big john

Hola Greeves! my good friend. I have these models (more than one) and my numbers are all sub- 14000, so mine are like pschrauber's, much earlier than the last models. Mostly 1981 as mine are all UK road registered. I would imagine that Francisco Herreros book, which I have of course may be quite accurate in some respects but the model 199B is a different matter entirely. Regards, Big John

Sounds about right. 191 was an interim model based on the 183 before the new for late 1977 199 was released on sale. I had a 199 in September 1977, best bike I ever had. I'm rebuilding a 183 this year to catalogue specification, I have plenty of other ones to use! Big John

Pity that someone has fitted an Imola style flip up cap. Big John

Mattylad, Did you ever get it painted? Was it truly not showing signs of hair-line cracking between the tank area and the seat pan area? Big John

Franck, I look forward to seeing your RTL along with my French friends at Telford next month. See you there! Big John

I look forward to meeting my good friends Patrick, Olivier and Jean at Telford, our Highland Team will be there in force! See you there! Big John

Nice discovery James. You always dig something of interest up. Big John

And you usually ride very well my friend! Having seen your Sherpa many times and openly admired it, there is no doubt to those who know their Bultaco Sherpa T history, that yours is an unmolested original motorcycle. Big John

David Coughlan from Waterford, Minster, ROI has been successful with his entry and will ride a 4-speed Bultaco Sherpa in this year's Pre'65 Scottish Trial. I have seen this machine many times and it is very original, being a 'second series' Sherpa T model 10. Which is more than can be said for many of the so called pre'65 machines out there. Big John

It's a mark of respect by a whole sport and people take note of that. I personally feel we should continue to leave the remembrance Sunday in place, run an event on the Saturday by all means. It would be most embarrassing at best to arrive on a landowners land to ride motorcycles, when the landowner and his/her family are at church or taking part in a remembrance parade? We have enough working against our sport, without drawing unwanted attention to us on remembrance Sunday. Finally, there were a number of trials riders who fought in the wars and sadly did not return to compete. We should respect that at the very least. Big John

Hi Metisse, Long time no speak. You have to simply ignore what is written on here, there is only one way to handle your query and that is to take it up with the event organisers. Things have moved on significantly from 1999. I never assume that a machine that has past examination will pass now, its like having an MOT test! It is the Pre'65 Scottish Trial regulations you have to comply with, they decide if your machine is eligible for their event. It's a simple as that. Contact them direct and off-line. That is my advice. Best wishes, Big John

Throttlejokey, Get yourself to the start field at Feldom Lane near Park Top Farm early doors and soak up the atmosphere/ panic then scuttle up to Underbanks, parking in the spectator field, not on the roadside as it gets way too congested. Then if you can, skip over the hill to take in Surrender, always a great spectator section, parking is however at a premium. If you are real keen, see the last sections at Clapgate, that is about 1.5 miles down the hill from the start field, which is of course the finish field. . it really depends on where you can get parked sensibly during the day as the organisers need to allow the traffic to flow as it is a Saturday event. Anyway, wherever you go you will see a great event taking place. Buy a programme its well worth it. I'll be there in the morning commentating, speaking with riders before the off and again in the afternoon, but most riders at the finish are speechless with fatigue! Have a great Scott! - See you there! Big John

Never a truer word said J.R. - and that comes from a man that has set standard time, who has been there and done that!

Hi Naichuff, Yes I would know, your father and mine were friends for a long time, in fact it was your father that encouraged mine to take up the sport. And as for Mr Wylde, be surprised, you are not the only one with SSDT documents or information to hand. Regards, Big John

Hi Sparks442, Yes B40rt is correct, Inverness & District is THE club to join where you live. Regular events on great pieces of ground. SACU affiliated, we promote the Highland Classic 2 Day at Alvie which is now the premier classic trial in Scotland. We also have the Paul Kilbauskas national. Best wishes, Big John

Hi Dirty Dalesman, I had one back in 1969 - 1974. I can't remember 100% what front sprocket was used, but pretty sure it was 11T. The rear wheel is common to the M125S Puch road bike. I would think the cush drive spider could maybe be sourced in Austria. Have you tried Steve Goode M/C's as he bought up stock from Steyr Daimler Puch in Nottingham when they closed? Big John

Hi all, We hope those who rode and attended the 'Friendliest Classic Trial In Scotland' enjoyed the experience. Bill Wilkinson was guest of honour and thoroughly enjoyed himself. On behalf of the committee and directors of the Inverness & District Motor Cycle Club Ltd, we 'haste ye back' for the 2016 edition of the Highland Classic Two Day Trial. Limited to 130 riders, entry forms will be available the weekend of the Putoline Classic Off-Road and Racing show in February 2016. Full results and photos by Rick Lound now available on the IDMCC website, flickr and the IDMCC facebook page. Regards, Big John

Blimey Ishy, is this a comeback or just a one-night-only gig? Must admit, I'm elsewhere nowadays having some fun doing my own thing ... must send you a link! Last time we spoke I was buying about a ton of Honda RTL parts from you! Regards, Big John

No Sunt, I'm with you on that one! Big John

Eric Cheney, Aldershot built cantilever Ossas back in the 1970's, not very many just about 4 or 5 but I don't know if they were accepted by Ossa as a development model officially. Geoff Guy rode a cantilever and so did Keith Horsman from Silsden. Other than that, I don't know much about them as I wasn't at a trial other than the SSDT when they were being ridden. I'm sure Sammy Miller obtained one that had never been started at all and he was keen to keep it that way. I haven't been to Sammy's museaum so can't comment as to whether he still has it. 1975 rings a bell time wise, as Mick Andrews had a Yamaha OW10 with cantilever rear suspension. Big John

I have already been sent a copy of the 'Centenary Scott' programme which I found very interesting. It has a balance of information for spectators, a full entry list, a complete run down of not only past winnners but also a list of everyone that has ever won a Scott spoon. This is not the 100th running of the event, it is however 100 years since the running of the first Scott Trial. How do you come to the conclusion that the Scott was the first reliability trial to be run? The SSDT for example was first started in 1909 as a five day event, which pre-dates the Scott by 5 years! There has already been a Scott Centenary Dinner in Leyburn which was a very enjoyable event with many famous riders in attendance. Regards, Big John

From experience, when the bike is just up to normal working temperature and it starts to 'hunt' and or 'pink' more than usual, this is symptomatic of the crankcase seals are beginning to fail. It is usually not the carb giving problems! This can happen without warning, quite suddenly in fact.

Interesting thread! Trials as a spectator sport?... Well I've been riding and involved since 1974, 40 years this year. They tried to make trials more spectator friendly around the time I started and to be honest it has only met with mild success. Take the SSDT, the crowds at the sections in the late 70's and early 80's would put a world round to shame now. The WTC started in 1975 and was well suported by factories, trade and competitors, the crowds attended. Will the WTC be succesful in the future? Who knows. Does it sell more bikes? Will city based trials increase popularity of the sport, they are still trying... we shall have to wait and see! On the other hand take domestic speedway, huge spectator/fan following, family friendly sport, riders make a living from it, why? Because it is RACING and trials isn't true Racing! Just a thought! Big John

Atom, point taken, maybe not a lot of lost revenue to large companies but they were branded goods as 'Timberlake' and 'Ugg' if they had been called something else and looked similar, fine, the goods don't speak for themselves not when these branded names are plastered all over them! Misrepresentation. As I said, fly with crows.... Big John

There is an age old saying...'Fly with the crows, get shot with the crows' Fake goods selling = dishonest and a custodial sentence will surely follow. These retailers/manufacturing companies take their brands, image and trade marks seriously. Big John