old trials fanatic

nice one

Keep us posted as I would love to find out what the problem was and what the fix was. Agree with Woody about you never know what you've got but port timing is easy to check once you know what port timing you like but so many Villiers barrels etc have been "modified" and not always for the good. Also so many parts are interchangeable you really have to know what you've got and what you should have. Saying all that they probably have the very best spares availability of any P65 or twinshock bar none with everything available even remanufactured using better materials and tolerances than original. Cliffs ignitions are normally very robust and reliable I agree but a few did have problems which Cliff has always sorted immediately he's a nice bloke and very helpful. Anyway as I said keep us posted.

Sad loss I remember Bill from the good old days at Clifton and Kniveton. He helped me a lot with refurbing broken threads and alloy welding when I was a kid in Long Eaton. Used to call at his house and never bothered that it took me an hour to cycle there. A character sadly missed.

I agree wholeheartedly. The reason I posted was that so many on here were pontificating about "youth is the future" as if concentrating on and appealing to the youth end would save the sport. Focusing on any one demographic would be suicide for any business however every business must analyse it's customers and potential customers and whether it's by buying a bike and supporting a youngster or buying and riding themselves we have to appeal to the person spending the money and that's the middle aged bloke with that disposable income we have talked about. Trials should and must be inclusive which is why what happens at the WTC is irrelevant to the sport as a whole. I have been very heartened recently by one young man in particular who started trialing about 3 years ago and I have watched him progress at our trials and his ability has grown by leaps and bounds with the support of his parents along with his uncle who also rides and is where he got his interest from. His uncle has now built him a BSA Bantam and this 11 year old is leading the Clubman Championship, ok after only one round but come on he's doing great, showing a lot of the old hands how it should be done. He loves his sport and has grown into a young adult at only 11 and you forget how young he is in the queue with the banter and craik he has with the rest of us old farts. If only more could emulate this it's amazing how the sport of trials can make you grow not only as a competitor but also as a sportsman and a man. As his dad once said to me "a muddy boy is a happy boy" still makes me smile.

Lots of middle aged riders have contacted me in the past who for various reasons have decided they would like to give Trials a try. Some have decided riding their road bike is just too dangerous nowadays but still hanker for the thrill of riding a motor cycle. Others see it as a progression from trail riding as more and more trails get closed. Some are just changing discipline however one thing unites them all they are at a point where they have a disposable income and they are going to spend it on something. It may be golf clubs or a fishing rod, shotgun, longbow, mountain bike whatever but they can AFFORD it so we need to encourage them to bring their pot of cash our way. Perhaps along the way they might get their children interested then again they might just be looking for some time on their own away from the wife and kids. Whatever one fact remains kids don't buy bikes you need money for that and it's only when you target the sector that has money do you make a sale. That's true in all business transactions. Incidentally I have also had a LOT of people tell me about how they tried the sport but found it beyond them. Often I have talked them into giving Classic events a try and again often this has worked because they have found it achievable. I'm not saying Classic events is the future but making the sport more accessable and also at entry level at least achievable has got to be the way to go. What happens at WTC is to all intents and purposes irrelevant to the sport as a whole. That's the same no matter what age you are.

Thing is jetting all depends on so many things for example my James runs a 120 main jet and pulls and runs fine however a mate of mines James with the same ignition etc runs a 140 main jet. The sort of exhaust and port timings compression ignition advance etc you are running all have a massive effect on the jetting as does inlet length and exhaust pipe length and diameter oh yes and the type of fuel and oil mix you run too. Then we get to altitude, we are in the Derbyshire Peak District which is a fair bit higher than Lincolnshire and everything all gets a bit grey on jetting. All I can say is if it's any help main somewhere between 120 and 140 probably a 2 1/2 or 3 slide cutaway and take it from there. You'll just have to get a few jets and try it. Sorry I cant be of any more help but I've always found what works on my bike quite often doesn't match exactly what works on someone elses and applies equally to the James and the Ossa and Bult and don't get me started on the TY LOL.

Bultacorock you sound just like our target audience we have three Classic Clubs here in the Derbyshire Peak District which means you can usually ride three weekends of the month which seems to suit most riders because they sometimes cant get their pass signed every weekend but when they can there is usually something on. Keep watching the website for event details and hopefully see you at one of our trials whichever bike you buy.

Bilco has a point. Like many leisure persuits their future is determined by the number of middle aged men with disposable incomes they can attract. All this youth is the future would be fine if the youth actually stumped up the money to buy and compete. It's those same middle aged men with disposable incomes that sponsor the youths or spend it on equipment, in our case bikes etc, for themselves. If you are going to target anybody target them because there is also far more chance that they will stay with the sport than the youff market. As Bilco correctly says "But the 40 plus generation are the ones keeping trials alive and if we really want to face the truths it has been for donkeys years" question is why so many cant see that????? So like ham2 i'll put me tin hat back on.

I was trying to ironic. Oh well don't give up me day job Thing is apart from at least giving joe public an idea, usually incorrect, of what I was actually doing on a Sunday Kickstart started the rot in the first place what with riding over cars along poles seesaws limbo etc etc. Then again nobody will agree with me on that one either. Ho hum.

Nice one err two actually. With you on that. Best van choice ever.

As per our website all our trials along with just about every other Classic trial are run to non stop rules. Don't know of any that are run to stop allowed rules.

Was Kickstart run to stop allowed rules ???? Could need a LOT of editing if it would be

52 youre just a spring chicken LOL. Best bet for you IMHO would be find a nice TY175 which are good VFM bulletproof and have good spares availability and will handle whatever you care to throw at them plus if you decide to sell are almost guaranteed to get your money back, well almost, too. Fantics and Honda TLR's are great bikes but soooooooo expensive to buy a good un. If you are ever in the area pop over to one of our trials for a look see.

Nice action vids. Now I can see why your trials are so well liked by some riders in our area.

Bultacorock I notice your location is Switzerland so thing may be very different over there. A lot of clubs are starting to tighten things up on Twinshocks so that they don't go the same way as Pre65. Might be a bit late as the horse may have bolted already. All I can say is try to buy a bike that has been looked after and is quite original rather than one that has been blinged up and has non std parts from modern bikes fitted. Fantics are good bikes but as they are one of the more competitive bikes in Twinshock tend to be more expensive than equally good bikes, for a clubman, like a Bultaco or TY Yamaha for example. So best to check as always what is acceptable with whichever club you ride. That's why I deliberately stated the eligibility requirements on our website. Good luck. Oh thanks for the kind comments about our website.

You can use anything you like but check with the club you will be riding with first to make sure it is acceptable to them or if they have a "specials" class. Good luck.

Sent you a copy template and a completed one, sorry about the inbox now emptied, for you to have a look at. You will need exel to use and view it but it's a doddle to use. If i can be of any more help you have my number and e mail addy.God i'm ruining my image LOL

Funny i always thought the bike in th eavitar was a cota 25 youre obviously bigger than i realised.

Nice bike as i said £1000 upwards not 3sp and access to extensive welding and machining facilities. QED

I take on board all these comments and i must admit i feel i might have to revise my opinion. I used to ride trials back in the hayday from 1967 to 1989 when we regularly had 100 entries at local club events then i packed up because all the trick cycling and general bu66ering about was coming in which just held no interest for me and i was finding the sections no longer enjoyable just no grace and beauty in it anymore. Started back again in 2006 as i happened on a Classic trial for P65 and Twinshocks and thought YES this is it this is proper trials so been involved in that ever since riding both P65 and T/S. As you know Classic events are all non stop and i have no interest in just making up the numbers and bailing out some modern club who are laying on an event totally unsuitable for P65 & T/S just so the local wunderkind can show off. Therefore i thought it would be a posative step to revert to proper rules but it's quite obvious that considerable amount of people for whatever reason arent willing to change prefering to stick with the pogoing that is such a turn off for the rest of the trialing fraternity, witness the sucess of Classic clubs and events with sensible sections and a general good atmosphere no dads shouting the odds bad attitude massive egos etc, to the extent that we are getting more and more on modern bikes wanting to come and ride our Classic trials. Well as usual i was wrong. I think it could be made to work but the will just doesnt seem to be there. Either way i suppose it doesnt effect me because i have no intention of ever riding at an event where stop allowed would be the norm but if the proposal is generally ruffleing so many peoples feathers then just run events as stop allowed. Nobody to my knowledge has said you HAVE to run non stop this year, at club level anyway, have they? Doesnt matter a jot cos the likelihood of anybody ever competing at WTC level is nil so just do what you want and at least enjoy it. Still dont get why it can work at Classic trials but according to the majourity of contributors on here wont work elsewhere. Whatever

Perhaps they are so taken aback by the ferocity of the detractors that they are having second thoughts about introducing even more unpopular measures ?

Jon i wasnt either just think it would make more financial sense to sell the bits and buy a T/S or ACM as some others have said from the proceeds. Now if it had been a running D14 then the equation might have been different but engine rebuilds swallow inordinate amounts of money. Agreed a lot of satisfaction to be had "building your own special" but from a financial point of view you should at least start with a runner and preferably a trail bike cos the wheels forks etc are all there already. You cant keep money out of it because in the world we live in everything costs something and you have to give it to somebody. I mean how much apart from the main frame diamond and motor would he be able to use ? Just trying to give advice from someone who has burnt more money than would ever make sense on an endless stream of moneypits disguised as trials bikes. Fact is whatever you think it's gonna cost quadruple it then add some. Even runners off flea bay are usually ***** and we all have regretted buying somebody elses bodge up and vowed never again. But we still keep falling for the same old same old. Hopefully now i've finally learnt to break it up before you get in too deep.Do appreciate your sentiments though Jon but lets face it some have a head start with piles of usefull bits and equipment and the skills to use it. Some arent so lucky. "P65" is and always will be the most expensive of arts they are ALL specials and require LOADS of time and engineering skills just to keep them running.

I dont mind sending a copy of ours if it's of any help?

Dont dissagree with anything youve said Jon however thats why i said £1000 upwards. An engine rebuild can easily cost £300 +, tyres £150, 2nd hand wheels from breakers £100, forks and yokes £100, bars chains and sprockets £100, odds and sods £100 and youve still got a bike thats worth bugger all second hand whereas a decent twinshock can be bought and fettled for less and hold it's value. Thats what i meant. the question was "is it worth the money and effort to convert?" NO "would i be better off selling it?" YES sell it and put the money towards buying a twinshock IMHO

With you on that one.