2014 Mont here

 

 

The 4RT260 and its higher-spec sibling, the 4RT Factory was sprung at the Italian World Championship round. 

 

While not a brand new model the 260 is sufficiently advanced to make anyone take a good luck.

 

The engine has been bored to 260cc and a new camshaft makes the most of the increase in capacity.

 

The big news though is that Honda's engineers have come up with a clever crankcase decompressing system which drastically cuts the considerable engine braking of the conventional 4RT.

 

Many riders have found it difficult to find grip in muddy going on the conventional model but this new development should drastically alter this trait and give the model a more two-stroke feel.

 

Montesa's factory riders Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami have been using this development for several years so you just know that it works!

 

The Mont build quality is as good as ever which in reality means as good as it gets.

 

The standard model features suspension pretty much like what everyone else uses which means Tech forks up front and an R16V rear shock.

 

This is the main difference between the 4RT260 and the Factory model as the Factory comes kitted with Showa suspension which is  renowned for its quality build and performance.

 

World champ Toni Bou has personally been involved in the development  of the suspension settings.

 

According to long-time Montesa test and development rider Amos Bilbao, a former winner of the Scottish Six Days trial himself, while many riders find the Standard suspension more supple initially - which it is - the Showa kit takes longer to bed-in.

 

The first of the new bikes have only recently arrived in the UK and TMX's regular test pilot Woody Hole legged-it to the first test session in this country.

 

We'll bring you the full test in TMX very shortly but meanwhile  Woody confirms that the standard model features a quick-acting suspension with the Showa (brand new) initially slower to react.