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I have an Ariel that since the engine was rebuilt many moons ago run on castrol R. It has to come out for a last minute trial on Sunday and I have no Castrol, will it harm it to just mix whats left in the oil tank with a normal 10/40, or do I need to drain it all out, or does it need to flushed / cleaned throughout before I add another type of OIL. I am sure I read somewhere that it could damage the engine if care wasn t taken when changing from Castrol R. Thanks.

Wobbler you message box is full, I am trying to contact you.

Send me a pm, I am going and can possibly help

I think its always wise to do some homework before going and riding anywhere. Usually local land owners are fine if approached as long as it doesn t interfere with the chasse.. local hunt/shoot. Public areas are a grey area that I know nothing about , but my advice would be to check first. There are lots of riders of trials bikes that ride out, but never ride in competitions, ask around usually the motorbike shops will know of someone. Its a good way to make friends and learn the language. Good luck

Depending where you are in the Gers, the club at Agen may be worth looking at. They run one or two trials a year and have a good practise ground for club members. I do have some twinshock chums further south towards Dax, but dont know the club the belong to. Another trials club is at Escolotte near Duras or Albi. There will certainly be a motorcycle club near you where ever , but few, if any run trials. The South west of France is awash with trials ground and used to have a huge selection of trials to ride in that has all since stopped. You have chosen a great place to buy a house and bring your bike , but crap for competitions. Bon chance

I have driven Martin mad for the last month with various questions... He has been extremely helpful with both spares and advice I just did nt want to over do it.

Just reading through this old post as we are about to embark on a little flywheel lightening on a red and white Guanaco. We have done the calc's and we are looking to shave 400grams. We are baseing this on the burgat bible of many moons ago , but this would be for a later model. Has anybody done this on the earlier Gunaco and would 400 grams sound right. I am sure a little either way is not going to make a difference but are we in the right ball park. Also another question for the SWM officinardos here, did the frames with the flat plate around the foot rest area ie. the first yellow ones, in fact surface pre 1980 as I have come across a very nice red and white gunaco with this, coupled to an first wave swinging arm. The owner tells me its a factory bike from the 1979, just before the start of the yellow phase. Any thoughts please. Cheers

Having a quite look, it appears just shy of 1000kms from Calais down to the trial. Due to the distance, cost etc it is best to make a holiday of it and there is usually a good Spanish trial on the following week if you can coerce the other half . Its also in a very popular, beautiful area , so bored wags can take off for the day, and visit numerous places if they have little interest in trials . The distance makes it a hard sell to Brits, but like I mentioned before its worth doing if only once.

This years trial is just over three weeks away and is possibly the biggest twinshock trial in Europe. There are also PRE 65 classes, but the numbers have dwindled over the last few years. Several Brits make the trip down usually taking in a trial on the way and one on the way home. The factory Dot team are always there so if you see John Bull or George Greenland at a Uk trial they can fill you in. It is however basically a team trial made up of three riders all riding the same route. The is also a handicap system, don t ask me why, so if you are and old git riding an equally old bike you get points in your favour toward the teams end result. As the trial has gone from strength to strength and attracts over 300 riders the level has gone up. Not so long ago a decent rider on a good Pre 65 could ride the hard route red.. This year the top riders include several ex French champions and some equally good Italians as well as Spanish lads so unless you are at the top of your game, this will be a real test of any twinshock bike or rider. There are three other routes from pretty simple to moderate so there is plenty of scope for everyone and the ride round is mainly off road and quite long and demanding. All in all its the premier twinshock / Pre 65 trial in France and is very well organised and really should be tried once, the weather is often quite barmy and warm. The wine of the region is excellent and I will be there in just over three weeks...... Hope that helps. Bon soiree

The club at Sardent is possibly your best bet. They organise a modern classic four day trial and sometimes a twinshock pre 65 classic. They also have an English couple in their ranks that help at these trials although their names escape me. Bon chance

Further to the gear lever question, I have a 1979 red and white Gunaco, and want to add some better, wider more comfortable footrests. Thats the easy bit, now the kickstart will not pass. The easy option is to take out the spring fold up to start and then reposition. Is there another option to allow the footrests to stay in situ when starting. Would a later model kick start surfice, can you tempt the old one into a new position with some heat or is there a replacement other than this out there. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the replies and the Pm's. Would love to try and keep it but from being a makeover starting with a solid base it is turning into a major restoration, not what I had in mind. I will however try a little subtle/ cheeky negotiation before I take it back, as the owner is as disappointed as me .

This week I was lucky enough to buy a 1979 Gunaco only to find out today that in fact I have bought a nice bike with a completly knackered motor. It did rattle a little on the test ride but after stripping it down we found everything hugely worn and needs replacing plus a rebored etc etc etc. Plus when we lent it over to look at the clutch it lost oil from a cracked casing behind the engine sprocket, where a chain has jumped at some time. It was sold as only needing a make over with assurances the motor was sound and in good nick. To the sellers credit after a quick phone call he has agree to take it back and reimburse and or participate in putting the engine right if we so wish.. My question at long last.... Can someone before tomorrow give me a ball park figure of how much a complete engine rebuild would cost in parts alone including rebore and whether its just of a case of looking for some thing else or trying to come to an arrangement with the seller. Thanks

Looking for someone to be the third member of three man team riding in this years trial riding the Expert class. If you have ever fancied riding in the event, but cannot get a team together please email me via the site. The trial , a national is not really hard, so would suit someone used to this type of event who rides regulary.

To be fair, I think Woody is only stating what most people that ride in twinshock trials think, or say when talking on a Sunday morning amongst themselves. There is a line that is acceptable and the emergence of Mono's with shocks needs nipping in the bud, and the pruning has already started by the sound of it. What baffles me some what is why do top riders feel they need to ride bikes like this when in fact they would head up the results anyway, without the associated baggage.

I have a friend with a mint original TY 125 looking world wide for a mirror ( Round, chrome and stem ) . He has had no luck sourcing in France, could anybody point us/him in the direction, preferbly the Uk, if not further afield. Apparently these were particular to the Ty range unless anybody knows different. Thanks

Thanks for the input, unfortunately I live many miles south of Blighty and them Frenchies seem to stock bugger all, and if they do its at take it or leave it prices. My mother in law is down to visit next week and lives some of the year near Truro, and to try and get some value out of her coming, I thought she could bring me amoungst other things a couple of plastic bottles of R.. Its for a thirsty Ariel for when she takes on a Spanish pre 65 armada later on in the year on home turf, and as the Ariel has always quaffed the R and never missed a beat... I thought I would stick with it. I also add a drop into the ride on's petrol mix to remind me that there are in fact better things to be doing on a Sunday. It seems I will have to look on ebay or something and try and get it sent to her before she heads south later next week.

Could anybody from the Truro area tell me of a stockest/ bike shop where I can send someone to pick up a couple of bottles/ cans of castrol R or similar please. Thanks

Further to the earlier posts, unfortunately the date remains fixed. I have also been asked to remind any riders thinking of coming it will remain a Pre 65 trial only, with the emphasis on the more original bikes, with a big push towards the Ridgid catergory. The sections will be very natural and it will include a nice off road inter section ride round. The aim is to put this trial on the Pre 65 European calander and huge care is being taken to make sure it will be as enjoyable as possible with the added advantage of input and experience from Mick Andrews. I believe a day licence will be avaliable for Non French affliated riders. So , if you fancy an enjoyable weekend across the channel, riding a PRE 65 with sections to suit this may be for you..... Further details will follow when I have recieved them.

I agree his comments were fair, so to label him and anybody else who might think getting the results out a little sharper an impatient fool is also a little uncalled for. My comment was more tongue in cheek than serious ,but then......

Thats you done now in the ballot next year Cub, they dinna like folk that critisise....

Just re read the post and of course there is a weekend in between, more speed less haste...

Yes Joels trial is the week before and excellent, but mainly twinshock, and so whilst it may have some bearing, not the entry this trial is looking at. However and also its not too far across country so if you wanted you could take in both whilst over. Joel is pretty laid back vis a vis entries etc, I hope the trial at Sardent would be similar. I will pose the question and see if I can answer your points.

I have been informed that the Sardent club along with other sponsers are organising a Classic pre 65 trial the weekend of 6 th and 7 th September. It is being headlined as a trial suited to the more original bikes with sections to suit, although everybody is welcome on the understanding the trial will have traditional sections favoring the less modified bikes. As the pre 65 scene is relatively small this side of the channel, I have been asked to post this to see if it would be of interest to any British riders fancying a long weekend in France taking in the wine, sunshine and the countryside. Sardent is around six hours south of Calais, alredy hosts a very popular classic multi day trial and the club are well geared up to make it a good event. Feed back would be good so I can pass it on to those involved.

I have always though putting in excessive road work for the sake of it is unnecessary, however if you want to ride the best sections then it might be. Its a compromise, in Spain the ride round is always fantastic and well worth it, France they are going for short courses, and you spend more time driving to the trial than riding it. Its a choice , but if you want a PRE 65 Extra special with no seat, legs bent double and no speed then perhaps ten laps of four sections is more for you... However becareful what you wish for..