In the short wheelbase Connect it has to be at an angle if the wheels are straight but it will just go in with the front wheel turned and at a bit of an angle. In the long wheelbase version it goes in dead easy straight and will take two easily or three at a pinch.
Great van by the way, I've had mine from new for three years now.
Check also there's no gunge BENEATH the float needle - I had a brand new one that would not run and it was a bit of swarf under the float needle, blew that out and it was perfect for ever after.
Follow road signs to Hallam FM arena; parking on site for thousands of cars (not free!), night finishes about 11pm if all goes well. Takes some time to get out though, allow half an hour.
Can't understand what AtomAnt is on about, his 4RT having no fuel injection. Is he called AtomAnt because he keeps blowing things up! Haven't heard a whisper about any fuel injection problems with the bikes/riders I know about.
Most folks will know that I've ridden a 4RT since February this year. I can tell you that it has done a LOT of trials, and it's riding better than ever. I buy my own bike, no sponsor, no support, so this is the truth. Discounting normal wear and tear items (tyres, chains, sprockets, oil filters, engine and transmission oil, rear pads - still on original front pads - )my only purchases have been a pair of 'bars, two levers and a left generator cover damaged when I crashed and knocked off an oilway.
It is a great bike, but then so was the 315. It's brilliant on rocks but still catches me out on the odd slippery bank. As long as I think about how I'm riding it, it's fine, but just give it a handful and try and spin up a slick bank, and you may not make it.
Somebody asked me the other day, would I buy a two stroke, and I have to say - at the moment, no. 4RT owners will tell you now, that once you've ridden and owned a fuel injected bike, you won't ever want to go back to a carburettor. Ask yourself, would you want to go back to a carburated car with a choke? Of course not.
I ride every Sunday, without fail, and all around me I see two-strokes suffering ignition problems, gear selection problems, bearing problems, access to carburettor problems, mudguards held on with duct tape etc. etc. No names of course, but you know to what I'm referring. But my Montesa wants for nothing. Ok the mudguards look tatty, but they are still in one piece and everything else is as solid now as it was the day I bought it.
Is this bull****, you have every right to think so, but it's the truth. Speak to me, question me, test my enthusiasm at a trial, all that I can confirm is that my next bike will be another 4RT. Is it the trials bike that's likely to be the most successful? Possibly not, but I can tell you categorically that my results have improved these past 10 months.
Getting back to second hand price, it's worth what somebody would pay for it, but I can tell you now, that I consider mine to be worth about
The reason the tank gets warm is because the fuel is constantly recirculating. It doesn't use all the fuel delivered to the injector from the pump, the excess flows back to the tank and as its been under pressure, and also close to the engine, it naturally gets warmer and eventually warms the tank, though it's less noticeable on a cold day - naturally.
Time to repeat what I've said before. The 4RT is without doubt, the most enjoyable bike I've ever owned - but, it's not the best trials bike in the world, that's probably a Gas Gas or a Beta. However, in a national trial I reckon I'm good enough for 30th to 50th place depending on the number of riders and their abilities. However, if I was on a Beta or other comparable two stroke, I might squeeze into 25th/45th place. But the biggest joy of all is riding the Mont, it's absolutely fantastic. It's very powerful, tremendous on climbs, great on rocks, particularly flat, slippery rocks and only becomes a handful due to my inherant lack of fitness when it wants to keep going when I'm half a yard behind it.
As for maintenance, and the crap somebody says about keeping it simple.Listen, all you do is wash it. There's no carb to adjust and the engine runs in an identical fashion all the time, every time, no matter what the weather. Somebody asked me the other day would I go back to a two stroke. Frankly, no I wouldn't.
Let me put it this way. I'm told the world's best selling outboard engine these days (for boats) is a fuel injected, four valve, water-cooled, OHC four stroke engine, made by ---- Honda!. Now if my Mont breaks down on a mountainside, no problem, but if the outboard engine breaks down five miles out to sea with a force nine storm brewing, that's a bigger problem than me stuck on the moors. So what's the problem with trialing an engine like this.
On the road nothing else can live with it, Monts have the best wheels, the best build quality, excellent parts service and sensible prices, good suspension, but of course it's a touch heavier. So what!
I too can't believe why there aren't more about, but that's other riders' loss, not mine, I've got one. And before you think I'm getting a free bike, I buy mine and all the parts (not that it needs much) just like you do.
My mate has just bought a Raga replica and after one trial he's had to ring Gas Gas to get a bigger flywheel for it to calm it down. At the Lakes last week a number of Betas retired with ignition problems. In this year's Scottish 49 4RTs started and 48 finished. The one that was retired was because the rider had taken enough pinishment after the Pre 65 and three days of the main trial, so effectively, it was a 100% finish.
I'll say it just once more. It's brilliant and I can't believe that anybody would regret buying one. However why listen to me, I only started trialing in 1963.
Heavy rain has caused some problems but plan B is ready for use should the need arise on Sunday morning. The river was handlebar deep this morning, but it goes up and down as fast as a fiddler's elbow, so the decision to alter or otherwise will be made in the morning. Either way, it'll be superb.
Haven't been to this trial but I've entered this year on the advice of my mate who rode last year. It's a clubman two day, and he reckons it's very steady. He lost around 30 odd for two days and he's a Veteran but capable and exactly my standard if you know who I am!!
Before you do anything else, strip the silencer box and repack it, I had four, 315s and never a minutes trouble from any of them but they rely heavily on good exhaust packing, it's likely to make a big difference. Try that first, all it needs is roof insulation.
So, you want to know the pros and cons of the 4RT. Well, here goes - but not too long. The cons are very few indeed. There's no doubt that in some, slippery situations it's not as good as a two-stroke; you need to be more determined than on a stroker, you have to be the boss and force it, but those are the only real problems. The standard clutch master cylinder does not allow sufficient feel, and is best replaced with one from a 315. In addition, I have Hebo foot rests fitted and a 43 tooth rear sprocket.
The pros are numerous. It's definitely more stable, therefore more controllable in many situations, particularly downhill, it inspires lots of confidence. It's GREAT fun to ride, and it doesn't need the restrictors taking out. It tracks well, steers well, has superb suspension and is great across country. It doesn't need to run at 1800 rpm, it's fine slower than that though it makes it marginally more difficult to start, it's a price I think is worth paying. Build quality is superb, OK, it's more than a stroker in pound notes, but so is a BMW compared to a Fiesta and they both do the same job.
Do I regret buying one? - not at all. Would I buy another or would I buy a stroker? - it would be another 4RT. Why did I buy it? Well, I seriously considered a Beta, but fancied the Mont, so I bought the Mont on the basis that if I didn't like it, at least I had got it out of my system and could then go to a Beta. If I had bought the Beta instead, I would have always been thinking, "I fancy a Mont". As I like thw Mont, I'm happy and have no desires now for anything else.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the FIM have any intention of banning two-strokes. As I understand it, the intention was to insist on four strokes only in World Championship events, but that has been put on the back burner until all marques have four-strokes. As far as the general punter is concerned, both two and four strokes will continue to be made whilst there is a market for both. Whilst the FIM can influence the World Championship, I can't see them having any influence at all with the clubs that run FIM sanctioned events like the SSDT, Santigosa Three Day, Sardent Four Day, Verdun Five Day, or indeed any other international event. If they were able to say (for example) four strokes only in the Scottish, I imagine there would suddenly be a huge number of entries available in the trial. Equally I can see the Edinburgh saying the Scottish version of stuff it, we'll do what we want.
Forget using the standard clutch master cylinder. Remove it and replace it with a clutch master cylinder from a 315. No other modification needed, simply bolt it on and use, it makes the 4RT clutch just like a 315 clutch. Just about all the bikes in the UK that I come across have this modification on, it's not expensive, a complete clutch master cylinder with lever in the UK is about
Glad to hear from Nigel Dabster that the Lancs County round last year was the best. We have the trial again this year, it's the next round on June 5 (NOTE - The Welsh is NOT a round this year) I gave out regs to a large number of riders yesterday and have tonight posted out regs to all last year's riders that didn't get regs yesterday. So far that's 160 sets. This year's trial will be three laps of 15 sections which will help negate early numbers suffering as the sections get easier but listen here now - AN EARLY ENTRY WILL RESULT IN A LATE NUMBER - maximum 125. Mike Rapley can't claim the success for this trial, Nick Shield and his helpers do the sections, Rappers just does the paperwork, but it's a club effort. So if you want regs, ring Rappers on 01524 734674.
Cracking trial and the 4RT went brilliantly - but no results yet, they are available on Excell but can't get that to download, so will have to wait until somebody sends me some. Need them urgently for the TMX report.
All restrictors left in except the one that the importers tell dealers to take out from the throttle body. Have ridden one with no restrictors in and the bike is not as good.
Rod my new 4RT yesterday for the first time - absolutely stonkingly brilliant - better than I hoped for. have changed to a 43 tooth rear, a 315 clutch master cylinder and Hebo footrests. There's so much time available now in sections - and I'm a Mont man through and through - this is my fifth Mont, four x 315s It was apig to start from cold though. Stroked it to get it to go but though it would fire it wouldn't run, but once it went it was fine - newness I suppose. Dead happy, best Vet in our trial and 2nd overall in clubmen. Looking forward to next Sunday now.
I want to go to 5 days of Verdun, but need travelling companion to share costs - my van is OK, or your van. Have been to Sardent back in 2000, brilliant, but need to get in Verdun before too many birthdays. Also need to make definite decision soon as if I don't do Verdun, then its over to the Manx again and ferries need to be booked soon. But can do many more Manxes, but can't get much more energy in future for five days.
The reply by Bikespace is the correct one, the Pinhard Prize can only be won by someone who is NOMINATED. If they are not nominated, they can't win.
I used to be on the judging panel of this award, together with Ralph Venables, Colin Moram (I think), Brian Bonny, a member of the Sunbeam Club and Peter Howdle. Venables used to ensure that the details of the Pinhard Prize was always circulated to the press, but some years ago the secretaryship of the Prize was voluntarily relinquished by the gentleman who had successfully undertaken it for many years, and handed to Allan Robinson.
For obscure reasons, in no time I was off the panel, despite my many years in the sport and journalism and being the only current competitor on the judging panel. And now that Venables has passed away, the Pinhard details don't seem to be circulated any more, or if they are, not to those who are interested. I don't know who makes the judgement now, but it doesn't alter the fact that to win you have to be nominated. Simple as that.
And expecting a trials rider to win is no guarantee. Top road racers, motocrossers, grassers, enduro riders and non-competing clubmen can all win, as long as they are under 21 at the time.
You MUST buy TBM magazine early next month for the full, no holds barred Cota 4RT test - very objective, very fair, so I'm told - and look out for more trials stuff from that magazine's direction. Defending TMX, they are under pressure from all advertisers, it's always been like that, and probably always will be. fact of life in a small world. However, TBM have defended their corner from the world go; it's obviously cost them at times, but they've stuck it out. Just read this month's issue and read the slagging off Jonty Edmunds gave the Wayne Braybrook and Paul Edmondson Honda, British Enduro Championship winning bikes. Don't say he was right, but at least he said it and they printed it.
My comment about running out of gas when testing the 4RT refers to the fact that the tank is small, therefore doesn't hold much - about 2 litres - rather than commenting about the bike being thirsty. It's actually more economical than a stroker, but I think it will catch a few folks out when going any distance. TBM is a UK based publication, has been around for eight years now and concentrates on the enduro and trail bike world. However, for the past 18 months or so they have had a bit of trials stuff in. It's A5 in size, costs
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Transit Connect
in Trials Transport
Posted
In the short wheelbase Connect it has to be at an angle if the wheels are straight but it will just go in with the front wheel turned and at a bit of an angle. In the long wheelbase version it goes in dead easy straight and will take two easily or three at a pinch.
Great van by the way, I've had mine from new for three years now.