adsinger Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Greetings, I have owned Bultacos for over 40 years. Still have my M85 Alpina bought new in the fall of 1972. Rode it in enduros and trials for several years, gave it to a friend for his son's "yard bike", retrieved it, restored it in 1996 and it now resides in the house. Recently I came upon a Sammy Miller High Boy with M151 running gear. These are pretty rare in the US and I am in the process of recommisioning it. It runs, supposedly has a rebuilt motor, but needs tidying. I'm have a heck of a time finding information it. Is there any literature on these bikes? One thing I'd like to find is a couple of the original "Sammy Miller Product" decals, these were the small, black stickers put on the original range of parts. Thanks for the help. Alan. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineaway Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 I`m working on SM158. Has the same gawd awful pegs as yours. I also ride with another vintage rider that uses his highboy in all of our events. Up until now was the only two I had seen in the states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 I`m working on SM158. Has the same gawd awful pegs as yours. I also ride with another vintage rider that uses his highboy in all of our events. Up until now was the only two I had seen in the states. Mine is SM552. I haven't been able to get any information on the numbering scheme. I wrote to Sammy Miller, he replied that the records were lost in a fire many years ago. I seriously doubt that over 500 frames were built. My guess is the first number refers to a series or some such. Another bit of missing information. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Look at that Alpina! What a beauty, and I allways wanted one. At he time when I was young, I had a choice, well I chose to go with the 500 Ossa/ Yankee as it was a bit more roadworthy and was my only transportation. It would run up to 90/100 mph as well, but a bit of a pig in the dirt at over #300. Oh well, how much does a KLR 650 weigh? I wANT ONE NOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineaway Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Mine is SM552. I haven't been able to get any information on the numbering scheme. I wrote to Sammy Miller, he replied that the records were lost in a fire many years ago. I seriously doubt that over 500 frames were built. My guess is the first number refers to a series or some such. Another bit of missing information. Alan. There is a thread on here where the numbers were in the 700`s as it went through more years than you might think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 There is a thread on here where the numbers were in the 700`s as it went through more years than you might think. I saw that thread but that's a lot of bikes and probably includes the Honda frames as well (?). I read somewhere that production of Bul frames ended when the M199 came out, but don't know when they began. Mine has M151 running gear, was built in 1975 as far as I can tell. What's yours? Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineaway Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 M92 looks like a 1973. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasgas249uk Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Greetings, I have owned Bultacos for over 40 years. Still have my M85 Alpina bought new in the fall of 1972. Rode it in enduros and trials for several years, gave it to a friend for his son's "yard bike", retrieved it, restored it in 1996 and it now resides in the house. Recently I came upon a Sammy Miller High Boy with M151 running gear. These are pretty rare in the US and I am in the process of recommisioning it. It runs, supposedly has a rebuilt motor, but needs tidying. I'm have a heck of a time finding information it. Is there any literature on these bikes? One thing I'd like to find is a couple of the original "Sammy Miller Product" decals, these were the small, black stickers put on the original range of parts. Thanks for the help. Alan. Alan , That Alpina in blue is beautiful !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Thanks for the comments on my Alpina. It is very nice considering almost every part is original or from the period. It still has a Sammy Miller exhaust, Mikuni and some other mods I did in the 70's. I know it should have a silver frame but I wasn't planning to build a showpiece at the time. FYI, I had asked about SM Products decals. I contacted the new Sammy Miller Parts company and they are very kindly sending me some new ones. It's nice that they are honoring their past. I appreciate their help and wanted to publicly tank them. Alan. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p@ul250 Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 This Miller framed 325 is currently on ebay UK claiming frame number 719. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bultaco-sherpa-sammy-miller-hiboy-325-twinshock-trials-plus-spares-classic-/361007236072?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item540db543e8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guys Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 What are the advantages from a Miller High Boy frame versus a standard frame? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted August 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 I'm no expert but from what I've read the High Boy frame was superior to the pre-M199 Bultaco frames. One specific advantage was the use of Reynolds 531 steel which theoretically would be lighter and stronger than the Bultaco "water pipe" steel, the British being well ahead in metallurgy vs. Spain in the 60's and early 70's. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted August 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 M92 looks like a 1973. The Alpina is a 1972 M85 with matching numbers, identifiable by the full wirdth front hub vs. half width on the later model. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adsinger Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I have finally finished the Sammy Miller refurbishing, photo below. Still have not ridden it, but that will come shortly. In the meantime I have made contact with the original British owner. He informed me that he competed in the IOM 2 Day Trial in the mid-70's. I've contacted the Manx Trials Association seekin the results, but thought perhaps somone on this forum might have a source. Please let me know if you have any results from any mid-80's Manx or UK trials that list a Colin Blake entrant. Thanks for the help. Alan. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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