huntmaster

Interesting. I was not aware of the other "GOV" registrations.

Ouch!!!

An interesting discussion. Like any involving "rules" it's usually not about if there should be any but of course where to draw the line. On this side of the pond I could show up with a disc-braked, monoshock HT5 and never be turned away! Hardly "pre-65"... but of course a literal "showroom stock" enforcement of the rulebook where there are more classic bikes would make every "Millerized" Ariel out there completely ineligable. No such bike existed in any Ariel brochure anywhere! As many know, the stock HT that went out of production in 1958 (not 1964!) weighed over 100 lbs more then many GOV 132 clones...or about 2/3 the weight of a modern trials bike!

Wow, great pics. Thanks for posting!

Hi Jim. I wrestled with that same problem a few years back when building my HT. Perhaps you have already come up with a solution, however heres a couple pics I have. There is not just one solution here from what I have seen but this is the one I liked (for a larger then average rider!) after talking to people. Regards, Doug

I just returned from this event near Montreal last weekend. It's only in it's third year but building a good following... with near 100 riders from central Canada and northeast US competing this year. Mick Andrews was also along helping out with the trials both days. Beautiful weather on Saturday, and even the heavy rains of Hurricane Irene didn't dampen the enthusiam too much on Sunday! Thanks to event host Eric for the loan of a Yamaha TY after my Ariel's mag expired! A few pics here. http://www.offroadmotorcycles.ca/journal/2011/8/29/trials-at-the-ormstown-vintage-off-road-festival.html Regards, Doug

I had the same issue a few years back, with a baffed monobloc that originally came with my HT5 engine. With new manufacture monoblocs and concentrics both available I could have gone either route but prevailing opinion was that the concentric was superior in most ways, particularly at low speed. I had a low opinion of the latter, particulary after the slide on one in my Commando self destructed and got blown out the exhaust! However, the new manufacure ones (besides being new) are apparantly of better build quality then the old OEM ones...which wouldn't be hard to do! It was only once informed of that I went with one rather then jump to a modern Mk 2 Amal, which would have been expensive (but reassuring) if not classic-competition legal everywhere!

A similar thread from last year at the ADV Rider forum. Trials Bikes From A-Z

That's actually a 3/4 scale HT5!

I expect it would be very difficult to get any consensus on "what is" classic trials from either a bike or a riding perspective! The definition certainly evolves over time... and if classic trials has little to do with modern events, it has almost as little to do with the classic events of years ago in my experience! The situation on this side of the pond is quite different of course, and I expect exacerbated by the lower particpation rate and rider base in North American trials. Perhaps an indicator of what could be in store for pre-65 (or even twinshock) events in the UK or the continent in years to come as classic bikes (and riders!) get older. I started riding trials as a kid nearly (yikes) fourty years ago but left the sport before the monoshock era, only to come back riding twinshock events years later. I remember my Honda (and other period twinshocks) getting a dismissive "hurrumph" from some BSA and Triumph classic riders at the time! They obviously didn't consider the Honda "vintage"! B-40's, Cubs, C-15s, TR-5's, Bantams were plentiful, with a good smattering of Spanish two strokes as well. Japanese twinshocks were tolerated! Now, 20 years later most of those riders aren't active (or have moved to newer machinery) and all the old bikes are gone while overall classic numbers are well down. I'm the only guy riding a pre-65 bike locally. Ironically, early air-cooled monos are 25 years old now (older then many of those British bikes were when I started riding classic events) yet some don't consider them vintage! As for the riding aspect, as some have noted the classic stuff is practically a different sport from modern events...but I may have to consider that route to keep riding trials in these parts. The situation here is a bit different and classic events are in decline, or at least in transformation... as older bikes (and riders) disappear and newer ones show up. I do my best to avoid passing along my own "hurrumph" factor (I like the later bikes too) but have become a one-man show. Vintage series events could well end up being a "vintage class" at modern events, which will make it tough to accomodate everything from an air-cooled TY mono to my pre-65 lump! For myself, the issue will be whether to go back to a 70's-80's twinshock bike (keeping the Ariel for shows, rally's and classic events) and riding familar classic-type lines, or to spring for a 4RT and try an all new sport...modern trials! I have to admit to considering the latter glorified stunt riding for many years, but I have become intruiged with it lately, while having a bit of a "been there, done that" feeling about the twinshock stuff. At 45, I better not wait too long I suppose! Regards, Doug

Some good follow up coverage at Visit My Website

Nice to see a Tiger Cub still competing as a regular ride! Too bad those new fangled colour cameras has trouble in the dark!

Nice pics. Looks like a fun event.

Could be. Good thing I don't have one of these! I better cancell that Rocket-3 trials project I guess!