As has already been said here the rear frame loop removal was done at the time, I did it too on a new 199A, it wasn’t done too ape the later bikes at all, the first time I saw was on one of Mart Lampkin’s 199A’s, the 199b’s which came later of course also adopted it in production. Others makers, I cant remember which came first now, many individuals of the time adopted it too , it certainly saved your gonads in some of the more extreme legging situations. Most people I knew, myself included, who did the mod put a flat curved bar in underneath the mudguard to aid fitting the guard itself, finally I don’t think the blue frame pictured here has any works credentials as ML’s were cut off at a 45 deg angle and had a very nice finish. Chrome frame is a SM by the look of it.
The old grey matter stirs! The Mike or Mick who originally built the bike was Mike Mckenzie, and the sidecar outfit as you see it today was made up by myself in the late 1990s, approx 1998/9ish id say, not as previously advised.
I built the outfit you see here back in the mid 2000s it was road registered when I sold it, approx late 1950s I seem to remember, with a non transferable No. (this number if you still have it was was not its original registration) it was converted from a std road bike from what I knew at the time, I also had a std & genuine WR 350 solo at the time to compare to with, which was a completely different machine altogether.
I bought the bike as a solo and rode it like that for a while before mating it up with a sidecar I had lying around at the time, I was also competing in modern sidecars at the time as well and this particular side car was originally on a modern Scorpa outfit that belonged to Ian Allaways brother, yes I forget his name too!
I'm struggling to remember the names of the previous owners at the moment but will update if it is of any help, I bought it off a local (to me at the time) chap called Chris May from Wickham, Hants, who had got from a fairly well known P65 rider from the Andover area, Mick somebody? who had the gearbox ratios machined and modified for trials use, I could trace him if needed.
The bike also spent a some time with a dealer in that area between being owned by Mick and Chris, who shall we say, and being as polite as possible, tried his best not to provide the log book with it, anyway I had a bit of wrangle with the DVLA and other powers that be in an effort to get it, which I eventually did.
The bike (still by the look of it) has Rickman hubs etc and was 350cc, the sidecar is and old Bruce Rushton that was originally fitted on this bike with a boot to make it look more period, it was ridden in Talmag at least once during the period I owned it, and in this guise, by Geoff Muston and Colin Mew whom I lent it to for that purpose. Geoff also modified and fitted the sidecar etc. I also used in as many other trials as I could where possible between modern rounds and I particularly liked to use it in LDTs and classic type trials like the Golden Valley, March Hare etc. I sold in approx 2007? to someone whose name I forget in the Bath area.
I can't help with the other parts shown here either, all I had and sold on was the outfit itself which looks to be pretty much unchanged since its time with me.
I couldn't really give you any idea of its value as I'm afraid, however I do hope this is some interest to you.
Hi Dave, thought that was you, yes I remember you riding it in the south of France and also trying to buy it at the time! I'm thinking of having yet another solo comeback though I doubt I shall every worry you mate. Be good to catch up again soon, don't think the Bully will be ready before next winter dependant on what I do with it but please let me know of any Euro rides you may be going on this Summer as i might come over and spectate etc. Is your phone No still the same? perhaps you could let me have it again sometime via Linkedin or my email thanks. Rgds,Simon.
Hi Simon, I remember the bike well then, yes, as I had a ride on it in France and remember it being like no other 340 I had ridden. I remember the steering was done but the suspension worked well too, better than as is usual and the motor was very smooth carburation and torquey. I'm sure I tried to prise it off you at some stage.
When I read your original post I did wonder if it was that bike. If I remember it well enough, it doesn't need much doing in terms of improvement.
Sometimes You have to make a change to the airbox sometimes not, depending to other modifications that are done.
We came to a different solution, because we wanted to do a refinement and in our opinion better design of the tubes inside
the airbox which work as Helmholtz resonators, (like the tubes inside the rear silencer), this is done now on paper, my job is no to transfer it in practice. Can post the result later if someone is interested.
Woody? Dave by any chance? this is Simon from down south mate if its you, trialed with you France about ten years ago on the Bultaco I'm talking about here You will also know me form riding sidecar outfits for the last ten years or so, we are also connected on Linkedin?
Thanks for your comments and your English is also much better than my German BTW!
Yes I'll get a couple of shots of it on here ASAP.
Yes I have had a bit of a chat with its previous owners Roy. Chris and Dave though this was just bits of snatched conversation really while riding in the same trials as them at lease 6/7 years ago and I don
Hi all, I have a 340 Bultaco, I bought it off Roy "Ago" Wilson some years back, although I have ridden it a few times it is a bit rough in places and I'm currently considering a general direction for a refurb ( i.e. do up as is or continue the development)for another go at riding it. At the time of purchase it was already in a fairly modified state i.e. having been vesty-ised to some extent at the rear end, according to Roy this could have been carried out by Chris Milner.
I managed to speak to Chris at a trial a few years ago and he could not confirm if it was his work or not, I have also spoken to Dave Renham who confirmed that it was supplied new to Dave Thorpe, I have also spoken to Dave as well but he cannot really remember it either, though he thinks it might have been registered later as KGD 111Y.
My questions are twofold,
Firstly, does anyone have any further knowledge of this bike that might change my mind about developing it further (I have already modified the steering head angle a couple of years ago) e.g. if it has any interesting history I might just leave as is and develop something else.
Secondly, what is the current thinking on 340 development especially regarding, engine, exhaust, carburation/air box etc. while I don't expect anyone to give away to many secrets it would be nice to be pointed in the right direction as I have read so much about the Puma bikes etc.
Bultaco 199a Frame Mods
in Bultaco
Posted · Edited by modernistutopia
As has already been said here the rear frame loop removal was done at the time, I did it too on a new 199A, it wasn’t done too ape the later bikes at all, the first time I saw was on one of Mart Lampkin’s 199A’s, the 199b’s which came later of course also adopted it in production. Others makers, I cant remember which came first now, many individuals of the time adopted it too , it certainly saved your gonads in some of the more extreme legging situations. Most people I knew, myself included, who did the mod put a flat curved bar in underneath the mudguard to aid fitting the guard itself, finally I don’t think the blue frame pictured here has any works credentials as ML’s were cut off at a 45 deg angle and had a very nice finish. Chrome frame is a SM by the look of it.