Wednesday June 15th 2022
Many of our readers will remember the Opti Racing News sheets - that we put out many years ago - this one on Helmut Clasen from Ontario - We met Helmut back when I attended the Toronto Motorcycle Show, with Opti Rep - Jim Clifford - after visiting his shop in Hamilton, we drove down to Cleveland Ohio, where Helmut introduced us to the top brass at KTM USA - Helmut is a “Died in the wool” Opti believer, having first used it at an early ISDE in Germany. - He was one of the original Importers of KTM into Canada, with his friend Max, who sadly died too young.
This pic just popped up on FB - from 2015 with one of my Beta Evo 200’s - as I said in the post - likely the best bike for at least 40% of the Trials riders out there. - Although there is no separate class for either a 125 or 200 - the 200 Beta is still the best choice for many, as it has good torque and enough power to get up the big hills. - Unfortunately, although we like the smaller 125 models, and have ridden both the Gasser, Beta and TRS over the past few years, we feel these bikes are #1 overpriced, and do not appeal to the Canadian market.( The US idea that “Bigger is better” does not hold true in my opinion)
Quiz for today :Â Does anyone know why this Spitfire has Black & white stripes on it’s wings???
This weekend is the Erzbergrodeo bike throwing contest !!! BC rider Trystan Hart has been on a roll lately. winning most of the hard Enduro’s he has contested in the States, we wish him luck in this crazy event.
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This 1948 Royal Enfield Bullet Prototype Trials considered to be Great Grandfather of all Trials . it was pioneer machine to have Swingarm ,full suspension . it has the Royal Enfield Model G type forks and early bullet frame . its development continues with Johnny Brittan HNP 331 . which have magnesium Crankcases, ultra high weight alloy hubs and Trials Ratio Gearbox and Lucas Racing Magneto to mention few .. it was technologically advance machine and ahead of its time.
Like many early Fourstroke bikes from back in the day, the Bullet suffered with poor crank bearings and oil pump - something that the Yamaha TT 500 also suffered from ( poor pump) Sometimes the Japanese copied the bad stuff as well as the good!!!
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