I now own an exotic vehicle...I bought a Montesa

Well, it appears as if I've resolved the whole need-a-lighter-dirt-bike dilemma a little sooner than I had expected.

I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was thinking of building a lightweight bike for tight trails through the woods, since my DRZ400 was a little too big and heavy for the places that I wanted to ride. He said, "How about my Montesa?". I think we had both forgotten that he had it. Within 24 hours, I brought it home.

It's a Montesa Cota 315R. He bought it when it was about a year old. I rode it a few days later and then I don't think anyone has ridden it since. It's crazy light (160 pounds wet, vs. the DRZ at 317). Even the kickstand and rear sprocket are aluminum. It's powered by an HRC (Honda) water cooled two stroke.

I need to start by giving it a good cleaning. He builds Kydex holsters and it has been parked next to his scroll saw for a few years, so it's covered with black plastic dust. I'll go through the carb and cooling system, probably take a peek at the piston and cylinder, and replace the dry tires.

I should be climbing the sides of buildings in no time.

NICE!

That is great! Keep us posted!

Have you ever ridden a trials bike? I looked forward to it, and thought I was going to love it. I hated it.

Yup. Loved it.

Nice! I've ridden trials bikes a couple of times, liked them but they are so specialized I personally would want one along with an MX or enduro bike.

Enduro bike> check.

Awesome!~

Question, are you gonna leave it trials or make a sub structure and fit a seat to make it a trail bike?

Not sure yet. I need to tear it down and assess the situation first. It only had one year of competition on it and then it sat for a long time.

I have a bunch of huge boulders that I dug up a few years ago and moved to the edge of my property. It only makes sense to learn how to ride over them, so it will probably remain configured as a trials bike for now.

Woody wrote: I have a bunch of huge boulders that I dug up a few years ago and moved to the edge of my property. It only makes sense to learn how to ride over them, so it will probably remain configured as a trials bike for now.

That's spoken like a true trials rider!

Even though I haven't been on my trials bike(bicycle) for the last 2-years, I still drive by places & think "hmm..."

A trials bike with a small seat like on a Sachs Madass - just a place to plop your butt to rest your legs occasionally - would be hilariously fun for tight woods riding and short range urban assault.

Are they exceedingly softly-sprung? Are they ridiculously low-geared? What size is that motor?

Yes. Yes. And 250cc.

Oh cool, a trials bike! Keep us posted on your adventures.