samandkimberly

I recently bought a 2000 315R and it came with a sidestand, not mounted. Having just put it on, I can see why it wasn't on there when I bought it - it folds nearly straight down instead of out, and opens way past the point where it could actually hold the bike up. My assumption is that it has been severely bent, but it actually looks in very good, unbent condition. Before I clamp it in a vise and go at I thought I'd ask: do these stands actually work, or should I save my time trying to make mine work and just leave it off? Thanks, Sam

That was a perfect training class - sunny, warm, good instructors, good lunch and...free! Sam (the guy on the Montesa 315R who needs new trials boots)

Hi Simon - I'd love a copy of that; I just bought a 315R last night! My first modern Montesa, and my first modern trials bike; I'm psyched! I'll PM you my email. TIA, Sam

Alan askes: WHY? Brian R is on the right track for part of the reason. As well as wanting to participate in vintage trials, I need a tractor to move stuff back &forth between my house and my garden. But the main reason is unanswerable, just as is WHY on earth we ride trials, or roadrace, or dirtbike, or whatever. Sidecars are not only fun and particularly challenging, they're also one of the only ways to share competition with someone as a team. I was very involved in the re-emergence of vintage sidecar road racing here in the US - in New England the class has gone from three bikes total in the mid 1990s to a regular turnout of 12 or so with as many as 18 showing up for a significant event. They're slower than the bikes. They break down more. They also are the hands down spectator favorites and a hell of a lot of fun to either drive of monkey on. I'm sure it will be a total waste of time and money. I look forward to it. Sam

I'm looking for information on trials sidecars. I'm primarily interested in later twin shock outfit designs but it doesn't seem they've changed much over the years, so I'm also interested in finding out more about the modern ones. Specifically, I'm looking for dimensions, geometry and the such for building my own. I wouldn't mind buying one, but the chances of finding one near me (Eastern US) are slim, and my goal is to make several so that I have some competition after I make my own. I'll most likely be putting this on a Montesa 348 and using it in USCRA vintage competitions. But I'd like to make something as modern as possible that still fits the rules. USCRA has essentially no rules on sidecars, so I'm using the ACTC aproved sidecar specification as my primary rules reference. So -anyone have any pointers on how to build/set up a trials sidecar? Thanks, Sam Stoney Boston, MA