We’ve seen a few trials motorcycles here on Barn Finds over the years, and they’re an interesting segment of the motorcycle world. Riders don’t go as fast as they can through a race track; the idea is to ride through an obstacle course without touching the ground with your feet. This rare 1967 Cotton Trials 250 trials bike is posted here on craigslist in Meadow Vista, California, and the seller is asking $4,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Nevadahalfrack for the tip!
The Cotton Motor Company was located in Gloucester, United Kingdom, and was founded by Mr. Frank Willoughby Cotton in 1918. They made motorcycles under Mr. Cotton’s leadership until 1953, when he retired, and then became E. Cotton Motorcycles. They closed up shop in 1980, but a company (AJS Motorcycles) started making replicas in the late 1990s. This example has been “upgraded” by the current owner and seller, but some of the original parts are included in the sale.
Trials riders use the footpegs as an integral part of the trials competition, as they often stand on them to balance the bike through the obstacle course so as not to touch the ground. This example has been modified with different shocks, seat (rarely used as the rider is usually standing on the footpegs), fenders, speedometer, and more. The “relatively quiet” exhaust has also been changed, as have the tires and gas tank, and alloy fenders were added.
The handlebars are Renthal motocross bars, but there’s no word on whether the original handlebars are included. This example isn’t for anyone looking for a bone-stock Cotton 250 trials motorcycle, but more for a serious rider interested in seriously competing in a vintage class.
The engine is a Villiers 247-cc two-stroke single with around 15.5 horsepower. Known as a 37A “iron barrel” engine, Cotton used these engines with much success until Villiers stopped providing engines around the time this motorcycle was made. It’s backed by a four-speed transmission, and the seller says they have rebuilt the engine and chassis and this one is ready to start collecting trophies. Have any of you heard of Cotton motorcycles?
Along similar lines, sad news in the motorcycle community..
https://www.advrider.com/rip-moto-pioneer-john-penton/
Oh yeah, I saw that a couple of days ago, that’s sad. But what a life to live to 100 and be such a huge name in any sport or industry as he was. RIP, Mr. Penton.
Thank you for posting that someone i never knew about. As a kid in the 70s i had a Rm 125 then a RM 250 was nice to read about someone who was a pioneer in motorcycle racing.
A sad day in the dirt motorcycle world.
Jeez, opened up the “SG floodgates”,, I can just hear the staff, oh, oh, wavering interest, better pull out Scottys posts, TO SAVE THE DAY, PRONTO,,ahem,,,sorry, never heard of one, but Trials and “Hare Scrambles”, the precursor of motocross, was big in England, I believe. Trials riding, as mentioned is not about speed, but unbelievable obstacles, and are given points for style. Like touching the ground, minus 10 points, or whatever. It’s particularly grueling, and not for wusses. I actually had a Trials bike, a Yamaha TY250, and I can say, without reservation, it was one of the most fun bikes I had. The transmission, a 5 speed, had odd ratios. Like 1,2,3, real close, and 4&5 were “road gears. I think Trials is also scored on overall time to do the course, so the “road gears” were needed to make up some time on a straight. My kids rode in front of me on the tank, and held on to the cross bar. Golly, we had fun. Another one that “got away”. This has fun all over it, or did anyway.
Howard my buddy has a sweet KTM Enduro and I think it’s a GasGas trials bike. I was surprised to hear him say he rides the trials bike more and absolutely loves it. You’ll learn some fine skills on these and as you know, get a heck of a full body workout 🦵 💪 too. 👍
Once, in another life, it seems, I was trail riding my TS 400 with a guy on a trials bike, I forget, Honda I think. We come up to a log across the trail had to be 3 feet up, this guy bumps the front tire agin the log, pops a wheelie, and flies over the log. I went around it, but thought, I have to get me one of those.
A sad day in the dirt motorcycle world.
Indeed. I had a Penton 125 motocross bike, light, fun, and perhaps the loudest motorcycle I’ve ever heard.
Noticing the right side shifter reminds me of my 1972 Triumph 750 Bonneville. Right hand shift was a challenge to get used to, sometimes going for the break and accidentally grabbing a lower gear. A bit of rear wheel skid but luckily I never lost it.
Well Scotty I have never heard of a Cotton motorcycle, but was lucky to own a Penton 125,
Sad indeed but what a life!
I had a new Penton 125 motocross bike. It was light, fun, and maybe the loudest motorcycle I ever heard.
I had a Cotton 250 in England years back when i was in my late teens, used it for trials riding ,great fun bike & sport , also have a 650 moto cross ( scramles bike as they call it in England ) that i built myself with a Triumph engine in a BSA frame.