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That's very kind Will, sadly my trips up to Norfolk are limited these days. With all these jobs you need to be doing them on a regular basis, showing someone how to do something is fine, but more likely practice makes perfect. Also cobbling tother a bitsa is all well and good, but many out there want the glittering , must have bit that does cost, looks good and of course makes them a better rider.. Supply and demand will always dictate the value of something, it will be interesting to see just how much these somethings cost in a months time at Telford.

It's easy to say or write, just mod this and just turn that down and just respoke that wheel, not many people have the know how to do this, or the shed or garage with the right tools. Hence a package through the door sometimes, often squirrelled away before someone else sees is the only way to go. Building a bike on a tight budget to bugger all is all well and good... if you know how.. Most of us don't , but wish we could.

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The trial at Maeztu, am I right in its just over the French border near to Pampalona.. If so any chance of contact details, assuming non Spanish riders will be able to ride using the day licence included in the entry Thanks

Thanks for the comments, I will pass them on.

Would you buy a jota gas and if so why and if not whynot.. Sounds a silly question I know , but its really on behalf of someone else...

Depends how lardy you are..... they put sidecars on 200 Fantic new saw one on a 175 Yamaha..

I would imagaine a tidy 200 Fantic would be well within your budget or are things going the same way as the Pre 65 scene

Interesting, very interesting... Are greeves with banana forks not pre 65 then, I only ask as this side of the channel there are some slightly hostile comments on why Charles Coutard didn t get a ride, certainly as he had entered by all accounts on one of the less fiddle, trick more original bikes of that era.. and the reason touted is that his bike was unacceptable.

Todays Pre 65 / Classic trials is just history repeating itself.. won t be to long before you won t be able to give a decent Fantic away and everybody will be after Mono Yam's.. you wait...

Woody, can you check your T.C Inbox tried to send you a message. Cheers

I would agree with Woody, just changed the shocks on mine to 360 Rock shocks, great over the dry Spanish rocks this weekend, steering great, just got the clutch to fine tune.... somemore.....Patrik..

Try France Trial classic, he usually stocks the early TY seats with the fiberglass surround although only in yellow perhaps like the very first model.

I over the last few days been toying with a new Pre 65 project.. Done a little contacting and adding up on the back of an envelope and that's were its going to stay. I thought Repsol Hondas were exoctia, not a pre 65 with a Villiers engine

I Would say its a nice ride round, and yes you would think having only 20 sections might be a little light. However you never seem to think at the end of the day, we finished too early, or I wish there were more sections. Its a full days riding and to be honest ageing limbs on Sunday morning do object a little when putting on the boots. My only comment, the organisers are getting slightly hung up on having all these ex superstars there and catering accordingly. The hard route not long ago was very do able, now its becoming a very tough, hence the middle route is packed with riders who should be in my opinion riding the red. Also the handicappe system. If you ride a pre 65, at the end of the day your marks are cut in half. There is no segregation and only one class, so riders on twinshocks have to have an almost magical ride to beat good riders on good pre 65,s after all the adjustments are made. Still these issues maybe looked at and tweaked for next year, again really worth doing for the whole experience.

A great watch, what It doesn,t show is how difficult the red route really was and how the team of Tarres, Saunders and Berlatier were a country mile ahead of the rest who really struggled on the top route. It is a trial that should be on the hitless of must do's and again the video doesn t show the wonderful array of machinery on view ridden right across the classes .One of the observers had Eddie Lejeurns Honda to get to his section, and it was left propted up against a tree. If you are slightly effected by trials bike envy, then come to the trial next year, there is usually one of every thing there. You need to get organized though they were oversubscribed by 120 this year.

As a young man in shorts I can still remember the heady days of the Austin Allegro, Maxi and the Morris Marina, the four wheeled version of the the motorcycle industry at the time. I can also remember the fledging Honda dealer ships and drooling at the first XL range as well as having to step into the road to get passed the rows and rows of sold Honda step thru's,. The world and his brother very soon had one to start first time and get him to work. Fast forward to now the gleaming Honda range in both motorcycle and cars for sale in the glossy showrooms and where is the British motor trade, the same place as the BSA bantam, being fettled and kept running in garden sheds.

If I could ask for a little guidence also. I am contemplating risking a stamp as well , but before could someone help with a couple of queries . My Ariel has no rear stays, ie. the ones that drop down from below the seat and fix lower down I assume behind the clutch somewhere, is this frame allowed. I wish I could remember the builder. I also have a Yamaha forkbrace, I seem to remember they may be up for discussion. Lastly I cannot again recall who supplied the yokes and have been told just to mark them down on the sheet as replica of the time. They are not Spanish, and the last time it went North of the border 1999 it went through the scruitineering fine. Thanks in advance

Yes agreed, having a trial almost on your doorstep most weekends, several national championships and a few named classics all covered by a tiny fee in comparison, you have never had it so good......

Exactly, and with fewer and fewer trials to ride, its becoming an expensive hobby. Insurance costs through the roof, as well as a portion on each licence going to fund the training of young riders etc, the natives are not happy. What is happening more and more now are what they call Trials amical. These are trials that are run without an entry fee, without observers and without a classification. No licence required so they are attracting a good amount of riders. Even the Mont Ventoux classic trial although run under a different federation ie. UFOLEP, the only requirement was a road legal bike and a medical certificate. I don t know where its all going, but the normal weekend competition trial may soon be a rare thing.

HI If your bikes are uk registered , the change over should be quite simple although remember this is France... . In France to be road legal have to have lights fitted, and working. To obtain a French licence you will need to pass a CASM test. This is just a test organised by the club you choose to join, showing you are a competent rider. Most entries will ask for this as well. Again you will need a bike licence to ride, as again this is asked for and checked sometimes at signing on. You should, if living in France, change your English licence for a French one, its a simple swap, One bonus is you get your trailer licence as well which is a separate affair here and requires a test. You do however need a medical from your local doctor, again easy to arrange. In France you can use a trailer of less that total 750 kg on your car licence, above that you need a trailer licence hence you have that anyway. so best to organise that changeover at the same time. Regarding classic bikes that have never been registered, either in France or elsewhere. You can get a carte gris for it quite easily. You apply for a form from the I think FFVE its a classic dating company that with the form you fill out and the photos you supply verifies that it is in fact what you state it is. With this completed form which is around 50 euros to obtain you can go to your prefecture and register it and get a registration number. It a little bit of a faff , long around three months but quite easy. A FFM licence which is the federation that runs modern trials will cost around 200 euros per year, plus club membership 30 euros not the cheap ACU here . A Ufolep licence which most classic Pre 65 twinshock trials will be around 60 euros in total. For all the dicking around with registrations etc it may pay to look and see about selling your bikes in the uk and buying French homogated bikes here cerrtainly Stg is quite strong so wont be much in it. Hope this helps,

Cheers Ross..

Not wanting to drive Martin mad again with a question... I have it seems, the plug it left the factory with and I have decided to change it whether it needs it on not.. Can someone point me in the right direction on the NGK I might need. Oh I nearly forgot 1978 320... Merci Beaucoup

As far as I know kill buttons can still be the original type.

A guard must be fitted to the swinging arm, usually shark fin in shape and positioned down so it covers where the chain meets the rear sprocket. It is a must. In fact all trial in France require this for future reference. Plus not forgetting a working kill button.