mattylad

I am also amazed that there is such investment in new bikes in the current financial climate. I hope the investment figures were not too optimistic otherwise there may be some short lived names. I am pesamistic about the growth in trials as youth today has so many other options for entertainment. The increasing difficulties in land access will only diminish its attractiveness unless proper facilities can be secured. This would mean clubs buying land. Once you factor in environmental issues the problem becomes worse. good luck to them all!

Seriously no, powder coating at worst may fill in the punch marks but they will be visible. You have just turned down a stolen bike well done!!!

Try craig Mawlam and Yamaha-Majesty.co.uk he may have one that fits

I need to repaint the fuel tank on a 1975 Ossa and wondered exactly what the white base colour was when new. I went to my local paint supplier and the number of "whites" avaliable is quite amazing!!! I think it should be slightly more creamy white than pure brilliant white but what would be the correct RAL code Any help greatfully received.

Interestingly back protectors are mandatory in the Italian championship where they certainly get hot weather. I know for certain that Fabio Lenzi uses Dianese road bike one and he said it was just a question of getting used to it

Many thanks for the help

Can anyone fill in a few details on the Whitlock Ossa. (or were they sold as a Gollner Ossa?) Was it only a frame kit of were complete bikes sold? What was the colour scheme on the fuel tank? Standard Ossa or something different. The ones I have seen are a dark blue. Did they have any other mods apart from the frame. Cheers.

Yes the one on ebay from Promonty Fits perfect

I thought about all this effort and then despite my natural tightness went out and bought one of the stainless systems that have been produced. Quality and fit is first class and it certainly runs smoother and quiter and looks pretty trick. Easy option I'm afraid won this time.

I have just been offered a WP rear shock for a TY mono, any views or experience on how it works?

Lights would be a prefered option as the bike is the S model in enduro trim and is standard as delivered from the factory. The bike is also mainly used for green lane and other pottering not out and out competition.

My old man is finally going to ditch the horrible standard ignition system on his C15S. What options do we have on a electronic version? I think we would like to go down the crankshaft mounted route to avoid the backlash in the distributor system. Do any of them have lighting coils fitted as standard/option. Thanks

Either this guy is a unherolded genius who has discovered a fundamental error in the billions of pounds spent in machine development by all engine manufacturers, or....he is talking .... I know which method I will be using.

For a steel pipe only!!! Get the BBQ going and stick it on, cleans up a treat if not chrome plated. If chromed the pipe gets red hot and chrome lifts off. I also soak the crud in petrol before chucking on. needless to say be careful to drain out surplus petrol before lighting. Aluminium or titanium needs different treatment.

You should have tried them out on his trick Ossa over the weekend!!!!!

I think it is a genuine mark II Fraser, this came after the petrol tank top tube one. Eurospares have a photo on their web page somewhere

Your bike is a fabulous looking example, I used to own one a while ago until I went for my one and only practice session. The engine is great in a MX bike, absolutly no bottom end plonk on it whatsoever. Sold it ASAP.

I think Vesty (www.apico.co.uk )are the importers and ones to call Best helmet by far!!!

Why?????

Jim, You could also use some road fork springs from a RD350 or similar. They feel more modern in action than the super soft TY ones

Look at the mijossi.com website for more details on Rayer mods. I have a test from the time in french if you PM me I'll send a copy. maybe even got it from this site Also on the site leboncoin there is a full rayer including swing arm for 1100 euro not too far from you. I have seen the ad and thought it way too expensive for what it is. i would go up to 250, 300 Euro.

I would use a heavier grade oil such as 20W40 which was recommended as standard. I think it is 164cc The Yam has a problem with topping out if much lighter oil is used.

There are two possible ways to go on this one. As Woody has said you can take weight off the flywheel and the engine will pick up faster. The standard Yam porting is very conservative, the squish gap is way too wide and the 22mm carb and reed block are good for low end power. The airbox is also restrictive. With a standard engine I would, cut back the airbox lid and drill other holes to allow air in. Use the thinest air filter I could find. Open up the reed stops. The squish gap needs to be reduced to 0.9mm and barrel lapped to cylinder, for example my 175 had a squish gap of 2.15mm as standard! The rear tailbox needs replacing with a WES or similar. Or more radically you could port your barrel and retain the standard flywheel weight along with the above mods. The theory is to have a high powered engine calmed down by a heavier flywheel with more inertia. this is better for finding grip or at the top of bigger steps. This is effectively the route taken by the 200 fantic which was very succesful after the Yam. For the porting a good starting point is to raise the four transfer ports by just 1mm. also widen the smaller rear transfer port as much as possible without overlapping the end of the rings. I allow 3mm from the piston pin to port vertical side. Finally I also add the reed cage and airbox boot from a TY 250 with a 5mm reed spacer and use a NEW!!! DT175 24mm carb or OKO 24mm flatslide. Most old carbs are worn out and need replacing. This needs about 3mm removing from each vertical side of the reed entry on the cylinder. Finally I then take a load of aluminium from the roof of the inlet side to allow much more gas to flow directly up the boost port. The exhaust port remains standard. I also use a DT175 piston as this has larger windows in the rear for improved gas entry. You can go even more radical on the boost port and rear transfers so that they open earlier but try the first mod first. I have a bike that both lugs reasonably well down to low rpm and then will really rev out almost like a modern 125. It needs to be ridden more like a small bore modern bike on and off the clutch. Happily the clutch will stand the abuse. It is great fun to ride on easier events.

Not a reflection on the rebuild but this has got to be in the running for the most ugly bike ever built. Eye catching does not describe the bile green colour. Thanks for sharing/

I also think you are missing the fact that even back in the 60's and 70's. The efforts Sammy Miller put in to his Ariel were at the forefront of technology of the time. Where I grew up the Bultacos ridden by Dave Thorpe were a lot better than the standard offerings (so was the rider!!!). The factory Suzuki of Nigel Birkett, Yamahas of Mick Andrews were both mega trick and so I asssume were the bikes from other manufacturers. Remember often very small changes in geometry, riding position, suspension set-up, caburation or engine porting can have some pretty dramatic effects both positive or negative depending upon the rider. What suits one rider may not suit another. It true that a good rider will beat a poor rider no matter how much cash the bad rider has thrown at his machine. Equal riders will often set bikes up in different ways to suit their morphology and riding style so what is acceptable? Remember modifications keep people employed and cash comes into the sport, riders keep riding and events keep getting put on. A pristine rebuild of a standard bike would not get ridden as its value would need to be preserved (and they are just not as much fun). The avaliability of new spares means they will get ridden as they can be rebuilt. Just get out and enjoy riding. It is you against the course, the results are only a comparison of how you have ridden on the day compared to others. In any event human nature being what it is we will always have those who bend, stretch or totally break the rules! Which poor scruiteneer will have the knowledge to pass FAIR judgement on what is acceptable and then have the task of turning someone away. If riders themselves were sufficiently honest most bikes would be in the "specials" class anyway. Conclusion, anything but the most basic set of rules are pointless and may the deepest pockets or well stuffed wallet win!