Montesa 4Ride

Tim · stephenson spielburg

Montesa 4Ride

Snaf · Loadsabikes

Never buy a used bike from Wales.
How much is the leccy start kit, new 4Rides are only just over £5k if I recall correctly.
I wouldn't consider one without leccy start if riding with people who do.
I've never ridden one but know a few that had them for a short while and moved them on but they were serial new bike on the block buy and sell types.

Is there less love for the CRF these days?

Tim · stephenson spielburg

New 4Rides are £7k and the electric start kit is £2K, so not an option.

I agree, never buy a used bike from Wales. Learned that the hard way.

CRF still lovely.

-- Edited by Tim on Wednesday 16th of April 2025 06:45:38 PM

FBF · Resident crash test dummy

Have to say you'll be better off with a freeride.

Better suspension and a lot quicker on road. More capable on trails and can be picked up cheaper.

Later 350s are 4t if you're adverse to 2 stroke. Leccy start standard. Mine is earlier 2 stroke that had starter issue but a heavy duty starter and lithium cures that nonsense.

Mine is 92 kg, 350 is just shy of 100.

Montesa might look significantly lighter but Honda tend to use non wet weights and the starter kit will probably add a few kilos, plus weight or lack of can work against you on rutted lanes, I wouldn't want a lighter bike, the Kawasaki and husky 450s I had just ploughed through ruts but was too heavy and not torquey enough

Welcome to try the katoom

SamHB · Trail riding god

Not sure a one gallon fuel tank would allow for a trip Over Dartmoor would it? What’s the MPH like?

And I won’t have a bad word said about my 200, I just need to pull my finger out and buy a decent battery. 🫣

Tim · stephenson spielburg

FBF wrote:
Have to say you'll be better off with a freeride.

Have also been looking at the later 4 stroke Freerides, but lent towards the Hondaness of the 4Ride.

Tim · stephenson spielburg

SamHB wrote:
Not sure a one gallon fuel tank would allow for a trip Over Dartmoor would it? What’s the MPH like?

And I won’t have a bad word said about my 200, I just need to pull my finger out and buy a decent battery. 🫣

Storage under the seat for a couple of litres of fuel and about 50mpg.

FBF · Resident crash test dummy

https://adventurerideblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/12/montesa-4-ride-small-but-perfectly-formed/

I would have a read of this Tim.

Apart from the lack of battery and starter and a miserly 4.4 litre tank you have a short wheelbase and also quite skinny forks, coupled with a 5 speed box all of which will make riding road and faster trails tedious. The short wheelbase will make it very lively on ruts for sure.

I considered one of these 4 rides and actually looked for a Pampera but I think any Pamperas about tend never to get sold. I reasoned the freeride was the better option.

If you factor in extra fuel and starter kit and proper Mx tyres which are heavier than trial type which are standard on the 4 ride, I reckon the 10kg difference between my freeride and this would quickly disappear

They are also slow on top speed, 45 is about it and it'll be revving it's tits off. My freeride can pull 65 but is best around 50.

Mine is a 250r btw the 250f is a later four stroke.

The f will be a longer lived engine but of course you have the faff of more maintenance.

Brakes are better on the later ones but the extra weight starts edging towards the Yamaha weight btw it's looking fine at Tremletts 😉

Snaf · Loadsabikes

Rob was one of the people I mentioned who I thought had bought and sold very quickly, he runs trail tours on GasGas Pamperas and has tried many light weight bikes but found nothing to replace his aging fleet of Pamperas

There are a couple of local riders that have GasGas Randonne's that they rate highly, Yamaha 125 4T engine with kick and leccy start, also has the option of large bore kit for more go.

Have you considered a Beta X-Trainer 250, I rode with a friend recently who had one to replace his Pampera and rated it.

Sam, do you have the leccy start 200. I've always thought the 200 enduro bikes are the best trail bikes, maybe not so good on the open road but really good on the trail. So I'd throw in any of the 200 Enduro bikes as they're mostly built around smaller and lighter 125 frame parts.

SamHB · Trail riding god

Snaf I do indeed have the 2014 KTM-200 enduro and apart from my poor battery choice it has been great, I’ve considered selling a few times for a Beta 200 or x-Trainer but never followed through.

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

I think you should consider Cunnilingus 250 or 520 as an alternative HM. Investment low with potentially high returns. Latin sounds like a redundant language it is however not at all redundant. Can you not see yourself in ten years?

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

i can and you'll be loving the CRF. Tee hee top tree...

"Plastic Jesus" - Thomas Csorba Live at Luck Mansion

-- Edited by Jhonny Yoga on Sunday 20th of April 2025 10:27:09 PM

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

wow easy to paste a song into this forum now I know how....look out people

www.youtube.com/watch

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

www.youtube.com/watch

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

Apologies Tim - for messing with the thread of your Montesa fantasy, particularly as the Pontiff has snuffed it on Easter Monday....life gets in the way of saying your CRF is superb why do you want to change it?

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Stir It Up (Live at The Old Grey Whistle, 1973) - YouTube

-- Edited by Jhonny Yoga on Tuesday 22nd of April 2025 12:19:19 AM

Dan_collins · trail riding expert

Oooofff Lucky I'm thick skinned Mr Tim, maybe convey your opinions of Italian quality to the main men at SouthWest trials&Enduro, they are Beta lovers from what I hear and will convince you they are the best, even if they aren't. Mine has only misbehaved since leaving it unattended for longer periods, had quite a few months of trouble free motoring really.... The Italian electrical button should be back to full swing soon though I hope!

Seriously though X trainer is surely the way forward? Or buy Col's KTM 350 if it hasn't sold already? Are you not enjoying the Honda, What about another wr250??? Too many questions....

Tim · stephenson spielburg

Thanks for all your inputs and concerns re the CRF.

No plans to get rid of the 230, just looking at options for aging disgracefully.

Sorry, I've let you all down, but a good deal was to be had.

We've already had some fun in the woods.

-- Edited by Tim on Friday 2nd of May 2025 07:08:10 PM

Snaf · Loadsabikes

Oddly enough, we've been out riding with a mate in Cumbria who's just bought one. Seems very capable in the very place I thought it would struggle, loose small rocks on open going. It just soaks it up, road speed seems fine as well.

Look forward to seeing you on it.

Dirty Ming · Wannit delivered? Well do ya punk?

How nervous was it on faster stuff Snaf? I remember riding trials bikes quickly between sections and the steep head angle had it twitching like a priest at a boy's school

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

In that photo above the Montesa makes the CRF look like a beast of a bike ....

Snaf · Loadsabikes

Dirty Ming wrote:
How nervous was it on faster stuff Snaf? I remember riding trials bikes quickly between sections and the steep head angle had it twitching like a priest at a boy's school

There's a lot of loose gravel in Cumbria/N Yorkshire, think chesil beach. I think they have the suspension sorted in a less trials like setting as it made light work of everything.

I should have taken more pictures but it's very similar in stature to a CRF230, I was wondering what parts may fit from one to the other to make a perfect bike. Fuel range seemed ok on the slower going but once on open roads it wasn't so frugal, I reckon 50/60 mile range in Devon. I have a camelback type fuel cell if you want to borrow it Tim or come and visit to see if my bar mounted fuel tank is an option.

Tim · stephenson spielburg

Jhonny Yoga wrote:
In that photo above the Montesa makes the CRF look like a beast of a bike ....

CRF is on your old workshop stand Pete, and closer to the camera, but the Montesa is definitely smaller. I'll post a pic of them side by side when I get chance.

Tim · stephenson spielburg

Snaf wrote:
I should have taken more pictures but it's very similar in stature to a CRF230, I was wondering what parts may fit from one to the other to make a perfect bike. Fuel range seemed ok on the slower going but once on open roads it wasn't so frugal, I reckon 50/60 mile range in Devon. I have a camelback type fuel cell if you want to borrow it Tim or come and visit to see if my bar mounted fuel tank is an option.

I suspect the only bits you could swap are tyres Rob. I'm looking to get a soft pouch to carry a bit of extra fuel under the seat, and will let you know how that goes.

It's very rare that we'd do 50 miles without passing a fuel station in the Shire.

-- Edited by Tim on Wednesday 7th of May 2025 05:30:52 PM

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

everybody must get stoned

www.youtube.com/watch

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

Has the Pontiff chuffed?

-- Edited by Jhonny Yoga on Friday 9th of May 2025 11:04:59 PM

FBF · Resident crash test dummy

Tim wrote

I'm looking to get a soft pouch to carry a bit of extra fuel under the seat, and will let you know how that goes.

I should think the resulting fireball should be be quite easy to spot.

FBF · Resident crash test dummy

I can see the headlines now.

Man burns down entire housing estate and Devon woodland with leaking fuel pouch.

Tim · stephenson spielburg

Point taken Paul. Giving a stiff 1L bottle a go. Dartmoor wildfires will not be of my doing.

Jhonny Yoga · Trail riding god

i always find it difficult to type when wearing sunglasses under artificial light

youtu.be/hh7Cxt_PKqw