woody

Best thing to do is go along to the next two BMCA trials and have a look at what they are riding and maybe the Harry Perry Sammy Miller round next Saturday. The bikes range from near standard right through to highly modified. In the BMCA most bikes are only lightly modified as the sections aren't too demanding but can be a bit nadgery, depends who's setting out. There are one or two with frame kits, modernised forks etc. It will be a lot of work to modify a road based C15 for trials as you will need to consider things like ground clearance (lifting the engine and bottom frame rails) widening the swingarm for mud clearance, moving the engine to the left to get chain alignment and removing all unwanted lugs/brackets. Wheels will be big heavy road items, forks will be unsuitable for trials - and more I can't think of. The frame mods may not be too bad if your handy and if you're riding BMCA you will be able to use Bultaco/Ossa/Fantic/Yamaha or whatever wheels, it's not encouraged but no-one will really look or care. Similarly, you can get away with a pair of Yam or Ossa forks as they are in-line, not leading axle, so at least have a period look about them, especially if painted black. MZ forks also look period and can be had cheaply. C15 engine is fine in road trim, you don't really need a trials gearbox, just lower the overall ratio with the crank sprocket and final drive sprockets. I had the standard gearbox in mine until I found a trials box and it was fine. You can still get a trials C15 piston for a lower compression ration but I think the standard road ratio is probably ok. Or you can use Triumph 500 or 650 pistons to overbore to between 260 - 280cc but not really necessary - just ensure they are not too high a compression ration if you do. Whatever the quoted CR is for the Triumph piston, it won't be the same fitted to the BSA due to different head combustion chamber. Road cam is ok also but chances of finding a trials item is next to zero. Standard road head with 7/8" inlet is fine with standard valves. Amal 22mm carb - they may get twitchy if you have a foreign carb fitted. Biggest cost for the engine will be a rebuild if it is required but that applies to anything. If it is an early engine it will benefit from an Alpha big end and main bearing roller conversion to replace the bushed items. Ignition, there are various options, PVL is most popular at around

As usual, you've not answered any questions asked of you and diregarded what has been said. The modern bikes are in because there aren't enough Pre65/twinshock bikes - we all know that. There may be numerous reasons for this but one reason it ISN'T is because the sections are put on for modern bikes. THEY AREN'T. I've got a good idea. Get your 340 Majesty out, if you've got one, go and enter some Sammy Miller rounds and Traditional rounds and make your own mind up after experiencing them for yourself instead of spouting ill-informed drivel.

Where do you get this opinion from???? How many traditional/classic events have you ridden over the last few years? How many events have you ridden on the continent to compare them to? The traditional/classic series, in most events, has sections that are ideal for classics. The only events that aren't up to scratch for a National championship in my view and the view of others, are the sidecar rounds where the sections don't give enough of a challenge to the solos. Not all of them, but most. That's another issue. Try organising a trial to National standard (ie; proper sections, not riding around some twigs in the ground) purely for twinshocks and Pre65, even have 2 routes to widen the audience, so that all abilities are catered for. See how many entries you get. 40 - 45 maybe, if you're lucky. Why? - who knows but until riders actually support the series by entering on twinshock and Pre65 bikes it can never again stand on its own as a series for those bikes only. Seems to me these days that people want to own twinshocks so they can say they have them, or treat them as some kind of investment, rather than ride the bloody things. It's up to riders to support the series. The problem is there is a lot of crap spouted on here from people who don't even ride the events, saying it is too hard and that the sections are put on for modern bikes - RUBBISH. The problem is, other people will read this, believe it and stay away. Yes, the sections are difficult technically and so they should be as it is a National championship, but they are NOT modern bike sections. As I've said many times before, look back over the results and see that the best twinshock has outperformed the best modern bike more than once. I rode a bog standard 1968 type 49 Bultaco at the last 2 rounds and although it was hard work on some sections, it was capable of cleaning every section in that trial - it was my fault it didn't. So how can they be called modern bike sections!!?? I can assure you that that bike wouldn't get more than a few feet into a proper modern bike section before failing it. If we're talking about a way forward for this series, I still believe the best format is to use events just for solos only, no sidecar rounds, go with two routes unless the venue will support one route like Lancs County and Bootle. Easier route is non-championship and will alow riders who find the championship route too hard to still have a ride out on their old bikes. Continue with the classes the way they are at the moment but if there is an increasing number of pre65/twinshock entries to the point where the events become over-subscribed, give preference to those classes. Eventually, if the numbers increase to a level that allows it, the series can once again be dedicated to those bikes only. What the series doesn't need is ill-informed comments as to how crap it is from people who don't ride in it, or comparisons to events on the continent, again, from people who have ridden neither. People read it, believe it, form the wrong opinion and stay away. Not really very constructive.

As it would if Tiff was in the Golf and Butler-Henderson was in the Scoob...

Good job it's not a Jumbo, otherwise the neighbour's house in the background would have gone too...

Just a mention on rules, seeing as this is what the topic is about. You can have all the rules you like as regards bike eligibility and they will still be flouted and still go unenforced. The most simple rule of all is the no-stop rule in any of the classic series or one-off events such as the classic experts. Everyone knows they are no-stop. Still, there are riders who will stop, hop the back, hop the front and make a straight line out of what should have been a testing turn over roots or whatever. The hazard is easy to clean this way whereas no-stop it requiers much more precision and a perfect line with no mistakes. They know it is no-stop but still they stop and hop. And they never ever get penalised for it. So what makes anyone think that having rules for bike eligibility will stop modifications or that there will be anyone willing to throw the riders with ineligible bikes out of the event. Same goes for Pre-72, Pre-77 classes. Are there any officials at events that could have these classes who would have the knowledge to differentiate between the models. Doubt it. It works in Spain as they appear to stay true to the class with the bikes they ride. Here, I just can't see it happening.

I just mean the twinshock, class B guys, riders like Phil, Nick, Steve Monk are all of the opinion that modern hybrids shouldn't be allowed and to the best of my knowledge have no interest in riding one anyway. I wasn't referring to British class

really looking forward to responses on this one..... Actually, my own opinion - those mods, whilst an improvement yes, not significant enough to warrant a title of trick bike. It's still essentially a 300 Fantic.

You're having a laugh aren't you.... The RTL motor is no different from the TLR. That motor in a Miller chassis isn't going to be any better than a standard TLR. A Miller frame kit can hardly be described as a lightweight special or trick. The only thing they are going to wipe out is their bank balance. If you're in touch with the Traditional series, you'll know that the better riders and the riders doing the winning are on standard bikes which have been personalised at most. Chris Koch hasn't won one yet on the Yam special. Check the results over the last few years. On many occassions one of these riders has won the event outright, beating the aircooled mono and O/40 class riders on modern bikes - much more competitive and capable bikes than any twinshock hybrid/special. It's who is riding the bikes that counts. If mid-results riders turn up on specials it isn't going to propel them to the top of the results and to the best of my knowledge, the front runners have no interest in building specials, it's not what they want.

Great stuff. Love seeing people learning to ride trials bikes. To be fair to the man though, he'd got him riding up some pretty tough stuff if that was his first ride on a trials bike.

That's a Miller front pipe.... Now I'm wondering what they sent me as mine didn't look as good as that - why I didn't recognise it I guess...

Nice job along with the footrests. Where did the front pipe come from?

Pinky is the best bet as it has a front disc whereas the others have drums, some of which have worn well, some of which haven't. Pinky is also available for cheaper, or at most, as much, as the earlier bikes for some reason. As for an investment - no idea, it's pot luck as to what something becomes worth. Look at the RTL. Awful to ride, not a patch on the Yam for overall performance but cost 5 times as much to buy until recently, the ridiculous prices of a couple of years ago have disappeared for now. Any of the Yams are good value and there are still plenty to choose from so if you see a good one, regardless of model, buy it. The differences between the models (about zero in real terms) aren't worth worrying about, disc on the Pinky is the most significant advantage between models. Early S models had a bigger steel tank, plastic tank on R and later bikes looks neater but they can discolour. Jon V8 - I know of a local dealer (not bikes - just parts supplier) who has a white mono for sale. It's his own bike with a previous 2 owner known history. I haven't seen it for years although I know the previous 2 owners. If you're interested let me know and I'll PM you the contact number.

Yes it fills through the inspection plate in the clutch cover. Lie the bike over or it will go all over the floor if you fill it too quickly with the bike upright as the clutch is in the way - or just do it slowly. Clutch/gearbox share the same oil, forgot to mention that. Whitehawk was probably Mick Whitlock's trade name but I'm guessing. Was this the bike on ebay a few days ago? The pictures weren't too good but you could see that the rear mudguard loop was just like a Whitlock frame but it looked to have the original MAR brake pedal set up - Whitlock frames I know had their own unique brake pedal on left hand side, but I've no idea how many variants of Whitlock frames there were for Ossa. Mikuni isn't standard so I can't help you on set up/jetting as there is no standard setting for that carb - standard carb was an Amal. Mikuni is better so if someone has done a decent job with the jetting and it runs ok with that leave it on. Sounds like you have a decent bike for a good price. They are a nice bike.

800cc of any modern gearbox oil will be ok in the clutch 50:1 modern synthetic is fine. Castrol TTS is good as it doesn't gum up rings and exhaust with black goo

No, not the same, they're Marzocchis in the diagram

OK overall, the old Bulto 49 was capable of cleaning probably all of the sections but very hard work on some. Had a decent 2nd lap of 12 at Bootle including 2 abysmal threes which were my fault, not the bike. Enjoyed it, that's the main thing but like the old school report, must concentrate more, should have done better.

TY Majesty yokes will have to be bored out to take 35mm Marzocchis. Yes they are as good as Yam mono forks. Lee - didn't all 307 have upside down forks, it was the 305 that had 35mm conventional

Should be at the bottom with the 'U' part up inside the spring. Not sure what its exact purpose is though. Surprising it's still there, they've usually been lost or discarded over the years.

Get the Bultaco out next year

Why is this? I've used a good quality O-ring and an X-ring on the SSDT with no problem at all, didn't have to adjust them once throughout the trial

Brilliant weekend - if any of you lads/lasses involved in the organisation of the trials are on here they were both spot on. Nothing tight, all sections cleanable, although it would take very good rides on some to achieve that (and there were) but most others still tricky enough to take marks if a rider wasn't right on line. So well done, thanks for the events, roll on next year. Only thing I'd change in the Bootle event is more sections in the rock streams as we just don't get to ride enough of that stuff down here, but there they are all over the place, everywhere you look, just begging to be ridden. But you could always find just one, really snotty one full of mud, just for Nick.

Exactly what credit should she get? Isn't she doing it for enjoyment the same as everyone else out there. Everyone apart from a fortunate few have to juggle time between full time job, family committments, travel, monetary priorities and so on. Lots of riders throw every spare penny they get into taking part in their hobby, a lot of time and effort in preparing their bikes and spend a lot of time travelling to and from events. If everyone packed it in because they didn't receive 'credit' there would be no sport. I've nothing against Becky so don't misconstrue this as an attack against her, I don't even know her. I've seen from event reports she's had some good results, so have many others, I just don't know what credit it is you think she deserves.

TY Offroad, ask for Colin TY Offroad