john b

Has anyone in the North East spotted Tommy Nixon and Brian Hollis pictured (on different pages) in Trialsworld ? Could be a new feature, spot someone you know in Trialsworld ! John.

Not a joke - honest !! I will try to get some photo's. Like G4321 says, also available in white !! I chose grey, as they blended in better (I have a Scorpa). well worth a try guys..... John.

Call me a skinflint, but............. Two pieces of grey drainpipe from B&Q, Cut to size. Cut down the length, snap them on the forks, they never move. Used them for years on MX bikes, and they work even better on trials bikes. Total cost - about

Hi David, There is a Seaton Deleval club trial at Bilsmoor Park, Elsdon on the 13th March. cheers John.

I'll try and get a photo tonight Vinnie cheers John.

Vinnie, I added a mudflap to my 125. Made my own with 4mm thick rubber, pop rivetted thru the airbox with large head washers to stop them pulling thru. Works a treat, stops loads of crap getting past. One lad in the centre has fitted the SY250 subframe and airbox (with the flap) to his 125. Requires a bit of fabrication work, but the advanteage as well is that you can fit the 250 mudguard. Quite a costly mod tho........ cheers John.

Mine is one of the first TY125S, and I use first for almost all sections, except larger hill climbs. It does tend to'rev out'. but it will keep climbing. The later models have slightly different gearing, which makes first really low, but brings second into play more. I did consider changing the gearing, but after a year I'm used to mine and know what it will do, and what it is capable of. For the trials I do, I find it fine. Mind you, all of the people who ride two strokes think it is 'wiered' when they have a go. Stick with it tho. I rode a 2 stroke 280 GG Pro today (first time on a 2 stroke in a year), and I couldnt get used to it. No Engine braking, and how snappy is the engine !! cheers John.

Colly... Looking for an 02 bike, you want reliability and smoothness (if youre fairly new to trials). I ride the North East Centre regularly on Easy Route, and I'm average(ish !). I've got to say, on easy route I've yet to have to 'hop' the bike anywhere. Good basic technique, balance and thinking will get you good results in any North East Centre 'Easy' route. Finish well up in easy, move to Clubman, then start hopping !! As for the Bikes, what about a Scorpa? The 02 has the bulletproof engine (it will be a 3 year old bike), and it's smooth as silk. I might be biased, I ride a Scorpa, but the little 125.....! Your in (North East) Sport John.

Haven't been on for a couple of weeks, so thought I would add my comments (again !) The comment is right that for the extra

I find the suspension on the 125 fine - no different from the Pro I had (no worse or better). I do find the traction better. I find the bike gives you more 'time' in the section, its great in rocky gulleys etc. On slippy hillclimbs you just have to trust it..........stick it in first and it will keep going. It's a bit un-nerving at first, as trust it, it will keep going. It is a tubed rear, and I've had one puncture all year, and that's running at less than 3psi at times. I'm sure the 175 is a good bike, but you can get a lot of trick aftermarket bits for

Ive had a 125 for over a year now and love it, wouldnt change it for anything. If I was you I would go for a brand new 04 125 (

Gary (Windlestone) Have a close look, he's probably clicking it out of gear when you're not looking, then it will be:- " look dad, me Pro's knackered, we might as well get matching Montesa 4T's !!!!!" mark my words....................... John.

My comments (for what it's worth!) I think the new TY175 is a bit pricey, and to be honest can't justify the change from my year old 125 that I love. However, you can get 04 125's for

Using negative publicity positively ?? Everyone knows the 125 4T because of the ugly rear mudguard. Change it, and no-one talks about it ! Hey - I'm just off for a job in Marketing !!! Anyway, imaginative use of Blue and Black thick decal sheet and the odd Yamaha sticker and it suddenly becomes a thing of beauty ! - honest..... John.

Will be intersted on the performance of the 175. I dont feel my 125 is underpowered (for me anyway), but you always want that bit more ! Has anyone tried the 143cc kit from the states - is there much difference? just it seems good value at $300. Not sure on the silver frame for 05 mind.............. But it still looks class ! John.

I agree that if they wanted to, Yamaha could theoretically justify it, I just think that at the end of the day, it's such a niche market that Yamaha's efforts are elsewhere. I dont think that will change. Take Honda (Montesa) out of it, and all of the 'Big' players are small companies, with enthusiastic R&D people who put a lot into the sport. I think that's the way it will stay. Which really is no bad thing ! John

I think that Yamaha obviously had the strategy to get out of Trials, and develop their MX bikes. In the last 5-10 years, they really have developed in MX (Remember that they were first with a Japanese 'Big 4' (Kaw/Suz/Hon/Yam) 4St MX bike (YZ400 in 99). They were really lagging behind in MX, now they are right up there. To develop a bike now, particularly a 4st will require a clean sheet - and despite the size of the company, I still think it's a risk. Honda have done their development, and now I think it will launch the new 4st, and chip away at the new model for the next 5-6 years. In the meantime, the forced change to 4St in world trials will get put back and back. Yamaha I think have got it spot on - they have a Yamaha for sale in Japan (albeit a Scorpa), and they will continue to help support Scorpa in their development (I think there is a little more to the business agreement than supplying engines). If they were to re-launch into Trials, they would be better off dusting down the tooling, and start making TY80's again - could sell em like hot cakes....... In the meantime, I'll stick to my TY125S 4st......... Just my thoughts...... John.

Completely agree on the sump guard extensions. I fitted mine (made from 6mm aluminium, fabricated and bolted on both sides) a good while ago, after clattering the casings on a rock at a trial. They have loads of knocks and scratches on now, so obviously do the job. Easier to replace than casings !!!! John.

On the Clutch issue, I have an MSR easy clutch fitted that I got from the states. Dirt cheap, well made and works well. Still a bit grabby when doing really tight turns, but hey, I lose a lot more marks by my crap riding rather than the clutch !! Marky, ref gearing... I found the same. In my first few trials I thought it revved out too much in first, and second was a tad too high. I resisted messing withe the gearing though, just did the exhaust mod (to grind out the 6mm bars) - this gave it a bit more poke, and basically I just rev the a*** off it. It takes forever - like months ! - to loosen the engine up - mines loads better now, but I've had the bike since last November ! I do only use it every other week for a trial though. Tell you what mind, graded hill climbs, peg it in second, hang off the back and smile when you get further than the 290's, 280's 300's etc - CLASS !! cheers John.

Gary (Windlesone) After the endures of Elsdon last week, I agree, I totally admire anyone who has the thought of the scottish, never mind the bottle to enter ! One trial a week for six weeks on the trot would totally bugger me ! John.

Thanks for the reply on the exhaust mod Mike, I'll try it this week. Latest hints and tips for everyone from yesterday's trial. 1 - The Sumpguard extensions I fitted worked excellent - Gives much more confidence riding up rocky streams (between rocks) - a few scuff marks on them, so they obviously work ! - Interesting to note that the 'Long Ride' version in the photo has extensions fitted. 2 - Keep an eye on the Plug Cap. I had to retire after a lap and a half yesterday, the bike just wouldn't run. On tickover it would stop, then take a while to start, then run for a while, then stop. This went on for a long time. It was pi**ing down, so decided to pack in, as the last thing I wanted to be doing was push the bike 2 miles through the mud back to the car ! - Anyway, traced the problem to the plug cap. The outer sheath had pulled back from the plug cap, and the HT lead was shorting onto the fins on the barrell - hence intermittant starting, and missing when running and revved. Solution is silicon and copious use on black insulating tape ! Jesus, I should be a Scorpa development rider - but I'm crap (but maybe thats what they need ! - Must go, just about to e-mail Scorpa France with my CV !) John.

Marky G Just a quick comment - If youre getting an alloy tank made, there is a possibility of it being smaller (less capacity). If you are just running club trials (4 laps - 10 sections), I've found it runs forever on the sniff of an oily rag ! just a thought....................... and post the pics when you get it back. John.

Mike (Rapley), Good to read your comments, I have pretty much the same opinion, although I haven't touched the clutch mod yet, as it's not losing me marks. Two questions 1 - Was interested in the exhaust mod, - exactly what is it and how do you do it ? 2 - Engine width - I've found that the engine is substantially wider than the bashplate (mind you, I am used to the width of a GG Pro, if you an fit your boot through, the bike will go through!) - I've knocked both sides of the engine on rocks up to now, so have had a couple of aluminium extensions made to be bolted on - have you had similar experiences ? and you are right, it does get the looks ! cheers John

I've put decals on my rear mudguard, made up from 'thicksuff' plasic. Comes in a sheet about 500 X 300 mm. I have a strip of blue carbon fibre effect about 100mm wide X 500 long running from the tank to the rear. I've then put a white 'Yamaha' decal on the Blue (letters are about 75mm high). I've also put some black carbon fibre effect strips on the side where your boots rub. Sounds complicated, isn't, and was cheap (about

Gordon, Saw Carl Shaw with his Sherco (or may have been Scorpa) in the back of a Ford Galaxy - this was about a year or so ago. Looked fully built up. Not 4WD obviously, but more comfortable than a Landrover ! Do you really want to swap your BMW for a Landrover !! John.