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[motogrady]

[motogrady]

[motogrady]

[motogrady]

Got this maybe a year or so ago.
A guy had a pretty good private museum
somewhere up in Minnesota I think it was.  

A friend had seen the collection, and when the word went out the guy was selling everything I was asked if I had any interest in the Montesa.

Well, the timing was right. I had the grand the museum wanted.  They sent me a few pics, I sent the money PayPal. I got on the list of bikes to be picked up and delivered to WVA. And poof, a month later it showed up.

It’s a 1974, or 75, or 76 Montesa 250 Enduro.
Matching numbers on the frame and motor.
Like Bultaco, the date of manufacture is not in the numbers.  Looking up the production numbers,the factory
states they made 2850 of them in 74.  None in 75. And I believe 800 in 76.  And I’m told it’s a 75.

No spark.  Very little compression. Cables need replacing, they are almost frozen solid. The Preston Petty headlight
assembly is not period correct.  

But, I’m told these are basically wolves in sheep’s clothing.

With Japan breathing down Europe’s neck at the time, Montesa decided take the motocrosser, the Cappra, and just throw taller gearing and lights on it.
Fast, light and durable, this is what they ended up with.
A motocross bike masquerading as an enduro.

One guy I know has a 70s, Bultaco Enduro, and another just bought a 1970 OSSA Pioneer, that brands Enduro.

The plan is get them all titled, tagged, and out there.
Cafe to cafe, spectate a few hare scrambles, maybe a few meets.

Ambassador’s from another time, something like that.

I mean, ask any young gun what an OSSA is, and most times all you’ll get is a blank stare.  

Spring of 2026.  Yeah baby.

[motogrady]

This is what im shooting for.  

I think I’ve found the correct front light and assembly,
and a set of rings.  

Let the games begin.

[m143]

That's sweet!
I've been messin' wiith my Alpinas.
The old stuff still has magic.
You guy's should start your own SMOG Chapter.
This is my 350 Alpina

[motogrady]

I’ve seen pics of your  Alpina.
That thing is sweet.  

I tell you Walt, I know of 1 guy here in WV
that has or even knows what Montesa is.

[m143]

Spread the word Grado.
Crazy how good parts availability for Bultaco's is.
With out parts old bikes are not much fun.

[m143]

This one is pretty well sorted.



This bunch should make a good Alpina. It's a model 138 which was Orange and Blue.
The original was repainted by hand and even worse has a bunch of leaks.
The other two are kinda sound maybe less leaks.
Fiberglass tanks are a big Bultaco problem.

[motogrady]

Ya that’s a real nice bike right there.  

The blue one, looks like you’ve got enough
to get that one done also.

Agreed, the fiberglass tanks are an issue.  

Just the fact you can’t run anything with ethanol in it is a pain in the butt.

But you gotta admit, painted or gel coated,
done correctly, fiberglass is simply beautiful.

[motogrady]

Which Bultaco has the shifting shaft go completely thru the motor?  I know one of them is able to be set up shift right or left.

[m143]

motogrady wrote

Which Bultaco has the shifting shaft go completely thru the motor?  I know one of them is able to be set up shift right or left.

I believe my Blue one was the first at M135/M138.
Actually both these Alpinas have a through gear selector shaft, and are set up wrong foot shift.

[motogrady]

I remember back in the day, pre 1972 or whatever,
it was a kind of macho thing when you’d hear someone complaining about having to shift right side on let’s say a British bike, and the reply would be “shift right, shift left,
it don’t matter”.

It’s not like someone was calling someone a pussy,
but they kinda were……..

[m143]

motogrady wrote

Agreed, the fiberglass tanks are an issue.  

Just the fact you can’t run anything with ethanol in it is a pain in the butt.

But you gotta admit, painted or gel coated,
done correctly, fiberglass is simply beautiful.

Correct the only solution is non-ethanol fuel.
So I run Sunoco Standard 110 non ethanol leaded fuel. Runs real good with YamaLube 2R at 50:1.
Great shelf life, and the backyard smells like a racetrack!

[grado]

Yesterday I put about 2 hours in the bike.  
Picked up a fresh spark plug, 8 bucks,
and started looking for a set of cables.

Not much luck with the cables.  
3 dead ends.  

The guy in Pa., no cables on stock.
Was supposed to send me a number of a guy in Florida that can get the real good ones, right from Spain.
The ones that have a nylon inner liner that
are super smooth that can be oiled.
Haven’t heard from him in 3 days.  

I hit the independent shop in Morgantown,
TJ has been around forever.
His guy that made cables was killed last year on a bicycle accident.  Told me he was selling a good bit of custom cables, apparently the guys that run ape hangers need them. But with his guy gone he just hasn’t gotten to setting up anything with anybody.

The big dealer here, when I asked at the parts counter for someone or some company that could get or make a set,
looked at me like I had 2 heads.  
Like…..what’s a Montesa.  

The little voice in the back of my head is telling me to buy the a kit and make my own.  

The OSSA guy called us, he’s going full tilt,
his bike is already torn down, and wants to get the paperwork started on, like this week, on getting these things titled and tagged.

This week, hoping to pull the head, see what’s up with lack of compression, yank the carb, someone swapped the bing with a Mikuni, and see what’s up with no spark.  

I’m getting interested……..

[m143]

This is great. Just some thoughts off the top of my helmetless head:

The ability to fabricate cables is valuable.

Does the OSSA guy have Alex Snoop in his resource list?

Do you have a Fly wheel puller?

Old two strokes are the shit.

[grado]

Yo Walt.

Agreed, the cable thing has me thinking.

Alex Snoop. I doubt he’s heard of him.
OSSA guys was into cars and ADV bikes.

That name is familiar tho. Where/when, I dunno.
But I’ve heard that name.

The speciality tools for Montesa. I should still have them.
Counter shaft sprocket puller (tapered shaft, no key, 90 lbs torque goes on it), puller for motoplat, and a homemade sliding tool that sets front fork seals) last I saw was in a toolbox I’ve had for about 50 years.

Alex Snoop.  I might have met him at one of the AHRMA events a few years back.

Have you ever heard of sealing a fiberglass tank with cream?

[m143]

Alex Snoop is in NY and highly regarded in the SMOG (Spanish Motorcycle owners group).

I know people that swear by Casewell sealer. I'm going to try some in an Alpina tank. I'm not sure what happens to the sealer around the petcock. But I have leaky tanks and nothing to lose.

 

[grado]

https://caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html

They say fiberglass.

They say correct mixture is very important.
I’ve heard prep is important either way with any sealer.

[m143]

Screws are a pain to get out of the tank. I've had good luck with a length of dog chain, the kind with cut and twisted links.