Basket Cases

[David Lahey]

I'm glad you will be a scrutineer Andrew as you are very well versed with TY Yamahas which is something that is of the utmost importance when we are riding for stakes bigger than sheepstations - as we do at the TY Challenge.

The bikes I'm thinking of bringing to the TY Challenge are both quite close to being ready to ride, so I should soon be able to send you some photos and notes of what I have done, and maybe you can feed back about anything that you might consider outside the rules, yet keep the details of the bikes to yourself so as to maintain an element of surprise at the event for others.

[NonstopRoss]

Special thanks to Mr Harding. Without whom this alternative pipe would never have been found.

Tyres and Sprockets still on my list of things to do. I never learnt to weld so had this work done by a pro.
Top mount on pipe was cut off, moved rearward and rewelded on.


"S" bend of CT pipe was not a match as the angle was not quite acute enough to clear the TL frame cross-member. The pipe was also a tad too short and did not complete the top of the "S" to be a fit to the existing TL header pipe. So a new "S" was crafted to snake over the cross member to fit the header and also to provide a lower mounting bracket.

The muffler also ends up being slimmer than the original triangular beast right where the top of your boot is. I thought from one of Greg's earlier photos (a basket case "Before" shot I think) that the CT pipe looked wider than the original at this point. So all in all, I am very pleased with the end result.

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

David, can`t help but wonder how far you are straying in looks? TOP SECRET suggests military (maybe Camoflage)?

Chippy, the code had me bamboozled for a while, I think I have cracked it? Is it possible your code is imcomplete, this cloak and dagger stuff has me questioning my thought process! If I am right your correct code should be 251131812025175103 and my code predates yours 2511318120251752! Let us know so I can sleep tonight!!!!!!!!!!!

Ross, the exhaust looks good and I like the idea of moving the mount on the muffler to suit the mudguard mount instead of reworking the frame like I did. Moving closer to ride time, suppose you are getting keen to get a return for your efforts!

[David Lahey]

David, can`t help but wonder how far you are straying in looks? TOP SECRET suggests military (maybe Camoflage)?

Ahhhhh nuts! Who told you?
here is some background on the camoflage trials bike idea
http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=157#comment-26532

[David Lahey]

Greg now that you have busted my TOP SECRET plans for the TY Challenge, I'm going to do something different. Lucky it is a month or so away yet.

[Greg Harding]

TY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone,

David, thanks for the sneak peak photo of your bike you are riding this year!

Going to have to break protocol on this one and post the photo, can`t wait to see your whips and chains er I mean riding gear!

[David Lahey]

Greg I think you got the photos I sent you mixed up. That one is of my wife's bike - well the latest version anyway, but she might make me change the decor on it yet again - she's very fussy you know
You had better be careful posting up my secret photos, or I might just post up a photo of your secret weapon!!!!

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

When Don anounced the first TY Challenge, I thought what a geat idea. Even people who know very little about trials, will generally know someone who had or still has a TY of some era.

Personally, I had just bought another TY175JC which went but had quite a few issues, the owner told me it had been sitting for years. Only half an hour away for $400 and I had most of the bits I needed to make it rideable. The first ride was a bit of a disaster as the cam inside the magneto had corroded and wore the rubbing block until the points closed quite a distance from the starting point. Chalk that one up to experience, another one of those quirky things enjoyed by riders of old bikes. With that problem sorted and a tune up, some second hand tyres, a name plate and it was ready for the first TY Challenge.

Event no1

MTCQ`s venue for the event is an excellent trials property with a good diversity of terrain and some impressive hill climbs! Choosing to ride Veterans on "C" grade lines proved quite challenging to say the least. There were two sections which gave me the most grief, both being hillclimbs, one of which gave zero run up. Full credit to the section setters as they were all testing for multiple reasons and very rewarding when ridden well. So I came away from a very enjoyable days riding thinking next years bike will be a TY250!

Event no2

By this time,I was getting better at repairing/preparing bikes and adamant a TY250 was the choice. A TY250B that I had been riding and sorting was my first choice until I landed heavily causing most of the gear oil to decide that the exhaust was the place to be. An instant change in noise, performance and a big cloud of smoke ended that idea, why is it always a long way from the starting point? Can`t feel any play in the main bearings, so I changed the crank seal thinking that may be the problem, yes it was a little optimistic when you consider how much oil swapped sides in an instant! Riding the bike around the yard to burn the remaining gear oil in the crankcase proved fruitless as the loop had to be so big just to see where I was going. After about 20 minutes and a hugh cloud of smoke, decided to check the gearoil and you guessed it, didn`t register on the dipstick! Perhaps there is a crack in the case, so I parked it, NEXT. About this time, David suggested we should see how many TY250A`s we could get together, so my only choice was my "A" model loan bike. Another name plate as the 175 one did not fit, a tune up and fork seals, all systems go. This year saw more TY`s than the previous year and a designated TY parc ferme! Feeling confident about having the power to conquer the big hillclimbs riding Veterans "C" grade until I realised the section setters didn`t set any at all, not even one! Instead choosing a lot of cunning new sections which were very tight in places far better suited to the more nimble 175, damn! Very cleverly set with good diversity and again rewarding when ridden well. So to sumarise, I took the wrong bike both times, but thoroughly enjoyed both events.

What has Don and his team got up their sleeves this time?????????????????????????????

Look forward to this years event and I am in the process of prepping a bike at the moment, going to a little more effort this year. Below is a photo of frame and swingarm.

[David Lahey]

My secret weapon (the camouflage bike) for the TY Challenge trial is the one in photo 151 in Andrew Hoddle's photos from Denman 2 day last weekend:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1067381249 ... 1019288002

First person to work out which bike it is meant to be reminiscent of will have earned some serious kudos

[BOGWHEEL]

Mini one of these?
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss33 ... /tt500.jpg