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Oh dear... Please tell me you're still on dial-up cos if you are paying for fibre then you're getting bent over a barrel with a sharp, pointy stick

Have a pedal down past Liverpool one and ride next to the aquatics centre that operates in the small dock. That's pretty farout of the way of the general populous. Or go find an empty car park on an industrial estate and get your basic bike handling skill set down of flat ground, (trackstand, endo, rocking the bike from front to back wheel (a rocking horse), wheelie, rocking horse through 360deg, 180 endo, riding down painted white lines, etc. etc) then move onto obstacles. It's all a case of being able to crawl before you can walk; Your riding will be better for it. Remember that on any group ride you can always tell the rider that moved on to the fancy impressive stuff without the long, boring hours putting ground work in place. It sounds like your intension, but I felt it still needed to be said. EDIT: Flick through trashzen also. It's been the noobs bible since year dot.

Remember that the lad that does demos could be doing the ryan leech/kenny belaey GT thing of using a bike that is identifiable by his audience. As I understand it this is more the norm in murica than the 5 or so styles we'd instantly recognise as a trials bike. My honest advise would be to have a browse through full bikes on tarty's and trials-addict's website and look through the vids on here to see what strikes a chord with you as you see it.

Oh he seems to have a very good working knowledge of everything & yet is bit of a master of none. He says stupid brain-falling-out-of-mouth things in these type of vids quite often actually, like he's not actually listening to the conversation - yer man just told him there's no rad, but an ice box with the braided lines and everything and he replies with "oh yeah I remember people doing that with fuel" ...and when time comes it clearly didn't go much past the ears, basically I guess he just slips in to talk show mode. His restoration blogs (as he calls them) and the walkarounds of his own stuff show his knowledge a fair bit more.

Jay Leno's Garage has done a nice detailed walkaround video of that 970cc blown fuel mini raced at bonneville

True, but for any application other than a put around town bike I've found the halo steel PG spokes to be utter turd. For me, I spec double butted stainless on any bike that's going to see some hammer. Tarty spec Sapim and Vocal BMX DB stainless being my favourites.

This and this, lines up with the opinion I had already formed actually, You get what you pay for etc. However @Adam If you stayed within those parameters, 1-3mm thick alright quality steel, was it ok enough to be considered for an ebay bargain? Essentially it's primary purpose would be fixing up holes/soft bits in chassis rails and then potentially some arch and sill work (actually kinda MX5 type stuff now that I think of it). So this doesn't have to be pretty, just strong and functional. Secondary to that would be random DIY like welding nuts to broken bolts or making odds and ends for example, so no seagull shit here would be a plus. I take the advice on board, I really do, but the only barrier towards keeping the trusty old bucket on the road ourselves is (as ever...) cost. Therefore something like the 150 notes yer Clio man has handed over is a realistic option. Personally believe it sure as shit would beat being screwed over by "get y'through" work that goes scabby in a winter & fails after 18 months. in the mean time I will google the Esab caddy 160. @ Anyone else, please dive in. cheers.

Would you mind posting pics of some of the test welds please? We (me and the old fella) are greatly in need of a welder for bike/van stuff (so it needs to have balls enough for chassis work and be delicate enough for panelwork/pretty finish quality stuff). Given that both of us can weld just fine it's rediculous that the MOT garage are the ones sorting out the (g)rot I did some research a while back and on a forum was scared off clarke brand as a bit naff, which was dissapointing as it was a realistic price, so if anyone else could contribute their 2p about the £150-£250 (retail price) gasless migs available from machine mart and the like I'd truely appreciate it. I've played with my mate's B & Q special gasless wire fed MIG once or twice and It seemed just the job, but I'm wary I'd commit to one and it would not be what I thought I was getting. One that plugs into a domestic socket and generator would be a luxury too. Just want to read some 1st hand reviews really. Cheers.

To me; idea was sick, the actual quality of the tat looks pretty good (??) but the placement of the bike and rider in that scene is pretty funny...

F**ks sake I've got this now and I can't edit my fs topic to say that my item is no longer collection only. Any update? I'll have to make a new topic if you can't sort it

That's news to me as well...

Currently on a 4od ad break but watching this from this morning http://www.channel4.com/programmes/armoy-road-races/on-demand/64192-001 You can keep your hair gel and sunglasses BSB/motoGP, this is real road racing.

Trackstands in 5mins or less. Find out which foot forward you are (ride about with the cranks level with the chainstays/parallel with the ground, 1st try right foot forward then the left, one way will feel fine and the other utterly disgusting), Now flat some flat ground & put that good foot at the bottom of the crank stroke so it is nearest the ground, turn the bars away (45deg max.) from your straight leg and rock back and forth on the spot locking the front brake on and off as you do so. The key is being chilled out and staying still. Done. :-) Aim the front wheel up a slight slope if that helps, and when you get comfy stop using the brake & learn again. Then learn one handed (great for wiping sweat away) & for bonus points none handed with arms outstretched. Ways of learning anything else can be found here http://trashzen.com/ and has been a tutorial bible for longer than I've been riding (10yrs this year). Thinkbikes youtube channel is pretty good too.

I've never tried an RT66 so I don't know. I would summise the shape of the brake surface is a good one and the alu spider is stiffer than stainless and it's just a combo that works. (I know my cheapy rotor is getting old now cos it twists doing hard stops and is making funky noises). Icetech's just seem to be go to rotors regardless of the brake spec.

Can't articulate this very well but I feel as if it's the ice tech rotor's that maketh the brake, not so much the brake itself. Or even the pads, or the adapter setup etc. As in the power comes from the rotor, ergo a well set BBx/sd7/flipp's wilko cable (same here, never fussed me buying some fancy cable, maybe for the back on a trial I would but a vaselined to fook wilko cable has seen me right on like two dozen bikes of multiple disciplines, why bother now?) equipped with an RT76/86 will do just as fine a job of stopping that sloppy gap to front as a monstrous 4pot/posh pads/billet adapter/icetech will do. The latter will no doubt try and relocate your elbows and shoulders on the way to snapping your forks, but the former will do the job of stopping you eating pavement just as well me thinks.

Thought about putting a 125 or 250 set up on? I was told (reliably, but check first) that 02-07 gas gas (at least, could be up to 08 but just now it escapes me) were the same from the bottom end up, and only the barrel, piston and, where applicable, the carb were the differences in each model year, but as it happens the bikes barely changed in those years & there is a massive parts overlap. If I recall correctly John Shirt Motorcycles, now gasgasuk, did a 156cc big bore kit for txt125 as we (me and dad) considered one at the time. We think that was done from boreing a batch of 125 barrels. Beyond that there is a whole world of people in the bike world (small ads in classic racer magazine or classic bike spring to mind) where problems like a cracked barrel is no sweat. Hell you could take the opportunity to go nuts & Nikasil coat the bore afterwards... Most importantly though, your bike is most definitely not scrap.

As well as the aforementioned MT, MCM, MCMTV2, Petrolicious, BOM... Aussie racer. S1 was feature length, high production value at least 35min eps, though it took a few to hit their stride. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVT_cqv6F_TrU9vjKwdypbULonwtX1dC0 S2 is in progress and has an upload cycle of 10min eps, followed by the uncut version. This quality needs to pay it's way I guess. s2ep1 Full. 50min. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZCT1E9KXmo Finnegan's Garage. Mike Finnegan of Roadkill fame's tangental offshoot with lots of fab, stuff to do around the drag boat, Blasphemi, the (RK) ramptruck and by the feel of it a few other projects. Oh and his golf cart shagging the stop sign whilst trying to do a squeaky burnout. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1IdPylqngGiuHFLJqHbG_g/videos Jay Leno's Garage. Self explanatory? A shit ton of Jay Leno showing us his and his guest's variety of cool shit and going for a drive. https://www.youtube.com/user/JayLenosGarage/videos RACER TV. A channel by one guy at a computer in Portugal about Cafe Racer builders, and a very good one. Unfortunately for me the term cafe racer seems to have been poisoned by people who want to pay for a modified bike to look cool on in designer gear, and pose outside their favourite fairtrade mochafrokawhatdaf**ka coffee bar - Utter bollocks! Build shit, make it fast, make it handle, give it reverse cone mega's so it goes brummbarrhh and then go terrorise some B roads. For the most part the builds sent to this channel won't do that - some are cool anyways, some I give miss. https://www.youtube.com/user/10341037/videos The Smoking Tire. Matt Farah's near daily one takes of any car that gets submitted. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSmokingTire/videos SantapodTV. 15min web shows of the likes of the domestic series like (600hp+) FWD drag to the full Fia/Fim Tv shows covering the euro circuit with all the bike and car classes. Bits of promotional 4min clips for the events at the pod too. https://www.youtube.com/user/SantaPodTV/videos Special Stage. UK domestic motorsport of all kinds. I believe they do stuff for Motors TV. Here's the 46min coverage of 2016 Manx National Rally as an example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTAtnzrkyiw The Moto Channel. A true Cafe Racer and bike channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxg_1tfOvYyi5jKYZRW-PTA Tom's Turbo Garage. Pay particular attention to Thunderbolt - A very special LS3 525 mazdaspeed NC done as factory as y'like. https://www.youtube.com/user/turbomiragedude/playlists RJ the bike guy. Cycle restorations on old bikes and hacks where I've picked up the odd new thing. No one's mentioned Ali C yet? People know trials doesn't pay, right?

There's a couple of us in Barrow, we don't all get out at once much but we bob out in groups of 2 or 3 more frequently. If you see a lad on a green inspired (that would be me) come say 'ow do. Look out too for @gage-mann on his loverrrly blue hex, or @gu trials on the new silver monty. We've another mate who rides but he might have changed bike from his white because 24 trial by the time you might run into him. Have you been to the indoor park yet? Might run into you there sometime. Tuesday night's late opening so we go have a pedal whilst it's cheaper and take advantage of kids & scooters being kicked out at 7pm. In case you don't know it's the big ass building directly behind Barton Townley. I tried google maps but it's wrong as the park wasn't built last time google came round in the streetview car. Ciaran.

I take back what I said about it being a mis mash etc. It is a nice largely original example - a rare thing with TY's. Have your fun and then restore it with correct graphics and whatnot. See of you can find the thick vinyl tank cover that should be on there. They are z spoke wheels (the originals) BTW. Dad reliably informs me they are made of unobtainium largely due to yam inventomg a one off type spoke that you couldn't/can't get hold of; and yours look to be in good nick. The fact that these and all the the little bits that don't survive cos they rot or get beat to shit by being (ab)used week in week out are still present and correct makes it cool in itself, let alone shirty owned it and it'll be (as you said) a big bore would to me sell the resto route alone. Would be mint to see it all done up properly.

Nice. It's the usual slight mismatch of years and the obligatory range of Sammy Miller odds and ends but I think under that it's an '83 'R' model (as in TY250R) like my old fella's. Looks to have the original magnesium rear brake plate which is cool as they rot from the bogwater up round here. So much so my dad got in on a group buy for brake plates and clutch covers (also Mg). His has a shirty disc brake adapter mount as, quote, "the front drum's utter shit". Have to say that on the whole yours is rather original actually. Are they the Z spoke wheels too? EDIT: Picture wiki for all TY monos from R to Z. Give it a ganders - link

I'm far from an expert but doesn't seem to be much wrong with that @niconj. If it were me i'd want to set up from two wheel pulling up less, so the front wheel is lower, my wrists and hand placement rotated backwards (anticlockwise, towards the top cap) and the bars (or/and brake levers, as brake lever angle affects body positioning and rear wheel balance a shit ton) pulled up a degree to suit. Then do what you do already but pull back on the crank and kick shit ou'tet freewheel!! Ditto on gaps. Have you tried landing on the wall without the brakes locked? Obviously if it's a narrow wall or you're at a corner you're gonna want to still cover the levers and brake after you land and stand up but it helped with my smoothness. I personally turn the bars to the left (right footed and sidehop left same as you) a touch as i land, as i tuck down in to beside the rear tyre better, dunno If you've tried that but I reckon it stops the disc noise too as you're not doing so much of a sideways gap up to front type thing and ramming into a locked on disc.

The bluepoint roller cabs i used in college had a table bit like that and although a good idea I found that in practice stuff I put on there made a bid for the floor so I gave up using it. And the stays weren't strong enough for any real weight imo, Id make up a permanent stick out shelf (or two, one each side) with multi sized holes drilled into it so ratchets, pry bars, the BFH & such can be dropped through for drop and grab tool changes. The power bank (4 gang extension mounted to the cab with a long plug lead??) and grinder hook seems a solid shout so long as it includes a cable tidy for the tool leads, having a free standing all-in-one workstation sounds mint. If only we had the real estate for a big enough shop to justify one. I'd definitely build me a grinder scarecrow too...

^ All of what he said, with John Shirt (gasgasuk.com) top of that list, simply because of the breadth of stuff they're able to get hold of. @Dman To add to your list; http://www.birkettmotosportukltd.co.uk/ Because Nigel's shop is a 30min van ride away my dad has dealt with him since before I was born and known him personally longer than that, although a Ossa and Scorpa importer I bet If I walk in with my Gasser part or problem in hand they'll sort me out, even if the result is one of the lads ringing gasgasuk for me, getting said parts special ordered and posted out to me. I'd recommend the Rainers boots and the other riding gear he stocks too - If it can survive the environment we ride then it'll survive anywhere. Be aware that he is a busy, busy man. he's quite often up to his eyeballs in servicing farmer's equipment and such. Phone the shop and someone will always answer, but be patient. Road and Track IOM http://www.roadandtrackmcs.co.uk/ Now this is if you're in a pinch because postage is obviously a bit rich, but for me road and track is the shop you wish you had as a local bike shop. Last time I was on the island I walked in with a massive long shot type situation (past a display of what I suspect was every silkolene oil product known to to man that took up the length of the long wall) needing an exhaust header O ring and a set of fork wiper seals, like immediately. Thanks to the resourcefulness and will to help of the two lads I walked out with an exhaust O ring for a schoolboy KTM and some pattern Athena fork seals for a Beta... and all with the O ring free of charge and the fork seals vat free because I was helping with the 2 day trial. Mint. I'm of the belief that lesser places on the mainland would have just gone "can't help mate sorry" and left me fubared & without a paddle.

Ok one more reply... As it happens thats the best answer for in i've heard so far. Buuut we're supposed to be leaving & if you look further down the line to an election before 2020, that now has the potential of sorting itself out by moving on to a different bunch of tits. BTW I fully expected when I voted that who ever was in charge on the friday morning to ignore the people and carry on their sweet way anyway. Point 2: What if the small buisiness operation, ie a one lad bedroom buisness start up trying to produce enough turnover to then stand proud & call it a legit venture, with a van & everything, isn't export orientated? To be fully above board the product still has to come up to EU scratch (typically in line with german TUV regs) does it not? That's the way it was when was researching manufacturing small batch (<10) quantity product. I found this understandable but also frustrating & deeply unfair to the small guy. The single market idil's postive points are great, the politics that protect self interests of the big guys is utter bs - imo you have to already be a quarter to half million pound 'small' business to make it work for you, something the size tartys was when I started ordering bits getting on for 10yrs ago now, and the firm had been going a couple of years already by that point from what I understand - I mean even the old shop was a fair old spot. As for the customs forms, there was a time before where that was the norm? I understand after the luxury of just writing 'onza bike' or whatever on the EU form a proper customs form must be a pain, but it's hardly going to end the world? If the single market had never been a thing or wasn't an option anymore surely it'd be man up time? Plus, although I think you get this already, approval for stuff manufactured in a shed by one bloke is a total different kettle of fish to tarts shipping stuff around the world. The most beuroctatic thing you'd encounter is a 3 page customs form, in the sitiuation I was going to end up in that would be the bit that was a piece of piss. It killed my idea and aspirations stone dead.