woody

You won't need matching frame/engine numbers to get a V5 - as long as you don't volunteer to DVLA that they are supposed to match they will be none the wiser and won't care. All they are interested in when they inspect the bike is that the frame/engine numbers match with those that you have put on the application and that the bike is what you say it is. They don't MOT inspect it. Historic tax is cut off at end of 1973 and the age, or year of manufacture of a vehicle, is based on the chassis number so you won't get free tax on it as the frame is 1974 - if that is what the dating certificate says of course. Depends on who you are getting to date it to prove the year of manufacture - maybe you can swing them towards 1973.... There are various places to get one from I think. Maybe Sandifords as the importer, Sammy Miller, Vintage Motorcycle club. It has to be someone that the DVLA recognises in an official capacity in order to get the age related plate, otherwise it is a Q plate Can't help with the other stuff but you might want to try Ellastone Offroad if you want a spare engine, or A & B Autos, both advertise in TMX. There is also some Mont 247 stuff on ebay at the moment. Good luck with it, I have one myself to do one day. Nice looking bikes, almost as nice as an Ossa from the same period - but not quite...

Yes, he was riding it well as you say. One or two sections were a bit tight for a non trick rider like me but he didn't mind them. Bloody kids I was disappointed not to be able to try it as it did look to perform well and as Spud says, it is a good looking bike. Thing is though, I was just behind him for most of the trial and I can't honestly remember that there seemed to be any starting problems with it. The sound really reminded me of a KTM though with the standard exhaust still fitted. Quiet exhaust and a muffled induction suck from the airbox. Sounded stifled actually but obviously wasn't/isn't. I do hope they get it sorted and reintroduce it (it's not on the website as an 07, just an 06) Even if I'm not to keen on a particular model for whatever reason, it's still nice to see variety out there and if they all offer 2 and 4 stroke models, except Honda of course, it can only make trials more interesting. Assuming they were all reliable and good quality, a 320 4T engine would give the Sherco a head start for me when it came to which one.

That has just cheered me up after a bad week at work I'd liked to have tried the Sherco 4T as the concept of a bigger motor with more torque is my preference. I was asked to try one at a trial when they first came out as I was on my 4RT and the dealer was interested in how I thought they compared. Unfortunately a split intake hose meant the bike wasn't available afterwards so never did get to try it. If it grips anything like a 290, has more torque and a linear power delivery and had the starting problem resolved I think I might like one.

Which is good as I'm sure any organisers of such an event would be more than interested in genuine constructive feedback. Afterall, if customers aren't happy with the way it was run then there is always the possibility of them not returning to the next one if they feel there is little point. The object of the exercise, whatever the product, is to sell it and for that you first need customers there. Er - this is a professionally organised marketing exercise with the intention of selling the product, not a couple of blokes taking unpaid leave from work to set up a club trial in a rush on a Friday afternoon. Choices such as venue, facilities, ability of sections to cope with adverse weather are all paramount to customers getting what they need out of the event, hopefully inducing them to buy the bike. He is awake, it's a valid point. And before anyone starts, I'm not anti Montesa, I've got a 4RT.

The end cap isn't much but I can't remember the exact cost. I lost 2 in the SSDT last year and Sandifords had them with them so I was able to replace it each time. I remember that I was relieved it wasn't a stupid price as some parts like that often can be. Takes the crack out of the exhaust. I have all my restrictors in apart from the top hat in the exhaust port as I was told it smoothed the engine out. My opinion - no difference whatsoever with it in ot out. I run my tickover lower than standard as I really really really hate the high setting. No idea what it is set at but trial and error got it to where it isn't low enough to cause starting or stalling problems. Still much too fast though. Wish they could sort it. Gearing is purely personal choice on any bike so difficult to recommend really. Programmable throttle body is worthwhile as it has enabled me to soften off the power delivery from tickover which is much too sharp for me in nadgery, meaning clutch has to be used too often, particularly with the tickover being too high. You can create your own maps but good luck in trying to work out how to do it as the HRC instructions that come with it are useless in terms of making your own maps. I can't make head nor tail of it. I can email you a couple of soft settings that were sent to me but don't know what they're like as haven't had chance to put them in yet. They are for the single setting PTB, not the 2 stage one. I am still on the HRC soft setting which isn't soft enough for me. I fitted the Mitani front pipe, not for any performance improvement, just for the look as the original looks awful and like it is of a 1960s moped. I can't honestly say whether the front pipe makes any difference to the engine, if it does, not enough for me to notice. As I said though, bought it for the look, that's all. The PTB is what I wanted for the engine tuning. Keep an eye on the front sprocket as mine wore pretty quickly. Can't think of anything else right now

Nice to see that this has turned into a constructive thread now after surviving the initial onslaught. I'd be interested to know what makes the 07 so different from the 06, particularly if the clutch has been sorted. If there is one thing I truly hate about my 05 it is the bloody clutch and my mate's 06 was no different. If the clutch can be updated to 07 spec it would be good news. Now if only there was a way of dropping the tickover.

You're being a bit naive here surely. It's been in development for 3 or 4 years and will have been tested in all conditions. You don't think Beta will have let it out to be ridden in public if it didn't perform. As for its performance in those sections, as someone else has pointed out, it's Steve Saunders who's riding it for chrissake, not a novice - he's just a little bit good in mud. 99% of clubman and a lot of centre experts would probably have struggled their balls off on that section whatever the bike, whereas Steve would have performed the same on his Rev3, GasGas, 320 Armstrong or Bulto - and the 4RT. It shows the bike is capable but the only way to know for sure whether it suits you is to try it on proper and varied terrain, using Steve as a yardstick really isn't much use for us. The thing I like about that video though is what it does for the 'you have to learn to ride it like a 4 stroke' cliche which I've never understood - and I've ridden plenty of 4 strokes over the years both trials and enduro. Someone explain the difference in technique used on that section from a 2 stroke, as holding the throttle wide open, dumping the clutch and burning up the bank on full hole seems pretty much the same to me, 2 or 4 strokes....

Exactly, I've seen it happen before too, someone new comes on and their opinion is snubbed or criticised because they haven't got 'x' number of posts to their name. Just because someone hasn't posted on a particular forum before doesn't make their opnion less valid than anyone else's. There are plenty of forums where regular posters post nonsense. Yes, he may have worded it a bit more constructively, but he may also have a point. Travelling 150 miles to a bike test day where the sections have deteriorated too badly to give the bike a proper try out? Maybe it would be more prudent to use a venue that would stand up better to any adverse weather. I'm not passing judgement on the test day - I can't as I wasn't there so I have no idea what it was like, but you see the point. And the point of the test day is for people to try the bikes with a view to buying them, so rideabilty at the venue is paramount. No doubt the recent Dirt Bike show takes a lot of organising but was it any good from a trials riders perspective - not really as it was once again motocross orientated and trials was very poorly represented. So, if you'd travelled a long way and were disappointed with the show and felt that it fell short of providing what you wanted, are you wrong just because it took a lot of effort to organise? As I said, I'm not criticising the test day as I'm not in a position to and it's not my intention. I'm also all too aware of what goes into organising events of any kind, not just trials, and how easy it is for unforeseen circumstances to undo all the hard work. It happens unfortunately, as does jumping on the bandwagon of knocking someone back just because they're not in the clique

I've never seen one and I'm no expert on the subject but as far as I know there was a larger 'scottish' tank and cover made for the Seeley

I don't understand the 'sets a bad example' thinking. Adults can make their own choices as to whether they ride with helmets or not. Kids are supervised at events so don't have the choice. Parents whose kids ride outside of events have presumabley drummed it into them that it's wise to wear a helmet so it's normal for them to do so. Just because someone well known appears without a helmet shouldn't influence what others do - it's about safety, not fashion. Saying that they shouldn't be shown without a helmet is surely the same as saying they shouldn't be seen smoking or drinking either. The problem these days is that people no longer seem to be responsible for their own actions, it's always someone else's fault when things go wrong.

How easy it would be to make the front fit with mods I don't know, but it won't go straight in. TY Mono has bigger diameter spindle so won't go through 175 bearings and there is no lug on the Mono fork leg for a 175 torque arm mounting so mods needed there. There are plenty of monos being broken now, wheels come up on ebay from time to time and Ellastone Offroad may have some in stock. Wherever you look, just watch that the rim isn't corroded or spokes are broken. Rims are available but obviously expensive but spokes getting scarce.

The Wirrall event is a race over a modified version of the tough one enduro cicuit on trials bikes. Although it's called a speed trial the format is a race, just on trials bikes not enduros/motocross. There are no sections or marks lost for putting feet down, simply first one over the line at the end of the hour wins. Should be really interesting to see who comes out tops on that one as they've some top riders competing. The whole day should provide some great entertainment.

Originally I thought it was an Armstrong mono which used the 240/280 rotax motor - can't remember whether they ever put the 350 in the mono or just the twinshock though. But, the mono only came with an alloy frame as far as I remember so it can't be one of those as this one has steel downtubes from the headstock. Tank also looks wrong shape and frame looks wrong under seat. Second thought was that it is an Aprilia mono but the frame is wrong around the swingarm pivot upwards. Tank looks wrong shape for Aprilia too. So, still stumped, although it looks as though it has been butchered beyond recognition, so identification may be difficult. Love to know what it is just out of curiosity though.

I don't think they were imported officially, no. If you want one, or just an engine/parts try Ellastone offroad as they have had TY350 Yams in the past. If they've nothing now they may be able to get you something. I think the 330 mono that Tony Scarlett used to ride was a bit of a 350/250 hybrid, 250 crank with 350 barrell/piston?

As it says made in Austria on it, it's not going to be a Hiro. Can't see the carb clearly enough to tell but the 350 rotax didn't have the disc inlet arrangement so the carb sits higher than on the 240/280 motors. If it's a 350 mono it would be quite rare

It should be just fuel vapour you're seeing out the back of the carb, not exhaust gas, which is normal if you're running without the filter attached. I've seen it many times out the carb on my Ossa when giving it a quick run around the garden without the filter on.

There used to be a classic enduro run in Derbyshire somewhere. May still be run once a year not sure but I think it may be the Midland Classic club that origanises it. Again, not sure what type or class of bikes it is restricted to such as pre80, pre75 or whatever. If you can find the contact details for the club secretary, they may be able to help

Yes, friend of mine wanted one copied from mine but had to have a few made. Telephone Colin 01543 672759 or 07815 977323 They are painted satin black with the logo polished off. He also had some slimline oil pump covers done too for the 175 and 250 cases.

Don't think there is any significant advantage to using one or the other, the different characteristics they have for trials riding won't really come into play for green laning. Go for the one with the biggest tank, therefore fuel range.... Anyway, that wasn't the point of my post. As regards insurance, Carole Nash will insure both bikes on a classic policy for very little more than it will cost to insure just the one. Just insure them as a Yamaha TY250 and Suzuki RL250, which is not actually a lie, to avoid unecessary complications as they probably won't have Beamish or Majesty listed. My Majesty is on a classic policy with them as a TY250. PS - either one will be horrible on the road....

So the alloy guards that are fitted in the picture (as fitted at the show) - are they guards that you bought from Miller then? They looked as though they were the original Ossa guards to me as the front still has the original Ossa stays. If they are Miller guards, they are very close to the original type in appearance in which case I may get some for mine. From what I've seen of the Miller alloy guards, or most aftermarket ones, they were never as nice a shape as the Ossa ones, always had too round a profile, whereas those fitted to your bike are a lot flatter, like the originals.

To be honest, I'm not hellbent on the originality issue. It's nice to see original bikes at shows and the like, but for me, your bike is how I would have mine - ready to trial in trials trim, not a big fan of lights and other road gear on trials bikes. Just can't believe you found one for sale still with the original ally guards in such good nick. Mine lasted one outing on my first MAR due to having to answer the question - does it wheelie mate? Used to fit VF guards after that as although they broke if you so much as touched them, they only cost about

The bar on advertising in the forums is presumably to stop traders from advertising their products free of charge and/or without contributing to the upkeep/sponsorship of the site (I'm assuming this obviously but it seems logical) It is different if individuals with no commercial intrerest/benefit in a product recommend it - that's just recommendation, not a trader's advert. That wasn't the issue (for me) or whether the item is worth the price being asked - people will vote with their wallets on that issue, if they want it they'll buy it which is fair enough - I just find the 'I'm in the know but I'm not telling' response to a direct question that crops up from time to time in some topics, annoying and pointless. This is trials, which we're all supposed to have a common interest in, not the Masons.

Now there's a question - a bit like why was there so much 'mystique' surrounding where to get a one piece TLR tank seat unit and how much are they. All that cloak and dagger PM me for details stuff. Why not just come out with the source and price which is what interested parties want to know.

You may be surprised at the views of another of our top national riders. Have a look at the Hillsborough Club's website and see what Dan Thorpe was trying to propose for 2007. Some good ideas here but his view on the current WTC/Euro and British Championships may not be what you'd think. Seems he sent this out to relevant clubs and was then going to air it at the ACU forum but as that was cancelled not sure if it ever got any further. hillsboroughtrials Then look at the link for "New British Trials Championship Format ? Have your say!!!"

quote AS iow; So if Sheffield indoor was shown live on BBC one, on a Saturday evening what would happen. Would'nt riders find it easier to get sponsored, because evenyone would know what trials was. If you ask most people to sponsor someone today they say (how may race's have you won) unquote But you're talking about a different issue now - getting sponsorship This topic was about manipulating rules to get certain rider(s) into the junior championship (lost on me as I don't follow it) and then evovled into what can be done to get the WTC better supported. All I'm saying is that no amount of sponsorship/money/tv coverage of trials is going to gift someone the ability they need to successfully cope with sections of such an extreme severity found in the WTC which bear little resemblence to the origins of the sport. Perhaps it's time the FIM started running the WTC again, junk the promoter (WTC round in Guatemala or wherever it is...!!??) cut the costs and get the sport closer to it's roots and allow more riders to participate. Surely the clubs and governing body of each country can organise a world round without the need of promoters.