Dragged out from under a barn in Vermont

[ducpainter]

The power of orange indeed...

My boy will be 6 soon, so I decided I'd take on this little restoration project.

An early 70's Montesa Cota 123

He can ride it around the yard if I ever get it running again... The motor is seized, every bit of rubber except the silicone exhaust connector is toast. The exhaust has been cobbed together, which is probably what caused it to stick in the first place.



Z's Cota 001 by nh_painter, on Flickr

Needs a little appearance work too.

The seat isn't stock, easily undone from the looks, and the rims are pretty rusty.

Still, not bad for a 40 year old dirt bike.

Maybe a set of Akront aluminum rims, a blast and paint on the frame, new piston/rings, tires and tubes...

and whatever else crumbles when I touch it.

Should be fun.

[Greg]

Mmmm - Montesa!

When I was growing up we idolized those bikes! Good to see that you are bringing it back to life.

[kopfjäger]

Great little find there. 

[herm]

/like

[Grampa]

not enough o's in cool

[Speedbag]

Neato. 

[Curmudgeon]

Good luck with that! To state the obvious, you can't run ethanol in that tank.  Some old guy had some bits because I had to find some tank tie downs before I could sell my Rathmell Replica. They're supposed to look a bit like this. Got mine running for my kid but he was already too big!  http://www.wmsbrg.com/ebay/history/77montesacota348/

Somebody bought a ton of parts from Cosmopolitan Motors when they closed. Maybe you can run that down too.

[Moto Motivo]

I started my Observed Trials "career" in the early 80's on a Montesa 123 Cota and progressed to a Montesa 348 after that.  The little Montesa 123 was the most reliable competition bike I ever owned, it just ran for ever.  I frequently drowned it in rivers and then just removed the spark plug, turned it upside down, pulled the kick starter a few times,
turned it back on its wheels, replaced the plug and start it up to do the next stage.  First modification on my competition 123 was to lengthen the clutch lever on the motor side to give more control on the bar lever.  Second was to remove the speedo on the rhs fork.  Those where destroyed in the first obstacle.
Very good starter bike for observed trials, just replace the seat.

[lethe]

 
so what's his favorite color?

[kopfjäger]

so what's his favorite color?

He told me flat black. 

[herm]

so what's his favorite color?

bacon of course!

[IZ]

 

[RAT900]

DP that is one sweet looking Wallet-hole if I ever saw one!!   

[lethe]

bacon of course!

A bacon themed bike must be done!

[ducpainter]

Good luck with that! To state the obvious, you can't run ethanol in that tank.  Some old guy had some bits because I had to find some tank tie downs before I could sell my Rathmell Replica. They're supposed to look a bit like this. Got mine running for my kid but he was already too big!  http://www.wmsbrg.com/ebay/history/77montesacota348/

Somebody bought a ton of parts from Cosmopolitan Motors when they closed. Maybe you can run that down too.

Actually, I'll coat the tank and run the lowest grade that doesn't cause pinging.