zippy

Howie - Big O surprised face Sharon - Hands over mouth OMG face. Piers - Bored and will exclaim "Dougie Lampkin does it better, Americans just can't ride proper trials"

I too have done similar, had a hole in my front tube, knew local dealer guy would be at event. I needed a spare anyways so I would buy a patch kit later to fix the tube with a hole in it. Purchase tube all happy as a clam. Install tube, pump it up. Find out I pinched it, go over to dealer guy and after he finishes laughing I purchase a patch kit. Redo the entire process, but a little slower so I don't pinch it again. Now I have 2 tubes with patches.

Alrighty I was able to see one of these in the metal at the MOTA Windsor Club event. I will try to make this an enjoyable read. The owner of said Ossa actually was looking for me specifically to check out the bike. I am still surprised when people seek me out for any reason. My reputation of being a cheap B*****D preceded me because he knew already that I was not interested in purchasing one. (or any other new bike for that matter)But he knew I was interested in the construction of the bike from a purely "how does this work" viewpoint. Basically a long winded way to say "The owner of this Ossa is a nice guy". Now on to the bike. Just looking at it the machine looks good. The aesthetics in person are very nice. As far as how the cast aluminum pieces are attached to the CR-MO tubing, I am 99% sure it is some type of uber strong epoxy/glue type stuff. I did not know this next bit until looking at the bike. The headstock and the fuel tank are one cast aluminum piece. So I will assume that the walls of the fuel tank are fairly thick and sturdy, much like my head. The cast frame pieces have a bumpy texture, but I thought it gave them some character. I had asked about the air filter, we are always worried about the cleanliness of the air filter. OK we are supposed to be anyways. The owner (OK I am bad with names and have an even worse memory, sorry) ahem I start again, The owner said that the filter does not get as dirty as quickly with it being located in the upper part of the frame, although he did say that it takes a bit of a system to remove the filter. There are a couple sensors and what nots in there that need to be disconnected and reconnected. And then I take the bike for a ride. I decided it would be a good idea if I did NOT really thrash this bike and beat on it like my bike. I made this decision for 2 reasons. 1. It's not mine and 2. I did not look forward to telling Mrs. Zippy that I now need to spend much $$$ fixing somebody else's bike. Speaking with the owner, with the Ossa being fuel injected it is possible hook Mr. fancy laptop to the bike and change the ignition map. This gives options from smooth to fire breathing monster. Kickstarting reminded me a bit of the GasGas, seemed like a shortish swing with that little snap at the end of the kick. Now remember I took it easy on the bike so I don't know what it will do in the higher rev range, I also had to remind myself that this bike was set up for the owner, levers, suspension etc.. It putted around very well, balanced extremely easy, and I did go over a small stump. Engine responded as it should to get over the stump. The shift lever also reminded me of the GasGas, These are not good or bad things just a point of reference. Suspension seamed to do the business. I am at a bit of a disadvantage for evaluating suspension, I am riding a 2000 Sherco with the original suspension, I think the shock and forks are getting a bit wore out. Every new bike I try the rear end does not sink any where near as much as mine does when I get on it, and I have my spring wound almost to the top. Riding position seemed natural, I think I would rally enjoy riding one of these machines if I had one of my own and I could set up the personal controls specifically to me and I then I could really thrash the hell out of it. Thank you for letting me take your new Ossa for a test ride. I think this bike could do well. If you read this entire post to get to this sentence then I did my job of making this interesting. If I did not make it interesting, then lie to me and say it was.

female tube. it is temperamental.

all the resistor does it make it so the electricity in the plug does not interfere with your radio. Your reception may be a bit off for your favorite riding music station.

Well if it is the same type of stuff that is on the Cessna I would bet the tube would fail first.

AAAAAH so it's the really good stuff to be sniffing!! Thanks for the replies gents. Hopefully I get to see one in the flesh (metal) on Sunday.

OK, it's not a new approach, but what is that approach that actually holds the cast aluminum to the CR-MO tubing?

So the fuel tank is beefy enough to handle the stresses. Good to know. thanks all for the replies.

That would be cool!! I shall be there as well. Can you tell us how the cast aluminum pieces are attached to the CR-MO tubing? Yes, I understand you have an "interest" in the bike, yada yada yada but I think this falls under the category of general knowledge.

I think the Ossa looks to be very innovative and cool. But I have a question about the frame. I have done some research and am unable to find the answer. Frame: CR-MO steel tube profile with pipe and bottom made of cast aluminium So how are these cast aluminum pieces attached to the CR-MO steel tubes? I can't see any bolts. Am i blind, daft or just missing something? Also any concern of damage to the lower portion of the fuel tank with having the skid plate mounted to it? Could be quite a bit of stress on the lower part of fuel tank with the skid plate being bashed and bending around a bit.

In theory nothing on the engine case side should have been touched if only the water pump seals were change. As the seals are in the clutch cover. But I assume you already know that. I am basically agreeing with you. Maybe more work was done to it than the water pump seals. Bad bearing on the kickstart shaft, causing it to sit a little askew? And then the sprocket does not fully disengage?? Just grasping at straws.

something wrong with the kickstart return spring? I broke one of these once also.

I think what happens is the calendar starts over.

Your Cock is very stylish!

I have broken the return spring and the shift shaft, both were super easy to fix. Apparently the shifter does not like being used as a foot peg.............go figure.

I tried the computer fan thing, worked Awesome for about a 15 minute ride. All that bouncing around just shook the thing to death.

This I used for my 2000 Sherco

Check the side angle of your wrist at the bars. I discovered that if my bars are too wide (just 3/4 of an inch) that my wrists were put at an odd angle and would hurt. With my bars at the correct width my wrist is kept 90 degrees to the grips.(hand and forearm should be a relative straight line) The wider the bars the farther out your arms go and the more you have to "point" your hands toward the center of the bars to keep your hands holding the grips. But if your bars are too narrow then your wrist will go the opposite direction. Hope this makes sense.

I do that to every rear tire I have on my Sherco. I get 2 seasons out of a tire that way. (yep i am a cheap Ba****d)

Here in the US we do have some extremely dangerous curbs. There is little known about the severe dangers of "Curb Falls", but it is stories like this one that really help to get exposure of the issue out there. Maybe in time we can reduce the danger of some of our curbs but until that day comes, I for one am thankful for the Marines that on occasion can be stationed at these dangerous curbs doing 2 services for the American people, collecting Toys for Tots (a wonderful program) and protection from dangerous curbs. Now if that individual would have heeded the warning from the Marines about the curb, he would have been in much better health when the Police arrived to find out why he thought he could leave the store with merchandise he did not pay for.

What part of the body are you talking about covering???

"It's good to be the Prince"