Drool-worthy new trials bike

THIS is the new Montesa Cota 4RT260 Factory, a sort of BMW HP4 of the trials world.

Developed in collaboration with Honda, and the Repsol Montesa Honda Trials team, it’s got a 259cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine designed to compete with smaller two-strokes while producing less emissions.

There are two versions, the £5,699 standard 4RT260, aimed at amateur-to-advanced riders, and the more competition-focussed Factory Race Replica version, with Showa suspension, at £6,799.

Both have a tiny but powerful 185mm four-pot single-disc front brake, while a lightweight aluminium frame keeps weight down to just 73kg.

Unfortunately, they can’t turn a mediocre rider into a good one, a point amply demonstrated by Visordown’s Steve Farrell when he tried to ride through a stream at the launch of the model, and went for an unplanned swim.

By Visordown