New Classic Bike???

Never one to sit back and just be happy with the latest toy in the shed, the visit to Wrighty's show at Telford last weekend has got me thinking that I need a classic bike in the shed to allow a bit of choice for Sunday's..... After all, when you have got a classic trial being run with sections 100 meters from your back door and you cant ride in the trial because you haven't got a suitable bike, then there is clearly something wrong with the selection of tools available in the shed!

So, what do I have? As you will have seen on this site I have been through the range of what I feel are competitive classic bikes; a well sorted Triumph Cub, a Villiers engined Sprite (which could just as easily been a James/Francis Barnet), and an Ariel. Each one was good in its own way and all of them were competitive enough to win national events in the right hands - if not mine!!

There are a couple of options that I haven't yet tried; Something with a Villiers engine again but in a different guise like a Greeves, DMW, Saracen or similar, a BSA single C15/B40 or maybe a Triumph Twin?

I think the heavier Twin will not do the old knees any favours so I think that one is out for now, a C15 might be a good option as I think these are still available at the right price to start with and there are loads of options readily available for frames and trick bits, however I am still a bit of a 2 stroke fan as they seem to suit the way I ride (all revs and on the clutch as my Dad keeps reminding me whilst I am getting used to the Scorpa). 

For something a bit different I have been paying a bit more attention to Alan Nicklin's Greeves and he's kindly let me give it a try out tomorrow at the BMCA trial at Mitton. Now I know that Alan prepares some of the best Villiers trials engines around (he did my Sprite engine) and he's a great engineer as some of the bits he's made for the Greeves are very trick, even down to the leading link forks that he still uses which work just as well as many telescopic forks being used. 

As he won the Inter Centre Team Trial last year on this bike beating the likes of Neil Gaunt in the process, it will be interesting to see just how much is down to the bike and how much is due to the rider as I am not quite in the same class ...  Picture of Alan riding the bike is above...

I will update the BLOG tomorrow night and let you know how it went and hopefully have a few pics of the day..

Eventpost 33 - Hereford Classic Trial

On Sunday 28th Dec I rode the Scorpa at Hereford in a classic trial that allowed aircooled mono's. 

The trial was held in great conditions (cold and dry) on fantastic ground within a wooded area with traditional rocky streams and banks in the woodland. The sections were fairly challenging but sensible and all were cleanable.

I was clearly a little ring rusty after my shortish 5 month lay off and the little 4 stroke caught me out a couple of times, but overall I really enjoyed it and found that the bike would do everything I asked of it once I begain to understand how to ride it!

I let myself down on the overall score with 2 fives through stalling the bike (attempting to ride it like a 2 stroke rather then being a little softer on the throttle as the 4 stroke requires), 1 five for touching a marker and 1 five when I found neutral instead of 2nd gear as I was riding out of a section that I had cleaned. However I did manage to clean each section of the trial at some point during the day and with the exception of the four 'silly's' rode the remainder of the trial for about 10 or 11 marks which was not enough to win (I think Alan Nicklin won on about 4 marks) but was an acceptable performance. 

The bike went well and I need to get out and practice on it to understand what it will do and learn the intricacies of riding a 4 stroke. I was told that I was riding the sections too fast and I think that was down to a mixture of a lack of confidence in the clutch and not wanting to stall it again - both things that I need to sort out. 

I have added a slow action throttle this week to help reduce the speed that I open the throttle and possibly reduce the potential for stalling and will persevere with the clutch for now but may need to make some modifications on the clutch plates and the activation arm to smooth it's action out a little. 

The next job will be to get a tow bar back on the new car so that I can get to a few more events without relying on Dad taxi's - still that's what Dad's are for isn't it??

Picture is from section 9 at Hereford - good traditional rocky gully.

Scorpapost 2

Having got the bike home I decided to give it a try at a local trial which went quite well (2nd place in the over 40 class) but found that it needed a few bits and bobs to tidy it up and make it more useable. 

• The rear suspension was very soft (as any new bike would be) for my weight so I managed to get hold of a different rear shock set up for my svelt 16.5 stone
  
• New bars were required - the originals had an odd shaped bend and felt too narrow
• Flat bash plate - the original has the appearance of a 50p coin and loses some ground clearance
• New plastics - the ones that came on it were a bit tatty
• some frame guards to tidy the overall look

The pics are after its makeover ...... I have also added the logride seat as I think this will be useful and it doesnt seem to get in the way when you are riding so it will stay. 

All that is now left I think is a bit of work on the clutch as it is a bit grabby and has no progression, however it does seem to be getting better with use (unless I am just getting used to it???) 

Scorpapost 1

So I decided to have a fun little bike to keep my hand in..... In actual fact I borrowed my dads majesty for a local trial and after a couple of laps it overheated and Ken Garfield, who was observing offered me his 125 Scorpa to ride the last lap rather than retire and I enjoyed it so much I thought it would be an ideal reliable bike to keep in the shed for the odd outing......

After a bit of shopping around I found this one in Haven Trialsport at the right price - it was a bit tatty but only cosmetic and the engine was as sweet as a nut so the deal was done. It is an 06 175 model so should have a little more power than the 125. (incidentally my Dad has also bought a 125 for himself)