Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125831
October 23,1973 of power to the ground in rougb terrain witb less complaint than the Yamaha. Again, the tires make a considerable difference, but the Yamaha seems to develop its most torque at higber RPM. Tbe Montesa employs a cable operated rear brake and the Yamaha uses a full floating. rod actuated system. Neither machme was spot on in the suspension department; the Montesa was too soft at both ends under heavy going, and the Yamaha units were too stiff. A competition rider would have to experiment with fork oil and spring rates elther machine. The Mon tesa has nkely polished Akront aluminum rims, which attract mud, and the Yamaha still has street-type steel rims, which adds unsprung weight. In attempting to define the two machines, in terms of their relative merits and weaknesses, we concluded that the Montesa would make a more acceptable off· road machine, used only occasionally on the pavement byways; and that the Yamaha would be more efficient on the roads, with occasional medium-speed forays into the boonies. Of course either machine could' be altered in either direction, but extensive on Page 27 modifications would only bring them closer to more specialized machines at either end of the spectrum. There are better enduro machmes that are just narrowly street legal, as well as be tter highway mounts that are only barely manageable in the dirt. Whether or not the market for this type motorcycle continues to grow remains to be seen. At the mercy of an already unstable economy, dealers may find customers spending their bucks for more specialized bikes for road or trail. On the other hand, riders who require both on and off-road mobility, but are unable to afford two motorcycles, will choose the most ;lppropriate compromise for their individual needs. The technology inspired by big bucks motocross is slowly filtering down to the dual purpose production machines, but even more weight saving should become a higber priority. Both these machines weigb in at over 250 pounds, and end.uros aren't a lot of fun if the machine is more of a struggle than the terrain. But for the primarily recreational rider, both the Yamaha and Montesa have some neat features to offer, and both would seem to deserve • high marks on the reliability scale. Specifications Montesa K iog Scorpion Engine 2-5troke single Bore x stroke Displacement Carburetor Ignition Transmission Compression ratio Front tire 70mm x 64mm 246.3cc 32mm Bing Flywheel magneto 5-speed 10: 1 3.00 x 21 Rear tire ...........•..... 4.00 x 18 Weight (dry) 260 Ground clearance Wheelbase Price 7 .S" , ..•..... 55.2" $1238 Yamaha DT 250 Engine Displacement Carburetor Ignition Transmission 2-stroke single 246cc 28mm Mikuni flywheel magneto 5-speed Compression ratio 6.8:1 Front tire ..........•... : . 3.00 x 21 Rear tire -~ 4.00 x 18 Montesa's curiously cantilevered shocks. Ground clearance ....•......... 7.9" Wheelbase Price 55.7" $920 DT·250 has narrow, well protected cases and nice plastic fenders. Pegs are rubberized. Montesa should really have a high pipe. Note tool case just ahead of pa..,nger pegs. Slide·turning the Yamaha requires more body weight on the front end. The Montesa does better, but rear shocks look nearly used up. ..-