on the subject of works bikes

Mark Thurman (COTA owner) e-mailed me and told me about the cylinder on his 247.  The cylinder has reed induction and appears to have a home made reed block.  The reeds sit vertical instead of horizontal like on most bikes.  Curt Comer had told  Mark that a man in Birmingham, AL used to do this modification.  But he wasn't sure.  Mark's bike also has a Mikuni carb.

I have since tried to contact Mark and Curt to try and get photos of this mod.  I'll do the best I can to try and locate the source of this  rare find.  If anyone has any information on this, or knows the individual who used to modify the Cota's, please e-mail me.

!Update!:  Mark wrote and said he was waiting on a set of rings, and that he would let us know how the bike ran with the reed.  Stay tuned for info. and hopefully pictures.  As for Curt he wrote and said he was in the process of moving, but he will be sure to find us some interesting photos and stories for the page.  He said, briefly, that Montesa messed with a reed valve, but the Cota's were already good enough!!  He also mentioned a supercharger that the factory experimented with on a Cota.  More on that and much more………….. later.