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The difference between the good riders and very good riders is immense too. Classic trials both Pre 65 certainly, and ever increasingly Twinshock has evolved to something it never was in the day. The middle route in the trials I ride , is now the new hard route, and the hard route is marked out in a modern style for old bikes. The top sections are becoming more do or die , certainly in the big European classics, the bikes are engineered accordingly and the type of riders its attracting is changing. So, there is not a cat in hells chance riders can all ride the same sections, unless some fancy a trip home in an ambulance.

Surprisingly no one really notices the forks, its because they do have SWM cast at the bottom, and they are from a jumbo, so I kid myself and follow the well trodden " It could have been done in the day " adage.. that everybody trots out when talking about something similar and covering their a***'s. The clutch is a little tricky as its got Aprillia written all over it and is clearly from another era, and stands out like a fighting dogs bollocks..... I like that phrase.... but I have tried everything possible, and spent more than a few euro's and its still not as good as it needs to be for an old fart that is starting to creak a little...plus it seems every other SWM I see has had it done. Hopefully it will be in Scotland next year, at the SWM themed trial, cant imagine for one moment I will be the only one... if I do it.. Decisions decisions...

And there's me having sleepless nights on whether or not to help my tennis clutch elbow, and put an Aprillia clutch on the Swoom.

I would say watch out for it being a complete rocket ship, would give a decent motocrosser a run for its money.... well thats how I felt about it anyway, didn t stay long in the garage, big big section bike.

All bikes whether practice or not should.. be insured. Competition wise if its all on private land they need to be insured and registered lights not needed. Competitions taking in road or bridal paths, need to be road legal, insured, registered and lights . Some require lights working some or most classic twinshocks require lights working or not... No one said it was easy....For the classic Costa Brava in Spain, part of the entry covers insurance and they have special dispensation from someone high up.... so no lights, registration document, and I assume no insurance is ever needed or indeed checked. They even have the local rozzers on the rounderbouts stopping traffic in favour of trials bikes roaring through the town. For these two trials the numbers speak for themselves, quality events in quality areas, attract riders willing to possible moderate the amount of mediocre trials in favour of the must do events.

No in France no licence required to practice, however the bike should be insured. To ride in a competition the bike should insured and registered even on private land.

The 200 Fantic is the bike most riders should have, we have one back in the garage after the first one over thirty five years ago. Its got the pegs a little back and down, and the motor has been fully rebuilt thats all, and its fab. I do weigh a little more now than a 14 year old when I had the first one but it still does everything and more that I need. I did like my 240's and had several and lately a 340 , but the 200 is a super little stead.

As someone that rides in Europe, well across the channel and then a little further south sometimes, the major twinshock classics go from strength to strength, the recent Ventoux trial 300 plus riders and the Costa Brava classic over 400 riders with some 40 odd brits heading south to it. Whilst these two trials take the headlines others are poorly supported and a recent post mentioning two hours in the car to a trial, well that is the minimum for me, and sometimes much more. For a two lap of ten sections type affair, that as I get older, and fuel costs and such start and becoming noticeable, I like many others have decided to stay at home. So apart from a couple of dates this side of the channel its the same thing. Riders here are only doing quality events, we don t have anywhere near the amount of trials in France that the Uk hosts, in fact someone last year bemoaned the fact that I ran a friendly trial on the same day as another trial 450 kms away. The added cost now, of a licence at 145 euros for a classic type or over 250 for a modern type might also add to the problem. Hope that helps from across the channel.

Had a reply re the nikasil, Nothing really apart from, before the nikasil he worked on the ports a little... his words, and then had the barrel treated, used standard rings after t hat Carburation standard, as mentioned as well he nikasiled the clutch for a smoother action. Hope that helps and good luck.

This bike I mention does not rattle, and goes very very well. I have ridden it several times and I have to say compared to my original 434 that in itself goes well, its chalk and cheese. I have sent him an email and posed the questions and will see if he is happy to divulge further what he has done beyond the barrel, will update if and when.

You can write on the back of stamp, what I know about engines. However a guy in France I know Nikasiled his 250 434 as well as a few other mods, airbox and exhaust and its the sweetest sounding Yamaha I have every heard. While we are at it he Nikasiled the clutch basket as well, and yep its the sweetest smoothest TY clutch I have ever felt . There is my two euro's for what is worth, hope it helps.

A guy I know has a really nice 434 Ty that he has nikasiled the bore, when he had it rebored. Would this be a good recommendation, his bike does run very quietly and and very well. I would love to have my 434 pepped a little but would like opinions before I decide which way to go. Cheers

Its will be the usual, registration document, valid insurance. But as mentioned, they have changed federation recently and this is causing a real issue, at the moment I don't know whether Non French riders will have to have a day licence or able to ride on the back of their Acu licence with the normal release. All will be revealed shortly I am led to believe. I will post as soon as I know more.

The pre entries for this trial open 27/06, apparently there will be a full explanation in English this year, as " must have documents " to ride have changed from previous years, as it is being run under a new federation . I understand a full effort is being made to welcome non French riders, but as yet that's all I know. Bear in mind an entry is not deemed accepted until all relavent paper work is received and agreed. As explained on a previous thread, regarding this trial you need a three man team, or you get teamed up with other Larry no mates.....so you might spend the weekend speaking French or Spanish. Hope that helps

Magical Mick is doing a trials school in Sardent the end of July maybe he could help.

I have replied to motoswm via email, but the response I got from El Puma that the carb he puts on his 325 and 340 Bultacos are 28 mm and not 26mm , and the set up varies on how the engine has been built. There doesn t seem to be a difinative, set in stone, set up, more how the rider wants his bike. Hope this helps anybody following this particular thread. Out of interest my 199a has a PHBH 28 on it and its the dogs, in terms of performance.

Martin, As I know you, I will try the Puma's hotline... its not easy, certainly in the afternoon, if not I know a man who know's a man.

I have just bought a Ty Mono and its done very little work around 2000kms on the trails from new. The engine runs well but it whistles, and it seems to come from around the crankcases. Is this a sympton of bearing issues big or small . The bike has stood around for many years and can this cause bearing to become noisy. The oil seals seem fine , but is a lower engine rebuild on the cards.. Thanks.

I had a a full two box system on a Majesty few years back and now have just the back silencer on my Ty now. I think the difference is questionable. The only thing I would say was I kept burnng my leg on the Majesty middle box, certainly if my riding trousers became damp or wet... They look nice save a bit of weight but.... Thats my two euro's worth.

Yes, but there is riding and there is riding, when you start putting begins cards and a few markers carefully placed, it changes everything and your all singing and dancing 300 Factory is going to cause a novice rider and or someone with a 40 odd year layoff... more problems than a nice gentle lower capacity bike, that is more than capable of doing everything you need of it. This is a common mistake made by sooooo many people for sooo many years they buy the wrong bike for their ability, because they can.

Does anybody really go better on a fourstroke... maybe Sammy Miller, and Gorden Jackson had a good ride one year in Scotland, anybody else, Perhaps Eddy Legeurne come to think of it ...but mere mortals, stick with a two stroke and not a too powerful one at that.

Do an internet search for Puma Bultaco, there you will see in most cases bikes prepared by him have the rear loop removed. What is left is warmed and then lifted to give it a more racing look as he himself says. I think they look good , but not so if its cut too short like some I have seen. A support is added under the seat to strenghten. He also fits Del Orto carbs Hope this helps

Don't forget Le Classic Roulage a Sarlat la Caneda 28 / 29 Avril. Excellent pour le Ty meme le Beamish....

Might be easier ... being a techno knob.. if you come to the trial and take a hard copy home....

I have been here before, and some what shouted down.... whatever you did back in the day did little to make them competitive, in my view. The Sammy Miller spares, new parts brochure of the day was littered with mods and add on's , but it was better to bite the bullet and buy a TY 175... as we did. I don t wish to open up any heated discussions, on how good or bad the Honda was, merely my opinion at the time, as it is well imprinted in my early trialing history. Apart from an Ariel I have always had twostrokes over the last and continued forty years of riding.. . . of how bloody useless it was and the fact nowadays you hardly ever see one passed a begins card.