dgshannon

Given that Bilbao is not riding the championship, and was quoted as "coming out of retirement" to ride the bike, I am failing to see your point. No points were at risk.

What will "surprise Fuji"? It is no secret that the Honda RTL in Japan is the same bike as the Montesa Cota, and Fuji rides one marked as such when in Japan. They used to try and do the same at all the rounds. My point was that the press release was not from Honda/Montesa, but was exclusivly from Honda Motor Co. and that the "developed independantly" wording added to the mystery. Honda is great at their press. Just in case things don't go well with the bike this weekend, it wouldn't do to have had a truely world class rider at the controls, would it? Think that has anything to do with Amos Bilboa being replace with Tomoyuki Ogawa as the rider? I love Montesa and think they are an excellent bike. I have no doubt that the 4-stroke will be incredible in the end. I'm just having a good time trying to read between the lines, as well as watching everyone stumble all over the Montesa name, when it is only Honda that appears to have said anything, and with strangely limited and questionable wording at that.

Pictures of the "left side" probably were not done yet. Remember that there is a difference between a "picture" and a "photo". I suspect that what we are seeing are pictures. They started life as a photo of the bike, but have then been enhanced graphically to create a picture of what the bike is intended to look when production starts in October. Anyone want to place odds on how much the bike that shows up in Japan this weekend will look like these press release "pictures"? As long as we are discussing things we have noted as "interesting" about this press release, did anyone question the wording? Maybe the press release just wasn't targeted at the trials audiance, because I immediatly wonder who Honda was working independant of? Independant of Montesa? Interesting that the engine cases say Honda and not HRC as in the past. This has been a very well kept secret and I would not be surprised if there are some more yet to come. While all of the hype, including the title of this thread, have referred to the "Montesa" 4-stroke, I for one have not seen one yet! I have seen a real nice artists rendition of a new Honda 250cc 4-stroke trials bike however.

Likewise. Mine also came from the Tryals Shop. Link to Website: <Here> Link to Skidplate: <Here> This is the same skidplate you see in the marketing photos of the '04 model as the factory got theirs from the Tryals Shop as well.

Anyone have the initiative to count the bikes that finished as a comparison to what started?

I would say it is soing a fine job for any displacement bike since Dustin won the Expert class at his last event, with a 47 point gap between him and the next place finisher. Link to story: <Here>

You mention "with and without octane booster", but don't make reference to racing fuel. I would not do anything to timing until you are sure you are running a high enough octane fuel, and not pump gas with an octane booster. Find yourself some proper leaded racing fuel 108 octane, or better, and then mix it 50:50 with the highest octane pump gas you can find. Run that with a premix ratio of 80:1 synthetic and see how your bike performs. From your post, I would bet you are running pump gas and adding too much 2-stroke oil to the mix, like 50 or 60:1 maybe?

Where is the Friday night party?

Why do the left and right arrow keys cause the rider's hands to come off the handlebars?

Hey Endo, I'm curious. Define "steer as well" a little further, please.

Then would we would need one that sniffs it also?

No. But I can say "Black and Tan"! Although, in the US, most bartenders will look at you like you are retarded or something.

I see... You are justified in having "nothing better to do" than insult other people's input, but they are not allowed to make comment on yours. "STOCK" in the USA can be either of two standard configurations from the factory. The US and South American importer (Tryals Shop) distributes both the light flywheel/aggresive timing and heavy flywheel/mild timing to the dealers. On the 2003 model, these were differentiated as the "Racing" vs "Competition" models, accordingly. For 2004, that naming convention was dropped, and you must simply be aware of the possible configurations when you purchase, or test ride! Won't speak for Woody, but I was not insinuating that there was any fault at all in your "assessment" or "opinion". My point was that for anyone test riding a Scorpa, the wide range of performance possibilites (both stock and rider modified) are important to be aware of. Rather than insult your input and assessment, I simply added additional information and another dimension to the design of the bike for consideration by those reading the thread.

Before assessing the motor as "noticably slower", you have to consider how the bike was setup. By design, the Scorpa allows for the rider to tune the performance to their preference. In addition to the variable timing on the ignition, they offer two different weights of flywheel. That, along with a slow or fast throttle, allows for a very wide range of adjustability in the bikes performance. Did your buddies bike have: 1) Light or heavy flywheel? 2) Aggressive timing setting? 3) Slow or fast throttle? All important things to know before assessing the performance of any particular Scorpa as they can be setup dramatically different from one rider to the next.

You mentioned having some unresolved Spanish issues. With a vintage bike, I think it is VERY important to get something you are passionate about. My passion goes back to "On Any Sunday" and the Cota 247. There are many vintage bikes out there that even I idendify as "better", but they just don't give me the same warm and fuzzy that I get when I walk by my 247 sitting in the garage. Get something that really turns your crank, restore it, and ride it.

Check with Martin Belair: www.usmontesa.com As far as I know, the TrailMaster is something that US Montesa is working on and not a factory offering.

You can order them online at: www.tryalsshop.com

The only issue I have ever heard regarding the break in period and non-synthetic oils has to do with the bottom end. It has been argued that using regular oil is necessary for all the bearings to actually have enough friction to break in properly. Interesting theory. I can't imagine that using a non-synthetic premix during break in would matter though. As far as the mix ratio, I use 80:1 synthetic in modern engines. I have done this in a 97 Beta, 99 & 00 Montesa, 02, 03, & 04 Scorpa. The 3 Scorpas had 80:1 even during break in using Motul. I use 50:1 synthetic in my vintage 1974 Cota 247 without problem. Personally, I think 50:1 in a modern engine is way too much oil.

So, exactly how often do you guys take your carb off? You talk like it is a daily occurance, as painful as you make it sound. I'm on my 3rd Scorpa and have never had my carb off. I guess one could state that 4th gear was hard to get out of the transmission as well.

Both the 143cc and 160cc kit are available to the public. Check the Tryals Shop (www.tryalsshop.com) or B.J.Racing (www.bjracing.com) website for details. You can install it yourself, of have it done.

Gee, I think I might have a go at that event!

I am on my third Scorpa, in as many years, and I have yet to keep from denting my silencer. Although not carbon fiber, if you want to see something sweet for your Scorpa, check out the titanium fork leg protectors on the Tryals Shop website: www.tryalsshop.com I have had mine about 2 months now and they sure are nice to look at!

Anyone else make the move from an '03 to an '04 recently? I have noticed an unbelievable difference in the power delivery on the '04. I presume it is the result of the new ignition module and timing changes. My '04 is much smoother, pulls lower, and revs like a banshee when you grab a hand full of throttle. Just interested to see if anyone else is experiencing the same?

The SY is such an increadably tuneable bike that you can personalize it to be pretty much exactly what you want. I have had 3 now and I prefer the Racing model with the heavy flywheel and a slow throttle. Mike, at the TryalsShop, sends mine preset that way each year. I have spent some time on a Racing with the light flywheel, fast throttle, and quick timing. It makes for a very snappy bike and a little too quick for my liking. Having said that, I now have several hours of practice and a couple of events on my 2004 model. It has the the quick timing, heavy flywheel, and slow throttle once again, but I have to say that even setup that way it is much more responsive than last years bike. When I first uncrated it and rode it, I would have bet anyone that it was a light flywheel model. I can only imagine what an 04 that really had the light flywheel and fast throttle would be like! For those that like their bike that way, and have accused the Scorpa of being a little slower on the snap, I think they will be in for a real surprise this year.

I thought you rode a Sherco!