Hi

I've have a 350 Sherpa which has a plastic tank 1979/80 model. Im look for another Sherpa 350 but I'm trying to get an original spec. Which Sherpa models/date had alloy tanks fitted as original and alloy mudguards ? Or were there optional extras etc.

... I particular like the look. My plan is to restore one to look good and one to use.

Many thanks

Mark

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by mrooney

Which year model are you asking about.  All UK Sherpas has alloy tanks after 1973. Up to the model 150/151 they were made in the UK by a company called Homelite and fitted by the importer. They were blue/silver and completely different from the red factory slimline fibreglass tank unit. These bikes in the UK had plastic white mudguards but from the factory they were alloy

 

From the model 158/159 the new shape tank was introduced and was made from fibreglass, but the UK market bikes were supplied with an alloy tank. They were the same shape as the standard fibreglass tank. These were fitted up to the model 182/3 and they all had alloy guards. The 198/199 had red fibreglass tank which was changed to plastic and plastic red guards, then came the all blue 198/199a  with a plastic tank. Both continued to be fitted with the alloy tank for the UK market. So in the UK, the models from '75 to '79 all had the same shape alloy tank, first red then blue.  Finally, the 340 had the plastic tank but UK models had another UK made alloy tank as an option which was a slightly different shape from the plastic tank.

 

 

This is the last Sherpa with the alloy guards. All UK Sherpas from '75 to the blue '79 model had this shape tank

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bultaco-Sherpa-350-T-1977-direct-from-a-US-museum-the-best-youre-ever-going-see-/321971214207?hash=item4af6fad77f:g:~IoAAOSwX~dWkRJ8

Hi

There is very helpful in understanding. I currently have a blue 199A which has a plastic tank. No idea of the history. It's had the frame colour changed from white to blue. White mudguards. So in guessing that must have been changed. I have just bought a red 199A which has come with alloy tank and white plastic mudguards. I particularly like look of the alloy mudguards. The one your referenced actually is a plastic tank as its a USA import, I called them today. Hence my confusion. It seems an alloy tank carries premium ? Why?

My plan is try for originality but the one in eBay is pretty much a perfect look... Other than som me work on that engine and some general polishing.

The alloy tank is more expensive to produce and will not change colour over time, can be painted any colour you want, stick-on graphics will stay on and the material will not be damaged by UV light

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by feetupfun

Hi

There is very helpful in understanding. I currently have a blue 199A which has a plastic tank. No idea of the history. It's had the frame colour changed from white to blue. White mudguards. So in guessing that must have been changed. I have just bought a red 199A which has come with alloy tank and white plastic mudguards. I particularly like look of the alloy mudguards. The one your referenced actually is a plastic tank as its a USA import, I called them today. Hence my confusion. It seems an alloy tank carries premium ? Why?

My plan is try for originality but the one in eBay is pretty much a perfect look... Other than som me work on that engine and some general polishing.

 

The 199a has a blue frame as standard, the bike was all blue - frame, tank, sidepanels, mudguards. If it was a UK bike it would have had an alloy tank originally, the same shape as the one in the link above, It's either an imported bike or a UK bike which someone has fitted with the plastic tank afterwards

 

The US import has a fibreglass tank. The plastic tank hadn't been introduced when that bike was manufactured and the plastic tank is a different shape from the tank in the picture. The people who are selling that bike don't appear to know too much about trials bikes judging from the prices asked for previous bikes they've imported and the description given to their condition and originality. That one looks as though the frame has been painted, shocks and seat aren't original

 

Alloy tanks don't carry a premium, why do you think that out of interest?

Hi,

Premium... Not sure now. I like the general look at the eBay imported one but yes that frame looks redone. Thing is engine doesn't look great and believe stood for a while. At 3k think I need better and sorted.

Had a close look at my tank tonight in a strip down attempt to get it started. It appears to be alloy... Muppet I am. Side panels are fibre glass or plastic. Correct? There is a picture of it on the starting problems thread.

Yes, that's the right alloy tank for the UK spec bike. That shape is a copy of the fibreglass tank they fitted to bikes from 76 - 78. They then changed the shape on the 198/199 model to the shape of the plastic tank, although the first few were made from fibreglass, but the UK bikes continued to be fitted with the older shape tank up to the blue model like yours.

 

You look to have made a good purchase with that bike if it is mechanically sound.  The USA import is way over priced at £3k. There are a lot of over priced Bultacos for sale at the moment, yours was a realistic price.