One Year Of Fourstrokin'

[amiller]

I have had a 4rt for tempory purposes while waiting for my new Beta. I like the bike better than I would have though. Well built high quality piece. Much like the Beta.

This has given me the chance to compare the 05 Beta with the 05 Monty side by side on my home turf. For the most part I got along well with the bike. It was fun to ride and makes lots of wonderfull exhaust noise.

It took me a while to zap the same size obstacle with the Monty compared to the Beta. The Monty likes to smack the front tire hard to get the same height.

The Monty could use a little more turn lock for my taste. It caused me a few problems the Beta didnt.

My biggest complaint with the bike and this was experienced by all 3 of us doing the comparison was its downhill front braking on slippery surfaces. The front brake is easy to lock up but does not always stop you. I tried everything I could and it would not stop on the slippery downhill like the Beta. The Beta stops where you want it too while the Monty under the same conditions stopped a foot later. This caused me all sorts of problems in one of our test sections. We could not between the 3 of us overcome this problem.

As far as traction goes, every time I thought the Monty was better I went right to the Beta and was always able to do it with the Beta. In one case I got the Beta to go where the Monty didnt want to. The section came out of a slippery creek bed to a platform about a bike length and a half right into a 30 inch undercut step then up about 15 feet of very slippery and steep hill. I always got their on the Beta but was hit and miss getting up the hill at the end on the Monty.

The Monty has quite good power but the power runs out much quicker than the Beta on the top end. Makes longer hill climbs a bit different. You are forced to ride the bike instead of the point and shoot approach.

The last thing I really had a problem with was the splatter. I have a 5 foot high splatter in the back yard. With the Beta I dont even think about it. Wind her up in 3rd and drop the clutch and go. No problems. With the Monty I never felt confident enough to do it. Thats not saying it wont but it does things like that differently. Like the zap it takes more rider effort. Might have something to do with it not being my bike but that usually wont stop me.

All in all if I couldnt have the Beta I would consider the Monty if it were the same price. There is no way in my opinion it is worth the extra money and I have yet to see where it is better. I know I dont have a years worth of experience but I have been pretty fair with the comparisons. I also understand that I have been on the Betas since the Rev arrived in 00 so my comfort level is quite good with them.

The last thing I would add though, if I had tons of money I would have one to go along with my Beta just for the fun of it. I always found myself wanting to ride the Monty again even if I was not getting the results I was getting on the Beta.

Just my 2,

Aaron

[vinnied]

]

but I have also seen some riders who couldn't find grip on the M1.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ishy spot on

Vinnie

[barcota]

One of the things to be considered when evaluating the 4RT is the unique capability of being able to adjust the power curve through remapping of the fuel injection and electronics. With the availability of (5) five different power curves there is enough adjustment to satisfactorily provide desired power characteristics for any rider in any class. This has been discussed by ishy in the Montesa forum and personally evaluated by me from my discussions with others who have tried the various mapping curves available. While I personally have not tried this capability it is a very interesting concept that I will be working on soon. While each rider has an innate ability to rationalize that their own selected brand is better than anything else in the market it is refreshing to read Aaron's relatively unbiased comparison testing based on his years of experience in the expert class in his riding district. The test however does not cover all of the 4RT's optional capabilities available to the owner. The 4RT is to this point the very best four stroke available and it will be interesting to see how it compares to the other brands as they introduce their own models in the near future.

[Guest]

About finding grip the Montesa 4RT is just a bit better when driven i extreme slippery conditions. This winter I was doing a trial on icy surfaces. There was one section where only 1 out of 5 A-drivers came to the top. The driver was the only guy who was using a 4RT. The most amazing thing was that a relatively inexperienced B driver also made it to the top on the same 4 stroke.

From my experience and from seeing indoor and outdoor WT, my conclusion is as follows.

The 2 strokes are better at rocks and other places where you need a bike with an aggressive attitude, but the 4 strokes are better at finding grip on slippery surfaces.

[sideup]

Quote:

Edited March 26, 2006 by sideup

[Guest]

Quote:

*"Two sounds with the same intensity but different frequencies will not be perceived to have the same loudness. Because of the human ear's tendency to amplify sounds having frequencies in the range from 1000 Hz to 5000 Hz, sounds with these intensities seem louder to the human ear. Despite the distinction between intensity and loudness, it is safe to state that the more intense sounds will be perceived to be the loudest sounds."

Edited March 26, 2006 by Thomas_trial

[sideup]

Thomas,

Thanks for the added information (education) about how sound frequency travels.

I am certainly not an expert, except I know its louder than 2-strokes.

Measurements for MC events are taken near the exhaust. Is there a standard or method for frequency and distance traveled that can be applied?

So if I read this right the only way to solve the problem would be develop better silencers to damp out this lower freq. or tune this freq. out of the 4st motor to begin with. The Sherco 3.2 seems much quieter. Is it the motor or the silencers? Paxau where are you?

At last years land use planning meetings our local MX track has come under added pressure from complaints from neighbors. Long time neigbors have been interviewed since the introduction of the 4 stroke MX bikes. One neighbors comment said it use to sound like bee's buzzing, now we can hear more of a roar and it's louder.

We also use this park for trials events and is one of my closest and favorite place to ride. That is the reason for my concern.

Jack

Edited March 26, 2006 by sideup

[Guest]

Is there a standard or method for frequency and distance traveled that can be applied?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am sure there is a standard. I have been using the Danish standard for noise emission from industry at my last work.

So if I read this right the only way to solve the problem would be develop better silencers to damp out this lower freq. or tune this freq. out of the 4st motor to begin with.

Edited March 26, 2006 by Thomas_trial

[gizza5]

I have had my 4RT since the first batch of '06 came out so c4 months, yes it was a big gamble having not even sat asride one, and the additional cost was a hard pill to swallow!!!

For the people that have rideen it less than 2 months, and rubished the idea, some have only had a 5 minute play and can write a T&MX test on them. Most say they are not as good as a 2 stroke. Well I will let you into a secret 'It's a 4 stroke'

What I am saying is that it has taken me the best part of 4 months to adapt, it is a comletely different riding style, over my previous 2 strokes I think the closest 2 stroke to it was my Scorpa, where you can feed the power in right from the bottom end.

The people that like them have persevered, and the results are starting to show. Me I love it, can I ride it better than a 2 stroke, not at the begining, and maybe about the same now, so why spend the extra money?

Because it gives me far more pleasure to ride than any 2 stroke

The extra cost well, I gave it a good strip down yesterday, not only are the parts that you take off ouze with quality, but when you put them back everything lines up and fits without poking screwdrivers through holes to get bolts in. Honda engine, Showa suspension quality parts and the maintenance costs maybe less.............is it worth it, of course it is

For those that try persevere, you probably won't go back. With the launch of the Scorpa 250F, and I have had a go on the Sherco 4T, despite it's problems was nice to ride, this will also be launched (again), I beleive after the SSDT.

The choice will be even greater, so the debate will not be is the 2 stroke better than the 4RT.......Is the 2 stroke better than the 4 stroke???????

[bikerdude2006fr]

I prefer the 4 stroke Scorpa i am borrowing off my club more than the 2 stroke i tried today! The power is always there and realy predictable, but the 2 stroke was just BANG power A bit to unpredictable.....