15 replies to this topic

[bowershall]

Hi
Just bought a 1998 315. New to Montesa so is there anything in particular I should look out for?
Any info on where to purchase parts etc would be appreciated.
Or are there any essential or worthwhile mods to be made?
Thanks
Gordon

[Jasper999]

I have a 98 mont and have owned it for years, I have never had any problems with the bike. All I would say which is the same as any bike is regular oil change and put a clean air filter in everytime you go out

[wilfie]

Hi I have a 98 315R which I have had from new, haven't used it for years after breaking my ankle in 2002 but got back out on it a couple of months ago. Have made some mods since digging it out of the garage and was surprised to find how much difference they made. Both my girlfriend and a mate were learning to ride trials on this bike and we were all really surprised how much difference they made.

Mitani clutch - expensive £120, but bike is so much easier to ride on the clutch now, felt a bit grabby before and dragged when the motor was cold-no dragging at all even from cold
XBlok progressive throttle - easier when riding on very small amount of throttle
Raised Linkage plates and new dogbone with bearings - suspension action is more lively and in conjunction with the clutch I find it much easier to ride tight turns - previously I felt like it tried to push the front wheel sometimes
Shorter rear brake pedal tucks in behind clutch case - find it easier to get to and more protected, doesn't bash into the clutch case when the bike is dropped either, find I can ride with my feet further back on the pegs and still get to the pedal - got it cause my girlfriend has small feet but it benefitted me too

I already had bigger foot pegs on the bike and they make a big difference although found that in a muddy trial they were not that grippy as they are a bit worn now

Found it easy to get parts from a variety of places for this bike (not sure if the forum rules allow to give dealers names) and it now rides better than when I had it new, hope you enjoy your bike

[Ming]

Wilfie - I have the same problem with the rear brake pedal being too far forward and it's also got bent over the years before I got it and now the folding tip is dangerously close to the clutch case!

Where did you get the shorter brake pedal? And how much more expensive is the Mitani clutch as mine needs new plates ......

Cheers

[wilfie]

Hi,

The clutch was £119, don't know how much standard one is, think some of the other aftermarket ones, Sureflex maybe were cheaper around £60-70. The brake pedal and suspension link plate were from handdracing.com (sorry if this breaks any rules)

Cheers

Edited by wilfie, 19 May 2010 - 01:27 PM.

[smiffy]

Must be a popular first bike,ive just bought a similar one,searched the forums for a manual,pretty difficult to find,is there much difference between a 98 and 2002 model?

Sorry to hijack the thread but i guess relevant to new owners,also the filler cap below the carb/near the clutch slave cylinder, is this the filler for the gearbox?

Ive learnt loads from reading previous threads,so thanks for all the help and info.

Regards Andy.

[tt5th]

The forks and carb are different on the 2002 and yes thats the filler for the gear oil.

[smiffy]

Thanks very much,not a lot of differences over the years then.

Cheers again.

Regards Andy.

[tt5th]

Brake calipers! That's another difference, makes no odds as they're not in the manual but the earlier bikes had a Grimeca on the front instead of AJP and the older large caliper on the rear instead of the newer 'compact' one.

[smiffy]

Front brakes,im having a real prob bleeding them up,when i got the bike there was a loose banjo and no front brake, easy i thought add brake fluid ,bleed, voila front brake,. no hardest bleeding job ive come across in 25 years.

Cheers Again Andy.

[Wherry]

You may need a new seal kit for a start. Back off the adjuster on the lever as far as it will go so you're getting as long a stroke on the master piston as possible. You need to make sure the piston assembley is in the right sort of position with the ports in the cylinder to transfer the oil on each stroke. There is a ball bearing under the bleed nipple on the caliper which makes it impossible to back bleed with a syringe unless you take it out first. That's what I normally do and then put the ball bearing back, whilst trying not to lose too much fluid, and finish bleeding as normal. Should sort it.

[smiffy]

Thanks Wherry,i think you may be right about needing a seal kit.
Thats why i couldnt back bleed it then(ball bearing)
Theres a few bits i need from sandifords so ill add that to the list.

Thanks again regards Andy.

[clay]

Wherry, on 21 May 2010 - 06:16 PM, said:

You may need a new seal kit for a start. Back off the adjuster on the lever as far as it will go so you're getting as long a stroke on the master piston as possible. You need to make sure the piston assembley is in the right sort of position with the ports in the cylinder to transfer the oil on each stroke. There is a ball bearing under the bleed nipple on the caliper which makes it impossible to back bleed with a syringe unless you take it out first. That's what I normally do and then put the ball bearing back, whilst trying not to lose too much fluid, and finish bleeding as normal. Should sort it.

wished id read up about that ball bearing,,, as i found out the hard way.
useing my full body weight on the back of a large syringe, when wosh, pipe blew off, head to toe, bike,and garage, coated in brake fluid. early bath time.

[HAM2]

bowershall, on 26 April 2010 - 08:10 AM, said:

Hi
Just bought a 1998 315. New to Montesa so is there anything in particular I should look out for?....

Thanks
Gordon

..Yes, never put the fuel tank back on in a hurry !
I did, once, and I know of others as well....it can nip the throttle cable and rev to the moon !

Great bike, loved mine, has got to be one of the toughest water cooled trials bike ever made.

Edited by HAM2, 24 October 2011 - 02:16 PM.

[nelly1]

clay, on 22 October 2011 - 05:58 PM, said:

wished id read up about that ball bearing,,, as i found out the hard way.
useing my full body weight on the back of a large syringe, when wosh, pipe blew off, head to toe, bike,and garage, coated in brake fluid. early bath time.

is that why youve got grey hair then clay