Basket Cases

[David Lahey]

Hey Chippy,

I'd still like to see pics of yr "secret weapon" from last year (pg 8 ). Don't see many of that model.

This one?

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

Chippy, you certainly don`t mind a bare frame restoration, judging by the photos you have some work to do! If you are unable to source a seat, I am happy to lend you one for the TY Challenge.

JC1, Another keen TY rider and seasoned campainer has already anounced he will be riding something special (another secret weapon) at the TY Challenge.

David, what a great Trial the Twinshock Masters was, really looking forward to this years event, havn`t decided what I will ride yet? The 175 that I rode last year never felt right and behaved differently on cambers, one way felt quite stable and the other way was not. Some more preparation time would have been good, but like usual work commitments interfered. Since then, I have run some stringlines around the frame and discovered the front of the frame is twisted off centre. Being a 1974 model and a lot can happen in 36 or so years, I am thinking it has landed heayily at least once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Below is a photo depicting the bend in the frame, this simple test has revealed some more 175 frames in my shed with the same problem.

[David Lahey]

Wow good find Greg. No wonder it felt funny on cambers.
Sounds like there might be quite a few "secret weapons" revealed at the TY Challenge. Not surprising really as the stakes are so high (sheepstation wagers have nothing on the "best rat TY" award!!!)
A bit like a fashionably-dressed woman turning up at a special occasion wearing the same outfit as someone else, I hope that all our "secret weapons" are different enough to avoid a faux pas. I have tried really hard to make mine look "different" for this years event but maybe someone else is doing a similar thing.

[NonstopRoss]

"My other TL250"

Nice!

Aircooled classes are popular in NZ. Had my eye on a TLR 200/250 as my first choice, but the TL was too a good a price to pass up.
Loaded up the TL on the Trailer yesterday to get the pipe fitted. Only to have the key jam in my Honda CRV ignition. Took $100 towing fee, and two hours to get the TL home and the car in for repairs! Pipe will have to wait for another day. After 10 years in storage, another week shouldn't hurt the TL.

[NonstopRoss]

Ain't she pretty?
Ok let's compromise. I will accept 'handsome'.

Damn shame that the previous owner ditched the "Torque Dump" chamber of the OEM header pipe. Pipe will get a better treatment once its mated to the CT200 muffler. Bash plate is powder coated "Cola" red which is a closer match to modern Montesa red, than the deeper crimson of TLRs from the '80s.

There's more dampening in the shock on the bike stand than there is in those two chrome things holding the back wheel down!

[NonstopRoss]

Contrast shot. 35 years of design and materials development.

Look at all the free space around the TL and then see how compact the 4RT is and how the engine cases map closely to the shape of the internals. Surprisingly, the TL header is significantly larger in diameter than the 4RT.

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

David, thought I would share that simple test as when I looked there is three frames in the same condition in my spares. Have decided to strip and paint another frame, the numbers not matching doesn`t bother me on this bike. Between you and me, I was quietly confident at winning best rat TY award last year with my "A" model until Wayne revealed his special.

Ross, the land of the long white cloud, must have been a little wet when you rode the 4RT! It is hard to see with the angle of the photo of TL, but it looks like the chain will hit the swingarm pivot with shocks that long.

[David Lahey]

Yes it would have been pretty hard to beat Wayne's bike for that award. He did go to a lot of trouble.
Don't tell anyone, but my TOP SECRET plan for this year is to ride a TY that doesn't look like a TY.

[NonstopRoss]

Hi Everyone,

It is hard to see with the angle of the photo of TL, but it looks like the chain will hit the swingarm pivot with shocks that long.

Ahh. Without a chain and on a bike stand, the rear wheel does seem to drop down rather along way. In the photo the shocks are at full extension. However, they are standard OEM. But look closely at the lower shock mounts and you will see extension plates have been welded to the swing arm giving an extra lift/extension. My ebay swingarm arrived out of the box with an unwanted modification that neither I, nor the seller, noticed at first as it was sold to me from a thumbnail pic. Caveat Emptor! So I'm running what what I have at hand. But it was not my intention to jack its bum higher up in the air. Budget permitting I may just source a 3rd swing arm if I need to. A stainless steel helicoil insert was fitted to the left fork leg yesterday.

Living with this basket case reminds me how far we have come from the TL of my youth, and what we have lost along the way. The TL's brute force simplicity is disarming but 36 years of use have left their mark. Owning an engineering shop would be handy!

One step at a time. Many steps on this road.

[chippy]

Hi all,
Thanks Greg for the offer of a seat. It'll come in handy. The motor is almost complete with some added extra's to keep any southerner's at bay (I have a caveat over this particular modification - all within the rules of course).

I have also spent a lot of time researching regarding the colour scheme of this bike. I have been sworn to secrecy regarding the correct colour for this bike, but I can disclose the code 251131812025175. I have also got some other "Aces" up my sleeve with this particular bike (Thanks Greg).

JC1 I hope you like the photos that David posted (thanks David) of my other "Secret Weapon" for Conondale.. Yes there aren't many around and I am in the process of resbuilding a 350 MAR also. You may notice that 250 MAR doesn't have the correct tank. It actually has the 350 tank on it. JC1 have you got a TY to ride at the TY challenge also? You'll have to tell us about it.

NonstopRoss I see that you "challenge" yourself also with the restoration of the TL. I have had a few similar ones over the years, haven't I Greg!! I didn't realise how heavy the TL250's are until I rode at Greg's one weekend and wasn't that a workout, but always enjoyable. Greg I don't necessarily like or enjoy aquiring a "basket case" in a box or two, thats how they have come to me, however I do like the challenge as you can appreciate. A bit like your KT 250 "Challenge"?

David I am interested in your TY that doesnt look like a TY. Are you keeping with the rules? I have just completed the scrutineers course with MQ so I'll be looking closely!!!!