steve

Can you wheelie a shopping trolly? No worries, it's all about weight distribution. Make sure the heavy stuff like bottles of drink and cans are at the back. Build up a nice steady pace and with a sharp burst of acceleration pull back hard.

I have always enjoyed wheelies and can pretty much wheelie anything. It teaches you where the balance point is which helps in sections. The same principal can be used at the front for 'nose wheelies' or 'endos' as we call them. Find a nice big hill and practice the rolling endo until you can go from top to bottom entirely on the front wheel just controlling it with the front brake. Now you'll feel more comfortable faced with a really steep drop, or when riding off rocks or logs. Does The Practice Of Wheelie's Have A Place In Trial's YES - not in a trial but the same skills and principals can be used.

I bought my little Cannon from 7 day shop . They were by far the cheapest anywhere. The delivery took about 7 days!!!

Awesome vid The riders - Arthur Coutard Fred Crosset Julien Dupont I don't know Arthur Coutard, although Coutard is a famous Trials name. The other two however I met. Fred Crosset is Belgian, did pretty good on the european circuit a few years ago. His elder brother Daniel used to ride World Rounds and was a very good rider. Julien Dupont is French. I met Julien whilst training in France with Martin Crosswaite and Mark Harries. We shared accomodation and he trained with us. He couldn't speak any english and we didn't speak any French but he was a good laugh all the same! He was a promising youngster but got booted out of the french accadamy that thiery Michaud used to run. Something to with smashing up an alarm that had been going off all night outside thier hotel. Crosser - if you are reading this do you remember Julien reading that magazine out load when we were trying to get to sleep? My lasting memory was Julien saying "my name is Julien Dupont - remember my name" - he was sure he would be famous one day!!

We had tried for about 10 minutes the previous day. The funniest bit was when another work mate fell off it big time. It shot out from under him and landed him on his backside, unfortunately I wasn't filming that bit though.

I wasn't really sure where to post this, sorry if it doesn't belong here as there is no bike involved!. Balance is vital in Trials so what do you guys do to improve your balance? Messing about at work the other day we found a roller, added a shrot board on top and tried to balance on it. I videoed our early attempts have a look here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_1UGXUFAO0 After a few minutes practice each day we are now considerably better than on the video. I have found you can actually buy proper boards called 'indo boards' I think surfers use them a lot for balance training.

The needle is set correctly when it runs the cleanest !! Start with it on middle groove and try different settings. Pilot - 1 1/2 turns out is always a good starting point. But is only a starting point. Let the bike idle and open the throttle very slightly so the revs just pick up and then shut the throttle. Keep adjusting the pilot until you get the 'cleanest' pick up and a nice even tick over. (I actually prefer it ever so slightly rich) A very Rough guide guide to what does what in the carb, throttle 0 to 1/4 open running on needle jet. 1/4 to 3/4 - needle 3/4 to main - main jet. It's impossible to give a correct setting as every bike is different. Remember settings can change day by day with the weather and location. Do some research on line, it can make a huge difference if you get the bike set up well. Good luck.

That comment caught my attention also. It made it sound as if they had a choice ! Now then where shall we put the camshaft, valves, cam chain etc...? I know lets put it in the cylinder head so it will raise the centre of gravity

I was hoping you meant that, didn't fancy a trip into the loft! Hope you find one.

Is it all the stickers or just the Hamilton one you are after ? Cleared out the loft the other day and found a bag full of old stickers, there were a couple of sheets of hamilton stickers all different sizes that the dealers were given. I can't remember if I kept them or threw them !!! If it is just the hamilton bit you are after then I will venture into the loft to sse if I can find them.

Anyone on here from Northants area? I am in Kettering and need a little help. I don't have a modern bike anymore and need to test a new version of a Tyre Changer / bead breaker I am building. So if you have a modern bike with tubeless rear or even better a spare wheel then give me a shout. Steve.

Thanks Martin.

Hi all, A couple of years ago I bought a 1985 Montesa Cota 330 as a non runner. I planned to get it going and sell on for a bit of profit. Having got the beast running I couldn't bring myself to part with it. I have now decided to do a little more work and use the bike. Does anyone have any details as to what mods I should consider to make it more competetive and reliable? Riding it around the drive the footpegs seem so high and the handlebars so low. Is this common with bikes of this age? - I am considering lowering the pegs but even the ground clearance seems too high compared to modern stuff. I am missing a few parts. Namely an airbox which I can't locate at the moment so have started to fabricate one out of aluminium to get me going. The kickstart is very worn and despite a spot of weld is still making starting such a big stroker tricky so a replacement will be needed. The bore is std but on the max, I put some oversize rings on and gapped them down as I couldn't get a piston. I was only planning to sell also so wasn't too bothered. However now I plan to ride a rebore is needed so a piston will have to be sourced from Spain. Here's a pic just after I bought it - who's first to spot the obvious mistake.

Ahh - I have a name now. Handy those old results sometimes!!! Damn good ride that. You lost out on 5th with Rob Warner on a tie break. I got the dates wrong as I didn't ride in '92. I reckon that 93 Nobac was my first national since my shoulder op in 92. Took me a while to regain any confidence in it. I was rubbish at National Trials to start with. So different to the pocket hankerchief club Trials in our centre. I could't afford to ride too many at that stage though. It wasn't until 96 when I started travelling and riding with richard Allen that I did many. I set myself a goal of scoring points in the MCN clubmans championships, I think it was the Jack Wood that I first accomplished my ambition. Opps there I go again rambling on about my favourite subject again -myself !!! What was this thread about ?

Hello and welcome. Looks like you've done a really nice job. Have you ridden it in anger yet?

Yeah, that's me. I know Rob rode one but thought it was in 93. It's all kind of hazy now!! So you know who I am, should I know you? Did you ride the Nobac that year? - I'll have to go in the loft and dig the results out. I bet you were higher up the list than me. I had just started riding nationals in 91 and dislocated my shoulder a few times. Had an op in 92 and then had to try and tame an aprillia!!

I still won a few Trials on the Aprillia but only in Dry conditions. I remember one week I rode at a slippery Leciester Trial and dropped about 10 times the marks of the winner. The next week I rode a Nene Valley trial which was dry grippy sections which needeed a lot of trick riding. I easily won the Trial beating many of the riders who were at Leicester. They couldn't believe it was the same bloke ! I remember riding the Banbury National in 1992. I was just behind Steve Saunders who was also on the Aprillia. There was a greasy mud bank everyone was struggling with. Steve revved the bike to the absolute max and slipped the clutch. He flew up but the back wheel never spun at all. I tried to copy and only got about half way up!

Firstly I can't believe there is a thread on bubble bath, secondly I can't believe I just read it all ! And for the record - bath in Radox, then apply deep heat to any aches and pains. Come to think of it I may aswell bath in the deep heat I have so many ache's!

I really shouldn't have got the bike but was tempted by a sponshorship deal from a new dealer. Although I got used to the power eventually I never really rode it as good as I did the old Yam. The suspension and brakes etc.. were really good though. I suppose if you have a 92 Apirillia in bits it's a job to know how much money to spend getting it running considering it's low value

I remember doing a YMSA 6 day with one of those guys(can't remember which one it was) He was practising on a Monty after the Trial. This was way before he was er 'famous!' He wasn't too good at Motobike trials at that stage.

Or how about this Bling Bling Bulto (bit too much bling for me but strip some of it off and it would be a real looker) Not sure about the Bulto but I am very interested in the Montesa behind it. Cota 330. Don't suppose you have a better picture do you? I have one lurking in my garage but need a couple of bits before I can ride it. Airbox, kickstart and piston mainly. Also think the pegs could do with being lowered.

I love it. I was poking around the Gas Gas factory once and found something similar. Keep us updated on the progress.

Wow, can't wait to see some pictures. Beta have traditionally been pretty good when it comes to releasing a new model. The Zero was revolutionary when launched but Jordi had been riding a prototype for a year in World rounds. Same for the Techno when Colomer rode it.

Sounds a very generous offer. I was only joking about somebody giving me a bike but hey, never look a gift horse etc.. - when can I collect it?

Hi all, Not many of you on here will remember me ride but back in the 90's I was a good centre Expert. I then had a stint at minding and haven't really been on a bike since. I called in at a local Trial at the weekend and couldn't resist trying a couple of bikes out. Here's my thoughts for anyone that's interested ! My last bike was a 96 Beta Techno, though I rode 270cc Gas Gas and Scorpa's whilst minding. First up was a Gas Gas 300 Raga rep. Hell's teeth - now I was a fairly decent rider but I am sure this bike would have been too much for me. To make matters worse the bike was set with zero damping front and back, I presume it was some attempt to make trick riding easier. The bike was a nightmare and I really didn't feel comfortable on it at all. What on earth would a club rider possibly need one of these for? Next I tried a 2004 Montesa 2 stroke. Engine seemed fairly smooth and forgiving although it pinked a little at the top end. Bike felt a little 'fat' but didn't seem to hinder me at all. (unlike the fat round my waist). Overall not much to fault although once again the suspension was set way too soft. I was thinking if I could muster a bit of cash then I may get one for a bit of a comeback. I was just about to go when an old friend stopped me and offered a go on what I thought was a Sherco (well it was blue!!) Now I hadn't paid the bike too much attention and just jumped on and rode off. I have only ridden a Sherco once - At the Sherco factory in it's first year. I immediately thought how nice it felt. The engine was super smooth, there was power but it didn't pull my arms out of the sockets. The steering was fantastic, just point it there and it went. The suspension was spot on, the other Sherco I tried felt a bit 'wooden' at the rear but this was spot on. The main thing was how small and light the bike was. However my biggest supprise was when I stopped. I handed the bike over grinning from ear to ear only to realise it's wasn't a Sherco at all. Yep - a Gas Gas 250 pro. Well I didn't know they came in blue did I ! I am now thinking of getting another bike, perhaps a couple of years old. Frantically looking around too see what I can Ebay to raise a few quid !! I need to try a sherco, Beta and Scorpa but for now the Gasser really made a good impression.