The entry of Honda, which managed to avoid the total closure of
Montesa
through an agreement signed in 1982, has been decisive in the direction of the brand. Especially when deciding on brand positioning. We could say that the Montesa Cota 315R, the protagonist of this article, is one of the best models that have come out of Montesa Honda’s mountain chains and probably the last one that the brand will manufacture with a two-stroke cycle engine.
A commercial and sporting success where not even its worthy successor, the technological Cota 4RT, has only been able to come close by creating a select and very expensive competition version.
One of the great merits of the Montesa Cota 315R is that it was presented in dealerships in 1997 with the best letter of introduction: a World Championship. The architect was Marc Colomer, who in 1996 participated in the World Championship with a prototype of Montesa 315R that broke with the molds of its crude predecessor, the Montesa Cota 314R.
Comparatively, the Montesa Cota 314R it was only offered from the autumn of 1993 until the end of 1996, when the 315R was launched, which would remain uninterruptedly on the market from 1997 to 2004, when Honda finally made the drastic decision to bury the two-stroke engines forever giving way to the Montesa Cota 4RT.
Unquestionably, the Cota 4RT has won more titles than the Montesa Cota 315R. It is also true that three riders have been able to take the Cota 315R to the top (Colomer, Lampkin and Fujinami), while the 4RT has only won titles at the hands of Toni Bou.
Montesa Cota 315R vs Montesa Cota 4RT
On the other hand, while the Montesa Cota 315R was a motorcycle conceived in competition that had to be adapted to series production, the Cota 4RT represented the opposite: a motorcycle designed for the average fan that had to be thoroughly reformed to meet the demands of high competition. In short, the Cota 315R was an exceptional saga and with a competitive spirit as none of its sisters have been able to boast to date.
Claves Montesa Cota 315R
- Aluminium frame
- 250cc HRC 2-stroke engine
- Paioli Fork (until 1999) and Showa (since 2000)
- Showa Rear Suspension
- Manufactured between 1997 and 2004
Evolution of the Montesa Cota 315R
MONTESA COTA 315R OF 1997
This has been one of the most beautiful Montesa ever made. Interestingly, white has also been the main colour of the last Cota 315R, in 2004.
Purity, elegance and harmony on a double-beam aluminium frame with a 250cc “made in HRC” heart that offered unrivalled low-rev behaviour among its competition.
MONTESA COTA 315R OF 1998
In 1998 the Cota 315R was introduced with red as the dominant colour, with an imposing tank with a carbon fibre finish that gave it a very racing look.
MONTESA COTA 315R OF 1999
The ’99 315R was completely black in its aesthetics. It was the last to be fitted with Paioli forks and the Dell’Orto flat-gate (CS) carburetor, which was difficult to carburize and tune.
Purity, elegance and harmony on a double-beam aluminium frame with a 250cc “made in HRC” heart that offered unrivalled low-rev behaviour among its competition.
MONTESA COTA 315R FROM 2000 – 2001 – 2002 – 2003
The ’99 315R was completely black in its aesthetics. It was the last to be fitted with Paioli forks and the Dell’Orto flat-gate (CS) carburetor, which was difficult to carburize and tune.
Purity, elegance and harmony on a double-beam aluminium frame with a 250cc “made in HRC” heart that offered unrivalled low-rev behaviour among its competition.
MONTESA COTA 315R OF 2004
With the world title under the arm of Takahisa Fujinami, Montesa decided to cease the manufacture of 2-stroke engines, at which point Montesa Honda decided to bury two-stroke engines and bet on a resurgence of valve mechanics through the launch of the Cota 4RT.
Despite the numerous titles won by the company at the hands of Toni Bou, as far as mass production is concerned, it left much to be desired, since from 2005 until its cessation of production in 2009 it did not receive any major evolutions.
The Montesa Cota 315R is one of the most important bikes of modern Trial. Balanced, competitive and endowed with a truly outstanding chassis part, this model continues to amaze those who put themselves at the controls even today.
Montesa Cota 315R Special Models
Montesa Cota 315R JJ Cobas
The great Antonio Cobas designed a specific tubular frame for the Montesa Cota 315R, a prototype that is still preserved today in the Honda Museum.
Spare Parts & Adhesives Montesa Cota 315R
In Trialworld Store you can find an extensive list of spare parts and accessories for Montesa Cota 315R, including the original Cota 315R stickers and mechanical components.
Being a motorcycle with a certain age, it is not easy to find all the spare parts for the exploded parts, but it is the fundamental ones to carry out the maintenance and conservation of the Montesa Cota 315R.
Featured Spare Parts:
- Front brake pads Montesa Cota 315R
- Montesa Cota 315R Air Filter
- Montesa Cota 315R Shifter
- Montesa Cota 315R Throttle Cable
- Corona Montesa Cota 315R
- Montesa Cota 315R Attack Sprocket
- Montesa Cota 315R brake caliper
- Montesa Cota 315R Bearing & Linkage Kit
- Grimeca Montesa Cota 315R brake lever up to 2000
- Montesa Cota 315R Front Brake Disc 1997 to 2000
- Montesa Cota 315R rear brake disc 1997 to 2000
- Front Brake Disc Montesa Cota 315R 2001 to 2004
- Montesa Cota 315R rear brake disc 2001 to 2004
MONTESA COTA 31R DATA SHEET
- Engine: Single-cylinder, 2-stroke engine
- Displacement: 249.00 cc (15.19 cc)
- Power: 17.50 hp (12.8 kw) at 5000 rpm
- Gearbox: 5-speed
- Power: Dell ́Orto PHBL 26BS carburetor
- Front disc: 185mm
- Rear disc: 150mm
- Front Suspension: Showa
- Rear Suspension: Showa
- Rims: DID
- Attack sprocket: 10T –buy here–
- Front tire: Michelin X11
- Rear tire: Michelin X11
