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Hello from a Sherpa owner


Clarkee
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As this is my first post and there's an "introduce yourself" section I thought I would say a quick hello. I'm Chris and have a 1966 Bultaco Sherpa that I'm planning to restore in the coming months, or maybe years as not in too much hurry. From browsing the forums I've been awed and impressed by the depth of knowledge and support so a big thanks for all the information I've already gleaned but I have many more questions. The bike is not in great nick although is mostly complete (I do have the wheels). I've owned it since 1982 when, after destroying my brother's "field bike" (a Casal), my dad bought me the Sherpa mainly to shut me up as I was a bit bike bonkers. Anyway, it's sat in a shed for a good few years and needs quite a lot of love which I'm now in a position to provide and I'd dearly love to fulfill a long-held ambition to do some trials. I'll set up a separate topic so the restoration can be tracked through the various stages. As I say, it's been really useful and entertaining to be able to search the forum archives so I'm hoping my experiences will be useful to others in the future too.

20180506_192617_resized (1).jpg

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15 hours ago, Clarkee said:

As this is my first post and there's an "introduce yourself" section I thought I would say a quick hello. I'm Chris and have a 1966 Bultaco Sherpa that I'm planning to restore in the coming months, or maybe years as not in too much hurry. From browsing the forums I've been awed and impressed by the depth of knowledge and support so a big thanks for all the information I've already gleaned but I have many more questions. The bike is not in great nick although is mostly complete (I do have the wheels). I've owned it since 1982 when, after destroying my brother's "field bike" (a Casal), my dad bought me the Sherpa mainly to shut me up as I was a bit bike bonkers. Anyway, it's sat in a shed for a good few years and needs quite a lot of love which I'm now in a position to provide and I'd dearly love to fulfill a long-held ambition to do some trials. I'll set up a separate topic so the restoration can be tracked through the various stages. As I say, it's been really useful and entertaining to be able to search the forum archives so I'm hoping my experiences will be useful to others in the future too.

20180506_192617_resized (1).jpg

Hello Clarkee, it's looking like a tough job ahead especially with that junior hacksaw laying in the foreground (swing arm) ?  I've seen much worse, so best of luck. Many experienced Bultaco people on here plus also Trials Australia https://trials.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4785&sid=0de5e31040e7dc770244e12d3aef5b20&start=10

Keep us all posted, you will get lots of help.

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Clarkee,

Good luck with the restoration. It looks in better condition than mine did when I bought it so do not be put off.

Original IRZ carb fitted. Good carb when new but wear out easily and spare parts are like hens teeth.  The fork top yoke is not original, not unusual as the original part was weak and easily broke. Several companies’s made these replacement parts.  Original handlebars were steel with welded on levers. Back in the day owners had a habit of cutting away the left hand case to help clear mud from the chain rear sprocket area. Yours has not been done which is in my opinion is a result.

What is your plan, show bike or to be ridden?

These 4 speed bikes are fun to ride but have to be rev'd quite hard compared to the later bikes. I think from memory max power is quoted at 8500rpm for the M10 where as a 1971 model 80 is 5500. I have both these models and they are quite different to ride.

I had a later model 10 a few years ago which I rode but sold to fund another project. I missed the bike so jumped at a chance to buy an early version project when it came up for sale. However I must confess that I was halfway through restoring this when I bought a car project so it has been relegated to under the bench for the last 4 years unfinished. I have just returned home from watching the SSDT where a M10 same as yours was displayed in a Fort William shop window for the duration of the Trial. Seeing this bike in the window has fired me up to get mine out and finished.

The early model 10 (1965) and the later (1966) models are basically similar with the main unseen difference being a different length swinging arm changed to improve grip and the early bikes have a more rounded fuel tank and different steering lock arrangement.

Stuart

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Hi - Thanks for your responses. Helping me feel right at home. The reg number is LPF 994D for those thinking it looks familiar. Those tools mainly for show - big hammer kept firmly under wraps (for now at least). Fourex, thanks for heads up on Australian forum too as it looks like another goldmine of information.

Stuart, good to hear you don't think it's a hopeless case and that someone has come through worse and is looking forward to doing it again. My plan is to ride it more than show it but I did see a picture of that M10 on display in Fort William and it made me think "what if". My main memory of riding it is the noise (yes v revvy) and the big step between second and third. I mainly used it as a grass tracker as soon learned that going over oil drums, etc, was harder than the experts made it look. Great fun to have two to compare, I bet.

So now on the hunt for parts. I probably need an engine overhaul. Tank is in reasonable condition. The top yoke has been welded, along with the bottom of the left fork leg so it would be good to find replacements. I did see a set of Mark 3 Matador forks and clamps on ebay in America which look as if they would do, but not sure how you find out apart from appealing to the these forums. There doesn't seem to be workshop manuals or parts lists easily accessible to buy for these early model (my Haynes is 1972-75). And most of the pictures I've seen of M10s have subtle differences so not sure which is the definitive "original" even if I did want to copy it. I think I need to aim for good enough rather than anything too perfect.

Will create a new forum post when I stop thinking and researching and start actually doing.

 

 

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Apologies to those who know about this but already, but in my search for parts and info I came across this fascinating website that has Cycle World magazine road tests of motorbikes going back to about 1970. This link below is the Bultaco section but lots of different bikes covered. It takes a while to load this index page, but you can scroll down and click through to the test for each bike, then use link at the bottom to "turn" the page. A little too late for my bike but just a fascinating resource - even the ads are interesting.

http://www.yeoldecycleshoppe.com/roadtestlibrary?category=Bultaco

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