for artie

Bou rides a 300cc 4 stroke. Raga rides a 300cc 2 stroke. Most statements that begin with the phrase " I've heard" are usually of dubious veracity. Beta has done a great job making a quiet 4T . The Sherco 4T is not bad, I have not heard the 2008 model. The Scorpa is OK too. From the videos the GasGas shovelhead seems to make more mechanical noise than exhaust sound. The Montesa 2005 & 2006 are OK, but some idiots feel the need to remove all the restrictors. The 2007-2008 4RT is good and it is more tamper resistant. Removal of the first restrictor is OK, but nothing more.

if you could pell and if everything you wrote wasn't hit then your opinion might matter. in the meantime get tuffed.

where did you get that price?

2002 was the year for the most improvements for the mont 315. new frame, better geometry, longer travel rear end , new shock, kinkage, new dellorto carby, new brakes, on and on. lots of new bits. the 02 is the one to go for mate. hey murph, why post when you aint gotta a clue ?

Full credit for the effort. It looks a right nice piece of work. Looks to be FI. Now maybe Gas Gas will stop telling us that 4 strokes are no good for trials. Its never good idea to give Honda a 4 year head start. The motor may provide good torque for a clubman but them World boys need high revs to launch at the big walls. Hope its got the revs. Thats it now .... all the factories have 4 strokes

LEARN TO TURN

Throttles have been sticking WIDE OPEN on trials bikes for years. The cable and slide have been a weak and dangerous point on trials bike for years! fly by wire could be programmed to shut off automaticaly in case of severe over-rev. the Mont will shut off automatically after 7 seconds on it side. this is a great feature.

pardon me for saying so mate, but you seem like a bit of Honda/Mont hater. did someone run over your dog with a 4rt?

How many people map their own 4RT's? I get the distinct feeling that trials is still way way behind the technological development curve. The fact is the technology is there, and been there for ages. If the trials market wanted it, we would have had it long ago. The reality is that peeps are still happy to buy a brand new bike knowing they have to drill holes in the carb, and all the other things they do We don't seem to be a very demanding bunch of customers? Would I be correct in saying that all design enhancements we have seen on bikes since the 80's have come from manufacturers pushing new technology as opposed to trials riders demanding it? Right you are Atom. Many trials riders seem to acept the fact that their bikes are under-developed, un-finished our need re-working right out of the box. Why do we buy bike that have quality problems that would sink a MX bike or street bike???

Mr Gallway is indeed one of the best. He is one of the ones that make his rider better. James Lampkin was brilliant. Martin is the standard by which all minders will be measured. But my vote goes to Didac Cercos ( Bou's minder). I feel he is one of the unheralded reasons for Bou's success this year.

I dont see why you need a double overhead cam 5 valve motor for trials. it is time for Yamaha to make a trials motor 4T. should be no prob for the Mont on the road events. they all do fine in the ssdt and that is the biggest road trial in the world. why does the FI scare you? a carb is way more complex. only 2 or 3 moving parts in the FI. a carbys got untold number of parts. springs floats clips jets choke slide.

Let there be no doubt. With his win in Andorra today Bou is World Champ and the cancellation of the final round in Belgium had no effect on the final outcome. He could have sat out Spa and still been Champ. Well done Senor Bou !

do you rip the top end off your car every now and again to make sure that all is working? if it aint broke dont try and fix it. the honda motor makes owning worry free. as for Novice tuning. it an easy download. there are soft maps that make the bike easier to ride. that is much easier for a novice than tearing the bike apart to retarding timing, putting in a heavier flywheel or lowering compression. it electronic tuning vs mechanical. it is faster and easier.

I would rather have a 4 stroke that almost never needs work than a 2 stroke that always needs attention. Artie

So it's starting it from cold and not letting it run till warm and switching off before warmed up i.e. fan comes in?? EXACTLY !

Sorrry Leigh, I don't think that that is it. It should be warmed up by the time you hit the first section. It only happens when starting it from COLD and then shutting it off. Artie

Many times plug fouling on the 4RT is a result of having started the bike when COLD and then very soon after shutting it off without giving it a chance to warm up properly. Always let it come up to operating temp (2 min) when starting from cold.

If BOU wins this weekend in Andorra then there can be no arguement. He would be Champion with or without the final round in Belgium.

Man this is so true. You really don't know the differences between each of the bikes till you actually ride them. I've been bikeless for almost a year now cause of a move with work, but I'm planning on buying a new one in a few months. I had my heart all set on a certain model, then I had the opportunity to ride the new Montesa 4RT, GAS GAS 300 Raga, Beta Rev 3 and Sherco 290 back to back through a simple section. I was amazed at how different the bikes felt, and my preconceptions of them changed dramatically, as did the bike that I think I'm going to get. I'd still like to try a Beta Rev 4T, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon. Go to a meet, and ride the different bikes if you can. Most folks will let you try their bikes if you ask. Just be careful and remember that you are riding some one else's pride and joy and you don't want to screw up someone else's bike by doing something stupid. You don't really need to get super radical to figure out which one will work best for you. Good luck. Mr Ridgerunr, please tell us what bike you want now and which one you had the strongest preconceptions about .

Rumors are that Mr Morris will be in the states for the 08 championship. Might be a good way to push the Yanks to the next level.

Good luck to the Yanks! Men and Women. Why are there no comments here from y'all ? What is the level of interest for the TdN in the ol' USA?

are you using a 'Resistor type" plug?

A Brit 1-2-3 is a great show for the lads. Well Done ! A clean trial, at any level, is a very hard thing to do, Congrats Patrick!

Surfman, does that scale of yours measure the quality of the motorbike as well ?

the disc collars may be worn. replacing them helps. or if you dont want to spend the cash try rotating the 1/4 turn . that will give you fresh metal in the contact areas.