Montesa advice wanted

[TT]

Can anyone offer an opinion on this bike, please?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110453596241&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Good or bad model? Price? etc
Thanks in advance. 

[mx250]

A pig in a poke .

You really don't know how big a prob it will be. The gear box and bottom end would be my worry. I'll take his word on the top end.

If one gear has gone I would be sussing the others. They are easy to work on but getting the parts might be an issue. The good news is that a wide range of parts over many years will fit.....but time and fiddling. Ditto bottom end.

Lectron carb are great carbs when set up right but getting them set right is another issue. Parts are still available but experience, expertise and advise might be hard to come by. And its not OEM. Where's me Bing.

Check for OEM Amal controls/levers.

Airbox needs to be replaced - available from Jared SW Montesa but by time you get box, cage, filter, connecting rubber and postage don't expect much change out of $250.

New plastic are available. DC 'race' plastics about $200. Good correct NOS stuff with well defined logos in plastics somewhere between $500 and unobtainium - good luck.

Rear shox could be OEM; condition? If shot race shox $1000+.

For my money I reckon $500-1000. I would rather buy Ross's well sorted 414. I don't know how much he wants for it but he'll probably give it away shortly - he's been struck by a dreadful virus that has turned his blood blue; we don't expect him to be with us much longer :'(. That Yamahopping overweight overpowered dinosaur will buck him off and stomp all over him .

 

 

[TT]

Thanks Graeme.
I'm not seriously chasing as yet, but I'm working on getting another pre 78/80 racer. I get very few weekends off, but for the rare times that I do, I'd like to have a bike available instead of all the trail bikes and postie bikes that I have now.
This bike attracted me because it is local and the first motocross bike I ever rode was a Montesa. I need to keep the purchase price down a bit, but I don't want a money pit either. I've got enough old Mercs that fit that description............... 

[paul]

all old bikes are money pits what ever way you look at it , and i can understand why ross changed his racer  considering yz 465 parts are more readily avail and cheaper to get than 550 dollar pistons for the old 414
must people are budget racers and carnt afford to buy purpose built racers for 5 ,6,7, 10 k ,they can only afford to do it it bit  by bit ,so i recond if you have the time and money it would make a good bike eventually ,with a wad or two thrown at it ,and spare parts would keep you broke as well .

[TT]

Mmmmm......... another opinion...........

That's exactly my situation, Paul.
I'm about to spend one of those big wads you mentioned on one of my cars, so the plan is to do it just as you say, bit by bit.
Maybe there are better options out there. I'm in no hurry.
I do like the idea of a European bike though............ 
Thanks for your input mate.

[paul]

mabee some other could thow some light on what they think would make a good pre 78/80 project bike for you
i just say maico if it was up to me but there more than one or 2 wads off cash there , ross has a nice vr 250 he,s thinking off moveing .now he,s gone japanese
i think i have a pic off it some were/////////// nope deleted it sorry

[bigk]

Does anyone know if VR or V75 gearbox parts will interchange with that VB? The shocks aren't original as the '78's have remote reservoir Bilsteins standard. You can see the brackets on the subframe in the photo's. If it were local I'd be looking at it. They are good bikes. I've probably got some pre'78 project bikes Tony.
Cheers,
K

[TT]

Thanks Big.
All I know at this stage is that I'd like a European Pre 78 bike and I'm partial to Husqvarna, Montesa and Maico.
I guess this eBay bike wouldn't be pre 78 legal? I wouldn't get to race it very much at all, but if I do, I'd like it to be in Pre 78.
I've just started to look and so haven't nailed down a budget for initial purchase as yet. I'll send you an email.

[firko]

Tony...You've sealed your fate by being a Mercedes Benz owner. Imagine the joy of turning up at the track, dressed in stylish buttock hugging Lederhosen and Tyrolian style hat, a '77 AW440 Maico on the trailer behind the classic Merc (preferably a tasty matching red '77 450SLC) Wagnerian opera blaring from the Blaupunkt CD player and an esky full of Dortmunder DAB lager, a nice little Liebfraumilch and some Weiswurst and Saurkraut for the post race soiree. The pit tootsies will melt!

As the Klub Kevlar motto says........It's all about style!

[mx250]

I guess this eBay bike wouldn't be pre 78 legal?

Even the virtually identical 1977 VB is not pre '78 legal :'(.

[TT]

Imagine the joy of turning up at the track, dressed in stylish buttock hugging Lederhosen and Tyrolian style hat, a '77 AW440 Maico on the trailer behind the classic Merc (preferably a tasty matching red '77 450SLC) Wagnerian opera blaring from the Blaupunkt CD player and an esky full of Dortmunder DAB lager, a nice little Liebfraumilch and some Weiswurst and Saurkraut for the post race soiree. The pit tootsies will melt!

Sadly Mark, I can imagine just that........... 

 

[paul]

did nt tony say pre 80 sorta pre 78 ,somewere there abouts



quote I'm not seriously chasing as yet, but I'm working on getting another pre 78/80 racer.

[TT]

Yeah I did, but I really would prefer pre '78.
However, if a '79 model pops up at the right price, I'd have to give it some thought.

[All Things 414]

If that bike was a little cheaper or it didn't have the gearbox problem (which I'm sure won't be anything big. Probably something to do with the shitty Monty gear selector system...) then I'd be snapping it up as I think with little work it'd be a great bike. 

I know the VR/V75 gearbox is way different to the VB 360 (yes I know it's a four speed but overall design is different) so I'd hazard a guess that the VB 250 would be different to the VR/V75 as well.....

[cappra]

The VR transmission will work in the VB 250, if you swap the entire transmission. (no mix and match!)
You can also fit the VA 360 4 speed trans into the 250 cases.  Done this on a couple 250 and it works
great.  These day's who gets into 5th anyway on most of the tracks.  Many of the 5 speeds do have problems
with jumping out of gear and the like, mainly because they are wearing out instead of blowing up like some other makes.
There is a solution, but not a cheap one. (about $275.) which involves fitting the detent system from the VE, VF or VG 250.
The shocks on the Ebay bike are Boge Muhollands.  The 78' VB came with Betor remote resevoir units.
Also, 414 piston kits are in the $225.USD range. $400+ is Maico country