1971 Montesa Cota 247 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1971 Montesa Cota 247 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11"  (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
YOU'RE RIGHT. The new Cota 247 Trialer isn’t all that
different from last year’s model. From a distance, it’s
difficult to tell them apart. But Montesa’s changes have
made a good trialer a superb one-one of the best in the world.
Like a roadracer or motocross machine, the Cota is a highly
specialized mount. It is designed for one purpose, trials
competition. There are no fancy frills. It is slim with a minimal
seat. Nothing interferes with the rider when he is in a standing
position.
The Cota reacts to minute changes in rider attitude. Proper
lean angles and front/rear weight bias are easily maintained at
any given second, in any given terrain. The result is precise
control, and that is what trials riding is all about.
Trials contests are typically laid out in rough terrain, and
so-called “impossible” sections are frequent. It is under these
conditions that the Cota really excels.
The suspension is almost perfect, and as such is difficult to
fault. The front forks, improved from the previous model, are
typically soft, offer excellent dampening, and have sufficient
travel to cope with almost any obstacle. Similarly, the Telesco
rear shocks are soft with moderate dampening.
A speedometer is located halfway down the lower stan-
chion of the right fork leg. It’s small and easily read, but is
subject to breakage in a spill, due to its low mounting point.
More preferable would be a mounting by the cylinder barrel or
the crankcase.
SIMPLICITY IN DESIGN
Frame design remains unchanged. As CYCLE WORLD
noted before, it is a singularly non-complex unit, employing a
single toptube and downtube. In front of the crankcase, the
downtube divides into two smaller diameter tubes, which serve
as engine cradles and provide protection. A perforated bash
plate is welded to the engine cradles. Liberal gusseting is
present around the steering head.
Additional small diameter tubing supports the stylish
fiberglass seat/tank combination. This narrow unit does not
interfere with the rider in any way and can be removed by
withdrawing only three bolts.
The swinging arm pivot is carried in tabs welded to the rear
of the frame loops just behind another crosspiece that serves as
a strengthening brace and mounting point for the engine.
Spring loaded footpegs are bolted directly to the tabs that
carry the swinging arm pivot.
An adjustable chain oiler is housed in the swinging arm
unit. Oil is added to the chain side tube, which doubles as an
oil reservoir. A metering valve, adjusted by a set screw on top
of the swinging arm, controls the rate of delivery to the lower
run of the chain in this constant flow system.
EXTRA FLYWHEEL SMOOTHS POWER
Power is supplied by a single-cylinder two-stroke, as before.
Although the carburetion has been changed from a 24-mm...
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