montesaman

Hi Joe, do you think you could make a heat shield like the factory bikes had? That may be of wider interest. Also kick starts are impossible to get hold of so that would be a great thing to go at next

Hi joe, I would be very interested in the heat shield. Are they available yet? Cheers

Hello Honda experts, I have a cracked kickstart I my 1988 RTL twin disc, does anybody know if a kick start from another machine will fit? Eg XL or XR . I know that it is different to a tlr and the 85 to 87 RTLs. Thanks

Question for the Fantic experts. I've seen an advert for a 1991 fantic for sale and the chap reckons it is a 156cc, which would make it a 207. I'm wondering if it is actually a 247 which I think was much more common. Does the 207 exist? I have tried searching on google but can't find any brochure or any other examples of pictures or any threads really on 207. Plenty 205 references. Do the fantic engines have capacity stamped on them anywhere? Any other way to distinguish a 207 from 247? Thanks

Yes I thought that too - thats what the manual says, 75-100% is main jet, but as Jim at Gordon Farley told me there's not that much that can go wrong with the main jet and it looks ok. So that makes me think it might be the float level if it is in fact anything to do with the carb. Mcman the smoke is black but it's not continuous, only when this fluffing starts. Do we think it could be valve related? There's no noise to indicate loose camchain.

Hi, Wondering if anyone can help identify next steps. Recently bought an RTL which I still can't get to run properly - main symptom is on 75%+ throttle it starts to fluff as if starved of some fuel (or air I suppose) and smokes a bit. Also pops and bangs a bit on the overrun . I have replaced floats, carbs o-ring kit, and latterly a new needle jet all with Honda OEM parts, but no luck. I haven't put the needle jet seat replacement in because I can't work out how to get at it - does it just press out from below? Have replaced the plug with a new correct one. Grateful of any other advice? Thanks

Hi, Does anyone know if this trial is on? I haven't spotted regs in TMX which seems strange. Thanks.

Hoping for some 4RT advice. I have just bought a 2008 Mont having previously had 06 and 07 models, and 315s for 7 years before that. Can anyone tell me if they changed the clutch from 2007 to 2008? Reason I ask is this 08 has much stronger spring - reminds me more of a beta rev 3 for example and I don't like it. One of the reasons I have always liked Montesas is the superlight clutch, and having put on a 315 Master on the 06 and 07 4RTs I got the same feel as with my 315 - a nice bite and superlight. I find the light clutch reduces cramp on long trials like the SSDT. Strangely, it actually already has the 315 size bigger master on this new 08 one so it can't be that. Only difference I can see is the clutch cable is different in that it doesn't have the metal silver beading round it (don't know if this is standard?). If I had to guess I would say it had stronger clutch springs so does anyone know if they made changes in 08? Any other ideas? Cheers

Hi Steve, Martin's comments are consistent with what Dougie told me in 2003. Regarding making lighter - the link to Banjeres is the best you will get as he can source some HRC parts (being Fuji's minder). Going the Ti route you will pay big bucks so I would concentrate on the cheaper upgrades from elsewhere: - use 4RT rear wheel - fits straihght in and weighs about 0.5Kg less I believe - rear X-lite tyre (also saves about 0.5Kg) - Raptor footpegs (and maybe the 4RT ti hangers might fit also) Then if you have more money to spend, look at Ti bolt kits from H&D racing in UK, and possible a Ti Mitani stand which <mention of this company is not permitted on Trials Central> in UK can probably get for you... Future Trial is another possible source as some of their 4RT parts will fit the 315 (and tehir site gives yo the weight saving vs stock) Good luck Montesaman Hi Steve, as much as I can recall - shock body, fork lowers, triple clamps, crankcases, were magnesium. - hubs were turned down - head pipe, hardware, peg brackets, some engine internals were Titanium - frame was very standard, just tailored to Doug's and Fuji style, the webbing inside the ankle area of the frame was cleaned up (saved a few grams) - air box was Kevlar in early years but stock later on - CF fork brace and air box lid - skid plate was standard - I recall that Doug used the standard pegs for many years. most club riders has tricker pegs - they told me that overall weight loss was acheived grams at a time Good luck. I know the winters are long in Michigan and a man needs a project. Martin

I know this topic has been covered about 6 mths ago, when were all speculating about what Montesa might be up to, but now we're well into 2010 and WTC has kicked off I'm amazed there hasn't been any news on these yet? Pidcock's Montesa page is just a placeholder too. Does anyone know if there are any updates from the 09 model? Or whether they might be a bit more realistic on price? The pound is on the rise against the Euro, and looks like it will go further with all the economic strife with Greece and others, so I would expect prices might come down purely on that basis. Has anyone spotted any significant changes on the works bikes? I read an interview with Liai Sainz somewhere and she said that for 09 they didn't make many changes to the works bikes but this year they are making them a lot lighter. Would be good if they can shave some weight off the production bikes to keep up with the competition. Any thoughts?

Thanks guys, good news !

Hi, Anyone know when they plan to do the ballot for the Reeth 3 day? Just trying to plan ahead....

Hi Honda experts, Has anyone tried either of the titanium header pipes I have seen listed on the internet. I have seen S3 have developed one for the 200, and there is one on ebay by Delkevic. Just wondering a few things: 1) how much is the weight saving (probably about 400g?) 2) Does it alter the power characteristics? (the S3 one is 28mm, not sure what the original one is?). 3) will the S3 one, which is listed as for the 200, fit a TLR250? (not sure if they are the same pipe?) I've never heard of Delkevic before, are they any good? It seems remarkably cheap at GBP 99.00 which makes me a bit suspicious. The S3 one is probably double that price, although I haven't seen it advertised by any UK S3 stockists yet. Thanks.

Ha ha, yeh me too Jeff. And I always get flakes everywhere when trying to scrape the old one off, not to mention the "joy" of trying to get the bash plate back on again afterwards.. I have always changed both together as that's what it says in the manual, but interested in anyone else's advice because it is such a faff as you say....

Yep munch - absolutely right. From 07 onwards Montesa changed the bolts to be a special locking kind. I noticed that after a very expensive mistake with my 06!

thanks for the clarification guys...

I have a slightly technical question regarding the rules for MOTs. My bike was first registered as new in May'07, and is currently taxed I think until June'10, after which I will have to go through the hassle of getting it MOT'd in order to tax it. Does anyone know if I SORN it now, and then re-tax it before it comes up to it's 3rd birthday, then the tax disc will run for another year before I have to get it MOT'd? (e.g if I re-tax in April'10, will run to April'11 when it will be nearly 4 years old?) Reason is I only plan to keep it about a year and I'm looking for the least hassle way to extend the taxed status a bit longer. Or. legally should a vehicle over 3 years old have an MOT anyway?

Mcman, Do you still have the original showa units on the bike? If so ditch them as twin shock technology has moved on significantly in recent years. I use falcon on my tlr, which you can specify sprung for your weight and also with "ultra light damping". I reckon these offer rear suspension which is pretty much as good as my yamaha ty mono. I've gone for alu bodied ones which are quite pricey, but then again so are tlrs. The rock shox alu ones are a lot cheaper and I belive are also very good.

The 87 model had drums F&R - I think it was the pink one. 88 was the first to have disc brakes. Nice touch putting Mont forks on it though.

Hi, Bennetts do not cover for road work during trials, and neither do Carol Nash, even though they both target the offroad market, which I think is outrageous. I paid them the premium for two years , having initially been told by the broker that offroad cover was included, only to find that it wasn't. I think you will find that the only people who offer true, legal competition cover is the one organized through the ACU in the last year. I can't remember who that insurer is but it should be on ACU website and they are reasonably priced too. Hope this helps.

Hi - my understanding is that actually the 1985/86 RTL was the same as the TLR200/250F, the 87 RTL clutch was different and then they changed it again for 88/89. I don't know how different they are though, would expect some of the plates would have been the same. Cheers

Hi - have you tried calling Sandifords?

I have had a skim through some of the replies, although not all, and am very surprised that no-one has made a comment about the practicalities of having to get to the out of town venue from the hotel. For those of us that can't take all our families up there for the whole week, and therefore have to get to the start under our own steam this would create a logistical headache. Normally I stay in town and walk to the start all kitted up. Is the proposal that instead we would all need to drive to the start and leave our cars there? I also agree with the comments about atmosphere etc - less people would travel into FW at night to populate the bars and pubs and it would definitely lose much of its atmosphere. So - my vote is please , please don't move out of town!

Hi Helm, which section? I can see service manuals for the TLRs but no parts list? (there is one for the RTL..) Cheers

Sounds perfect, thanks HP. I just tried to PM, but I think your inbox is full?