OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Twinshock Trials => Topic started by: firko on July 09, 2008, 10:37:53 am
-
Even though Alan Jones is noted for his pre 65 motocross exotica and speedway bikes, he is currently bringing in this pair of Mexican made GRM trials bikes from the USA. The bikes were designed by American trials pioneer Bill Grapevine (Grapevine Racing Motorcycles-GRM) and manufactured in Mexico by Moto Islo. The engine is similar to that of the Cooper MX/enduro but features a cast iron barrel and other differences including a reduction in size to 215cc. Apparently 1575 were made but only 20 complete running bikes are known to exist today. Pretty cool looking thing I reckon.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/grm5.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/grm1.jpg)
-
That's quite a production run for a bike that obsure. I don't reckon that they sold well in the US where brand would be important (what wins on Sunday..) so I suppose they all ended up underneath some very confused Mexicans.
Firko, two pics, two rear sprockets, do you know which was the original?
-
http://www.classicbikes.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Features lots of old trials piccys from Great Brit in side this site. and heaps of other racing too
-
Tim, here's a shot of another GRM which shows the big sprocket so I guess it's the proper one. I'ts kind of funny how Alan bought the bike. He's not really interested in trials or 2 strokes for that matter so he bid on the engineless bike thinking it might be a good basis recipient for his BSA B40 engine. I think he paid $200 or something cheap. After the auction the bloke asked if he wanted another one for a couple of hundred more and when Al saw how clean it was he couldn't resist. It then turned out that the first bike had a motor as well, the only thing missing were the forks that had ended up on a Carabela. I suspect it'll be his pitbike. One went for $150 bucks on eBay a few weeks back (see below
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/grm11.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/grm12.jpg)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/vintage-motocross-AHRMA-rare-moto-islo-GRM-islo-project_W0QQitemZ110263278192QQihZ001QQcategoryZ35576QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/vintage-motocross-AHRMA-rare-moto-islo-GRM-islo-project_W0QQitemZ110263278192QQihZ001QQcategoryZ35576QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
-
Interesting, looks like the gearbox wasn't adapted for trials hence the need for a bloody big sprocket.
There was a US attempt at a trials bike in the early/mid 80's. It too went down like a lead balloon. Trials riders like most off-road riders are driven by fashion and like to ride something similar to the top guys.
Firko, my old man used to have one the Minerilli engined Cottons. The frame was good but the motor was crap. He searched high and low for a B40 motor to drop into it but eventually gave up. Might be an idea for Alan.
-
Als decided to restore the dismantled bike and probably sell it. He may not be a trials kind of bloke but he and I both agree that if a bike is interesting and rare it deserves to survive intact. From all reports, the GRM wasn't that good but that shouldn't be seen as a signal to disregard it as a collectors piece. Many of todays more eagerly collected bikes weren't all that great in their day.
-
Many of todays more eagerly collected bikes weren't all that great in their day.
Ain't that the truth with CCM 4t trials bikes hitting near GBP10,000!
-
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CCM-Trial-maschine-1979-1-Hand-cirka-20-betriebsstd-/170514869432?pt=Motorrad_Kraftradteile&hash=item27b37a6cb8
one of about 104 ever made Trial bikes fom CCM ,the one and only 4 stroke Trialbike of the seventies.
first colour, first tyres , bill of sale with CCM , one owner since new about 20 hours used since 1979
really hard too find in that condition- we can help organizing worldwide transport or would even bring it back to England (british motocycle industrie thank U for that bike) . europe transport add 400 euro
any question please phone 004989134452 karsten
-
and six months later ....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CCM-Trial-maschine-1979-1-Hand-cirka-20-betriebsstd-/170514869432?pt=Motorrad_Kraftradteile&hash=item27b37a6cb8
-
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CCM-Trial-maschine-1979-1-Hand-cirka-20-betriebsstd-/170514869432?pt=Motorrad_Kraftradteile&hash=item27b37a6cb8
one of about 104 ever made Trial bikes fom CCM ,the one and only 4 stroke Trialbike of the seventies.
first colour, first tyres , bill of sale with CCM , one owner since new about 20 hours used since 1979
really hard too find in that condition- we can help organizing worldwide transport or would even bring it back to England (british motocycle industrie thank U for that bike) . europe transport add 400 euro
any question please phone 004989134452 karsten
When you say first 4T Trials bike of the '70s I guess you disregard the TLs from Honda as more leisure bikes? Sold from '74-'78 I think and they sold pretty big in the US and UK. They also pull big money these days for a bikes that lacked any real trial success
-
When you say first 4T Trials bike of the '70s I guess you disregard the TLs from Honda
Let's not forget the Italjet 350....a heavy lump of a thing with 4T Rotax power.
-
I think the Italjet Scott was early '80 but not 100% sure. Either way it was a better Trials bike than the TLs so was the CCM. Having said that their is a Guy in the Denman Twin Shock Club that has a TL250 Special that WORKS!!! unbelievably well.
-
It is one of those little wonders of old dirt bikes. The final (latest) twin shock bike eligible for competition in OZ is the TLR250 Honda 4 stroke. The Montesa 242 / 330 are also '85 models but I believe the TLR continued after these bikes were replaced. Again not 100% sure as the TLR continued in Japan longer than other markets but was most popular in the UK.
Have I high jacked this thread? :-[
-
I think the Italjet Scott was early '80 but not 100% sure. Either way it was a better Trials bike than the TLs so was the CCM. Having said that their is a Guy in the Denman Twin Shock Club that has a TL250 Special that WORKS!!! unbelievably well.
The TLR250 is hugely popular in Spanish twinshock trials presently (a quick scan of Todotrial will confirm, see link below). Odd 'cause it wasn't taken seriously in its time.
http://www.todotrial.com/ttclasico/competicion2011/cingles.htm (http://www.todotrial.com/ttclasico/competicion2011/cingles.htm)
-
How about a Yak, great name I reckon.
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/203743843.htm?ca=12_s (http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/203743843.htm?ca=12_s)
(http://193.164.196.60/images/174/1741763670.jpg)
-
I ended up buying a job lot of 4 TY175's today.....and I had to take a Yammie AG bike aswell....can we burn it at CD Noel?....sacrifice to the god's of Conondale?...let me know (I think it will be the only way to un-shame myself for stouping to the same level as TMBill.....who still has the worlds largest collection of farm bikes!!) ;D
-
Burn it :o No way. Take the racks off put on some plastc guards Bill will have another bike to ride.
-
Too true....a works AG bike! 8)....he can build on the Wednesday before CD.....we only have the best at CD...we can put it with the Husky sewing machines and maybe do a peoples choice award......it will be close.
-
So how many TYs are you going to have there?
-
Just one.
-
Where's Firco when you need him? Mark, if you're lurking have a butchers at this. It seems to be a single shock:
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/germaneta/07Candytown29.jpg)
-
I ended up buying a job lot of 4 TY175's today.....and I had to take a Yammie AG bike aswell....can we burn it at CD Noel?....sacrifice to the god's of Conondale?...let me know (I think it will be the only way to un-shame myself for stouping to the same level as TMBill.....who still has the worlds largest collection of farm bikes!!) ;D
Be buggered burning it, race it! I will give you a run for your money.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s120/coljay/aggie4.jpg)
CJ
-
Where's Firco when you need him? Mark, if you're lurking have a butchers at this. It seems to be a single shock:
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/germaneta/07Candytown29.jpg)
Looks more like a rigid to me
-
Could be right there young Tone. That mudguard stay wouldn't work very well if it were a mono.
-
Here are a few more trials bikes from some well known MX/Enduro makers.
http://s973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/
-
Here are a few more trials bikes from some well known MX/Enduro makers.
http://s973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/bmwtrial.jpg)
Now that's what I call a trials bike :o, it would be a trial to ride one ;) :D.
Creek crossing should be interesting ::).
-
I should make it easier for everyone.
Here are the pics.(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/BMW.jpg)
Single cylinder BMW.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/bmwtrial.jpg)
Twin cylinder shaft drive.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/bmwtrialpi5.jpg)
BMW.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/Bultaco4TTrial.jpg)
How about a 4T Bultaco.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/cztrialir6.jpg)
Or a CZ.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/EarlyMaico.jpg)
An early Maico.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/maicotrialao0em7.jpg)
Some thing newer in a Maico.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/Greeves.jpg)
A Greeves.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/hodaka.jpg)
A Hodaka.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/KTM78-trial.jpg)
KTM had a go as well.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/KTM_Trial_otto_richterhp.jpg)
And not too bad either.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/Laverda25trial79.jpg)
Laverdas effort.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/SVM.jpg)
After SWM they had a go as SVM.
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/trial1975Husky.jpg)
There was a Husqvarna as well.
-
A good mate of mine just got hold of an Aprillia old trials bike. Anyone heard of it before.
-
There were twinshock and single shock Aprilias made in mid-late 1980s. The one I'm familiar with had a Rotax rotary valve motor similar to what came in in Armstrong and SWM trials bikes. The twinshock would be highly desirable for competition but I don't think they were sold new in OZ. The monoshock was sold here but not many. Fantic twinshock and monoshock and Yamaha monoshock were much more popular at the time.
-
That's an interesting Maico trials bike but I reckon the only Maico components are the tank stickers. As ugly as she is, at least my Maico is all genuine Maico, the only non Maico parts on the whole bike being the Yamaha reed valve setup and Mikuni carby (and PVL ignition).
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/trials2.jpg)
My Maico trials bike nose to nose with Kevin Browns equally ugly Husky trials bike. The Maico looks a lot better now that it's fitted with a proper Wassell trials tank and seat. The Maico is a mechanical work of art and works beautifully.
-
I owned a '91 Aprilia Climber 240 for a couple of seasons. Water cooled rotary disc Rotax. Great bike and probably one of the prettiest bikes I've owned. Another one I wish I'd kept :(
-
Fart and you miss it!
Aprillia: very prominant in trials mid 80's to mid 90's. Won a world championship ('89, Tommy Ahvala). Originally used Hiro motors and moved to Rotax. This set the tone for their future (I think they still use Rotax).
SVM, SWM rebardged. Came out of SWMs demise. Didn't last long.
KTMs: interesting one. Came very close to production in the late 70's and walked away from it. Development rider was Walther Luft. Had they have gone into production they would have benefitted enermously from the spanish trinitys demise.
Husqvarna: Also a factory bike. They too lost interest.
BMW! Well Douglas were players in the pre war trials scene.
-
I should make it easier for everyone.
Here are the pics
(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae213/2T_vs_4T/Early%20Trials%20Bikes/hodaka.jpg)
A Hodaka.
That Hodaka isn't, it's actually a KT250 fitted with a Hodaka 250 motor. It was built a few years ago by a guy in the states.
I'll see if I can find the link to it's build
-
My old Maico has inherited the alloy Wassell trials tank (thanks Alison and Steve) that I had earlier tried on my Hindall DT1. It looked all wrong on that bike but looks right at home on the Maico. With all of that shiny aluminium I guess it's time I tidied up the old Maico to match.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/IMG_6077.JPG)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/IMG_6076.JPG)
-
My old Maico has inherited the alloy Wassell trials tank (thanks Alison and Steve) that I had earlier tried on my Hindall DT1. It looked all wrong on that bike but looks right at home on the Maico. With all of that shiny aluminium I guess it's time I tidied up the old Maico to match.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/IMG_6077.JPG)
Nice tank Firko , badge might be a problem tho :)
Seriously , what's the Maico go like ?
Did they get it right ?
-
The Maico looks good Firko that tank suits it very well now you just need a bit of fuel hose to fire it up.
I like the works kickstart hose too.
-
Seriously, what's the Maico go like ? Did they get it right ?
The Maico performs surprisingly well Mike. Nobody who's ever ridden it can believe it started life as a '73 Maico 250 Motocrosser. I got the bike in 'barn find' condition from Les Richters a few years ago and have just tidied it up and ridden the thing. The bloke who built it was a genius who has modified the engine to become a well behaved plonker. The bikes been fitted with a reed valve, 28mm Mikuni, totally hand made trials style gear ratios, a lower primary drive, and a bunch of other stuff. The frame is barely recognisable as starting life as an MXer as shown in the comparison photo with a stock MX frame. The bike was built in the Tamworth area in the mid 70's but I've never been able to locate its builder. If anyone knows anything about the bike or its creator I'd be glad to hear from you. (fuel line already done.thanks Michael)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/Maicotrials1.jpg)