Montesa 414vf

[cappra]

Chain tensioner assembly?

[simon414]

Chain tensioner assembly?

Hawk eye  ok 98% finished 

[Montynut]

Your side covers lowers sections are painted gold which I agree looks better but the originals for some un-Godly reason were Olive-Drab not to be confused with khaki (wouldn’t want that would we ) yes that dull horrid flat paint the US and now all military forces paint everything. I personally leave the entire side cover white.

You have done a great job and brought a beautiful bike back from the brink. Are you going to race it?

[simon414]

Your side covers lowers sections are painted gold which I agree looks better but the originals for some un-Godly reason were Olive-Drab not to be confused with khaki (wouldn’t want that would we ) yes that dull horrid flat paint the US and now all military forces paint everything. I personally leave the entire side cover white.

You have done a great job and brought a beautiful bike back from the brink. Are you going to race it?

I managed to get some olive-drab from a friend who use to have his own spray shop but to be honist I did not like it and decided to spary them gold instead  Thanks for saying I've done a good job  I'm not sure what i,m going to do with it yet  very tempted to race it but then again tempted to store it away for another 30 years 

[Montynut]

Race it! You fixed it up once and you can do it again You know you want to

Yep, I painted my VF250 side cover sections the correct olive-drab. Took all the photos and then removed them as quickly as possible. Do not know what the designers were thinking. My VG414 has that section painted black which looks much better.

[simon414]

race it! You fixed it up once and you can do it again You know you want to

lol very very tempted mate 

[shortshifter]

Really enjoyable thread,great rebuild Simon.For my two bobs worth the pleasure you get from a rebuild is doubled by geting the thing out there on the track where its meant to be,nothing better.

[cappra]

I will never understand why the side panels were painted olive drab... Anyway's,
thanks for bringing another Montesa back from the grave! Good job.

[firko]

Congratulations on a really sweet job Simon. Nice bike.

[tony27]

Nice job Simon  . Must be love going on all the extra arty shots you've posted 

[simon414]

Thank you all for your support and I'm glad you all think I've done a good job  It dose mean a lot and it will push me to do another mont  As for the arty shots I'm very lucky to live in the North Yorkshire dales and that moor land is about 200 yards from my front door, So I had no excuse to take some nice pics with out my house or garage been in the shot lol I,m going to try and get the bike in Classic Dirt Bike, I've sent a e-mail to Tim Britten and just had a reply saying they want my bike to be in the mag and also can I take the bike to Staford show for their exhibition hal?  now I'm very happy  best not ride it just yet lol

Also I would like to thank Jared at Southwest Montesa for all his help,Its a big shame you cannot open a shop in the uk 
 

[simon414]

Only 10 days to go till the classic bike show  My bike is all finished ready for the classic dirtbike stand  bring it on, got to say thou I will be glad when it is all over so I can get her out for a play 

[simon414]

Hi everyone I need your help yet again  As you may know my cappra will be in the Stafford classic bike show this weekend and I need to fill in an interesting facts sheet about the bike. I am sort of lost as to what to put down.  I have the obvious... one of only 339 produced.... last of the Montesa produced bikes before Honda bought them out..... but need a few more.  Not sure whether it's supposed to be interesting facts about the bike in general, or whether it includes my experience in rebuilding it?

Any suggestions (within the next few hours) would be grand as the Mrs is doing my tree in wanting to get it filled in tonight lol
Much appreciated

[runutz698]

Not the last but close to it, there was a vg yellow and white tanka and also a hand full of prototypes there after, not ever going into production.
I think in 1982 honda brought a 15-25% stake in montesa then in 1986 another lot of money was poured in so they owned 85%, intresting enough I don't think honda ever paid for 100% of montesa. But I could be wrong!!

[Montynut]

Yes Tom the VG series where the last true Montesa MXers but Honda had control in ’81 during their production.

True Montesa bikes continued until 1989 with the Cota 39 series while the H7 Enduros continued until 1987 even transferring to the new Honda built factory in 1985/86.

The H7 used the same basic engine as the VE/VF/VG series although the H7 250 had a reed valve.

Even today the Montesa trials bikes are designed in Spain using Honda engines.

Simon414 is basically correct that the VF series was the last before Hondas involvement. You are also correct that production continued after the VF series.