So I have been actively riding my 1966 Matador in trials competition over the last few years. Here is a video or two from the Plastered Purple Penguin trial held the other weekend. It was 25 degrees out and everything was frozen solid.
If your Matador front end looks like the Mk2 in the brochure photos, you will make the steering worse if you fit forks with an in-line axle. To make it steer better for trials you should be trying to reduce the trail dimension which requires moving the axle forwards relative to the line of the steering axis. If you want to get rid of the handlebars that clamp to the forks as well as improve the steering, an easy way is to use a set of triple clamps from a trials Bultaco and if you get the right ones you can still use your Matador forks. First off, can you confirm that your fork tubes have a taper at the top end where they fit into the top triple clamp?
David
I have Alpina triple trees installed. The fork tubes are tapered. No one ever rode a Matador with the stock clip on handle bars!
Flywheel on primary drive side from Alpina or Sherpa T motor. Sorry don't know if 5 speed motor drive side flywheels fit 4 speed motors.
Bring wheelbase down to 52.5 inches using shorter swingarm
Regards
David
The shorter swingarm is a real problem. Not much room without big changes to the main frame. I also have not been able to find any other flywheels that fit. I have done everything else on your list. I think that straight leg forks and a triple clamp with the handlebar mounts up top would make a difference. Any idea what model forks to look for?
Thank you all for your response. The bike is a 4 speed, this makes it eligible for the AHRMA Classic Class. The bike was set up for trials when I bought it and when new they were sold as Enduro/Trials bikes. Mine has had the foot pegs moved to the exact location of a model 10. Nothing else has been changed as far as chassis goes. The only engine mod is fitting a Mikuni carb and final drive changes which is all perfectly legal in AHRMA competition. I am thinking the bike would steer better without the "tiller" upper triple clamp and think that straight leg forks would also help. I would never butcher up a complete model 4 Matador. In the USA Bultaco sold these bike by the boat full. The problem is everyone (including me and my first model 4 in the 70's) threw all the lights and road gear away.
I have been riding a 1966 250cc Bultaco Matador in the USA AHRMA trials Classic Class for some time. My Bike handles OK on the milder events but when the going gets tough its a real pig. Any thought on how I can get the bike to behave in the rough?
OK, I figured out my Spanish motorcycle problem! Bad Italian points! The points looked good and the gap was correct but after changing them the bike behaved as it should and I saw 60mph on the speedometer! I would have never guessed from the symptom I was experiencing that that was the problem.
I have the same problem on an early 4 speed Bultaco, fresh rod kit, piston, seals everything. My next step is to try a different carb. I will let you know how it turns out.
Dave
New carb, same problem. Going into the ignition now.....
I'm tearing my hair out here ! Have a 77 Ossa MAR 250 which won't rev out. I've tried everything plugs , carburetion , cleaned the exhaust, sent the Motoplat unit away to Spain for repair and testing. Engine is totally rebuilt on new seals and bearings. Everything in tip top condition , but it will only run cleanly to about 3/4 throttle and then misfires and won't rev out. Any ideas ?
Cheers.
I have the same problem on an early 4 speed Bultaco, fresh rod kit, piston, seals everything. My next step is to try a different carb. I will let you know how it turns out.
.
1966 Matador
in Bultaco
Posted
I scored 14 points with my closest competitor scoring 24. There were 6 riders in the vintage class and I won. I am stoked.
Dave