When most people think of off-road motorcycle racing, the image that comes to mind is a pack of riders blasting through dirt, elbow to elbow. Trials is different. It’s slower, more precise, and arguably more spectacular. Instead of racing each other directly, riders battle gravity, traction, and balance as they hop, pivot, and crawl over obstacles that look impossible to conquer.
Every dab of a foot, every hesitation, adds seconds or penalties. It’s a sport where finesse matters more than outright speed.
For decades, Montesa has been at the heart of trials. Founded in Spain in 1944, the brand made its name on lightweight, agile machines that could handle anything a trials course threw at them. When Honda came on board in the 1980s, the partnership created a perfect blend: Montesa’s Spanish passion for trials and Honda’s engineering muscle.
That union has shaped the modern trials scene, delivering bikes that not only win championships but also push the limits of what’s possible on two wheels.
The latest updates for the 2026 season show Montesa is still driving that legacy forward. The lineup is leaner now, with three models: the Cota 4RT 301RR, Cota 4RT 260R, and the 4Ride. The Race Replica edition of the 301RR has been dropped, but the standard 301RR continues as the flagship. It packs a 298cc four-stroke engine lifted from Honda’s Trial2 World Championship platform.
Riders get top-shelf kit like machined fork clamps, an aluminum frame and muffler, wave-style brakes, and carbon fiber guards. The big news is its new look—a turquoise, magenta, and white scheme that’s impossible to miss.
The Cota 4RT 260R aims at riders who want something equally refined but a bit more approachable. It shares much of the premium hardware—Showa suspension, alloy frame, and competition-bred design—but comes dressed in Montesa’s traditional red, black, and white. It’s a nod to the brand’s heritage and a reminder that trials is as much about style as it is about precision.
Then there’s the 4Ride, Montesa’s crossover between trials and trail. For 2026, it makes a leap forward with Euro 5+ compliance, thanks to a new exhaust and aluminum muffler. It also adopts the Cota’s side stand, a small but useful change for anyone using it in the real world.
Visually, it goes for a stealthy black-and-white palette with gold details and gold-anodized rims. The 4Ride’s balance of comfort and durability makes it a great gateway for riders curious about trials but also wanting something capable of longer off-road adventures.
What ties all these bikes together is where they’re built. Every Montesa rolls out of the Honda factory in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, just outside Barcelona. Everything from engine assembly to frame fabrication happens under one roof. It’s a level of integration that ensures consistency, and it’s one reason Montesa bikes have such a strong reputation for reliability.
So why does this matter to us outside Europe, and for riders who don't even do trials at all? Because trials has always been a proving ground for motorcycle engineering. Innovations born on these machines—lighter frames, sharper suspension, more efficient engines—often find their way into the wider off-road and adventure segments. Even if you’ve never thought about competing in trials, the technology and ideas tested in this arena eventually make your dirt bike, dual-sport, or even adventure tourer better.
Montesa’s 2026 updates may look subtle, but they represent more than fresh graphics. They’re a continuation of a philosophy that values control over chaos, finesse over brute force, and the idea that motorcycles aren’t just about speed, but about mastering terrain with skill and confidence.
Source: Montessa via Honda
