big john

Sherpas were never fitted with twin spark ignition by the factory, owners had the heads drilled and tapped in the space provided as wayne says. Quite a few models of Pursang had twin spark ignition (Motoplat) fitted as standard by the factory. Big John

I did mate, paid up money too! Big John

Right that's me stuck my hand in my pocket! Big John

Indeed, don't know him personally, but he appears to be a really great ambassador for his chosen sport. His Dad rode motorcycle trials, Tony Peat. Congratulations: Steve Peat, World Champion! Big John

If you had asked that question yesterday, I could have found out for you by asking the man himself! I was speaking to Steve today at Alford, Grampian Motorcycle Convention. Big John

Too true Sunt, David's 07 bike had an intermittent cutting prior to the SSDT, which was only cured when the wiring harness was replaced (thanks Munch for the advice on that point!) It was the wires leading into the coil that were at fault. Wiring harness is not expensive around

I might just go to see that! Big John

It's our pleasure! Ye canna beat an Irn-Bru laddie! I think it's better than whisky! Big John (Likes Irn-Bru...and Bultacos...and AJS/Matchless...and Honda RTL/TLR/Seeleys...etc...etc)

I have the part numbers for the 1989 RTL if that is any good? Big John

Absolutely right Munch, that 4RT motor was (and still is) as sweet as a nut!!! Big John

Well our David's '07 4RT did the SSDT with you riding it in 2008, then he did the SSDT on it himself, sold the bike to one of the observers and the motor still hasn't been apart! no reason to be taken apart either! As you say J Sunt did a few SSDT's on his '05 bike before he rebuilt the motor and had ridden everything else in between! Big John

I heard my good friend Jock McComisky had a good ride on 26 marks lost? Best special I think he got, well done J.J. McComisky!!! Big John

Hi Warrena, I have seen quite a few genuine side panel covers for TL250 on e-bay USA over the past few years, they still appear from time to time as do fuel tanks and some bits and bobs. I have a TL250 but it's bored out to 305cc and is fitted in a Seeley type frame with a one piece tank seat unit like the Rob Shepherd factory long stroke of 1976 era. That reminds me to post a picture of her in the garage section on here, shes a bit different. Big John (that's Scotland top bit of the UK)

Hmmm, yes Metisse, I have that mag here, I assumed the guy on the front cover on the Ariel was an English bloke, when I looked up number 9 in the programme, apparently he's Scottish! Now I certainly don't profess to know everyone in Scotland, but one of my tasks is to record all trials results up here in Jockland, so I do recognise the names. I've never seen this guy at any other event nor seen his name appear in any Scottish trials results over at least the last five years! I could be wrong of course? Maybe he's just one of those chaps who ride once a year then??? That wee red Bantam looks wonderful, the creator must be justly proud of his handywork and I genuinely applaud his skill... just one thing wrong with it... it isn't much like a proper Pre-65 bike is it? I would ride something like that as a twinshock or special. He should bring it to Alvie (no harm plugging oor local Pre65 & twinshocker trial is there), we would find a class to put it in! Big John

But of course its a genuine Seeley Honda and they don't come cheap anymore, I should have said in my earlier posting, no way is that an original engine number! Set up is marzocchi forks for a start... Big John

Well I certainly know what type of Honda that is for sure!!! As for the motor number, definately non standard that! Big John (PS - No not me, I didn't see it on e-bay)

Well he would get a ride at Alvie, there is no way a Bultaco will get accepted at the Pre65 Scottish, the organisers have tightened up on that element. I think it was Enrique Carbonnell from Spain that rode a Sherpa N a couple of years ago, but it was as good if not better than the model 10 Sherpa that S H miller developed. Even the original Montesa Trial 250 dates from only 1966, there were about 3 or 4 prototypes made, not available on general sale, before D R Smith developed the first "Cota" which was 1968 (UMV 10F) for the factory. Christian Desnoyers from France rode a very similar one in the 1968 or 1969 SSDT. As for Ossa, they didn't have a trials bike until 1967 either. End of... Big John

Not Rob, but his elder brother Eric married a girl from Edinburgh who actually did ride in trials for a short while, Sheila I think her first name was. She was a member of either the Melville or Edinburgh Southern clubs. It was a long time ago, but my Dad knew her. I remember her helping lay out some sections near Bathgate and then a lot of years later my Dad spoke to her at the SSDT as her husband was competeing, but as I said was a long time ago! Big John

The Pre65 Scottish Two Day is fairly unique in that it has stuck to it's guns and that has to be applauded. It is massively oversubscribed and they prefer original machines as opposed to fiddle bikes (there has been a long arguement on here before and I'm not trying to resurrect it!) The Scottish demands that British bikes have period carbs that means no Mark2 Amal or foreign carbs. No four stud BSA forks as they were not available until 1969. It is after all a Pre-65 Scottish! Many riders keep a "Scottish" carb all set up for their bikes in the hope of a ride at Kinlochleven, ready to bolt on and test in April, then revert to their modern instrument for the rest of the season. There is a Two day in Scotland that doesn't place so much stress and that is my club's annual Highland Classic, many different classes including twinshocks, read signature below for the dates next year! Big John (ps..would love you to bring up your mod.10 Bultaco to Alvie - fish06!)

Haven't you heard the expression? "Trials riders don't pay!" Trials is still the cheapest form of motorsport, aren't we all lucky? We get folks to stand out on hillsides with either pencils or punches to give us our sport, best they get is a "thanks for observing!" I think we should thank our lucky stars we still have a sport! Big John

Why not? It should keep it's value for a long time, unless of course people fall out of love with old bikes. However that particular specimen went for

The guys a babe magnet, always has been! As for the whisky, yip it will kill you... especially if you were to down the bottle in a on'er Big John

In Europe good Model 10 "Sammy Miller" Sherpas have been selling for at least

Red Route: Gary Macdonald 15 Lee Shankie 66 Craig Houston 68 Blue Route: Neil MacNiven (Bochy) 64 GRant Reid 67 Russel Hodgson 68 Green Route: Lee Tinney 17 David Moffat 27 Bill Ross 27

That's the problem, some riders don't like losing marks! Big John