metisse

Just worth a mention the Mont Ventoux trial barely two weeks away had 470 entries, to which it appears 170 riders were unlucky to miss out. So 300 classic riders will enjoy the provence sunshine.. I hope. Safe journey down to the Brits and good luck.

Thanks I will pass this on to him. Having owned the bike for some 55 years he has quite an attachment to it. I very much doubt it will ever pass the begins cards again, moreover a sunday morning hack. It is a lovely bike and worlds away from a present day pre65 and dare I say it almost unridable in all but the very easy route. How times have changed... Thanks for the replies

Could anybody please point me in the right direction regarding the above bike owned from new by my trialing uncle. He is looking to restore the bike to original condition could anybody please recommend a company or individual who is capable of carrying out the work. Would prefer East Anglia or South East. Many thanks

I have resisted the temptation to go down the electronic route, however turning up a Spanish trial several years ago at great expense to find the bike heating up and stopping after only one section does however make me feel it may be worth while. I will, if I find the right trial ride it , but it really needs to be ridden in sensible sections against bikes of a similar era. Like many I have watched Mick Andrews in those old black and white cine films, but modern classic sections are still too modern In my view, and in any case I have other, later bikes of which I prefer. One final thought, as discussed privately with a Scot's chum, I wouldn t mind seeing the Pre 65 Scottish changed to Pre 75. Whilst remaining a classic, I wonder if more people would now prefer this era of trials bike heading up pipeline than the 2015 pre 65's of today.

That is a lovely TY. I have recently bought the same model and year, not dissimilar in condition although mine has a hiccup when it comes to running. I have bought it as a sunny day runneraround not a serious trialing steed. Once we get it up and running will try and post. A very nice bike..

A little sarcastic tongue in cheek......50 year old ex schoolboy trials rider doing the best he can still,riding non stop and resisting going over to the dark side of stop...where I would then need a clutch and brakes..

that sounds just the ticket... will it fit neatly behind an SWM clutch cover... and er , what exactly is it...

Yes, have you tried an SWM clutch..

Fun boys Three.. that's a name from the past.. Anyway these boys are in and their team is registered....

Another quick thought... The weekend before this trial, there is a French classic round being held at Sardent, Nr Limoges Creuse. It will be using land also used for the well known classic four day trial, that many on here may well know or in fact ride. Its a new event this year and they would welcome any riders on their way down to Provence that may fancy a warm up. Its a two day event , although the championship is on the Sunday. Camping on site ..

The entry for this trial is now up to 450 riders, the organisers are now seriously looking to curtail any further entries, if you are undecided, or have just entered in the last week you may not get in and have your entry returned.

It was a good trialing weekend, with both him and Charles Coutard mingling and speaking with the riders. An autograph session Saturday evening, with them both signing pre printed action photo,s again a very well thought out addition to the weekend. However after wobbling round on Saturday trying not to make any errors, it became a different story when right on que sunday, the heavens opened and the cobwebs got dusted off third gear. I would think the 75 kg bike doubled in weight. Chapeau to Joel and his merry men for a fantastically well organized trial... made better in my opinion by the rain ordered especially for " Le Rostbiff,s " or so Joel said on the Sunday...

Yes, its worth doing..

I have just bought this and its got a list of illnesses , the main and really only one left, is a worn carb. I would like to replace the original TK for the equivlent Mikuni. After making some enquires it appears the dark arts of carburation are in force when it comes to this particular Yamaha. Would any kind person help me in pointing at the carb I might need, along with the relevent jet / needle sizes so I at least try and get it to run halfway right. I would love it to be a bolt on straight of the box , is this really too much to ask.. Thanks in advance

Hi Yes I cannot see a problem doing that, each one will have a different dossier number. Print all the different entries off and send in one envelope.. Et volia. Out of interest are there many Brits apart from the normal/ regular faces coming.

I have just entered myself, so you go to pre inscription there is a yes or no box to tick to start with concerning whether you need additional insurance.. I have the bike insure and are covered so its a no for me, as for riders in the uk I would think. Pre inscription you just fill it out for yourself like any other entry form. You do however add the name of the other team members in the box provided. Level.. Yellow easier route, Blue middle, Red Hard. You download your dossier, which will appear like a pre filled in entry, print it off and send it to the address indicated. Payment for non Frenchies is cash when you arrive to sign on. Don't forget you need to take driving licence, bike registration details and insurance details when you sign on. If I have missed something or anything else needs to be addressed I will post. Don,t forget the Helmet has to correspond to the regs I posted earlier in the thread, if not no ride. Lights must be fitted but don't need to work.

Did nt the Germans lend the greece the money so they could in turn spend the money in..... Germany. The Swiss are buying euros at the moment and with the bad news already in the rate I doubt the euro will go much lower. Lastly I find it amusing that the greek chap in charge is straight on the phone to francois Holland who is straight from the Russel Brand school of economics....what the f45k does he know, apart from throwing good money after bad...Perhaps they think and hope the same.

Just to update a little, the entries should be out today on the Ventoux trial classic site. Bike requirements... Engine sprocket guards must be fitted, along with rear swinging arm guards, where the chain and sprocket meet. lights as mentioned must be of motorcycle origin and not repeat not mountain bike type. The do not have to work. Due to some one trying to be toooooo clever last year , later aircooled mono engines 307/309 Fantic or Aprillias with twinshocks mounted will not be accepted . Helmets must adhere and be stamped ECE 2205 , whilst no expert all trials helmets of the last three years have this anyway.. Good luck and see you there.

Just had confirmation regarding the helmet legality issue.. Apparently helmets need to conform to ECE 22-05 , should be stamped or marked on the inside somewhere.. If this doesn t make sense or poses a question let me know. I have seen them get arsey and turn riders away in previous years so its best sorted out before anybody heads across the channel.. Lights on previous years have never had to work, so I don t see that changing now .

The entries will open for the VTC Classic from the 14 th July, Remember those wanting to ride, bikes must be road legal and you will have to provide doc's . Lights must be fitted... mountain bike / handle bar mounted will not be excepted. Helmets will be checked and from memory have to be less than three or five years old with a makers stamp etc, I will confirm the exact period in the coming days as I will check the exact regulation regarding this. Hope that helps Bon soiree..

There's a word for people who like doing that ......

Pre 65 bikes have always evolved, and from memory this evolution really took off in the early nineties around the time if memory again is correct, corresponded in the heady entries for classic trials including the Sammy miller rounds. Sadly even at this time there were condescending comments aimed at new builds that did not fit the criteria of what people at the time considered to be correct and more often than not modified Ariels took more flack than others. The S.M trials while very good, catered for the old school unmodified bikes and not for the new breed arriving and low scores meant that sometimes the trial was won or lost on a dab. This discouraged the more competitive rider and bike leaving it to the bikes that enjoyed this format. No problem horses for courses... if you know what I mean. Nowadays all the old boys I know with a beard and a shed at the end of the garden are building light weight bikes, where as twenty years ago they were trying to make a Royal Enfield competitive as well as juggling a job and family. More time, perhaps money and a better equipped shed , means they can have a bike now, that if they it drop, they can a least pickup without wearing truss. Twinshock remains cheap trialing, for the time being and in my view age related classes are the way to go . The Spanish have it right with the pre 75,pre 78 pre 80 and the rest... bikes are breathed on but remain in the spirit of the classes.. I have no idea how you rein in the current pre 65 scene if in fact it needs it.. My view is those old bikes of yesteryear will remain in the sheds or used purely to get the sunday papers.

Pre 65 bikes have always evolved, and from memory this evolution really took off in the early nineties around the time if memory again is correct, corresponded in the heady entries for classic trials including the Sammy miller rounds. Sadly even at this time there were condescending comments aimed at new builds that did not fit the criteria of what people at the time considered to be correct and more often than not modified Ariels took more flack than others. The S.M trials while very good, catered for the old school unmodified bikes and not for the new breed arriving and low scores meant that sometimes the trial was won or lost on a dab. This discouraged the more competitive rider and bike leaving it to the bikes that enjoyed this format. No problem horses for courses... if you know what I mean. Nowadays all the old boys I know with a beard and a shed at the end of the garden are building light weight bikes, where as twenty years ago they were trying to make a Royal Enfield competitive as well as juggling a job and family. More time, perhaps money and a better equipped shed , means they can have a bike now, that if they it drop, they can a least pickup without wearing truss. Twinshock remains cheap trialing, for the time being and in my view age related classes are the way to go . The Spanish have it right with the pre 75,pre 78 pre 80 and the rest... bikes are breathed on but remain in the spirit of the classes.. I have no idea how you rein in the current pre 65 scene if in fact it needs it.. My view is those old bikes of yesteryear will remain in the sheds or used purely to get the sunday papers.

Ty 175 to start with, no better bike to start trialing on... many on here did it many moons ago . Then when you have got the hang of it a little maybe the SWM.

I had the pleasure of chatting to Jaime at a trial in classic trial in Spain, , charming, interesting, a real pleasure to speak with, from the Golden era of trials.. Great interview.