woody

Don't know what that is that you found but they are definitely not British - they are Russian. Can't remember who imported them but Jon Bliss did develop them and rode them for a few years before he got involved in developing his own Cotswold ER followed by the 4-stroke Majesty. As standard they weren't very good as has already been mentioned, but like anything they can be made to go well enough if enough time and money is spent. Depends on how far you want to go. Jon Bliss could give you a few pointers, may even have spares or know who would.

When it comes to what is best for trials perhaps take a look at the current UK scene. British Championship has about 15 ?? riders in the main class and less than 30 ?? in the support class? The difference in ability between the top 4 or 5 in the Main class and the rest is huge and has been for the last (how many??) years. There are a few from the schoolboys pushing through but to Jarvis' level? My question is, if these are the sort of trials people want, why aren

I've no argument that that display is very very impressive. Interesting to note though that about 80% of it didn't need a 'bike' of any sort as it is hop jump hop jump sequences. The wheels never turn and he could probably do it on a pogo stick or similar. I saw some similar exibitions on unicycles on local news a couple of days ago - they even have a unicycle world trials championship. I still prefer to see the bike being ridden as opposed to jumped about. You don't need wheels for the latter.

But we've been there before and in the early nineties it nearly ruined the sport. The level of skill between those that can do it (and I mean properly) and those that can't meant trials got too hard for most and entries declined to the point that events were in danger of disappearing. Not many wanted to ride the SSDT for example but look at it now. I just think it is a pity that the variance is disappearing from WTC sections. Time was they'd go to different countries and experience the different terrain each had to offer but now it is getting near the point where they may as well ship the same man-made sections around each one. Bit of a generalisation maybe and not applicable to all rounds but not too far off the mark for many. It almost seems that the calendar these days is shaped to (try to) miss out the wetter months of the year. How long before mud and water are banned from the events as it obscures sponsors logos from TV....

As Stuart has summed up I think you may encounter all sorts of problems trying to convert to 250 because of the variances throughout the two ranges. I have a 74 325 which is very soft and completely standard running on the MK1 Amal. I think it was from about 75/76 that the motor got sharpened up with a snappier delivery. Having said that I know someone with a later and standard 325 that is also soft so there are variances in performance too.... Have you tried the usual calming measures such as extra head gaskets, space the inlet manifold back, both of which will decrease cylinder/crankcase compression, retard timing as far as possible (when you go too far with this they do like to run backwards though...) These are cheap and quick measures to experiment with. If you know someone who knows what they are doing get a spare head - should be plenty around, and get the combustion chamber machined to soften it off. Probably worth having a word with Dave Renham too at Bultaco UK.

The venue isn't the one I thought according to one of my mates so not sure what type of land it is set out on. I can't ride as I was already booked in for an enduro before the date was anounced

Andy, how did you get that picture of my Seeley...... Oh I wish I wish I wish

When I was riding in Joel Corroy's classic trial in France last year, at the festivities afterwards he said Eddy was no longer that interested in trials and had sold all his gear, trophies and bikes. He now supports his daughter in horse riding events. No idea if this is correct of course and we were all pretty well spooned at the time. I do know that he sold 2 bikes to French Honda enthuisiast Jean Calliou who restored both and sold one for enough to pay for them both. Eddy is also supposed to have kept one bike and rides it in the Bilstain Classic 2 day each year but as I've never done it I can't verify that. So that's what Eddy might be doing.....

OK, my opinion. Modern trials bikes (which covers the last 10 or more years) aren't made to ride on the throttle slowly at very low revs any more. They're designed to produce quick bursts of power and to be ridden in a point and squirt technique on the clutch and brakes which is the modern technique - although it doesn't suit everyone obviously, me included. The days of riding clutch out on the 2 strokes, old Bultaco/Ossa/Montesa style is generally gone. Those bikes had big ignition flywheels as well as clutch flywheels and that allied to softer engine porting meant they could comfortably chug below walking pace clutch out, with no snatch or jerkiness. Modern bikes with their much lighter flywheels, more radical porting (and very bouncy suspension) don't lend themselves to that style of slow clutch out riding. Exceptions are the Rev 3 with their 3 stage ignition which are very progressive off the throttle and the Scorpa which is a bit softer than most but still lumpy to a degree. As far as your bike is concerned I'm assuming when you talk about heavy flywheel weight you mean it in the general sense that trials bikes are supposed to have heavy flywheels. Gas Gas now do bolt on additional weights for the Pro so if they do one for the 02 Pro I would buy one if I were you as that is the easiest way to knock the edge of a jerky and over-responsive bottom end without having any detrimental affect on the bikes ability to still respond when the throttle is snapped open. The extra weight will kill the lumpiness and the bike can virtually be ridden old-fashioned style. I speak from the experience of riding a friends 05 250 Pro before and after the weight was added. Before it was just as you describe and horrible to ride. After, I could ride it the same as my Ossa, clutch out.

Yes, I've ridden my MAR in the Classic series since it began back in late 80s although I've missed most of this and last years rounds through injury of one sort or another. Being a '75 bike it is generally by far the oldest twinshock in the series and being standard - at least the 310 is, the 250 has a reed valve - it isn't quite as competitive as the later bikes, some of which are now in a more capable spec than they were when new, so the gap just gets wider. So I'm currently getting a Majesty 340 ready and built to the way I like to ride to use in next years series, although hope to try it in Hillsborough event in October as one last shakedown. It's still a 'work in progress patchwork quilt job' at the moment but getting there. If you're interested in a Majesty let me know and I can PM you the phone number of a mate of mine who has one to rebuild but probably won't get around to it so will sell it. It's a Godden framed model, one of the later ones, and is all there, just needs a good tidy. No idea what he wants for it but you can talk to him if you like.

That Majesty has been on ebay twice before, the first time it didn't sell, the second time it did and I'm assuming the person who bought it then is the person selling it now. I'm sure it was around the

Allens in Bingham Notts. tel 01949 836733 sell Mikunis and I think have the jet sizes for Sherpas so worth a try. Can't speak from experience as to what difference it will make but a new Mikuni is sure to be an improvement on a used Bing or whatever is fitted at the moment, but by how much and whether it is a worthwhile mod I can't say.

Have to say I agree with Dabster in the case of Eurosport. In a half hour program there's maybe 10 minutes of actual riding shown. The rest is pointless interviews and 5 minutes lead in showing the local community and landmarks - fine in an hour long program but not a 30 minute one. Then there's over 5 minutes of adverts including my pet hate - trailers for other programs midway through a program instead of inbetween programs. All this if they bother to stick to their schedule of course as the live synchronised swimming might overrun. I watched the WSB highlights from Brands last night. In race 2 they went for an advert and rejoined about 12 laps later - missing Chris Walker move up from about 7th to 4th. What do they think we want to see when they planned that..?

Thanks for the replies. I managed to get hold of Bill Pye after posting the question. Between us we couldn't work out what the forks I've got have come off, other than they are 32mm Marzzochis (they're fitted to a C15) so the question became academic after that. Whatever they are, they're dismal and will shortly be replaced with something else. I must add though that I've never had to speak to Bill before, not having owned a Fantic since 1982. He doesn't know me yet happily chatted along as though we'd known each other for years and even took time out to check up on all forks fitted to all Fantic t/shocks to try and identify mine. Very nice bloke and very helpful.

Same here, I took the front out of mine to see if it did soften it a little. Couldn't actually tell any difference in performance but it was certainly no louder. I think it is the middle one that causes noise problems as I lost the rear restrictor in the SSDT and didn't notice it being any louder.

Just as a comparison I had a 2000 YZ426 from new and ran it for almost 3 years in enduro and hare and hound events, during which time it was used every 2 to 3 weeks. I also had supermoto wheels and used it on the road now and again. In that time it needed nothing replaced, just regular oil and filter changes. The motor was as strong when I sold it as when I first had it. The manual said change the piston every 3 races..... I have a 4RT also and there is no way that will ever get the abuse in trials that my Yam got so I can't see any reason to change a piston every year (or equivalent number of hours)

A long shot probably, but UK dealer Steve Goode may have odd bits for Italjet trials. You can e-mail him at stevejgoode@aol.com or if you want to telephone 0044 (0)1938 850544 - drop the zero in brackets I think. He definitely has some bits and pieces for twinshocks as he has been trading since 1980 and was an agent for bikes from that era when new. Worth a try.

Munch - did you buy those or did you make up brackets yourself?

ORO = Offroad Only in Llandrindod Wells Tel: 01597 822666. Massive retailers for offroad bikes and ATV accessories and spares. They used to have a website but seems to have disappeared

Can anyone tell me the quantity of oil in a Fantic 200 front fork. They are 32mm diameter marzzochis off an early 200. Thanks

Yes I know and I don't like the 'hijacking' of topics, but this one was already way off your original question so I thought no harm... Problem with a question like that though is you're never going to get the correct answer unless it comes from a qualified engine/mechanical/development engineer or whatever their correct title is. Just about everything else is opinion/conjecture. Not unlike opinions on different makes of bike perhaps... I've always wondered why they run so hot too but have no idea - or is it just an illusion/misconception that they run hotter. Has anyone ever compared temperatures? (serious anorak stuff that...) Plenty of 2-stroke enduro bikes boil up when thrashed through bogs, not just 4-strokes. I know one thing though, I've had both lying on top of me following a spill at enduros and the pipe off either feels just as hot when it's stripping off layers of flesh - or maybe the 4-stroke edges it but the pipe is a fraction of the diameter of the 2-stroke so I guess it would. And just to answer Webmonkey's question, I bought a 4RT after trying a couple over proper sections and liking it - like you, didn't care what anyone else thought as I'm the one riding it. Just the way it was with the TYZ too...

Not 4 strokes per se, just the 4T . Often by people practicing sciolism The Mont has taken far more criticism than the Sherco. People were queuing up to knock it before it was even released and once it was out it was flayed for various 'faults', more often by people who had never ridden one. The Sherco has got off lightly compared to the poor old 4RT. (I have a 4RT but like them both) Favourite trials engine ever..?? Birkett's TYZ engined NBT special. Nothing else comes close (for me)

I fitted one to my 05 280 pro and it made no difference. Tried a mate's 05 250 pro before and after he fitted a flywheel weight and the improvment with the weight was very noticeable, smoothed the bottom end right out and softer pick-up. I know other people who have fitted head spacers and been pleased with the difference but I honestly couldn't tell any difference on mine. I know which mod I'd go for if I was in that position again. More expensive but easier to fit than the head spacer.

Thanks for the input guys. The bike has the distributor engine and is actually runner and reasonably well sorted, electronic ignition, alloy rims etc. The reason I was after a cam is because I'm having a bit or work done to the engine (by someone who knows what they are doing, not me) and they suggested I might try a sports cam. If it doesn't work too well, I can always swap back to the road cam. I managed to get one yesterday from Vale-Onslow. Interesting, as when I went there Saturday the disinterested bugger behind the counter (not Len) said they hadn't got any C15 cams at all. When my dad called in there yesterday to get gaskets etc. and realised that Len junior behind the counter was the same Len in his class at school they had a chat and hey presto - a camshaft appeared...... So last night I came to reassemble the gearbox with a new bearing and bushes and bugger - bushes have to be reamed out, something I can't do so another delay. The joys of old iron.

Thanks for that, I'll try them tomorrow. Can't believe how difficult it is to source a C15 road cam. I thought there woiuld be loads lying about on shelves but no luck today. Tried 3 'enthusiastic' 'specialists' whose attitude left something to be desired. If I have the luxury of choice for parts in the future I won't go near them again