Best Twinshock frame geometry/handling wise

[Prototype]

Never rode all twinshocks , just curious what is the best twinshock bike frame geometry/handling wise..

Yamaha TY 

Suzuki Beamish

Fantic 200 

Kawasaki KT 

Bultaco 

Montesa Cota 

Ossa MAR

Honda TL

may be more. you can suggest .

Regards

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2017 by bsa4life

[turbofurball]

Well, now I've changed all my TY frame around I'd have to say that!

It sucks for trail riding though, whereas the Cota is lovely at speed

[teamferret]

My brothers Fantic seems to do everything really well despite being very simple and only 156cc. I have always liked my Armstrong 250, but it does feel heavier than the Fantic

[feetupfun]

My faves for geometry/handling in standard trim are Honda TLR, Godden Majesty, Fantic 240, Italjet Piuma, SWM TL280 and any late model Bultaco

[nigel dabster]

if the fantic is so good why do we see so many frames altered?

[teamferret]

My motto is 'anything can be improved'

[metisse]

Fantics were always fantastic years ago unmolested  when the sections were open, now the trend is to tightened the angle at the headstock.  I did this too following the trend and correcting the lazy bend of many years of abuse.  Not sure really if its an improvement depends where I am riding. I would say the Ty 250 I have rides and steers  as well as anything. 

[pmk]

I would really like to ride a MAJESTY, if only to compare to my MAR.

Months ago, there was a TY175 with Sammy Miller upgrades on it for sale.  I was talked out of buying it.  

Not so sure all those bikes mentioned by Feetupfun would be competeing in the same class.  

I do know locally, there is a guy riding a TL125, bare bones, modified engine, super low gearing and he mentioned he had steepened the headtube angle, granted he is a very good rider, but that bike simply crawls through sections with super control.

Edited December 30, 2017 by pmk

[feetupfun]

2 hours ago, pmk said:

I would really like to ride a MAJESTY, if only to compare to my MAR.

Months ago, there was a TY175 with Sammy Miller upgrades on it for sale.  I was talked out of buying it.  

Not so sure all those bikes mentioned by Feetupfun would be competeing in the same class.  

I do know locally, there is a guy riding a TL125, bare bones, modified engine, super low gearing and he mentioned he had steepened the headtube angle, granted he is a very good rider, but that bike simply crawls through sections with super control.

pmk, those bikes are all in the same class in Australia. Our classes are Pre-65, Twinshock Pre-87 (air-cooled mono excluded) and Air Cooled Mono.

For a while the middle class was Pre-84 (to exclude air cooled monos), but the cut-off date was later extended to allow the (1985) TLR250 in

[feetupfun]

2 hours ago, pmk said:

I would really like to ride a MAJESTY, if only to compare to my MAR

That's the reason I got one

[lineaway]

 The Montesa Cota 200 was perhaps the best handling of all. Too bad the whole bike was not the best.

[pschrauber]

The Fantic 240 is good, the Montesa Cota 242 better, best in handling I think a tie between:
The school boy Majesty TY 125/175 and the Centromoto Panda TC220.

[nigel dabster]

On 31/12/2017 at 0:57 AM, lineaway said:

 The Montesa Cota 200 was perhaps the best handling of all. Too bad the whole bike was not the best.

was it any different to a 242?

[baldilocks]

Only problem handling wise with the 200 was the narrow yokes montesa experimented with as far as I can remember. These were also fitted to the white 349. Later models of the 349 reverted to wider yokes. Not a bad bike at all and comparable to the 156 Fantic.  @nigel dabster the 242 yokes were different again and I think the 242 was a much better all round bike. Similar power to 240 Fantic but it didn't stall as easy. 

[turbofurball]

Indeed, I have a very nice set of narrow yokes that came with my bike ... I'm thankful that was already taken care of!