26 replies to this topic

[gasgas249uk]

Here are pictures from a recent visit to Spain
Alfer factory 1989 - 2011 established by Francisco Almiral and Albert Juvanteny.
The outside - sign recently removed and broken as to large to get in skip !

The main room.Bike wash facility near right.Fabrication-far left.R&D room far right.

R&D rooms

Method statement


Ducts for exhaust whilst testing engines


This signs got nice new home !


To accompany the new bike


Francisco is a very wealthy businessman and the motorcycle project was his dream and what he wanted to do rather than the main building supplies company.

I visited his new workshop a mile away where his company is. He's finishing work on an electric Enduro bike project.He's also in the middle of other bike projects as well , but more conventional.A real enthusiast.
He would not allow photos of his workshop.Its a much smaller set up , but hes got no shortage of ideas and vision.

The same day i met Joan Ruiz the original Mecatecno founder at his home. He was the respected top mechanic for Angel Nieto the multi world champion and Spanish GOD GP racer.Ruiz obviously knows his stuff.We spent ages chatting and i photod everything.Will be posted one day.He's spent his whole life in motorcycle development for a number of major players.He has 2 Mecatecno prototypes still at home and memorabiia everywhere.

He showed me the original Mecatecno factory at the back of Jordi Rabasa's house.Jordi was the Mecatecno owner and head of Derbi competition for many years.This is where they worked after their day's work at Derbi.


These 2 garage doors disguise what is a much large workshop behind.
I did a video tour of the original Gasgas factory , will post online shortly

Edited by gasgas249uk, 30 July 2011 - 01:00 AM.

[monoped]

GasGas249,

Brilliant research to track down the locations of these factories and make contact with the founding members behind the names. The Alfer that you have acquired looks to be as new, and acquiring an original sign from the factory, to go with it, is a real coup.

[Eddie_Lejeune]

monoped, on 29 July 2011 - 09:20 PM, said:

GasGas249,

Brilliant research to track down the locations of these factories and make contact with the founding members behind the names. The Alfer that you have acquired looks to be as new, and acquiring an original sign from the factory, to go with it, is a real coup.

I agree it is amazing to get a bike like that, was there then a bike called Alpha? but was it watercooled?

[gasgas249uk]

Eddie_Lejeune, on 29 July 2011 - 09:57 PM, said:

I agree it is amazing to get a bike like that, was there then a bike called Alpha? but was it watercooled?

Thanks Monoped, ive sent you a PM.

Eddie , from what i know Alfer is Spanish and Alpha is French. They were both released in 1991.
They both looked similar but when you look closely there is a loads thats different(tank,swing arm, chasis,rear brake lever etc)
I dont believe they were connected , but i may be wrong. They also both used Italian Villers engines - i think.
I had to pay handsomely but it hasnt seen much work. The belly pan which normally takes the brunt of the Spanish rocks is untouched.
It needs a few things doing to it , so ill strip it down.Its very well built with some nice quality touches.They went to a lot of trouble making it nice. "Alfer" machined into the chasis and swing arm and engine casings. Very nice machined Swing arm, very unusual air box with motocoss style screw in sliding cassette foam element.
Heres pics of both the Alpha and Alfer.Alfer engineer Martin Clerche developed Alfers watercooled engine . They released a prototypre but it never went further.
Clerche has now modified the engine into some totally bizarre unit with a huge tapered alloy tuber entering the top of the cylinder head. I havent a clue whats going on with it and have never seen anything like it . Ive got no idea what it runs on , but he recons its the future.

Ill post some pics of the engine when i get a mo.

Good luck to him. He didnt let the engine go to waste.

Edited by gasgas249uk, 30 July 2011 - 12:53 AM.

[Eddie_Lejeune]

Well worth whatever you paid for it, just dont go smashing it up- I'm sure bits arent the easiest to come by.

[Alpthusiast]

Wayne,I have been searching for pictures of the old Bultaco factory for months.I thought I had finally hit paydirt,but your links are all dead.Is there any chance that you would be so kind as to repost these photos.I am a Big Bultaco fan and I am very interested to see anything about how the Bultacos were made.Thankyou very much.Alpthusiast

[wayne_weedon]

Alpthusiast, on 25 February 2012 - 10:24 PM, said:

Wayne,I have been searching for pictures of the old Bultaco factory for months.I thought I had finally hit paydirt,but your links are all dead.Is there any chance that you would be so kind as to repost these photos.I am a Big Bultaco fan and I am very interested to see anything about how the Bultacos were made.Thankyou very much.Alpthusiast

I'll sort it out. Its because I have relocated my server and messed up somewhere!

FIXED!

Edited by wayne_weedon, 27 February 2012 - 03:42 PM.

[Alpthusiast]

wayne_weedon, on 01 March 2010 - 06:48 PM, said:

Not aircooled monoshock, but I saved a few of the Bultaco factory for years I found on an old hard drive.

[Alpthusiast]

Wayne, thanks so very much for repairing the links for your photos.I really find them interesting.I like the one with the donkeys and goats just hanging around! Also I wonder what the red machine is in front of the worker who is cutting something clamped in a vise with a hacksaw?In another photo, a stack of primary covers waits outside in the alley!What else can you guys make out in the photos? Thanks again Alpthusiast

[wayne_weedon]

Alpthusiast, on 28 February 2012 - 05:54 AM, said:

Wayne, thanks so very much for repairing the links for your photos.I really find them interesting.I like the one with the donkeys and goats just hanging around! Also I wonder what the red machine is in front of the worker who is cutting something clamped in a vise with a hacksaw?In another photo, a stack of primary covers waits outside in the alley!What else can you guys make out in the photos? Thanks again Alpthusiast

It's a highspeed grinding or polishing machine with flexible drive. No belt guards!

[gasgas249uk]

Some Bultaco factory photos

[Nigel Dabster]

is the building even still there?