Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

First Test Montesa 123 Cota Trials EDITOR'S NOTE: Vic Conaway. the author of the following test, is a Master class Trials rider from San Diego Calif. Vic has been riding Trials for about live years and has been a Master for about a year. It is probably only this caliber of rider that can give a true picture of such a specialized machine as a trials bike of the type used In international competition. He brings significant background and experience with varied trials machines to his evaluation of the Montesa Cota 123. ~ w Z W ...J U > U It's not a mountain goat; it's possibly better. The 123 Cota got up and down these rocks with no problem. The front end is so light and handling so predictable that the "floating turn" is a breeze. by Vic Conaway . Photos by Red Richardson This road test actually started near the first of this year. I was informed that a new 123 COTA: six speed; primary clutch; 156 lbs, would be out this year. It was agreed I should do a road test since my experience on a 125 had been successful and I was a Master class Trials rider. The 123 COTA was first seen at the Cycle World Show in Los Angeles. My first impression and remark was a very dignified, "That's bitchen." A real honest·to-goodness built from th.e ground up Ip trials bike. Up the stone staircase. It is understandable how Gordon Farley has done so well abroad. Not somebody's this and someone else's that, but a well detailed, thought out small bore trials bike! Having just wasted several mill i-seconds I wh isked my 5'2" wife over and placed her astride the bike. "Both feet on the ground," I asked? A pleasant "Yes", and an immediate unsolicited, "It's light" was the bubbly reply. uWhen do I get it to test?", I asked. "You'll have to wait. This one was air freigh ted in today and will tour the shows around the United States." UG arb age " , I said, but I had to wait anyway. We finally picked up the bike in a crate and took it to my new shop to put it together. There isn't that much to put together, but J like things to be right so we sloshed out the gas tank to remove any foreign materials. Next Was the installation of a Filtron air flIter element; circular file the standard unit. At this point I would like to bring out a nicety in servicing the air flIter-carb-moto-whatever. The tank can be removed extra easy. Two side panel screws, a front bolt, and one fud connection. In Case you haven't guessed by now, the air filter is located "ideally" under the seat, thus making deep water crossings feasible and keeping the unit as dust and dirt·free as possible. Removing the tank revealed a most unique silencer. It Was molded around the rear fender and bolted to the frame from the top. It was then understood why the nicely printed sign on the tank said the exhaust system Was designed for maximum power with a minimum of noise. Alteration would hamper both. "Less Sound - More Ground." The exhaust really comes out on the righ t side of the bike but the silencer crosses the Oow through two 90 degree turns to exit on the left. The big mystery is why isn't it a forestry approved spark arrester? None of the big three Spanish bikes. have factory-installed spark arresters. EnouJ(h said. We put one on. HLet's in tall the umurder" button, I wannago ridin'." It took eigh t minutes to get to the riding area, LI5 minutes to unload, ten seconds to put gloves on and it started the IlI'St kick. Fun has to be the first ,,"of'. !tj The silencer box is wrapped around the rear fender and keeps it quiet. Note the high-mounted air filter and non-protruding shock mounts. Spring-loaded serrated footpegs are strictly first rate. thing comes to mind when you ride the 123. It was so much fun I didn't want to go home. But eventually I couldn't see where I was going due to a lack of daylight. The first stage of the test was break in. This consisted of some long easy trails. The trails got progressively tougher as we put miles one. Finally trails were passable only by a real trials bike. Perhaps I should rephrase that, and say ridable only by a good rider on a real trials bike. The first mistake people make is thinking trails and trials are similar, thusly thinking a trail bike can follow or would make a good trials bike. In the Novice or Amateur class some modified versions have done fairly well but not in the present Master - Expert class. The few trail/Enduro bikes that have been unsuspectingly lured onto these trails h ave bee n dragged, carried, wrenched or otherwise manhandled back out, not ridden through. That means feet-on-the-pegs under control riding. I t is in teresting to note that in England they have names for the trails, and most sections, that are printable. Ours are not. SPECIFICATIONS - 123 COTA ENGINE CARBURETION IGNITION STARTING TIRES FUEL CAP WHEELBASE SADDLE TO GROUND GROUND CLEARANCE HANDLEBAR WIDTH WEIGHT (DRY) 123.7cc 6-speed Constant Mesh Amal Concentric Motoplat Primary Kick (Gear driven Primary) Trials type: 2.50x20 and 3.75x17 12 gal. 49.6" 28.3" 11.6" 31.8" 71 Kilos (approx. 157 Ibs.)

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