big john

Brilliant! Big John

It's the real deal, well restored, but expensive! Big John

The problem is that there are so many areas designated by law as SSSI's. You would be amazed if you really knew how many thousand hectares are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest! Trust me I have checked! Big John

It's all very well putting the onus on the local club, but the area concerned, given its acreage its impossible to "police". However, the evidence is there - tyre tracks, could be anybody! Last year at the SSDT I caught (in front of several well known witnesses) two spectators riding a couple of year old Betas, who were following the trial over Pap Of Glencoe. I challenged them as they returned to the main road, the first rider was amiable/OK, his mate was quite abusively verbal! I warned them that I would report them to the ACU if they did not cease following the trial round on bikes. Interestingly, they didn't ask who the ACU were or what a registration card was - their bikes were well prepared and these seasoned competitors, not just "casual" riders. I reported the incident to the SSDT Clerk of Course within 30 minutes of the occurrence, the supplying dealer of the machines (a highly reputable Beta dealer I may add). Both of which were powerless to do anything about the two offenders. Eventually I felt it necessary to report the matter to the local Police who were on duty. However, they do have a novel way in the hills near Madrid, Spain of stamping out illegal riding and practicing - they chase you with a two-manned helicopter and the Police are armed - fact! Big John

James, I know a guy in Spain that has copies, reasonably priced too. i do of course have an original 85 manual in mint condition but its not for sale. PM me for details if you wish! Big John

Unfortunately this is a very tricky situation in an extremely sensitive area of Scotland. There is a local affiliated SACU club (Lochaber & District) who organise events regularly in that area of Scotland. It should be noted that the club act in a responsible manner at all times. Many times I have been in direct discussion with the club at Clerk of Course seminars acting in my capacity as Chairman SACU Trials. They also have to abide by the bye-laws stated above and they are aware of the situations indicated by SNH with particular attention to SSSI areas which they are charged to manage as part of their remit to protect Scottish Nature. The Lochaber Motor Cycle Club have the required permissions to run SACU permitted events throughout the year from a variety of landowners and factors and have to provide various risk assessments etc to those organisations before they can promote their local events. It would appear that SNH have picked up on certain unauthorised motorcycle usage by "unidentified persons" in their area of operations which not only could jeopardise the SSDT but also local events. The problem is that affiliated legitimate clubs are identifiable bodies, sadly illegal riders are not. My message is this, if you are not at a legitimate permitted event, then stay away from these sensitive areas. John Moffat SACU Director Chairman SACU Trials Committee

OK here goes.. From the sprocket side, the flat spindle end should have a thick washer at the head, this is pushed through the drive side of the swinging arm with one snail cam after the washer push through the fork end and through the brake plate, through the hub which has two bearings fitted with an internal hollow spacer. As the spindle exits the hub you can fit an alloy spacer available from Bultaco UK to do away with the speedo drive, otherwise its the speedo drive which butts on to the offside inner race of the wheel bearing, possibly a distancing washer about 2-3mm thick against the swinging arm wheel mount offside, then the snail cam and then a thick washer on the outside of the fork end and the spindle nut. Hope this helps. Big John

Hi Guys, I heard the trial attracted 64 entries...RESULT! - Melville MC Scotland Trials is back in business. Good news for Scottish trials! Keep up the good work! Sorry to hear you have taken poorly Broony! Cheers the noo! Big John

Best wishes and good luck to all who are riding at the Melville trial at Duns on Sunday Have a good one! Big John

Makes sense dbf, but we felt that some riders who don't ride regularly would benefit from the new OEL offer. For our motocross lads, this has cheapened their racing with some Scottish MX & Enduro clubs doing "packaged deals" of OEL & Membership etc. Full licence is the better buy, but the choice is there! Big John

UPDATE: Scottish ACU One-Event licences now available at

Very sad news indeed, I'm shocked. Big John

We could debate this 125/250 rule until the cows come home (and probably will) The way things are going in a few years it will be what "amp rating" the bike has! Enjoy the "internal combustion engine" in any form when you still can! Big John

Well done to the Melville MC (Scotland) with their return to SACU trials. ...Tam's the Man! Good luck to all competitors and officials at the Duns trial, have a great day's sport. Big John

Bondy, I have fitted three sets of these Billetparts/FDOS Design swingarm kits and they have worked perfectly every time. You do however need to follow the instructions carefully and precisely. Even if the swinging arm is bent it should still work, unless its at the bearing end whereas you would have difficulty getting the swing arm pin inserted as it would be off centre. Accept the advice given, contact Wayne, he designed this system. It's only fair to let him explain what to do to correct the problem, rather than blast him on here! Regards, Big John

Best to download a set of regulations from the SSDT website, bike must be legal for the road and rider must have the correct drivers licence for the machine on the public highway.

I have to agree with that statement! Big John

Quite a few odds and sods, Bultaco stuff mainly particularly a Mod.159 Manuel Soler type airbox, didn't buy a whole bike as I just bought a 325 Sherpa a few weeks ago. I really enjoy the Telford show, I'll be back next year! Good to meet up with some old pals there too. Big John

OTF, Scottish Six Days - touch or ride over a marker, even although it is not displaced - 5. Its been covered in their regs for quite some years. Just a thought! Big John

Nope, if the "rider is held liable" for displacing a marker - 5. Big John

Hi Woody, Is that the one that is for the Montesa 348 with Amal Mk2 Concentric? I have measured the Mikuni VM26 it is 34mm inlet; the PHBH28BS is 36mm and the Bing a whopping 40mm. I know we have a PHBL26BS fitted to a 325 motor at the moment and its a sloppy fit in the step down, I think its a 31mm inlet. I'm going to try a PHBH28BS on my 199 Sherpa when I get the engine finished. Big John

You can dab or foot outwith the section or against a tree or wall that is physically outwith the markers and get debited one,two or three marks as appropriate, but if the bike goes outside the intended boundary of a section...its a five! Big John

Blimey! yes, 2/4... 31st December 1964 and 1st January 1965, there was a whole raft of things happening that I certainly wasn't aware of! Big John

The observing at any trial has nothing to do with "onlookers", they have absolutely nothing to do with the marking of a rider, that is down to the Clerk Of The Course's deputy - The Observer, it is what he/she sees that matters, not what onlookers think or what they perceive! As far as I'm concerned, I personally never refer to observers and how they score riders at the SSDT during media broadcasts. To respond to the matter of consistency, if a rider "stops" three times in a section and gets debited with a three mark penalty that is simply wrong, the observer isn't doing the job properly. It was so obviously wrong that day it was embarrasing to watch! Reason I kept my mouth shut was I was simply an "onlooker", it had nothing to do with me! Big John

What difference does it make which section an observer is on? As far as I'm concerned it's very simple, I give what I see, if I'm in doubt, the rider gets the benefit! I was absolutely gob-smacked last year at Aonach Mor when I stood and watched an observer three just about every rider when he should have been giving a five! One lad stoppped three times in the section and was almost on his side and the observer gave him a three. I didn't interfere, didn't speak to the bloke. I just watched what he was doing, that is not the way it should be. Don't get me wrong, its a big task watching 275 riders all day in the piddling rain, I fully respect observers (done it myself plenty times, I know whats involved... but it must be done right! Big John