big john

I have tended nowadays to sit on the sidelines as it were on these type of threads, that doesn't mean that I don't care or don't have an opinion...far from it. I do however have to be really careful what I post, as my connections with the governing body of motorcycle sport both ACU and SACU are quite well known and anything I say could be misconstrued as being coming directly from "the establishment"! I will say that I don't (personally) see a bright future for Stop permitted trials, How come... I hear you say? Well, stop permitted has cause more problems over the years than No-stop ever has. It has conditioned competitors to ride a machine, hop and skip about and effectively fail to negotiate a section and still get away clean. This has made extra work and headaches for clerks of the course and more importantly observers. There is no doubt that these people (the real stars of the sport in my opinion, for without them we have no sport!) have been put under more not less presure since stop permitted became the norm in trials many years ago. Ok, I admit many of the older generation like no-stop, that was what trials was all about. I believe that we need young people in our sport, but without the older generation (who usually observe, lay out, pick up and do all the other sh!tty jobs that young fellas hate) trials would struggle...badly! Up here in Jockland we reverted to no-stop rules years ago, for one simple reason, there was only about four riders who could actually ride stop permitted, the others just couldn't do it. Entries were reduced to such an extent that it was rapidly evident to my predecessors at the SACU (John Davies and that Ilk) that within two seasons (or less) trials in Scotland would cease to exist from lack of entries. Death would have been swift, that was a fact! Personally I actually like to watch some stop permitted trials, the skill of the top riders is a joy to behold, but I don't kid myself that I could ride the obstacles that they do, I'm too long in the tooth and I never had a ounce of their ability in the first place. I have stated on here before, no-stop is fine, provided that riders follow my "advice" and more importantly that observers stick to their No-stop guns. I simply say this, "Right Guys, you can go as slow as you like, just don't stop" Ask any of the top riders in Scotland, they all know me by my first name (that's John by the way, not Big!) and they will tell you, that's exactly what I say when they are walking my section. I score what I see and I'm fair, but STOP and I'll dock a five spot on the card, no messing! The same goes for a number of my compadres up here too, some of which are the very strict observers you get at the greatest trial of then all, the SSDT. The arguement continues.... Big John (Oh yes, one final point, never argue with an observer... take your FIVE like a man!)

Sounds like something isn't correct and is binding under pressure internally. Have you fitted new bearings? Big John

Set up is as it should be. However everything looks badly rusted on there, brake set up is OK, but again very corroded. It may be that the bearings are seizing on to the centre bearing spacer which is a tube that mates up with the inner race of the roller bearing. If you want to remove the wheel bearings, first heat up the hub before you try to shift the bearings, use a hot air gun if you can and gently heat by a circular motion and keep checking the heat, either by spitting on it and see if it hisses back at you (crude I know). Try not to overheat the hub. Then, when the hub is nice a hot, using a long drift, move the centre spacer out of the way and take the bearing out evenly by drifting it, using four points of the inner race. Top, bottom, left side, right side... repeated. First race will fall out followed by centre spacer, then turn wheel over and do the same to the other bearing, now easily attacked with the drift, same method. Never try to remove bearings cold, there is just too much risk you'll take a chunk of hub out with the bearing! Big John

Haggis tastes nothing like chicken or tuna, someone sold you a dud Copemech! It is a essentially a meat dish with oatmeal, so it is slightly gamey as there are spices involved in it's production. It is however best not to discover too much about the ingredients of our traditional fare as some might be put off by it! Big John (ps - I never take haggis with whisky as I cannot abide whisky, I know that sounds terrible, but I just don't like the taste! - yuk)

To my knowledge, Marc Tessier was one of the founders of Scorpa, he then left to form Sherco S.A.R.L (previously marketed as Bultaco Sherco using the Bultaco trade mark under licence from Derbi who owned the rights to Bultaco after they folded). If folks care to remember far enough back to 1998, Malcolm Rathmell Sport (MRS) was the UK importer for Scorpa (previously importing "Aprilia" brand trials bikes to UK). Graham Jarvis was originally contracted to ride Scorpa through MRS then switched to the new Bultaco Sherco 2.5 just in time for the 1999 SSDT which he won of course! Who imports Sherco now? MRS of course who have close ties with Marc Tessier and the Sherco brand. I have met Marc only once personally at the SSDT (of which he is a big fan) he seemed a pleasant individual, but very business focussed. I know Andreu Codina (Sherco export manager) very well as I have been in conversation many times with him at the SSDT and in Spain at Robregordo. He too is a great enthusiast and in his day a proficient trials rider and a first class bike trials rider too. Watch this space then! Big John

It sure does taste wonderful, but I don't think it comes from England. I'm sure they free range them now don't they? Our ones are still trapped in the wild, tastes much better. Big John

I have had dealings with them and their decals are good quality www.classicbikedecals.co.uk Big John

Actually, the beginning of the "start and finish" at Fort William was the 1977 trial (due to the Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh that year), prior to that only time was 1966 for one year only, to my knowledge. I haven't given my thoughts on where I think the centre of the trial should be located, not yet... Big John

For trail riding (as opposed to trials) you should really gear up a bike either by smaller rear sprocket or larger final drive sprocket. Expect to get no more than 18-20 mpg with a TY350, bit more if you are in top gear most of the time and don't rev it high! Those Hebo auxiliary front mounted tanks carry an extra litre of mix, worth having! Big John

Hi Roger B, Take it from a guy who has been there done that! I was once younger than I am just now (believe it or not), go back 32 years, I used to ride my Bultaco Sherpa T Mod. 80 as often as I could on the road, in trials, hell I even took it to school one day because I didn't have the bus fare handy! But to ride a trials bike through London to work, it's got to be a chore after a while. Great for nipping in and out of traffic, provided the bars don't snag on door mirrors, but you will get seriously p****d off with it after a while. I would buy a more suitable scoot for the purpose, there are other ways of enjoying a Bultaco, believe me, it's seriously off road only! However it reminds me of a nice story from around 1975/76. Toshi Nishiyama from Japan rode a 325 Sherpa in the SSDT, he then geared it up at Comerfords and rode the bloody thing to a trial in Germany. God that must have taken him ages to get to his destination! Big John

Always good to see a Bultaco saved from the breaker's yard and not just parted out for some parts. Although we always need some parts to keep our Bultacos in tip top form Sunny. My first Bultaco was indeed that very model, a 1971 250cc Sherpa. In my opinion one of the strongest 250cc motors ever built by the factory. Big John (Bultaco fan!)

It was Ellastones, they have nearly 90 Bultacos for disposal, either complete or more likely being broken (parted out) for spares. That'll keep Bultaco fans in the UK busy over the winter months rebuilding them! Big John

I agree, its a good event this! Big John (I'm observing!)

Hey Jon, Just heard that the legend Walter Cronkite died today! Maybe I could get his job at CBS News, aw, maybe not though he was retired and was in his nineties! Big John

We use the aftermarket Apico brake lever, cheap as chips so it doesn't matter if you knock a few off, especially if anyone is doing the SSDT. Rocks are a bit of a hazard! Big John

Ross (alias B40RT), You will get me into deep trouble with Messrs. Fox; Cook and Bristow re-quoting me like that!!! Big John

Hi JSE, I'll take that as a compliment! Big John

Nope, it wasn't that. I think they all the girls looked very nice in fact. Big John

Bloody Hell, Ian J where have you been hiding? Big John

Was it Becky Cook? What did I do wrong, I can't remember that bit! Big John

Many thanks for those kind words Mr. Baldilocks, I've ordered one of those DVD'd tonight (I've been saving up for one!), maybe I'll get to see myself in action then? Big John

Yes because I'm too flippin' old! Big John

The oil specified should be EP (Extreme Pressure) 90 in the UK. Also known as Hypoy oil. Castrol produce this oil for car gearboxes, smells horrible, but that is what I have used in all my Bultacos over the years, never had a failure yet! Have a look at their website for applications including the classic range, you will find EP90 in there under Hypoy Gear oil. www.castrol.com Big John

I've got a few, but not as many as 50... Not me! Big John

Std piston is 63mm for one of them! I have one right here... Big John