Montesa 315/4RTrear brake lever fixes

[samandkimberly]

I've ridden my Montesa 315R for less than 100 hours total, and I've managed to break the stock lever twice. So, after this second time I decided to try two fixes. First I welded up one of my old levers shorter, so that the tip of the lever sat right behind the clutch cover. Second, I bought a nice new V-Mar lever. My understanding is that this is virtually identical to the billet H&D lever sold in the UK. I don't think I can embed a Picasa photo here, so here's a link to pictures of both:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ei7OM-yLeWprRVu_woce7ouN_JzgGVu1w4xwKWH_p_g?feat=directlink

Funny, I modified mine before I got the V-Mar, but it turns out they're nearly identical. There's one subtle, but big difference - the part holding the clevis pin on the Vmar is a lower, so the brake sits in a lower, and more useful position. You could modify the stock brake lever to be like this, but not w/o cutting and re-welding close enough to the needle bearings and seals that you'd have to remove/replace them.

At the end of the day, I'm glad I welded up the stock one, it works OK, and it is out of the way enough that I'm sure it won't break. At zero cost it's the better deal of the two, obviously. But the Vmar sits lower which makes it much more useable, it's real solid and pretty, and is just as well protected. It's not cheap ($149.00) but I wont be returning it.

For what it's worth, due to a mis-communication between me and Mike Comer at the Tryals Shop, he ended up with two extras of these on his shelf. You can buy these in the US directly from Vmar, or from Lewisport, but if you buy one from Mike I'll feel less guilty. (If anyone feels this is too close to SPAM let me know and I'll edit it out!)

Sam

[ormplus]

you can fit a sherco one with a little modification .and it tucks out the way more. a lot of our lads done it on there 4rt,s same as 315.

[samandkimberly]

I looked at this a little closer, and I realized that all I need to do to make the shortened stock footpeg work was to shorten the actuator rod! Now I have pics of both; here;s a link for the shortened peg:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/x4kqceruZsLWcjq4iOJKg4uN_JzgGVu1w4xwKWH_p_g?feat=directlink

..and the V-Mar one:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j8r-sSkfcvBDRJs7AJgqiYuN_JzgGVu1w4xwKWH_p_g?feat=directlink

I still like the V-mar, but I can't say it works that much better than the shortened stock one now...

Sam

[samandkimberly]

you can fit a sherco one with a little modification .and it tucks out the way more. a lot of our lads done it on there 4rt,s same as 315.

I'd love to see some pics of how it fits up. "A little modification" can mean a lot of things!

Sam