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/128369
1_~L--2_00_5_M_o_n_te_sa_c_ot_a_4_RT _ ~rontesa ~rilestoneP. ' 1P ~ he history of trials motorcycle evolution has been marked by a few major milestones: The 1966 Bultaco Sherpa T moved the trials world from four-strokes to two-strokes; the 1985 Yamaha TY3S0 gave us monoshock suspension; the 1990 Beta Zero combined liquid cooling with an aluminum frame; the Honda RTL proved that a four-stroke could once again win in a sport dominated by two-strokes after winning three consecutive World titles in 1982, '83 and '84. Now, in 2005, the sport has reached a new milestone: The Montesa Cota 4RT delivers the first modern, purpose-built. four-stroke. fuel-injected trials motorcycle. To motorcyclists familiar with the four-stroke revolution that has recently taken place in motocross, enduro and road racing, it comes as no surprise that modern four-stroke technology has made its way back into trials. Four-stroke development in recent years has come so far that it has made the two-strokes nearly uncompetitive in these other branches of motorcycling. Now, Montesa is the first to bring this modern four-stroke revolution to the world of trials. Trials began as a four-stroke sport. Four-strokes offered the rider tremendous torque, traction and broad powerbands. The thumpers were very successful but heavy, and for that reason, the two-strokes were able to overtake the four-strokes in 1965 and dominate the sport until now. The only interruptions in this two-stroke dominance were the three World Championships won by Eddy Lejeune on the prototype four-stroke Honda RTL in the early-to-mid '80s. T 34 MARCH 16, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS What makes the Montesa even more exciting is that it is introducing new technology, not just to trials, but to all of off-road motorcycling. as well. Trials has often been ahead of the curve in introducing new technology to offroad motorcycling. Trials bikes were first with technical features such as tubeless tires, hydraulic clutches and aluminum frames. The Montesa Cota 4RT now introduces to the world the first batteryless, fuel-injected production off-road motorcycle. Fuel injection has been around for a number of years on street bikes and more recently on some enduro bikes. These systems have delivered great performance, but they required a battery. The Montesa uses magneto-produced power to operate its system, thus eliminating the need for a heavy and bulky battery. The Keihin PGM FI (programmable fuel injection) used on the Cota is also much smaller. lighter and simpler than those used on street and enduro bikes. It is half the size and has half the number of parts of any other system on the market. Fuel injection offers manufacturers better performance while at the same time allowing them to meet evertougher emission standards. FIRST IMPRESSION At first glance, it becomes very clear that the new 4RT is a totally new-from-the-ground-up bike. While the 4RT shares similar lines with its predecessor, the 315R, it is sleeker with a somewhat more modern look. The only