woody

A whole 30 minutes eh... That will be 5 - 10 minutes of woffle about the area the trial is being staged in, another few minutes on rider profiles, 5 minutes of adverts for abdominal stretch machines and sixties and seventies 'hits' and finally, if we're really lucky, about 10 minutes total running time of the actual trial. Cynical I know and we should be grateful for any coverage, but they could do so much better. As you probably guessed, the standard of their coverage in the past really p*sses me off. Better this year maybe...?

If only..... I'm at the other end of the results table from Steven 'woody' Hole. Their bikes did look nice but like you, not sure about the green

There were 3 or 4 Sherco 4T near to me in the SSDT last week, one of which was ridden by Codina (spelling) and they certainly looked good in the sections, particularly in the hands of their very capapable riders. It's a shame they went out of the trial, I think one finished, but very brave of Sherco to give them such a public test. Hopefully they'll sort whatever the problems were. I love my 4RT but also think Sherco have done a tremendous job fitting the 4T engine into the existing Chassis. From 10 yards or so yo can't tell them apart and it's a good looking bike. More variety the better I say.

GOOD - Total reliability so far, especially in the SSDT. Started first kick every day, virtually maintenance free, just the usual checks, rad, spokes (always ok) tyre presures and changed the airfilter Wednesday, topped up with a bit of oil Thursday and that was it. Cruised on the road at 60mph if needed, even with the 43 tooth rear sprocket. Good on the moors and forest tracks, good low down torque meant minimum gear changes. Just lost a rear mudguard bolt, front mudguard stay bolt and the rear restrictor through six days of SSDT vibration but I can put up with that. Never lost any coolant all week. BAD - well, it only seemed to affect me but I ran out of fuel on the Thursday run up to Chairlift and I have no idea why (I wasn't thrashing it) Don't know if taping over the vent holes in the mudguard made it guzzle a bit more fuel but I was the only one to run out. And it happened again on Saturday, but this time just a few hundred yards shy of the fuel stop. Sandifords reckon that the 4RT holds 2.6 litres and should range 75km on that, whereas the 315 holds 2.2 litres and should range 37km. I noticed at the fuel stops though that it seemed to take longer to refuel me than it did the two strokes. Only other bad point I can think of is that the rear mudguard is not as bendy as the one on my old 98 315 which you could tie in a knot. The 4RT one seems to crack too easily. But these are small points. Great bike and I love it.

Had a try on Kev Seward's 175 Scorpa at Bootle a few weeks ago. The set-up of the bike was superb, suspension was so plush and it steered well. They certainly know how to set up a bike.

I'll have one more go at posting the Fraser picture tomorrow before I head off to Scotland. Hopefully I can get it to work

Thanks for the link John, couldn't find it anywhere myself Can't see any replica 305 style tank/seat units though

I know it should, I did, but it won't. That's where my patience finally went and I had to leave it before the PC was trashed against a wall. Have to work with the bloody things all day so can do without the agro at home with them too...... but I'll try it again later

Found and scanned a picture of the 305 Fraser but it wouldn't upload - didn't like the type of file, don't know why...... I'll try again tonight when my patience may have returned

Yes, not exactly my 'home' club which is Stafford Auto, but had to join CWAC for an enduro back in January. Out of touch now with modern trials in Mid Wales centre so don't know Simon. Looks a handy rider. Two sections today where you were a 3 or a 5 if you couldn't trick ride and he looked pretty useful there. Seemed to have no problem tricking the 4T around and said it was light as a feather. I on the other hand was having to learn trick riding as I went - was almost starting to almost get the hang of it at the end.... 4RT is pretty easy to ponce about on too - if you know what you're doing. Didn't see it give him any starting problems, it seemed to fire up without any problems. It's pretty quiet, sounds very 'airboxy' if that makes sense, almost strangled, but looks like it performs well. Didn't have a ride on it myself but I know Simon didn't like the 4RT when he tried one. Sound it makes reminds me of how the 450 KTM sounds before an aftermarket pipe is fitted. Still can't believe what a tidy job they've made of putting such a tall engine into that frame. Couldn't spot the 4T from the 2 stroke until right up close.

Have you had a ride out on it yet John. Be interesting to know how it performs. Still kicking myself for not bidding on it but I think you'd probably have outbid me. My redundancy cheque came too late.......

I was riding round with him part of the time and he said he liked it lot - said his usual bike is a 290.

Never knew Fraser did frames for the TL125. The one I was thinking of was his 305 version of the TL250 which used a frame similar to the one in the second link with fuel in the top tube. Never actually saw one though even though they were made in Redditch which is local.

Love to Stu but I've nothing to fit it to There's a project been hatching for a while now but can't see any way of making it happen, but the picture of that replica has certainly rekindled the fire.... unfortunately Are you having them made? Any pictures? What's the link to your website as my computer has gone bang, I'm on someone else's at the moment so don't have my links etc. Are you in Scotland for the 2- day next week?

In the Fraser topic, which I didn't want to hijack, you posted the picture of the Honda replica built in Spain. Any idea whether they are reproducing those tank/seat units out there and if so who/where/cost. Do you also know what frame they have used? Doesn't look like a modified TL frame. Are they scratch building replica frames too?

Mmmm very nice but not a Fraser, looks wise at least. More a copy of the 305 works bikes Fraser had seperate tank and seat unit and the fuel may even have been held in the top frame tube, can't remember now. May have a picture of one somewhere, if I can find it I'll post it

Don't be put off by what people say about the Gripper, they aren't bad bikes. Just like anything old if everything is worn it will give the wrong impression. Steve Bisby from Sheffield has a pretty well sorted 250 Gripper and that rides nicely as I've tried it. There is nothing trick on it, just rebuilt with rear shocks that work, although it took ages of fiddling to get them that way and MAR MK1 front forks which are a bit shorter than standard. All Ossas after 1976 had absurdly long front forks and you had to drop the top yolk a couple of inches or so to balance the bike up. One thing that is true about them though is that they are absolute b******s to work on. Nothing is easily accesible, especially the rear bottom engine bolt. You need the hands of a pixie. One thing they can benfit from as do most older bikes is lowering the footrests but depends how tall you are as to whether you feel too tipped forward on it - under 6' and they are probably ok where they are. Also, if you have the handlebar clamps that sweep back towards the rider it is worth replacing these with conventional type (like those in the picture on previous page) as that also moves the bars forward and away from you and gives a bit more room in the'cockpit'. Hope you get it up and running soon

No chance. I like them both but the MAR edges it..... Mick has the best of both, a MAR chassis with a 350 Gripper motor that his friends in Spain have built. Probably won't see it over here but I'll bet it is one well sorted bike

Isn't that MAR one of the prettiest trials bikes ever made

It's an RS200. There are several aftermarket tank/seat combinations available for them in Japan so they don't all look the same. Motor is basically the same as the Seeley except the Seeley had some tweaks (depends on who you talk to as to how many....) one of which was to over bore it to 66mm which gives 198cc as opposed to the 194cc of the RS200. The air intake hose etc. on the Seeley is there. just hidden by the tank/seat unit. Re; the TLR 250'S they have coming in, I wonder if they will be 'proper' TLR's or those perimiter framed monoshock things which have a completely different engine too. Looked at one at an autojumble yesterday and the engine is pretty big on those with bits stuck on all over the place.

Yes I know, he's a naughty boy fitting that modern tackle. Had a go on it up at Bootle and it rides pretty well.... It still had the Honda front end fitted when they were winding me up though

I've been trying to salvage some reasoning out of the price.........

I think you may find it has changed. When I wanted seat unit decals for the 05 pro I was told not available, the seat unit is colour coded so you have to buy the complete unit at

Definitely won't be for you if you're thinking of doing one on a trials bike, but, borrow a 200 KTM to do one on and you find yourself hooked. Saying they are a long motocross is oversimplifying it a bit. Tue, it is a race directly against other riders, but the course is nothing like a motocross track. Part of it may include a motocross track if there is one on the land used but it will make up about 5% of the overall course. The rest of the track can involve forest tracks, tight woodland tracks, streams, bogs, open fields, rocks, etc etc. You have to read the land a lot more than a motocross track and pick lines - this is why trials riders adapt pretty well as they are used to reading sections and picking a line. If it is Chiltern Hills club you are talking about I have heard they put on pretty good events. If you're not riding a trial go and have a look and you can see what it's all about

I'd agree with that as it's a pretty good synopsis of what I've found. Very nice to ride on rocky terrain due to superb suspension and steering and for whatever the reason, it does feel 'planted'. On cambers and greasy surfaces it grips well and can pull higher gear/lower revs dues to excellent torque and find grip well. I'd agree that in really thick, deep mud a 2-stroke in 4th gear flat out will probably clear the tyre and burn through to find grip better than the 4RT but there aren't many sections like that overall, even in our poxy muddy midlands trials. So a trial like the Colmore with really big snotty climbs may favour the 2-stroke - but it never used to bother Saunders on the RTL......... I've ridden it in 2 trials and loved it and find it easy to ride. I've also lowered the tickover so I can ride it on the throttle, old-fashioned style when I want and it really is excellent at allowing you to just trickle along and pick a path without slipping the bloody clutch everywhere. No flat spots, no power bands, just perfectly linear power delivery all the way through. Nice. It's just a bit of trial and error working out how low you can go with the tickover before it won't start... Larger back sprocket also fitted. I have to say that it puts a smile on my face and I feel it has that undefinable thing - character. I've even taken to having little rides around the garden on it, just to hear it. Restrictors are all in and it has enough go for me - haven't found it lacking yet. It is also nice to ride on the road, engine doesn't hunt or detonate and it is almost comfortable to sit on/in. I realise they aren't to everyone's taste and I'd never say they are the best thing out there - each to there own. You need to try one on varied and proper sections to evaluate whether you like them, not try one around the carpark or listen to the crap such as 'they've got no power cos Lampkin can't clear 8 foot vertical steps' to make an assessment. I tried two at two seperate trials over a weekend and had sold the 5 week, 3 trials old 280 pro and bought one within a week and I'm very happy with it. One thing that hacks me off though. They've got digital ignition, fuel injection, whatever and the speedo looks like it has come out of the 349 parts bin with a cable down to the front wheel that is just begging to snag a branch. Why couldn't they fit a digital one? Small point I know but... I can live with it though...