frenchie

I am looking at buying a Climber of around 1992 vintage and still a little unsure. Having read here about the forks and seals and other minor problems and I just wonder if there another bike that might easier to maintain or either get the spares that you might need. Of course I am sure this part of the site will give me perhaps a bias view on Aprillia s but perhaps I need convincing that during this era of trials they were as good as Beta Fantics etc . Also sourcing a bike in the Uk, what sort of prices do they range from if and when they come on the market. Thanks in advance.

So, who is making the long trip down to empty the Spanish wine lake then......

Hi Try Stuart Brown at " BPS-ENG " on 0033 6 87 38 35 30 he has wide pegs avaliable went straight on my Magesty and Ariel. Speaks English albiet with a Yorkshire accent..

Perhaps ER of the committee should read this ...My ER..as indoors does sometimes , she finds it boring and irrelevant perhaps the two ER's would be in agreement....... People who ride every year are happy as it is , why change it, and others think it should be a fair for one and all, bar ex winners and a few exceptions. This is not a new problem with the increased numbers of riders trying to get in, some ten years ago after trying several times to gain an entry it became clear that you had pull strings to get in or have a recognisable surname. I do hope the club considers the views of the riders, some comments suggest they have nt the time or perhaps interest, disappointing if that is the case. It remains a very very good trial, one I would like to ride again some day........ Ballot gods permitting....... Frenchie

Although its several years since I last rode, I imagine riding a run of the mill, ie. standardish... bike would be extremely hard work and dare I say it a struggle. As the bikes have evolved without doubt the trial must have become harder and although it is always won with a low score I dont think it reflects how difficult it can be. Another point, people tell me that the " Stars and their shinny bikes" get rides because it is what the knowledgeble crowd want, is it though. I wonder if people would actually rather see a more standard array of machines climbing pipeline, chuckling, knowing thats what classic trials is all about or a

Oh Yes The technical dept has already stepped into action, one will be winging its way to France Shortly. Will we sort the majesty or will it go replaced with a Fantic Will let you know.

I don't see this particular subject as a whine or a bitch, more of disagreement or differing interpretation of what should or should'nt happen. In reply to Tony, many many riders who do or in fact don't manage to get in, put hours and hours of work into trials running events in their home centres. I feel its unfair to expect people to help out at the trial in return for a ride certainly if they live many hundreds of miles away. This is possibly my last comment on this subject, but then again..........

Incorrect in what way..

I seem to remember last year the subject of entries and bikes got beaten to death on here, so maybe people have either mellowed ...or really cannot be a***d....to comment further as it falls on continual deaf ears. Big John, I have to give you a certain amount of credit for it would seem you are the Trials Cental Pre 65 Scottish public relations officer , defending any malicious word or comment , aimed at or challanging the intergity of the above trial and you do it well. However, surely you must understand the feeling regarding this well versed subject, you must understand that many people just do not see the fairness in a what can only be described an unfair ballot. As well you know, with the amount of riders that do not even go into the "Hat". It does irratate me as my previous comments on this web site obviously show. There might be a few more comments to bat away before May, good luck. Bonsoir Frenchie

Oh the joys of Europe. I bought and "imported" a nearly new, but secondhand car from Germany, changed the paper work and registered it in France with no " Vat " or so I seem to remember. The new and secondhand seem to have a major bearing whether the above tax is applied. I am not 100 pct sure but obviously someone better informed may need to help but would interested in the outcome. I hear several canny French and Spanish trials traders amoungst others buying their stock and raiding Ebay in the Uk due to the weaknest of Sterling I cannot seem much point importing anything at the moment and forseable future.

Bonjour, If the bike is second hand and has been imported from another E.U state them I am pretty sure there is no Vat to pay as it would of been paid to the relevent country when bought new.. if that makes sense. If its outside the E.U then all the relevent taxes will apply.

Mickey, Of course you can be asst clerk of the course, although it will mean you will have to get here two or three days in advance, to check out the Bordeaux Grand Cru, the Foie gras , Confit du canard, truffle sauce , sarladaise spuds etc just to see if it is good enough to offer the riders when they arrive..... If you can manage that.......... Things are moving slowly forward, although you can t believe how difficult if is to get organised. Once into the New year hopefully I will be better informed and possibly a date. In the mean time to everyone reading this a Happy Christmas to you all and a feet up New year. Frenchie

I would imagine true to form, fifty percent of the entry has already been decided, only the rest to go into the ballot, or am I being harsh..... Tis the season to be jolly.............

Way back when, in the halcyon days of trialing most if not all trials, certainly in our centre, were on the road. Single or a double lap and they were great..... The trials took more work and time to organise and in general the willing bands of helpers started to diminish, people then started to complain about the expense of registering and insuring bikes, passing motorcycle tests and little by little this type of trial was replaced by the closed circuit, multi lap we know today. Many great pieces of land now do not get used because of this and trials have suffered in quality due to lack of road work. Is an interesting debate focused on the cost issue ,discussed in the trials press many times over the years, I for one experienced several great years moving up from schoolboy trials into adults, riding road based trials nearly every weekend.. They say you should never look back .... they were great trials and great times. Salut Frenchie. P.s Im sure I invented supermoto on my 240 Fantic, nice soft tyre on the year .....

With classic enduros seemingly on the rise, is it possible to compete in these events on the Yamaha IT range, or, is it purely a twinshock affair. Any views would be most helpful Frenchie

Yes, so see how lucky you are in England, in most centres a trial, if not every weekend, for what ever class you want to ride in, no more than a hours drive, cheap licence, reasonable entry. The grass is not always greener........the other thing is the trials season in France has just come to and end...... just as its started to rain... apparently they ride trials in the summer months here so the observers don t get cold standing around .... they spoil them don t they !!!!!!!!! Bon Soir

Thanks for the comments, the wheels are now in motion and when we have further details I will post them. I think though, 120 euros for a two day trial might make a few cough, certainly the Brits with the exchange rate at the moment.

Hi, There should n t be any road work apart from maybe the odd road crossing. Dates havn t been decided although we looking at both the French classic and English classic calanders. We hope to stage it when its most agreeable here ie. not cold and not toooooooo hot, so either late spring or late summer. A valid demand for over 40 and 50's, at this stage I can t give an answer although I have to admit we had nt thougth of that one. We do not want a multitude of routes and we had basically decided on a maximum of three, would that work with modern bikes albeit with older riders. I will have to give it some thought and ponder over a vin rouge....... 5again... it would be a stones throw from you friends house in Grolejac, is that another couple of observers.......... Thanks for the input Bonsoir frenchie

Along with another T.C member I have been asked by the powers that be in the trials world in France to organise a trial here in my region, The South west of France. Firstly, putting on a trial in France is a costly affair apart with the permits and insurances, depending on the type of trial, closed multi lap, or longer one or two lap trials you need one or more ambulances and a doctor on standy all day ready to attend any one injured. This can add up to six hundred euros a day so you have to make sure that you will cover these basic costs, ie you have to try and encourage a decent enty. I have decided to pose the question on here, would this trial be of any interest to the Pre 65 and twinshock members here and perhaps friends as well. Although in its infancy we invisage a two day trial, each day two laps of twenty sections of rocks roots, big climbs, in fact the land in question is a trials riders paradise. There will be a campsite with swimming pool and chalets on this site and plenty of things for bored other halfs and kids to do whilst the trial is taking place. I will be the clerk of the course and have had extensive experience laying out sections in the UK, from National Pre 65 twinshock trials, to closed to club novice and intermediate and sidecars. Whilst acknowlegding the milage from the Uk ( eight Hours from Calais ) and the cost involved this particular area is an absolute gem receiving two million holiday visitors per year, so my thinking is a short holiday can be included to keep other faimily members happy................. The name of the town is Sarlat la Caneda, Perigord Noir, Dordogne if your interested or even curious do a search on the area and you will see what I mean. I often bump into Uk riders here in France and I know that certain riders make the effort to ride one or two of the well know trials across the channel hence my post. We are discussing the all the possiblilites this weekend so any comments would be apprciated. Thanks Frenchie..

Just managed to secure a forward kick 200 and after making its way through the tunnel , its basking in the late summer Dordogne sunshine with the other trials expats, Majesty and Ariel as we speak. Have spoken to Lee our resident fantic guru he has informed me of the differences regarding the rolling chassis, but would be interested if any body knows more of the history of this particular model. Bon soir

The cost involved in building or restoring a bike and the then value afterwards, was the the point I was trying to get across in my first post. Just because there is a similar bike in the classifieds cheaper it doesn t in my opinion automatically devalue the newly built or restored bike just because they happen to be the same make and model. There is considerable added value to any bike which been rebuilt with obvious new bits and or bills to prove work done ,apposed to a bike thats just been cleaned up to sell leaving the prospective buyer no idea of history or condition apart from a look around the outside and a quick ride if your lucky. I also think that to build a really good majesty these days you are looking nearer 4000 than 3000 certainly if you don t know your a*** from your elbow when it comes to bike building and engerneering. It would be also interesting to get a ball park figure on a complete as new, ready to ride bike from the various people offering this service. So, is the bike in question overpriced, seems so, the last posts suggest it is, I think however the twinshock market is buoyant and good bikes will continue to attract good prices and willing buyers. In Spain and France sort after models Hondas, Very trick fantics and Bultacos make very good money up to 4500 stg and sometimes above, hence my thought that we might have rethink what we have to pay in future , for our toys......... Interesting topic Salut

The point I was making or trying to make is that, if you have paid good money to buy and restore a bike, you have every right to" try " and recoup that investment if you wish to sell, and the price of a trials bike like a lot of things is almost the " How long is a piece of string " sernario. I have over the years restored several trials bikes and had a classic srambler built all to very high standards and when I went to sell them for various reasons , came very much unstuck taking in to account the money spent and then received, but I was a willing seller so I wore the loss. Majestys are very much in vogue at the moment ,are they worth three or four times the value of a 240 Fantic I don t think so, however some people do and are willing to pay. It will be interesting to see if the sale actually comes to fruition and the price it makes, this bike is of no interest to me and I have no idea of the seller , but I will continue to watch the progress. Hope that helps

Its creeping up... will it or won t it sell..

Just adding up all the bits and pieces, the workshop time etc and I wonder if the

I just did a general search for Yamaha Majesty, nestled in amoungst the scooters it appeared. Eight days to go buy now 4.4k