Founded in the mid-1940s in Barcelona, Montesa entered road racing in the early 1950s but its major impact on motorcycle sport would be away from the tarmac, the Scorpion and Capra moto-crossers and Cota trials being the equal of any of their contemporaries. Developed by the factory test rider Pedro Pi, Montesa’s first trials machine arrived in 1967 and the following year Pi won the Spanish Trials Championship on one, now re-titled ‘Cota’. In the UK, six-time British trials champion Malcolm Rathmell did much to promote Montesa after he joined as development rider in 1974, winning the Scott Trial in 1975 and 1976. In 1974 the original 250cc Cota was succeeded by the Rathmell-developed Cota 348 (actually 306cc capacity) which featured a six-speed gearbox and weighed in at around 195lb.
The 80cc diminutive trials ride offered here (see the photo with a Norton Commando backdrop for a size comparison) comes from static display in Carmal, California’s MotoTalbott museum. In excellent cosmetic condition, the bike will need full recommissioning before returning to regular use by our younger enthusiasts.
Engine no. 10M0584
Frame no. 10M0584
Location: Ventura, California
SOLD
