Basket Cases

[Twinshock200]

Strange as it may seem Greg, us Cub owners don't need weeks of internet talk to motivate each other, three weeks is more than enough, our bikes are always ready for action,,, plus,, I seem to be the only owner who gets onto this thread, so, as usual we will probably get about three or four.
It will also be my last Conondale as I won't be getting a licence next season,,,, senior citizen,,, entry fees rising all the time,,, MQ licence fees,,,, poor value for money,,, sections getting ridiculous for the older bikes,,,.

The only way I will carry on is with a club that continuously puts on great events and that is with SQTA.

Have a look at the results and photos from their trial last weekend, 4 laps of 12 sections for $25.00 and only a 40 minute journey to get there, great trial, great atmosphere, great value for money and I didn't wreck my bike, nor did I have to battle cyberspace to enter the event.
I look forward to seeing all those shiny green.red, blue, yellow and rusty two strokes again, long live black, shiny and noisy four strokes.

[TerrY]

Gentlemen,

I believe that there is room at the Conondale event to accommodate both the Montesa bikes in Twinshock and the Triumph Tiger Cub bikes in Classic. There could even be a competition to see which theme gets the most bikes ridden in the event.

The wood is on you now Roger to organise the Triumph Cub riders to bring and ride their bikes there.

Roger, I don't think you understand what Greg does in nominating a brand of bike to feature. He and a few others agree on a brand and usually none of them have a bike of that brand. Part of the fun is buying a bike of that brand and fettling it to a competition standard. Then riding it in the event. You have the easier task of just getting bikes that are already built to come to the event. The challenge is there for you now.

If any of you are interested, there will be the Pensioner Challenge bicycle ride on at 6am on the Saturday. I, as the pensioner, have over the last few years issued the challenge to anyone at the event to beat me on the bicycle from Conondale event site to Kenilworth = 26 km on the road. After coffee at Kenilworth, it is on again for the return journey. Last year nearly everyone flogged me but I managed pretty well the previous year. There has been more interest this year so I think I may be flogged again. Any type of bike is OK but a thin tyred road bike is best. Some have ridden on MTB's. Some young blokes add in the climb from Conondale to Witta but not this little black duck.

Hope to see plenty of people at Conondale again this year,
Cheers,
TerrY

[Twinshock200]

To be honest Terry I'm tired of cajoling Classic riders out to events, I have been pushing sh*t uphill for the last 20 years, I've seen guys come and go but I have never seen them all out at a single event, some ride at particular properties, others find it too hard, too hot, too many friggin' rules, several are getting older and injuries hurt and take longer to mend.
Classic will die over the next 10 years as younger riders don't have the knowledge how to maintain and get parts for a pre 65 bike and will turn to Jap and Spanish twinshocks,,,, Its already happening !!!!!!

A member of the MA trials commission told me personally that Classic grade will no longer be a championship grade possibly next year but certainly in 2018 if rider numbers don't grow, I wonder if the same will apply to Women, Junior Women, Air cooled mono, Masters and Sidecar, depends who's on the State and National trials committees I guess !!

Anyway I won't get all fired up to rally the troops, I'll leave it to Greg and his committee but according to his last post i think his allegiances are elsewhere but I'm willing to bet that there will be at least one Cub in the top 3 at Conondale, hows that for a safe bet, as for a Pensioners bike race, does it have the Venables system operating ??.

To fit in the "Basket cases" theme here's a pic of mine at the moment.

Aus trials 013.jpg (1.99 MiB) Viewed 11584 times

[chippy]

Hello everyone,
Firstly Greg, you certainly get around the country doing what you like best, riding and displaying old Trials bikes in various degrees of patina. You also like testing your skill level on bikes such as the RL 'Squeamish'. I don't think an RL would have been entered in an Aussie Title for many years.

TerrY, I personally think that your comment:
"He and a few others agree on a brand and usually none of them have a bike of that brand. Part of the fun is buying a bike of that brand and fettling it to a competition standard. Then riding it in the event."
is spot on. I know in past years I myself and a few others, have created themselves a deadline of completing a bike that fits in with the 'theme', especially for the Twin Shock Masters. It certainly is a great sight to see such a diverse range of bikes on display and some quite rare bikes that many people have never seen. This event has also seen some bikes and riders come out of retirement, which I believe is fantastic for our sport.

Roger, I love the sound of those four stroke British thumpers and it's even better seeing them being ridden at any event. The work involved in even getting a classic bike rideable and to fettle it to competition standard is a credit to both you and all the classic riders.

Greg, myself and a few others thought of creating a behind the scene theme for the Twin Shock Masters a few years back, with Greg going to some effort of making up signs, beg borrow or steal banners (that reminds me I still have my brothers Ossa banner!!). So this year and every year someone asks to vote on a theme and as was a possible contender, I bought a Cota 200 which is in average condition.. It really needs a cosmetic restoration. So naturally my vote would be .

However, as always the theme is only a behind the scene idea and everyone is welcome to ride any brand and the more diverse range the better I personally think, even if some bikes are only on display, which has been the case for past years.

So Roger it would be great to have your Tiger Cub and as many other Tiger Cubs all lined up together, along with a diverse range of classics, twin shocks and I suppose a few of those modern thingo's as well at this years Twin Shock Masters.

Chippy

[smiffy60]

Hey Roger can I say I have always enjoyed seeing the old classics taking part in event (not that I have been to many of late).
I agree the skill set may be lost in time but its good blokes like you who help stir the interest and keep them turning up.
I was disappointed with your early retirement from the nationals but that's sport and the way it goes.
Hope to see you at events for many years yet old chap and hopefully with a cub or some other classic, !

I find a modern helps me look Ok at events and that's the only reason I don't ride classic as I would ride much worse and get frustrated and not participate.
Cheers Mate
Ray

[Hagsta]

This project jumped into my trailer and followed me home. It is an RL250 that comes with a TS250 motor for parts and an extra set of fork legs of unknown origin that measure up the same (I am guessing Yamaha DT?). Looks like everything is there with the exception of the RL piston and barrel so we'll get to see if it all comes together with a TS250 piston and barrel? Plenty of shed time coming up over the summer months

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

This project jumped into my trailer and followed me home. It is an RL250 that comes with a TS250 motor for parts and.....

Lindsay, your trailer must have been comparing notes with Mine? Excellent Score! There must still be a few out there. RL and TS motors of the same era are very similar and the pistons interchange, but the transfer ports are smaller on RL, see base gaskets in photo:

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Now back to working on for Conondale.

[Mark K]

Nothing to do with basket cases as such, but I just have to comment that I love the presentation on the silver platter.
Its so much nicer than just dumped on the bench.

[chippy]

Hi everyone,
I happen to get this photo of Greg and Graham at the Aussie Titles this year. I think Graham is explaining the length of the stroke on his Sherpa 350 that he will ride at the Twin Shock Masters in 2 weeks!

DSC_2101 (Small).JPG (102.06 KiB) Viewed 5911 times

Chippy

[Bully fanatic]

I like that one Chippy! It was actually how much rear suspension travel my Sherpa has. Greg was very impressed. All I can say is Graham. I just had to use those. Thanks for putting it up Matt.