revanche profile

neat brazing, but 10mins clean up would have made it even nicer.
Plus, clearcoat on steel doesn't age well.
looks nice however.

Or just use some circlip pliers and skip the dremel.

Did this to my zees a few years ago. Not really worth the effort.

agree.

dremel a flat bladed screwdriver so it looks like a two pronged fork and screw out the bolt.
then put your own bolt in.
http://www.huckingkitty.com/node/9

how about a shimano claris short cage, it's cheap, its short.
I used to run a short 105 or tiagra RD, made a hell of a racket, but worked fine.
How about the old saint setup, I'm running that at the moment and it's been faultless.I bought a lot of RD and I'm set for a while.
Re tensioners:
I don't think Yess are out if business, they still seem to have a web presence.
I'd get whatever's cheapest.usually a second hand RD and run it with as short a chain as poss.

sorry, didn't see the other Qs.
Dedicated SS sprocket is a must. you can use old cassette spacers to make up the width on the hub.
If your hub has a steel carrier then a normal width SS sprocket is fine.
If alloy, you're better off with a wide base SS sprocket.
good chainline is important. take your time.

http://www.sicklines.com/reviews/yess-pro-vertical-full-suspension/
Made in canada, best tensioners I've ever used.
Not sure if they're still in production.

elastic keeps the mtb bars flush with the frame. saves loads of space.

topeak dual thing works for me, now in the shop.

thanks xy9ine.
it does look fun, in an expensive way. the original honzo looked fun in a different way.

I did tapered htubes. It's a bitch to miter.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/94186938@N04/12142278333/in/album-72157637981137916/ here's another. sorry can't seem to be able to link.

Ryan leech's the art of trials is really good, good fundamentalsfor mtb.
the brianlopes/lee mccormack book is good.
fluidride was a good dvd, lars sternberg looks exactly the same 10+ years later.
dirtschool by resetfilms was basic but good.
They helped a lot, as did some skills coaching with bernat guardia (dh wc rider) a few years ago.
http://betterride.net/ this had good advice.

those dvds can be found on youtube, they're only as good as the time you put into practicing them.
There's a really good race bmx school here, I'd like to sign up as soon as I've got some free time.

might be an idea to look for some coaching. it's a mental thing, or sorting out details, that really take it to a different level.