It arrived bent and broken. The engine ran, but that was about it. Everything else needed repair.
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The tank was cracked and leaked fuel. It required extensive repair at the mounting points and around the petcock
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Starting at the frame, welding cracks.
This Montesa was probably the most worn out, beat up and abused bike I ever bought with the intention of using it for anything other than parts. The truth is, other the the engine, there weren't many decent parts. The engine did run, but the kickstart spring was broken and it weaped oil and gas. The rims were bent and hubs were cracked. This bike had seen so much action on the Trials circuit, there were very few parts I didn't have to replace or repair. The tank was cracked in at least 3 places, the bottoms of one of the forks had a hole in it and other had a brake bracket snapped off. The rims were bent. The hubs were cracked. Fenders and other important parts were missing. Bolts were stripped and ripped off and the handlebars and controls were bent. It was a Spanish dumpster fire.
But, I always loved the look of the Cota. And for some reason when a bike's calling to you, you go blind to the problems. The long-legged, lean look and that clever integrated tank called out to me. It took a lot of fabrication, paintwork and polishing, but I brought her back to life. The fenders are plastic and not aluminum and there are a few parts that weren't original, but this bike really draws the stares. It may be one of the top 10 most beautiful bikes ever built!
But, I always loved the look of the Cota. And for some reason when a bike's calling to you, you go blind to the problems. The long-legged, lean look and that clever integrated tank called out to me. It took a lot of fabrication, paintwork and polishing, but I brought her back to life. The fenders are plastic and not aluminum and there are a few parts that weren't original, but this bike really draws the stares. It may be one of the top 10 most beautiful bikes ever built!
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