Hi Ross.Good score at Abington on sunday.Did you enjoy it?
Thinking of the pushrod motor myself.Lots of Brazil built CG125's about and the motor is pretty robust.
Gearing,exhaust and electrics are probably the main problems I think,other then actually mounting the engine in the frame.
Would I need a battery? A small dry cell would be easy to locate as I would use a K&N type filter so plenty of space where the airbox should go.
Do these motors plonk low down for trials? Gearing would have to be trial and error,large sprocket on the back and not much speed but would only be for club/fun trials anyway.
Always enjoy Abington, nice to get a few cleans.
Hows the head?
Speak to Hamish about this, by coincidence we were talking about these engines, and he seems to have alot of experience and knowledge regarding interchangeability of Honda parts. I think he said he used TL125 1st 2nd & 3rd, along with the original 4th & 5th from the CG.
I am not familiar with a TLM 220 but for past bikes I have used a thread gauge from machine mart etc. to measure the pitch of the thread, they are about
I have 2 rear wheels doing this, 1 has new tyre & the other has only just bneen turned although was giving issues beforehand. New rimtapes & stems fitted with everything clean but still problems, getting expensive this spending afternoon setting a trial then only managing 4 sections
Yes, just like to add also what an enjoyable weekend it was.
Got home from work on Friday and finished prepping bike, give the van a checkover for the 400-odd mile journey from Brum to Alvie, sort kit out, get tools together and load everything into van. It's now 11pm and time for bed.... Set alarm for 2am... Alarm goes off before head has even touched pillow. Sod it, is this really a good idea. Mash down a few rounds of toast with Golden Shread's finest, mug of tea and onto the M6 by 3am. Relieved to have a trouble free run out of the Midlands as believe me, I've been at a standstill on the M6 in a queue of traffic on more than one occassion at that time in the morning. Press on and soon passing the Lakes turn off. It's around this point that the signpost that says Carlisle 90 miles looms into view. Great, as once there, the next signpost says Glasgow 90 miles and it's at least another 90 after that. Not far to go then... Never mind, lots of CDs to play. Then the player packed up so it was Radio 2 after that as it was the only station which stayed in reception. Holy christ, whoever gave that **** Alan Carr a job on radio....... what an a***, a stuck CD sounds better than him. And then there was Paul O'Grady. Radio 2 has definitely sunk its standards. Luckily I missed Jonathon Ross' show.
Anyway, past Glasgow at around 7.30ish and starting to feel hungry. I'll pull over at a roadside cafe and have a proper breakfast I thought. Mile after mile, no cafe. I now know they don't exist north of Glasgow.... Get to Alvie around 9.30am. Trial doesn't start til 11am so time to go into Aviemore and get some breakfast. Find a roadside space big enough to park the van right outside a cafe. Result. Three cafes later and I still haven't found one that serves cooked breakfast - what is it about Scotland and cooked breakfasts and cafes..... the breakfasts in the bed and breakfasts and hotels are fantastic. Anyway cafe number 3 at least did sausage and egg sandwiches so two of those please and a mug of coffee and then ready for the trial. Walked back past cafe number one where a nice young lady was busy setting tables and chairs outside - this was really optimistic as it was p***ing down all morning.....
And so to the business end of the weekend, the trial. First few sections in the stream by the carpark to set things off, nothing silly but enough to make you think about lines on some and easily capable of stealing marks. Then up onto the hillside for a few more sections that were plotted around rock outcrops embedded into the hillside. Remainder of the sections were in the forest grouped in about 4 or 5 clusters connected by some nice forest tracks which let you play at enduros. This also brings the reality check that trials drums aren't as good as KTM discs at stopping so more than one 'moment' was experienced en route to sections. Great fun. The sections set in amongst the trees had a Lakes 2 day flavour about them (not as hard obviously) with roots and rocks becoming exposed with the passage of bikes and it was here that the major mark takers were situated. Sections 13, 14 and 15, 15 in particular, were very good and on older twinshocks really made you think about getting line and acceleration points sorted in the section recce. Get off line and that ancient suspension won't help you at all. It will stop you dead, no chance of recovery as the rules are proper - no-stop. The last 3 sections were back on the hillside just above the carpark and 16 was another tricky one to get right with a proper no-stop ride. 17 and 18 to round off the lap and back to the start for the punchcard change.
Day 2 had some sections replaced with new ones and some existing sections altered slightly for an increased variety over the weekend. The major mark takers were still in apart from 13 which was a shame (personal opinion only, not meant negatively) as it was a bitch to clean. The forest tracks were enjoyed again and the brake drums got another good warming in several places before lap 2 brought the event to a close. Load up the van, hit the burger van, then the road and home for 11pm.
Thoroughly enjoyable weekend with great banter between competitors. Good variety of bikes and really nice to see an Ulf Karson 247 Cota being used in anger and from what I saw quite effectively on the hard route. I can't remember the last time I saw a 70s Mont being used in a classic trial. A few early 70s Bults as well with some nice pre65 machinery. Beautiful scenery (as long as it isn't raining...) great ride around with good sections over 2 routes.
So, what puzzled me is why weren't there more riders from Scotland supporting it. If classic trials are at a premium up there (from what I've heard) why aren't classic enthusiasts riding this one. The two routes cover most abilities so most will be catered for. Where are they all? - especially given the number of pre65 riders that enter the Scottish 2 day. Get your bikes out and ride it and make the most of it whilst you can. Wish we had terrain like that down here.
I'd put the standard of sections somewhere between the better of the Sammy Miller series and the easier of the Traditional series, the greater percentage leaning more towards the Miller series. In other words, if your handy at expert level and you have a modern twinshock then preventing loss of marks will be more down to concentration than anything. For older bikes the sections are just about right on the A route with several that present a good test and to reflect that there is a pre77 class on the A route. Twinshocks can also ride the B route on a no award basis (I think) but who cares about awards, most importantly, if your ability suits the B route you can ride your twinshock. B route is perfect for pre65, although pre65 front runners in the traditional series would cope with the A route on their modernised bikes.
Thanks to the Inverness DMCC for staging the event. Definitely hope to ride it again next year and hopefully take some mates along too. If you want a nice pleasant weekend's trialling in a very pleasant setting then give it a try.
I guess it was yourself that used the Ossa on the Saturday & B40 on the Sunday ? Did you have a problem or just for variety ?
Useful reference site for all spark plugs can be found at www.sparkplugs.co.uk.
The link below gives equivalents of Bosch and NGK plugs and the WR8DC equivalent is a BPR5ES. I believe the R denotes a resistor which suppresses the electrical noise given off by the plug to prevent interference with other electrical devices.
changed the front tyre this pm ( first time i've had the front wheel off in the couple of weeks i've had the bike) when all put back together its no longer centred between the forks.
i've had it apart a zillion times since and it just wont centre up with the tyre been only about 8mm from the offside fork leg. i've a big spacer and thats where it came from beside the nearside fork but i cant see what or why the wheels not central ( without the spacer the wheel dont turn and the brake fouls the disc)
Now Ted Simon, who features in the LWR, if you haven't already read his book 'Jupiter's Travels' do, its how real adventure biking should be, not by two priviledged, pampered, actoorss.
I've read Jupiters travels several times and given the choice would go with CB & EM, but only just. Met CB briefly and asked him why they carried all that crap when they had those support vehicles. Answered something about independance. Incidentally they arn't "actoorss" they're act-arses.
Maybe KTM think they havn't got a bike that can win?
As an example Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman chose KTM to go round the world on; KTM then pulled out and the thinking was that they thought the bike wouldn't make hence bad press and maybe detrimental to future bike sales. For those of you that havn't seen the DVD they chose BMW 1150's did it and BMW are still selling loads of bikes of the back of this!!!
Just maybe KTM's policy is to WIN? if there is doubt then they withdraw??????????
Big mistake by KTM if the number of big BMW's going up to the Scottish is an indication of sales, looked to be about 10:1.
Fantic 50
in Fantic
Posted
Always enjoy Abington, nice to get a few cleans.
Hows the head?
Speak to Hamish about this, by coincidence we were talking about these engines, and he seems to have alot of experience and knowledge regarding interchangeability of Honda parts. I think he said he used TL125 1st 2nd & 3rd, along with the original 4th & 5th from the CG.