So, I finally got my hands on a Montesa dirt bike a while back. Wasn’t brand new, mind you, found a decent older model, looked like it had seen some action but the core seemed solid. Always been curious about these, they’re a bit different from your usual motocross machines.
First Look and Feel
When I first got it home, I spent some time just looking it over. Felt really light compared to what I was used to. The setup is all about control, not raw speed. Everything feels compact. Fired it up, and the engine note was distinct, kinda plonky, not a screamer. You can tell it’s built for torque and precision right off the bat.
Getting Used to It
My first few attempts at riding it were… humbling. Seriously. I thought I knew how to ride a dirt bike, but this Montesa, likely a Cota model designed for trials, demanded a whole different approach.
- Balance is everything: Forget high speeds initially. I spent hours just trying to balance at near-zero speed, doing figure eights in the yard. Fell over more times than I care to admit.
- Clutch and Throttle Control: It’s super sensitive. You learn real quick to be smooth. Jerky inputs get you nowhere, or on your backside. Had to really practice feathering the clutch, tiny throttle blips.
- Body Position: Standing up is key, shifting your weight constantly. It felt awkward at first, way more involved than just sitting and steering.
Hitting the Rough Stuff
Once I felt a bit more comfortable, I took it to some local spots with rocks and logs. That’s where the bike started to make sense. It wasn’t about blasting through; it was about picking a line, using that low-end power to crawl over obstacles, maintaining balance through tricky sections.
It was frustrating sometimes, stalling it on a slope or messing up a simple log hop. But when you nail a section, clean, without dabbing your foot down, it’s incredibly rewarding. Way more satisfying than just going fast in a straight line, for me anyway.
Living With It
Maintenance hasn’t been too bad. Parts are around if you look. It’s a pretty simple machine fundamentally. Keep the air filter clean, check the chain tension, basic stuff. It forces you to be more connected to the mechanics, I think. You listen for changes in the engine sound, feel how the clutch is engaging.
Final Thoughts
This Montesa has been a real teacher. It’s not a bike for everyone, definitely not if your main goal is speed or big air. But if you want to seriously improve your fundamental bike control, balance, and throttle/clutch finesse, something like this is amazing. It forced me to slow down, think, and be precise. It’s a different kind of fun, more technical, more deliberate. Still got a long way to go, but I enjoy every minute I spend practicing on it.