Your choice: Montesa or Ossa or SWM or Suzuki or ??

[Eka]

I'm going to start to ride twinshock trial (here in Europe). I have four makes or models in my mind (and I think enough cash to get the bike I want even I only manage to find a good one): Montesa Cota (maybe 247 or 349), SWM Jumbo, Beamish Suzuki and Ossa 303 or 305. All bikes from the beginning of the 80's.
What would be your choice and why?
If you think that I haven't yet find the right make and model please let me know it.
Thanks for help!

[sharvie]

EKA,

I would choose the 1985 Honda TLR 250. It has brakes that work, light clutch action, excellent suspension and strong tractable power. The only thing I would change about the TLR is to lower the foot pegs 25mm, but this is a problem with many twinshocks.

I also have a 1982 SWM TL320 and have owned Fantic 240 Professional, 350 & 250 Bultaco's, TY 175 X 2. If all these bikes were in my shed and I had a trial to ride in I would choose the TLR no question.

This should put a cat amongst the pigeons

sharvie

[David Lahey]

I'm going to start to ride twinshock trial (here in Europe). I have four makes or models in my mind (and I think enough cash to get the bike I want even I only manage to find a good one): Montesa Cota (maybe 247 or 349), SWM Jumbo, Beamish Suzuki and Ossa 303 or 305. All bikes from the beginning of the 80's.
What would be your choice and why?
If you think that I haven't yet find the right make and model please let me know it.
Thanks for help!

If you are wanting to choose from only those mentioned that you have in your mind, the SWM Jumbo would be far and away the most competitive in modern competition. However, bikes are such a personal thing that something else may better suit your riding style.

Which twinshock bikes have you ridden and what did you like about them?

[TooFastTim]

You reckon the Jumbo David? I rode them a few times and came away with the impression it was a lumpy beast.

[David Lahey]

Tim
I reckon the SWM Jumbo is the best of the bikes that EKA listed. If he had asked which was the best standard twinshock to ride from the early 1980s I would have said Fantic 240.
David

[TooFastTim]

Never saw the Suz in South Africa so I don't know about them. I did "covet" one though but that was because John Reynolds was getting some good results on them.

Fantic, yeah the bike that changed trials forever. No argument. I wouldn't discount the SWM 320 though. Fine bike, let down by, arguably, the worst clutch in history. Bit before the Fantic though. It was more a competitor for the Bult 199A.

Mont 349, white wonder & later. Good bike but kicked into touch by the Fantic. Ossa? Their best years were behind them.

Can't comment on the Honda. Only rode a reflex. More a trail bike than a trials bike.

I damn nearly bought a Jumbo. In retrospect I'm pleased I didn't. It would have been too much for me.