mercuryrev

Hi Ethan, You've obviously got getting over lower obstacles ok for starters which is good. Add in lots and lots of turns, look at videos of actual trials and see just how many turns there are in a section. You have a great looking practice area, so spend some time setting yourself out some sections. Once they are easy, make them harder. Practice climbs and descents, add in turns in those climbs, go across cambers and then turn. Try filming what you do from off the bike, perhaps get a friend to film? Then use that to analyse or post it back on here. As for actual riding tips, learn to use that clutch. Learn to ride slow and controlled, using the clutch and the rear brake and turn, turn, turn! Figures of eight on flat ground, lock to lock, turn on an up slope, turn on a down slope..... you get the idea.... Hope that helps.... have fun!

Very good video, well explained, hopefully he'll do more (and speak slower so I can practice my french!)

Just a quick follow up on the crank removal in case anyone is as stuck as I was. I ended up taking it to a local bike mechanic who used a hot air gun to warm the cases and then he tapped the crank out. Firstly he supported the cases leaving about 20mm clearance between the opposite end of the crank. He started heating the case, taking care not to heat the crank itself. He then squirted some oil on the case and then carried on heating. I asked him why and he explained that when the oil thinned right down he knew it was hot enough. Sure enough as the oil all but turned to the consistency of water, he tapped the crank and it started moving. A little more heat and a few more taps and it was out.

What level are you riding JB?

That'll be a while sadly, probably not until March, unless something pops up. My biggest problem is living here in France where there are so few trials and even fewer local shops. Getting a test ride is probably not going to happen, unless I stumble on a secondhand one. Hence my questions on how they ride. I recently called into Dherbey Moto, probably the biggest trials shop in the world and even though they have test bikes and a test ground, they weren't any Monts available to ride. The list price here is just under 9k euros, so it's a bit of an expensive gamble, even if used prices are high. A two stroke Beta is around 2k less and comes with a 2 year warranty here. I'm lucky enough to have plenty of time to ride and a few places to ride, albeit at least an hour away. I'm going to be spending a lot of time just riding and enjoying a trials bike again. The question I have to decide on is, do I want to just buy a 2T and relearn a few things I've forgotten, or do I also want to learn how to ride a Montesa at the same time.

Thanks for your reply, really useful stuff. How would you compare the initial power to a 2T?

In France, unless it's your land, you should have insurance and the bike needs to be registered. Oh and you need a full bike licence for the road too..... Daft, but true.

I take it you're talking about grip in the wet and mud? How is it in the dry?

Fuel injection is a real benefit living here, as we aren't too far out from the mountains. Maintenance isn't a chore for me, I really enjoy keeping a bike fighting fit, but take your point.

Certainly not upset by it at all! Thank you again for replying. To be honest I didn't notice you mentioned a Beta when I first read it and I'm fairly sure a 4 stroke Beta/Montesa responds in different ways to a 2T when ridden in a section. I have considered the Beta, but a (fairly new) friend suggested that I get a Montesa. Having recently considered one and then gone off the idea because I figured that maybe I should just stick to what I know, for him to suggest one having seen the level (or lack thereof) of my riding, made me think again. But please, you took the time to reply to my request, you didn't have to, it took up your time, and you gave me an opinion, which I very much appreciate. So please don't stop posting, it's what keeps this and other forums going.

Kangaroo because the throttle/bike is fairly instant in it's response? So let momentum carry you through rather than being on and off the throttle as you might be on a 2T? In which case, if you've not got enough momentum do you need to slip the clutch to feed the power in a little, other wise you lose traction?

Just the sort of description I am looking for, thanks for that. I think I've learnt from road bikes that weight is a fairly subjective thing, once you're used to it, a lighter bike can feel too light at first! From watching different videos, it seems that the Mont will drive from little or no throttle almost immediately and more so than, say a 250 2T? Is that a fair statement?

Thanks for the reply Sadly not, bikes have to be registered here and the process for doing this makes it roughly the same price. Add in the time spent doing it and it really isn't worth it.

Looks a great area to be able to ride. We are in your area towards the end of February heading back from a few weeks in Portugal. Got friends living in Torrevieja and hoping to get some cycling in while we're there. Do you have to register the bike for the road, insure it, etc.?

Thanks for the reply. Luckily round here we're dry for about 6 months of the year, although the past month has been very wet. Secondhand bikes and cars hold their money here, largely because there are so few on the market. So whilst buying a Mont is more expensive than the UK, it will hold it's money. There's a 2015 Repsol up for around £6k at the moment, on a private sale.

Thanks for the reply You sound like you're riding it gently and just taking your time to do stuff? Are you just riding it on the throttle or using the clutch to control things?

Thanks very much for that long reply, it's exactly the sort of thing I was looking to find out. Is it a case of making it grip, when there is grip, using a lower gear and weight and then using momentum to get through the less grippy stuff? I'm a bit confused on doing a step, or 90 degreeish bank.....? Bring the revs up, let them drop a little then hit the throttle again to lift the front, then go up on the over run? Thanks again, I'm starting to get there!

HI Bruce, thank you, I'd love too but I live about 600 miles away, in France..... I do have family in Kent however. Getting a test ride here is impossible and I think I've only seen one Mont ridden at the all too infrequent trials here. Can I ask why do you not use the clutch? Because the high tickover is there to stop it stalling? Obviously I'm used to riding on the clutch nearly all the time with a 2T.

Good man! I noticed you're in Spain? Do you ride it there?

Thanks for the replies so far. What I'm trying to discover is what it actually is that is different? I imagine, from watching them, that they will run away from you unless you stop them? Because of a high tickover, they won't stall and so you either need to pick and execute the right line, or you're in trouble? On a 2T I have to either drive the bike, or stop the momentum from having just put the gas on. Whereas, I imagine, with a Mont, the bike is going and if you're not on the right line, it's a case of stopping it and sorting it out, much the same as with a 2T?

I'm contemplating buying a 4RT or Repsol, having only ever ridden a 2 stroke. I keep reading comments about how they ride differently, how people shouldn't ride them like a 2T. I understand that they are heavier, but other than that what is the difference between say a TRS and a Repsol when riding a section. My level of skill is pretty low, I'd normally ride one up from the easiest route at a club trial. I also much prefer messing around at a practice ground to competing. So no need for they don't hop better on the back wheel thanks! I'm also not able to get a test ride on one sadly. Really interested in understanding how they differ.

Thanks very much for replying and for the tip, I'll try that tomorrow. ?

Are these stupid questions that I should know? More than 300 views and no comments, makes you feel insecure, you know....... ?

Currently got my 2008 Rev3 engine stripped down to replace the main bearings and after a couple of bits of advice please I have managed to separate the cases but can't seem to get the crank out of the left hand case, are there any tricks? I have tried warming everything in an oven for 15 mins and then hitting the crank with a rubber mallet with no luck. Secondly, I used to trailer the bike in winter and I suspect road salt has found it's way under whatever the finish is on the crankcases. Has anyone successfully repainted the cases? Researching on here I've read that the cases might be magnesium and therefore difficult to paint..... Any advice very welcome Thanks

Thanks very much for that and please thank your mate for me. Always difficult to compare severity I know but we are 'bordering on ok' novice riders I guess, so don't want to go all that way just to be way out of our depth. They are saying there will be 4 classes.... In the proof can join the following categories: Youth, Cadet, Junior, Senior, Masters A, Masters B and Classics. The DIFFICULTY LEVELS will test: *