February 13, 201115 yr Only the very first and last models of the Alpina are close in design to the Sherpa T of the same year. Even those Alpina models are not as good as the Sherpa T of the same year to ride in sections. The differences vary from model to model, but the Alpina is generally inferior to the Sherpa T in that the hubs are heavier, the steering trail is too great (most Alpinas use Pursang triple clamps), the wheelbase is too long, the tanks are bulky, some frames are heavier (more frame elements) and the gearbox ratios are too far apart in the lower gears (1,2,3) and too close together (3,4,5). Having said all that, any Alpina is a better bike for trials-type riding than any MX based bike of the same era. In comparison with the Alpina, the OSSA Explorer and Montesa Cota Trail models are much more easily made into capable twinshock trials bikes.
February 13, 201115 yr Author Only the very first and last models of the Alpina are close in design to the Sherpa T of the same year. Even those Alpina models are not as good as the Sherpa T of the same year to ride in sections. The differences vary from model to model, but the Alpina is generally inferior to the Sherpa T in that the hubs are heavier, the steering trail is too great (most Alpinas use Pursang triple clamps), the wheelbase is too long, the tanks are bulky, some frames are heavier (more frame elements) and the gearbox ratios are too far apart in the lower gears (1,2,3) and too close together (3,4,5). Having said all that, any Alpina is a better bike for trials-type riding than any MX based bike of the same era. In comparison with the Alpina, the OSSA Explorer and Montesa Cota Trail models are much more easily made into capable twinshock trials bikes. Thanks
February 15, 201115 yr Hi, from my recollection the first alpinas were close to a sherpa, the main differences were a matador gearbox and a larger tank and seat unit. The frame motor etc were common with the sherpa, however later models grew further from the sherpa with different triple clamps and and a host of other changes that brought the bike closer to a trail bike than a trials bike. The last ones had the longer stroke motor 64mm for the big capacity bike, no sherpas had this motor.
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