daved444

I took some video of the last section - managed to get most of the entry in these two clips but sorry if I missed you! and

Here's my Fantic 300 - more details on the Fantic forum

You could try Storm Grafix - they did some great one off sets for my twinshock bike and they can do your own design or standard 'off the shelf' kits for all modern bikes I think. The quality of the sticker and the print is excellent! http://www.stormgrafix.co.uk/trials-bike-graphics/

I used Mchelin XLite tubeless tyres with a tube inside on my Akront rims last year with no problems - all I did was pump them up hard between trials to keep the bead in place on the rim - at trials pressures the tyre held well all season. I have gone back to an IRC tube type tyre for this season because I found a few with hard sidewalls, but they are a bit inconsistent compared with tubeless tyres that are available

I don't know how many other people have stated that they 'picked them up cheap at Telford' but that's the fact Paul. I paid

Absolutely spot on Martin! You have hit the nail firmly on the head.... See you in Devon in a few weeks for some good old fashioned fun with a hundred or so others ;0)

Hi Charlie What touches a nerve with me is that twinshock trials is still reasonably inexpensive and people have been making modifications for many years on this type of bike - just look at the developments involved in Vesty's Bultaco or man other twinshock bikes from the end of that era in order to try and keep up with air-cooled monos because that particular brand might have been caught napping by Yamaha releasing the mono and gaining ground on the opposition. Twinshock bikes were an evolution in trials at a time when bikes changed significantly and there is an awful lot of engineering exellence out there that will not be seen when a period bike will be classed as 'too trick' to ride in the class for the year that it was actually competing. I have been approached by many people (including some from the Derbyshire region) for my thought on this and their conern that organisers of classic trials who missed the opportunity to do something about the rediculous situation with Pre 65 bikes are now clamping down on twinshocks and could be spoiling it - their words not mine! For me, twinshocks still represent a relatively cheap way to go trialling and not lose money in depreciation each year along with an opportunity to ride bikes from my youth. In 1981 when my SWM was new I was 15 and Burgat had won the world championship on one so it is logiical that this is the type of bike I want to ride as I didn't start riding till much later and wanted a bike that I would have ridden in my youth. A question for the rule makers that has been sent to me this morning - is whether or not TY Yams which were all originally fitted with straight axle forks (which means far too much trail, and pretty dodgy steering) are going to need to run in the PC Trick-Shock class if they have later leading axle forks fitted, which is a mod which provides a far greater improvement than fitting 38mm forks to bikes which already have leading axle forks? Any meaningful rules need to be applied equally across the board, and it seems to me that if PC are wanting your bike to run as a Trick-Shock, then the same thing needs to be applied to any bike which has an upgraded front end fitted, especially so in the case of TYs where changing the forks makes such a big difference.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the rules dictated by the relevant club. the Pre 65 Scottish gets its knockers regarding eligibility yet they have no issues with entries. I understand that Peak Classic have their own challenges regarding entries and if Paul thinks this will increase entries then that is up to him. Personally, I will choose not to go and ride there but that is my choice and I am sure they won't lose sleep over my entry as I have only ridden up there once anyway I think. Instead I will ride ACU trials (Sammy Miller and Normandale) plus any number of events in my own Centre where there are no such issues (eligibility or the volume of entries) and will continue to enjoy trials for what it is - a bit of fun on a Sunday morning. I pay my entry and have a bit of fun with some like minded mates - some choose to ride standard unmodified bikes, some like to heavily modify and some like to ride modern bikes - that is their choice. We don't get prize money, trophies or any return for the investment in the bikes and we pay little the privililedge of riding but as soon as someone spoils the fun through needless policing then we will just go elsewhere or take up another sport. The hypocracy is what touches a nerve with me. Why would it be ok to slide a pair of 35mm Marzocchi forks ito a set of norton road holders and still be eligible for the pre65 class (when the only thing on the whole bike that is period is probably the crank cases) and on a twinshock you feel the need to introduce a whole new class when actually over 90% of the bike was produced prior to 1982. I know, having built a number of pre65 bikes over the years, that my latest 'trick' SWM is far more period and original than any of the pre65 bikes that I have ridden that are eligible for the pre65 class. Double standards by anyone's money - or perhaps the person defining the rules has a vested interest (I.e a very modifies Pre 65 and a very original twinshock bike) Now there's a thought! :0)

Now there's a question OTF I personally fitted Paioli forks to my SWM because they cost

Hi Glen, I rode the last half of the season on the Maxton shocks and I have found them to work very well indeed. There has been a noticeable improvement in grip and they work flawlessly on the bigger hits that the previous Betors and Rock Shocks struggled with. If I had any comment then I would like them to be a little more supple at the start of the stroke (on the very small bumps) but a dual rate spring would take care of that I'm sure. The thing is, I am on the large side and I am happy to lose a bit at the start of the stroke to achieve good results under more load. The quality of manufacture is fantastic and I would recommend them if you were considering a purchase (similar money to Ohlins and Maxtons at

Take a look at this Restoration

Hi guys Anyone know where I can get hold of original clutch cables for either of these bikes? They were more flexible than the latest Venhill cables and it helps with routing Please help!!!!! Dave

Hi Guys, I popped along to a local Stourbridge club trial on saturday to give the shocks a try. The trial was pretty easy but there was some opportunity to practice on some decent sized steps and roots and I am really pleased with the results so far. They are set up quite stiff but then I am around 17st in my riding gear and they have been set up for me so that is to be expected and was a little odd after riding shocks that have been too soft for some time. What was noticeable was the supple performance on the small bumps and little roots followed by a progressive damping performance that soaked up much bigger hits, especially when hit at speed. The other aspect that was impressive was the adjust-ability of the rebound damping. I normally like to set my rebound quite quick but found that with a correct spring weight I could slow the rebound down and still easily move the back end of the bike whilst having it more noticeably track the contour of the ground which should improve grip when the going gets a bit more slippery in the winter. It is early days but so far so good!

I ride in the standard twin shock class - there is no such thing as a twin shock special class as far as I know. The key rules for twin shock trials is that the bike has to have been manufactured as a twin shock, have drum brakes and (i think) be air cooled - all of which my SWM meets the criteria for. My forks are 38mm, the same size as on the later SWM Jumbo and has twin rear shocks - the rear shocks are just the same as those used by Steve Saunders to win the pre65 Scottish this year - both within the rules for twin shock trials and the same as many riders are using on their twin shock bikes down here. The wheels, engine etc are all standard SWM stock, the frame has been modified but is mainly an 81 SWM frame. Athough it looks quite different I can assure you that it is far less radical than most of the Fantics being ridden with air-cooled mono engines and forks and modified frames or yamaha mono based twin shocks.

Got my shocks yesterday - very nice indeed! I have done a quick update on the experience here Maxton Shocks