vintagecota

Hey Feetup, the last item I need for a restoration of a 123 is an original set of handlebars with welded-on perches for the levers. I don't even know how to figure out the time zones in Aus, so would you be so kind as to contact the gentleman, find out if it has them, and get back to me on the board or via e-mail shaun_mcgarvey@shaw.ca ? Or just find out if he has e-mail too, please. thank you, vintageCota

What do you need for the 123, Sherpa?

As far as I know, they only used that ugly tank with the imitation parting lines for one year only, 1978.

Some impressions of riding vintage Cotas: I'm 6'3"/240lb and my little 123 has almost enough power for anything I care to try (believe it or not). It runs down on very long, very steep hills. I'd like to be able to use 2nd gear for the momentum but always end up in 1st and eventually spinning out or powering out if I get my weight right. I think a 156cc kit would help quite a bit and make the bike nearly perfect. I can still get the bike, or should I say it can get me, up a 5ft step. It really performs if I'm not shy with the throttle. It's totally adequate for trail riding but is a little aenemic for (vintage) competition with my considerable heft aboard. With the 18/21 wheels, the 123 feels as big or bigger than a modern bike, so it doesn't feel too small to me. Yes, the 200 is 175cc, and I think it would provide more power than necessary (for me). Of course it's just fine to have a little more than you need. I've ridden a 348 and getting back on the 123 after that made it feel like the throttle wasn't connected to anything. Way more power than I could use. I never got it over 1/2 throttle, even up very steep hills. I found the bike to be rather top-heavy and I fell off many more times than I do from the small-frame bike, and couldn't really go anywhere that the 123 wouldn't go with less struggle. The 348 tired me out picking it up AND (very importantly) the same as 247s, you can't start the bike with the clutch pulled in, you need to find neutral first. I've got an old red-tank 349 as well, but it's sitting in a museum with 3.4mi. on it, so I may never know what it rides like, but it felt like a locomotive when I took it for a spin in my driveway and cracked the throttle.

The best one is a Cota 200 but it's white The next best is a 172, looks just like my 123 in the avatar but with 156cc and 18/21 wheels. Same light frame, 170 odd pounds all told and turns so good it makes me look good! The ones with the big ugly seats are the "T" or "trail" models of the 123 and 247. 8 litres of fuel instead of 4, and 2up riding.

A couple, maybe?

You sold the bike that won Montesa's first World Championship?!!!

15,700 to be exact!

It's likely an early '75. Use 50:1 or 2% for ample lubrication with minimal smoking. points - 0.4mm (0.016") plug - 0.5-0.6mm (0.022") gear oil - SAE 80/90 (300cc) clutch oil - 200cc ATF (automatic transmission fluid) If the seat is big it is probably a "T" (trail) model. The trials model "L" has a 1 gal. tank, the "T" has 2 gals. The "T" also has extra footpegs on the swing arm. Same bike, different tank. Good Luck!

Nice pic, Jay. Now we know why you call it a Bullfrog. Congratulations on your win. (He won, guys)

Next Saturday and Sunday the U.S. World round will be featured on Speed TV's show "Top Dead Center".

Gaby, I laughed my ass off at your avatar, a classic American image!

I've found it. It's a 1981 Cota 80. Look here: http://www.geocities.com/cotamontesa/

All the 123s I know of are model 28M. I don't know what a 32M is.

One guess at my pick!

Give me two 2 strokes instead!

"The bloke" is Ryon Bell, North American no.2, perennial Canadian champ and really nice guy from my home town. The pic is immediately following his win in the first indoor round this year in San Francisco.

Yes, I know of another one too, a '78 348 w/800 or so mi. but it looks as good as my 349 w/3mi. Spotless. It's in the chap's living room, for sale too at $2350 CDN. Good price, about $1800 U.S. The one on e-Bay just went for $3200 U.S.

I think the main problem over here is not too many classes but not enough riders! 3 riders in a class is common. That's how I got my 3rd place plaque! I also won "First finishing Montesa" at a vintage event. Can you guess how that happened?

I'm probably qualified to comment on why have a bike you can't ride. I see bikes like this as historical artifacts, as examples to use in restoring others. Bikes can be restored, but they're only original once. Little details, quickly lost on riders are instantly evident on a survivor. Getting them back to this condition is extremely difficult and costly, and without this documentation, impossible. You can buy a bike like this 348 for less than the cost of a restoration. As a survivor it needs to be detailed to perfection and displayed in a museum for all to see, photograph, document, and drool over. How else would you know which side of the bike all of the transverse bolts were installed from, or some other trivial fact that makes all the difference to a proper restoration but no difference to a rider? It would be extremely selfish to ride a brand new old bike, especially, perhaps the last one. Used bikes fill that need. I have a very similar bike, a '79 349 Cota, with 3.4mi. on it. I've detailed it and shipped it off to the Trev Deeley Museum for safekeeping. I went through the pain of making the decision not to ride it, and it's a decision that I could go back on if I wanted, but I could not go back on the decision to ride it. That's a one way trip. Of course, not riding that one is justification for buying another one! Win, win.