MikeWarner

Eh? I was more thinking that parents would have one to be honest - and to tell the truth, I have no idea what the average age of people using this site is. If I wanted to show off, I'd post about my current car which I'm sure many people here would be more interested in than a Porsche. Topgear site was a good source of info - cheers for that. I can't find any active Porsche forums though. :sleeping:

Deffo want a 911 - I have wanted on since I was like 5. Boxster isn't an option. I've had a bit of a look on the net and I'm stunned. I've always have top end Vauxhalls and I actually saved up to buy the new Astra VXR which is £22,000 with the options I want (I currently have the old top end Astra Coupe Turbo). This car has 19" wheels - so the tyres will be no more expensive on a Porsche (which has 18"s) than on the Astra. Also, it seems you can buy brake discs and pads at the same price as the Astra's!!! Servicing is only a bit more than Vauxhall prices too! I could likely get a 996 for about £28,000 upwards. Insurance should be OK (no points and 11 years no claims discount). My current car is insurance group 18, so I'll only be going up 2 groups to 20. The only thing that worries me is a major mechanical failure sure as the engine blowing - but I guess this can happen with any car.

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone here own or have parents / mates who own a 911 - pref a few years old 996 Carrera 2? I am seriously thinking about buying one, but would like to know what to look out for. Also, I would be interested in knowing service costs, tyres prices, brake parts costs etc. Many thanks.

As people all think the black is better - be different and go for the blue one (I would). But if your really want black, hang out for it - september is only 2 weeks away now anyway.

Surely if the isis axels are bigger and the bb bearings need to be smaller, then there are more bearing and a larger contact area, meaning a stronger bearing? I'm a civil engineer btw, so I think like this all the time. I have rounded a few pairs of st cranks, although never had a problem with my Middleburn RS1s which are still perfect (yes, RS1s!) I would go with isis though, clearly a better system imho, which is why my new RS7s are isis.

Sorry - I missed an n't off my last post. I meant to say, the 307 interior doesn't feel quality. There are so many different types of plastic in there, and cheap ones at that. Some of them are really hard to keep looking clean. Compare to a bottom of the range Mk4 Astra and there is a massive difference. Cheap interior materials are a trait of french cars in general though. You can take the 307 apart with no tools - not good if you have kids in it! Next time you are in one, grab the cup holder and pull up. The whole lot comes straight out!

I have a GS55 which is essentially the same but much better ( :- ). I've just had a look on the camera menus and it appears you need to be using the USB port for webcam use. Also, you need to set it to webcam mode in the menu. I hope this helps.

My wife has a 307 HDi 110. Really nice to drive, but the amount of little things that have gone wrong on it mean that as soon the the warrenty is up, it will probably be replaced. The interiors have really cheap plastic and it does feel quality. Oh, and the fuel economy has not been that great over the last few year on it - getting only 450miles to a 60 litre tank. I myself have an Astra Coupe Turbo. All the Mk4 Astras are really nice to drive, even the diesels. If you can stretch to it, an Mk4 Astra 2.0 CDTi would be perfect for you.

Thanks guys. I'm liking the 661s most, but it seems the whole of the UK is out of stock of them. Anyone know who the importers are?

I'm interested in getting some knee / shin pads. Which are recommended for trials / street use? Obviously they need to be comfortable and allow good movement. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

You'll have to wait until it is built. (Y)

I have a 18T on the rear (4th cog down). I'll try and use that from now on, and if I get on with it, I'll most liklely go to single speed. (Y) Thanks for all your input guys! (Y)

I won't be leaving it anywhere - don't worry! (Y) Incidentally, I also still own my old 1993 GT Zaskar LE. I am currently building it up to it's original spec - just waiting on some genuine 1991 Onza tyres and some new (never used ) 1992 XTR cantilevers and I'll have all the bits I need. It even has Middleburn RS1 cranks, Hope Titanium hubs, flite, USE post.... etc. Very old school! It is the bike I learnt most of my trials on (back when XC bikes were all that trials riders had access to).

I have some Middleburn Pro Trials cranks with a 22T ring. At the rear I have an 8 speed 11-28T cassette. I am still undecided as to which gear I should be in for general trials use. I was wondering what gears (no. teeth front and rear) other people use. I have looked at going for a single speed at the rear, but can only find 18T and 16T cogs, which I'm thinking may be to high a gear when used with the 22T ring at the front. Middleburn do sell a 20T front ring for the protrials, but even still, is this still going to be too high a gear? Many thanks for any advice / info. Mike

James - you are probably right - but I have just ordered a Panaracer for the front. Should be ok up front, the rear is what take a beating mostly. I'll keep the Maxxis on the rear - the panaracer along saves around 300g+ on the front end, so should help. I have also ordered some Magura HS33s today - bye bye V-Brakes (N) B)

Yeah - I had a pinch puncture on the rear within 5 mins on Saturday. (N)"

Sorry - yeah, 26". I've got single ply Maxxis High Rollers at the moment (2.3"). I could use something thinner / lighter on the front. If I can save 300g the pair, I'd be happy. B) I'll check out the Panaracers. (N)

Does anyone know what the lightest tyres you can get for trials are? Most seem really heavy to me - obviously mainly down to thier width.

I needed long forks - and choice was not great. I'm hoping to get some Pace RC32s when Pace start producing them again next year - I something lighter if something comes along. I got the post cheap on ebay - but I have just ordered a mini push-in seat.... (Y)

Cheers for letting me come along - a pity I had to leave early though. I got back to my car and found that my cranks were indeed loose, so good that I stopped riding when I did. It was a good day for me, some of my skills started to come back, but I still need a lot of work on the basics. At the moment, I just not feeling that the bike is an extension of myself - which is something that will come with time. I have fiddled with the brakes a bit more and straightened the rear wheel out so the brakes no longer rub on the back. The tar helped loads (Thanks Charlie for that!). I'll get some more practice in before next time! (Y)

Sorry - frame was £270 not £370, I'm going senile in my old age. I did in fact buy it via the second ebay link above (they had two in stock). I've been out for a ride today and things are starting to come back to me now. Hopefully a few month down the line I'll be back to the standard I was at 10 years ago. :rolleyes:

They retail at £400 but I picked mine up for £370. They are apparently very limited edition. I was alway a fan of Hans Rey back in the 90s, so I felt I had to give this frame a try to start with.

I have the folks here to thank in guiding me in the right direction regarding components. I fiddled with the brakes a bit since posting this and I now have a more positive feel at the level, but not quite so much power as before. Hopefully I'll get on with this setup better than before - but I'll be ordering the HS33s soon. Oh, I've now moved my saddle back and tilted it up a bit. :angry:

I've got 5 years of trials experience, but this was in the early '90s. I'm 10 years older now (30) and I'm almost 2 stone heavier too. It will take a while to get back to the level I was once at. Yep - that is on the list, but as I'm a beginner again, I don't need the clearance yet, so will upgrade to a little saddle once I get better. Cheers for all the positive coments guys. (Y)

I still have an original 1992 DCD (Dave's Chain Device) in the garage - I'll go fit it! (Y) I wasn't really aiming for old school, just something familiar. What specifically makes it old school? I mis-measured the chain - I'll rectify that once I get a shorted rear mech. :o