woody

Hi Sparks, the big Bultaco decal on that poor model 80 was a Sammy Miller decal rather than a Bultaco one, it still has the SM prefix on it. If I remember correctly, the tank on that bike was still in its original gelcoat colour and hadn't ever been re-painted, you can still see what's left of the decal under the seat, presumably Bultaco as it's too small for kit campeon I wouldn't dispute your view on the kit campeon stuff as you have a few years on me so are better placed to know... Interesting comments on EOR, I'm not sure if it was a prototype either, I've seen it referred to as such but was never sure if it was correct or not. As for its 'existence' you'll have to enter the Ilkley Miller round again next year as you have me very curious now... Maybe I'll get the chance to ask him at the next round as he's usually out watching that one. Always mean to and always forget.

Hi Sparks, I'm making an assumption about the bigger Bultaco decal, just based upon catalogue photos and period photos I've seen from 1971 and then 1972 when the model 91/92 was introduced. I was just that bit too young to see any of these bikes in the flesh at the time of their release. For the kit campeon, I didn't realise it hadn't been released to the UK market and definitely wouldn't know whether Miller launched his here instead. I do remember his tanks being green or blue though with the 'car' style chrome filler cap (there was a bike with a green one at Telford this year, only one I've actually seen) His own 325 prototype EOR 2K looks to have a blue tank in photos (only ever seen black and white) Wonder where that bike is now as it doesn't appear to be at the museum. Ibhbul - sorry, as above, just that bit too young to see the bikes for real when they were released, so I don't recall the fork brace / stay If you like the pictures, here is a series 2 M92 I was rebuilding a few years ago but had to sell before completely finished, then there is the model 80 I bought which had been standing for nearly 20 years and then stood for another 10 as I didn't have time to do it. Obviously, wish I still had them both. Then there's the series 1 M92 I've been riding for the last couple of years following a complete rebuild.

I love pictures like that from back then, I was 15 when I had my model 80 (had a Greeves Challenger before that but it was a trials bike I wanted) We never once thought of the Bultaco, or Greeves come to that, as too heavy or tiring to ride or difficult to start, we just rode them for hours or until the petrol ran out. Imagine what people would say now if you suggested putting a kid on a bike like that. Too big, too heavy etc. I find it amusing these days to hear people describing some modern bikes as too heavy... You can also see from the period handlebars why the high footpeg position didn't matter back then. If they still sold bars like that we wouldn't have to take a hacksaw and welder to our bikes...

The NOVA staff are pretty good (in my experience) and understand that the process was never intended for older vehicles that had lost their registrations or never been registered. I provided the same information as you for two bikes and that was sufficient proof for them. Another two, model 49 and 92, were too old for any records to be provided (they pre-dated VAT anyway) I just sent a covering letter explaining this along with the proof of age and they accepted it

They all came with lights, the kit campeon was just the new slimline tank and down-turned exhaust that would be fitted to the model 80 when it was introduced. The factory riders, riding the previous model 49 were using the slimline tank unit and Bultaco made it an upgrade option for the model 49 in late 1970 / early 1971, not sure (presumably until they had sold them all?) before introducing the new model 80 with it fitted as standard

He's changed the way he rides it, he's been trying to make the bike work for the way he likes to ride with high corner speed and it didn't work. Now, he's changed the way he rides to adapt to the bike's strengths, hard braking, late turn in, slow mid corner and fire it out. Seemed to work well, looking forward to see if he can finish off the last two races with decent finishes now. Must have boosted his confidence. Shyted - the bike Rossi originally rode at the Valencia test was indeed the same spec as the bike Stoner raced the day before. No-one has ever claimed that it was a great bike, it had its flaws, mainly handicapped by the control tyres, and was difficult to get the best out of, but it was a bike capable of winning if ridden a certain way and only one rider was able to achieve that. Rossi couldn't adapt to it and admitted as much which is why they spent 2 years trying to turn it into an M1. As for his age of 35 why is it such an achievement just because it's Rossi? Why is everything that bloke does considered to be above everyone else? Capirossi was 34 when he was winning races on the Ducati against younger riders and probably would have had the title that year if he hadn't been wiped out by Gibernau mid-season. No-one made a big deal of his age then. Rossi is without doubt among the top Motogp riders but is no different from the rest in that if he hasn't a bike to his liking he struggles for podiums, let alone wins. Only one rider in recent times has been able to overcome a recalcitrant machine and that's Stoner. Marquez has a similar style to Stoner so he may be able to do it also, but we'll never know.

On ebay now is a parts catalogue from 1971 with a front cover picture of a slimline showing the bike as it would have left the factory. The tank has the kit campeon decal under the seat instead of the Bultaco decal so it's probably the model 49 rather than 80, but the only difference, I think, is that decal. In the current edition of Trial Classic-Magazine there are period photos of the bikes being used in competition in 1971, which again give a decent view of the lack of decals on the tank (I can't give the magazine it's proper title because of the **** filters in place but it's the one by John Hulme) The bigger, yellow Bultaco decal was introduced on the model 91/92 as far as I know. I prefer more decals, they're a bit plain for me without them.

The decals you've highlighted were for the model 49, the model 80 had little in the way of decals, just a Bultaco decal underneath the seat each side - number 47 on your parts list. The first numbers in the part serial number are the actual model number This place does Bultaco decals http://www.classictransfers.co.uk/pages/transfer-images/european-transfers/spanish/bultaco.php

Well, thing is A-G, back then you were having a peculiar rant and letting fly at everyone for some reason - but that was then and consigned to history My earlier comment was firmly tongue in cheek.Your reply I'll take in the same vein with good humour and no offence - made me chuckle actually

Yes, you could buy tank covers for the TY Mono but not sure about leather, usually PVC or suchlike Still available from In Motion in the UK.

It does look like one of Steve Wilson's swingarms, it's the same appearance, but whether they were longer than the original I don't know. It may appear longer as the shock bottom mount could be located further forwards, which gives the impression that it is longer. Hard to know but obviously measuring will prove it. I don't know whether he did just a swingarm as a straight replacement or whether it came as part of a complete frame kit and one has just found its way onto your bike. If it was just a replacement swingarm I'd expect it to be the same length, can't see any point in it being longer, otherwise it makes a longish bike even longer. If it was part of a complete frame kit, it could be longer as he could have reduced the head angle on his own frame. Which fraternity does that put me in....

24mm is too big when the inlet tract is only 22mm. Won't it disrupt gas flow when it hits the 'step' of the smaller inlet? May affect how well it runs at low revs. They work fine with a 22mm. Your bike and up to you what you fit obviously, but some clubs won't like a modern carb - depends where you ride. The 22mm Amal Premier concentric with the improved pilot circuit works very well, but a bit more than the price of a copy.

The 159 is the one I meant as it's generally referred to as a '76 bike, even though it was introduced in '75. But I think I was wrong anyway as the previous model may have been the first with the head steady

They don't all have a head steady, only '76 on.

Bultaco UK (In Motion) JC Motorcycles, Port Talbot Sammy Miller Product Any of the above may have new or used. Anyone on ebay with parts for sale from breaking Bultacos may have some The head doesn't have studs, it uses the four cylinder studs and in addition there may be two or four bolts that locate into threads in the cylinder (two or four depending on which model you have)

That's due to the ignition, it makes them a bit lazier off pilot.

I think there are more of the Cheney converted bikes than is generally perceived. There were only a few that were full Cheney frames but a larger number (20 or so?) were made by converting the standard frame and these could be bought I think, they weren't just for the supported riders. Mick's cantilever Yam was from '73/74 but they didn't keep with it for long and they were back to twinshock by '74/75

I don't know much about the later bikes but the MAR cantilever had 3 versions I think. As mentioned already, Cheney made about half a dozen of his own cantilever frames as well as converting a number of standard Ossa frames to cantilever. Keith Horseman also made some cantilever frames for Ossa UK along with is reed valve conversion. I think that John Reynolds rode the Horseman framed bike whereas Chandler, Guy and others mentioned rode the Cheney bikes, being Southern riders - but I could be wrong about JR, struggling to remember what Keith told me many years ago. Keith also made replica frames many years after and one was used in the late 80s by a clubman rider who rode it in the SSDT. It's in Don Morley's book but I don't have it to hand at the moment. So your bike, if it has SSDT number fittings, could be that one or one of the Ossa UK bikes As regards which class to ride it in, I think people have to be pragmatic about it. It's a bike from the mid 70s and from the twinshock era. It's in no way as competitive as a mono Fantic, Yam, Beta etc. It competed against the bikes from that era in its day and in classic trials today it should be no different. It should go in the twinshock class. To put it up against mono Yams, 305 Fantics is ridiculous.

Nothing in common apart from the name. Completely different.

Your tank has definitely flared at the front, you can see it in the last picture. Normally, you can just pull it in on the bolt but as yours is painted I wouldn't try it as it would probably crack the paint. You could try heating it and gently trying to close it back up again Nice finish with the bolt heads

360 will work ok on the M80 Standard length was 350mm so for the same damping and spring rate, the 360 will lift the rear slightly with the rider on board which in turn decreases head angle and quickens the steering - in reality, barely, if at all noticeable. The Betor shocks don't have aluminium bodies, the main body is steel. Alloy parts are top mount, collar and spring adjuster Falcons are available for about the same price and he will build them to whichever length you ask for.

The easiest and cheapest method for me is to measure how much the lock stop needs extending to stop the fork hitting the bolt. Then take off the nylon buffer, cut a piece off the shank off a 6mm (or whatever) bolt to that length and tap it down inside the buffer and refit it. The lock stop is now extended. The nylon buffers are long enough to allow a piece a few mm long and still fit properly. The usual reasons that the forks hit the bolt is that the lockstops have been cut down or the plastic tank has spread at the front which means a longer bolt is used. Obviously, the above method won't work if the lock stops have been cut back too far

Same as the Sherpa of the same era. One stud that it drops over at the front, ahead of the filler cap, two bolts at the rear, one either side at the back of the sidepanel. There should be a lug on the frame either side for it to bolt to.

HFS Clubman kit in the forks

Don't worry about it, there is no problem with the 4 speed. Most events are pre70 anyway so even if it isn't on a pre65 reg number no-one is going to take any notice. There are two clubs, maybe three, that scrutineer the bikes and get fussy over what it is and none of them are anywhere near here so unless you're traveling a long way to ride, there's no issue 4 speed is no problem in local BMCA, other local classic clubs, Sammy Miller, British bike series etc. Even the pre65 Scottish take them if you're thinking of entering that