Dabbling In Thumpers
DABBLING IN THUMPERS
FOUR-STROKE trials bikes are nothing new. Honda marketed its TL125 and 250 back in the 1970s, and even won the world championship with Belgian Eddy Lejeune on a works RS360T in 1984. But truly lightweight, compact, competitive four-stroke trials bikes are only now coming into vogue again, following the similar movement in motocross.
Two such “Thumper-dabbers” are currently preparing to hit the market, both manufactured in trials-mad Spain. One is the 4RT from Honda-owned Montesa. And the other is the 3.2 4T from Sherco.
The Montesa is all new, said to utilize only the lower fork legs and swingarm from its two-stroke predecessor, the 315R. Its liquid-cooled, sohc, four-valve engine displaces 250cc, and is fed by battery-less, programmable PGM-FI fuel-injection. Claimed dry weight for the pounds-just a few pounds heavier than a comparable ’stroker. An optional TrailMaster kit includes a seat and larger fuel tank, converting the 4RT into a great singletrack trailbike. It’s available for $7485 from Martin Belair of Montesa Imports (www.usmontesa.com).
As for the Sherco, it was developed by the company’s trials competition department during a two-year hiatus from contesting the world championship. Carbureted and liquidcooled, the short-stroke, dohc, four-valve engine displaces 317cc. Claimed dry weight is 160 pounds.
Not content to merely match existing levels of performance, Sherco claims the new bike will “undoubtedly set a new standard in trials in the future.”
Interested? Send a check for $7600 to Ryan Young Products (www.rypusa.com).
Keep your feet up...
-Brian Catterson
