BOND.....JAMES BOND





Polish that Alloy!

 Another Montesa comes on E-bay and it's a 242 and nobody seems very interested, so as the
auction continues I patiently wait and pounce. Now what? what can I use it for as it doesn't fit in
 any AHRMA class and realistically I'm too far away for the ITSA offerings. Well it's different so we
 will see.

 It lives up in Golden Colorado and the previous owner has been running it up hillsides at 10,000
feet so I wonder what the carburation will be like. It arrives with an assortment of bits which he
tells me is a complete bike? ... this turns out to be another 242 which was not mentioned in the
sale and with limited inspection of the pile it was missing the tank/seat unit, some of the "python
exhaust" and some of the engine, but apart from that looks more or less complete. When I see a
pile of junk like this I wonder why people take them to pieces, is it curiosity? are they planning on
rebuilding? did it go wrong, and if so what? Do they have any idea of what they are, or were
looking for? ...... and then did it all get too difficult and project abandonned!



Nearly there

 So put the spare "one day a 242" in the junk room for another rainy day and concentrate on the
one that is complete and running. Can't say that I like it much, seems a bit tall, a bit wide for the
era, and with a pale blue tank and red/orange frame downright ugly. Banknotes are exchanged
and happy camper is on his way back to deepest Colorado.




Welcome 007

 Some time later the machine is stripped and  the rebuild begins. Get all the new bits together
tires, levers, cables, tank straps to replace the baler twine, some oem fenders, sprockets and
 chain. Polish the yokes, forks, new seals of course, and the swinging arm. Repaint that bloody
awful tank and then the pipe. give the motor a once over and cut the fins for a striking effect.
While down in the bowels I note the frame and Engine Number.......007!




Shaken not Stirred

 The frame is finished in a bullet hard polyurethane reddish orange and will take a month of
Sundays if I want to strip it so, as it's only worn where the boots rub we will leave well alone and
just bring the color back to life. Rebuild the shocks but nothing wrong here so wheels next and
again the bearings are sound and they are true enough for government work.


 Rebuilding continues and some MI6 stickers found on E-bay. Much use of those "special" Montesa
4.5 mm and 7mm allen keys. "Look I said I was sorry we sunk your Armada..... now let it go!" 




Bond,........James Bond!


 All comes together and now replace all those fibre washers that people insist on overtightening
and now with all the leaks fixed it fires right up. Test spin..... soft motor, smooth clutch, .......
for sale!


There will be a prize for anyone who can tell me who bought it?



TONY DOWN



Don't forget all those AHRMA articles from early November, see Archives.