay or elsewhere, but know one of the guys who rides Merthyr trials paid

I've managed to locate a range of wierd and wonderful oil seals and bearings from my local provider CBS Rotary Power Motion Ltd Unit 14 Grandstand Business Centre Hereford, HR4 9NS 01432 276 630 most providers will stock a range of metric, single lipped seals, but in many cases you'll want double lips. Their distributors usually have them and be got hold of in a couple of days.

hi all, I am just about to pass on one of my TL125's; its a TL125K[x], ie the earlier off-road orientated bikes (picture attached) I want to check that I've got the correct colour / year for the bike, so I can give him the correct pointers in restoring to the right colour / layout. The TL125 homepage lists colours as : TL125 (K) 1973 Frame TL125-1000003 onwards Engine TL125E-1000001 onwards Tahitian Red TL125 K1 1974 Frame TL125-1100001 onwards Engine TL125E-1100001 onwards Tahitian Red Candy Sapphire Blue TL125 K2 1975 Frame TL125-1200001 onwards Engine TL125E-1200001 onwards Tahitian Red TL125S 76 1976 Frame TL125S-1000417 onwards Engine TL125S-1000001 onwards Shiny Orange any photo's or info on correct schemes most welcome

ah, got those from a friend in Cardiff on the weekend; needless to say he only took pictures of myself and Gavin when falling off.. Think the sections got better for the experts, after we'd scrubbed the slime off the rocks. A 'clubmans' report... Also, Graham sends his apologies to bloke trying to have a quiet p*** at section 2.

in terms of the number of road trials, most of these are national trials, so 12 Classic, 8 Sammy Miller and the ? Novogar rounds, plus the national trials most pre-65/twinshock riders who like road-trials may do between 4-20 events in a year (?) for people riding modern bikes, the focus will be on the traditional national trials my bike insurance for the trials bikes has a cheap premium, but having a policy that covers me on the road (i do use the bikes on the road locally) and for events would be very good.

hi, I'm not sure, but I thought I heard a discussion a couple of weeks ago that the ACU was considering working with an insurance company (Carole Nash?) to provide an insurance policy for trials bike, allowing them to get a tax disc, to compete in road trials. This seems like a good idea, especially for those who may not have a bike insurance policy for road bike. Is this being considered by the ACU ? A policy which covers the limited amount of use and distance travelled should be more cost effective than a general bike policy. In my own case, both my road-registered bikes are classed as 'classics' (1978 and 1980) and in infact reduces the insurance for my modern KTM road bike, so therefore adding the trials bikes hasn't really been a problem, but i can imagine for some, younger riders, getting a trials bike insured is a little more difficult. When I had it, I did try to insure my 03 Beta on the same policy, for road use, and Carole Nash said they couldn't insure it. interested in how other people insure their bikes for road trials and whether they think an ACU negiotiated policy would be a good idea ?

in the budget section; I've tried both NJB Clubman and Betor shocks on my TL125. The NJB's were just over

agreed with the points about getting all the competetive riders to compete in the right classes, but a couple of points about the Sammy Miller series: + it gives the not-so-good riders (like myself, see yesterdays results) the chance to compete in traditional road-based trials. I do drop lots of marks but I really enjoy this sort of trial rather than 4 laps of a field. I can't work out where all the other twinshock riders are ? + that havin a seperate twinshock and British specials class makes sense; the Twinshocks, from Honda TL125's to Fantic 300 Pro's all seem pretty original I've done 3 Sammy Miller trials this year, in my second full year of riding trials, and have enjoyed every one. To me they represent 'proper trials' and we should encourage clubs to run them by having decent entries. I am already looking to rustle up more twinshock riders for next year from Hereford/South Wales area.

an excellent day out; some good mix of sections, and excellent run over a country I remember well from my youth... I'm not the best rider (unstatement of the year), but would encourage everyone of any ability to put an entry in next year. Thanks for the organisers, It's not many trials that I've been to that had Sammy Miller watching me have a 5, twice...

in my youth, the board game to have was Avalon Hill's Squad Leader wikipedia link and i do remember it having a considerable effect on my A-level results..... (malcra goes off to ebay...).

DVLA in Cardiff (Llanishen) always has a nice queue and state that the vehicle inspection is optional, though I've never registered a trials bike there. Worcester DVLA always insist on a vehicle inspection, but can usually issue a number there and then....The age related plates get taken from a defunct pool of numbers, Worcester seem to use an old Radnorshire number set and and for old prefix numbers can usually find one with 2 numbers rather than 3, for you to then paint on your rear mudguard :-) Ah, getting an daylight MOT can be another hurdle; finding an enlighted tester is always very helpful. For sure, West Mercia police don't know what one is. I've been stopped a couple of times bringing the bike through Hereford after dropping the van off at the garage...always an entertaining discussion....

Even if the bike has been registered the the road before, its very unlikely that the DVLA will have the records for it and you will have to re-registered, with an age related plate for road use. (pre 80's its unlikely you'll get the number back) I've recently tried to register a frame for a Honda TL125 I have and even though I do have the number, the previous owner (farmer) had not responded to the DVLA for 10+ years, therefore they assumed the bike was defunct. I have a battle to get that number back for the bike. If you don't know the number, then. + get an MOT for the bike (daylight MOT for the bike is fine, its pre-83) + get road insurance. I use Carol Nash's classic insurance policy for 2 trials bikes (and my road KTM) at the moment + get a dating letter to verify the year of manufacturer. The DVLA recognised 300+ clubs and associations who can verify the age. + book the bike with your nearest DVLA office and arrange a vehicle inspection; you'll need to pay for tax and they will allocate an age related plate.

i recently welded the magnesium clutch cover on my SWM, and this was done by Lars Jones in Hereford. He had a bit of a battle with it and I still have a small oil leak, possibly because the weld is still porous ? Not sure. Its worth getting it done right..

but you need to ride the TY175. not the Sherco....

I'm riding the standard, Easy (for some), rather than the Easier Route....tank range on my bile is around 25 miles, so will need to find a petrol wallah. Forecast currently rain :-)

planning to ride on Sunday at the North Berk's Downland Trial and as its the first time I'll have had a go at it, was wondering about : + distance (for petrol etc) + type of sections / difficulty any information welcome :-)

the chat in the pub after discussed a concerted campaign for the Sammy Miller series next year, with the "Tredegar Twinshock" contingent looking to provide a healthy entry from South Wales we hope. This week's Downland Trophy Trial has only around 8-10 twinshocks again, but hopefully we can use trialscentral to change that for 2007. Also, my wife phoned me earlier with the Rhayader results; seems that Alan and LFS 4P had the lowest twinshock score on the Clubman route.....excellent. Anne Bates did say next years Miller round will be a road-based trial, unlike this years.

agreed with all the sentiments about observing classic trails; from a personal point-of-view I can't stop-and-hop anyway so usually let the clutch and go....then hang on. I've observed at couple of the ACU Welsh Trials Championship rounds and was was under the impression that TSR22 [1] was used and when I rider stopped that they should be marked with a 1, even if they'd not put a foot down, rather than going clean. its an interesting subject and agreed the the supplementary regs for trials should state "non-stop" if applicable. On a slightly different tack, at Rhayader yesterday, a couple of the guys in the group I was riding with we're penalised with 5's for not having forward motion in a section, but with one (or more) foot down in the bottom sub at Doliago and at Hillgate. Rightly so I guess as there has to be a differentiator between a good 3 (ie someone riding out the section on the pegs having a few strategic dabs) and someone who is really and who virtually picks the bike. I am happy with that and usually don't have a problem with getting a 5 that way. [1] reading TSR22 this morning, there is a section "B" for non-stop trials, but no "A". Also, prey ignorance on my part, but the reglulations don't say that trial should be differentiated by the organiser; ie this is a non-stop trial.

As it doesn't take me long to get home from Rhayader, let be the first to say how much I enjoyed todays trials; proper sections, some great scenery and a good challenge. I rode the (easier?) Clubman route on my twinshock and though had plenty of 3's, most sections (with a couple of exceptions) were clean-able and only the one 5 (on the first sub). Jack Parker showed me the glorious shot he'd just taken of me becoming detached from the SWM, threatening publication.....hopefully not. The rocks at Horid were entertaining and the stream at Doliago that had probably the hardest double-sub, but all-in-all a great trial that was excellent fun (the main thing). Many thanks for the Rhayader club for organising and running the event; I will be back next year. Interestingly enough, of the 87 entrants, the majority were pre-65 machines, with only a total 12 clubman and 13 experts on twinshocks. You'd think from the TrialsCentral forums alone that it would be swamped by the those completed "projects". This type of trials terrain is ideal for twinshocks and really for any rider. Ok, you may not win (and I never will) but its this sort of event that should these restored and on-the-road for. Its the type of trials they were orignially built for. Finally, well done to Gavin, my next door neighbour, for taking an entry on the day, leaping on my rather unsorted TL125, and getting round in one piece....it kept me amused all day :-)

Its a road trial, approximately 30 miles / 30 sections, with two routes, expert and clubman. Open to pre-65 and Twinshock Its run by Rhyader MC & LCC and regs close on 6th November widely recommended by everyone who's ridden it before. I haven't before but have now have the bike to do it on Info from, Anne Bates 01597 810435

Whilst busy working this afternoon; came across this clip http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6...mp;q=blue+peter Can anyone identify the bike and/or rider; It's a shame that they failed to blow up Anthea Turner (and the perm) completely.