Cota 242 vs. Cota 348 steering

[sir dabs alot]

I have a 1983 Montesa Cota that I have gone through pretty well and a friend of mine has a 1976 Montesa Cota 348 MRR that is basically stock.

After riding mine for a few months, I rode his and noticed his seems to turn and steer much more easily and smoother than mine. I have modern pegs on mine that slightly lower and push back the foot position. I have also installed stiffer fork springs and after market Works Performance shocks.

Anyway, does anyone know why the older bike seems to steer better than the newer bike? Is this an inherent trait of the 1983 242 or is is just a personal things as to what each rider might prefer?

Any ideas?

[fantic200]

I have a 1983 Montesa Cota that I have gone through pretty well and a friend of mine has a 1976 Montesa Cota 348 MRR that is basically stock.

After riding mine for a few months, I rode his and noticed his seems to turn and steer much more easily and smoother than mine. I have modern pegs on mine that slightly lower and push back the foot position. I have also installed stiffer fork springs and after market Works Performance shocks.

Anyway, does anyone know why the older bike seems to steer better than the newer bike? Is this an inherent trait of the 1983 242 or is is just a personal things as to what each rider might prefer?

Any ideas?

it was well known at the time most of the works riders such "Birkett" and co doctor'd up old 348's in 349 clothes, as they were un happy with the new model.

[sir dabs alot]

it was well known at the time most of the works riders such "Birkett" and co doctor'd up old 348's in 349 clothes, as they were un happy with the new model.

Goes to show; change doesn't always equal improvement. Any advice on how to help out the steering that isn't too dramatic a change?

[feetupfun]

Getting rid of the stiffer fork springs will help the steering as will getting the motor, rear brake and clutch working perfectly and fitting a new tyre.

There is nothing wrong with the geometry or weight distribution on a Cota 242 if it is set up right. Just because your mates 348 feels better, it doesn't mean there is anything basically wrong with the design of the 242.

I have standard 348 that I have spent years getting set up nicely, and recently rode a well set up 242 and I found the 242 felt quite a bit lighter to ride than my 348 but not as powerful. To me the steering on both felt quite similar.

[sir dabs alot]

Yeah I need to keep at it. Haven't gotten everything exactly perfect.

[motovintage]

I was thinking the same thing, get the stiff springs out, go back to the stockers and add preload to tune them for proper ride hieght, move the forks up in the clamp to drop the front around 20 to 30 mmm, this made a huge difference in steering responce on my '85 123, not sure what the difference between the 348 & 349, seems like a lot of people prefer the 348, they feel kind of heavy to me compared to the 349, think it takes some set up trics to get them right, I heard the 349 is longer than a 348 but I dont have the specs.

[sir dabs alot]

The stiffer spings aren't mx stiff just stiffer than the stickers which really dive under my weight. Probably using over 75% of the fork travel riding on flat ground and bottom out on any sort of downhill. The guy I got it from has a '81 200 and says it is an inch shorter than my bike. It turns more like a modern bike to me. He says it's more about lengths than angles in this case.