June 13, 201412 yr That got your attention :0) what colours do you think we'll get next year? I think it'll be white rear mudguard, white tank and white front mudguard (Honda colours) or white rear, red front and red tank (Montesa) black wheels, silver frame again. Repsol will be factory rep with the wings on silencer and airbox, What do you think? Could also be a Fuji special to celebrate 20 years in the WTC !!!
June 13, 201412 yr I was under the impression it was a new bike for 2015??? Much more than a cosmetic change... Mags
June 14, 201412 yr Next year is his 20th. first trial was in 96? http://www.trialonline.org/01%20TRIAL.FIM/09.PILOTES/PILOTES%20PAGES/F/09%20FUJINAMI%20TAKAHISA%20JAP.htm
June 14, 201412 yr I was under the impression it was a new bike for 2015??? Much more than a cosmetic change... Mags Let's hope so...but I doubt it.
June 14, 201412 yr There is an interesting implied assumption in this question, being that Montesa's 2015 development will be new coloured plastics. I'd like to broaden the topic. Having signed Toni Bou for four years to 2018, do you anticipate a significantly new Montesa at any point in this time? The production 4RT was sold for nine years from 2005 to 2013 with the most minimal of updates. 2014 saw a little more development, but nothing too significant compared to their competitors over the same time period. Honda finance the most expensive team in the WTC, they also have far lower unit sales than Beta, Gas Gas or Sherco. It is hard to imagine that 4RT sales come anywhere close to funding the trials team. So why then do Montesa Honda participate? Is it for the halo effect of relatively easily won world championships? (The trials team must cost a fraction of the MX or Moto GP teams) Is it to develop technology that can be applied elsewhere in the Honda range? (Battery less fuel injection for example)
June 14, 201412 yr Neils on wheels. Two factors com into play here. Repsol predominantly underwrite the cost of the “Honda/Montesa/Repsol” trials team. Secondly the R&D costs have long being amortized due to the qty of bikes over the years you mentioned. Little changes to the design over a long period of time. Where as the other marques change quite a bit from year to year resulting in having to recoup the R&D cost in shorter time frame. Honda/Montesa is more evolutionary while the other brands are more revolutionary. This is also witnessed by the Japanese car brands and such cars as Camry, Civic etc they don't change much over the years and they slowly evolve. Edited June 14, 201412 yr by billyt
June 14, 201412 yr Author Honda would not be putting that much cash into the team, apart from bike costs, most of the team would be funded by Repsol money. Honda aren't in it to make a profit, they are big enough to absorb the smallish cost of producing the engine and frame (most of the rest is of the shelf). Honda do exactly the same with there road bikes, unlike Many others. The 4rt is not everyone's cup of tea, but they still sell. There is definitely a new bike, as the boss of HRC indicated so, but suggested that the recession meant they considered it not a good time to put it into production yet. I would be surprised if we saw it in 2015, but as Fuji has just been signed for another year, it could be a good time for promoting in Japan as well as the rest of the world. With Toni Bou, Honda/Montesa are just about guaranteed 8 more world championships, unless a new star pops up to challenge him.
June 15, 201412 yr Honda will always take a loss in one area if it means World Championships in it for them.... Japanese and Honour and all that. I think its one more world Championship and Bou is the all time Motorcycle World Championship holder by number... not a bad thing for Honda/Repsol/Montesa! They (Honda) would not even consider it a loss... baby money for many, many World Championships. The money into Repsol Trials verses Repsol moto GP would be peanuts! Mags
June 15, 201412 yr I reckon there is a new bike in the offing Now that all the old ones are used up in making the 2014 Mont 260 They have seen that demand for the bike is still there with the 2014 bike, they are confident that a new model will sell
June 15, 201412 yr There is definitely a new bike, as the boss of HRC indicated. I had not heard this before. Where was this published?
June 15, 201412 yr I too am confident of a new bike for 2015...but only Tony Bou gets one. As for the rest of us mortals, I'd bet on bold new graphics and titanium bar ends to shave the weight to a feathery 85kg. All for a great price of 7000euros.
June 15, 201412 yr Author I had not heard this before. Where was this published? I can't recall exactly where I read this (although I seem to remember it may of been a YouTube video from one of the Japanese links, Fuji was also in it and the HRC guy was riding an RTL and was then interviewed), but he did also mention that he didn't think the weight would be drastically lowered either (due to cost). We'll just have to wait and see.
June 15, 201412 yr http://www.todo-offroad.com/2014/05/la-montesa-sta-gia-preparando-la-nuova.html 2015 only Little changes, 2016 perhaps totaly new and two stroke ? I want a standart Cota 4RT in Honda colours White blue red with golden rims...
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