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Why did Bultaco and Montesa go under ...Was it the Fantic 200??. I know that Mr Ignato Bulto set up Merlin so his enthusiasm was still there. I know that Spanish companies get big tax breaks for the first 2 years, keeping Mecatecno afloat. A lot of these companies were set up by enthusiasts and not business men. Maybe thats got something to do with it?. Anyone know?.

Charlie Thanks for your informed reply. I feel that i cant mill down the top of the barrell of the head as its quite a technically machined arangement with recessed head studs in the top of the barrell which would all be badly affected. Secondly when the piston matches the bottom of its stroke im told by my dealer that the bottom of the intake ports should line up with the top of the piston. If i mill the top of the barrell down the piston will sit 5mm below the bottom of the port(fully open) ....i dont see the problem here myself. However milling off the bottom of the barrell will leave the top of the piston exactly in line with the bottom of the port entrance (as per he standard piston) and what the dealer advises. Overall one thing jumps to mind .... Your right , it is a big step to complete when i will never ever get a replacement barrell if it screws up . You advice sounds good to me .I'll see how it runs first and then go from there. The dealer seems to think it will run real flat with little compression. One step at a time me thinks These old bikes need to be kept alive ... and the keep they grey matter working. Cheers James

2 questions .... I have a Mecatecno 325cc which i am in the process of getting into tip tip nick. Although the engine is built by Mecatecno , Bultaco 325 pistons fit , just after a bit of wet and dry. 1.What piston clearance should i have ? My only problem is that the bultaco piston is not so tall and on TDC sits 5 mm from the top of the barrell. In order the get the piston up to the top of the barrell i'm going to have to mill down the bottom of the barrell by 5mm. My only problem then is that the skirt of the barrell at the bottom will not fit and will need grinding down by the same amount and some of the ports may not line up. 2.Has anyone any experience of doing this and am i over looking anything?. I'm well aware that once i've done it theres no going back. The old piston is shagged. Cheers

Does anyone know the dates for the 2006 Classic rounds ?. Am i right in thinking you can ride air cooled monos as well as twinshocks? Were there many entries this year and are the venues good?

What do you guys recon on this twinshock 350cc?. It's a Merlin built in Spain in 1985 with a cagiva 350cc engine . All of their adult bikes came with the same Cagiva engines. Your comments please.

The Mecatecno's were built in Spain and originally started making kids bikes. They then progressed onto Adult machines. Mecatecno were formed when 3 mechanics / engineers left the manufacturer Derbi and wanted to start up on their own. Steve Jewitt was the UK importer and about 10 or so years ago he was trying to sell the company , perhaps he saw the main company going bust. In any case i had a friend down south called Richard Pelling. He has sadly passed away , but his passion was Mecatecnos as Ossa's He was in contact with Steve re taking over the importership just before he died. Richard sponsored Graham Arnold , Wayne Holdsworth and Richard Allen on Mecatecno's Skywalkers. They had big 325cc engines made in their own factory which is quite impressive for such a small factory I have managed to get hold of a Skywalker.I've got 2 sets of wheels for it. Traditional spoked wheels and crazy 3 spoke mag wheels like my Merlin. Its in bits at the mo , but in about 6 months it should be running and back together mint. Here's a picture of what it should look like once finished.

I think this bike looks awesome . Mecatecno were such a small company but somehow out of enthusiasm rather than business sense they made their own engine entirely. The piston was shared from a Bultaco 325 and the cases are all magnesium making them very light and fragile. Unfortunately the economic crisis is Spain in the lates 80's early 90's proved too much for them. RIP

Probably the only red 88 one in the country. Yes , parts are a little bit of a problem!

This is when bikes were bikes.... and we fell off more A good shot of Eddy Lejuene on his Merlin DG 350 FIUS for 1988 - (where's his glasses?)

If you saw them....you'll remember them !! For those interested in the unusual Merlin motorcycles, there is a new site to view and contribute to. Please upload any photos you have to this site along with any memories ,questions or contributions you have about these bikes. http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/merlinmotorcycles/ Thanks