big john

Sounds like a good idea that! Enjoy your Bultaco. One last thing, be careful when draining oil from the gearbox of a 199A.. we just managed to strip the thread during an oil change this morning(over-zealous "bloody idiot" of a previous owner overtightened the drain plug!) So it's a helicoil M8 x 1.25 job in front of us now I'm afraid! It does of course render the bike un-useable until an effective repair (not a bodge up) is carried out! Big John

I can see a big advantage in having disc brakes fitted on a twin-shock bike, but I'm not that convinced that a hydraulic clutch is all that an advantage, especially as a "normal" cable operated clutch can be made one finger operational with a bit of thought. Disc brakes are an absolute no no as far as I'm concerned (OK I know Dalesman flirted with them when Gaunty rode for them in 1969) Interesting article in this months Classic Dirt Bike by Alan Wright about fiddle Pre65 and how it has become a rich man's sport (which it has really) Its a pity we couldn't have original Pre65 make a return. As I have said before twin-shock is the "new" Pre65! Oh yes, almost wandered off topic, sorry I haven't a clue about AMCA rules OBF! Big John

It's a model 199, but the frame has been modified to 199A specification. The swinging arm is unmodified 199 as they were unbraced and had a tendency to bend at the rear shock mount usually on the offside (not the drive side). It is quite easy to modify the 199 frame to 199A as they are identical except for the tubes under the motor. Many riders in the UK upgraded 199 models to that of 199A nad some tried to modify 199A to 199B by eliminating the rear mudguard loop, but manu did it badly! Hope this helps. Big John

One for John Collins to ponder! Big John

Yes, very different to the Seeley tank Craig. The Seeley Honda fuel tank is actually an "under-tank" with a glassfibre tank/seat unit shelter on top. The Seeley tank is also a very odd shape, not dis-similar to the RTL250S undertank. Seeley tanks are rare too, but I did hear someone was going to make a few at one time. Its like everything else, if you need something to finish a project and it is unavailable, you have to pay what the guy who has it asks as a one-off manufacture would most probably be a higher sum of money! However, if you want a complete Seeley Martin P*nnyc**k is selling his, I think he has it on here. Big John

What a sobering thought Big John

Not yet TrF, but of course it will be done before the frame is powder coated silver, as the original mod.199 colour scheme which I am retaining. I will use Hebo footrests rather than original Bultaco, I have the bracketry ready for this. If not Hebo then I may try a set of Chewy's "Control" footrests, if he does me them at a good price (hint, hint) Further to the rear and down from the original position, plus the Hebos sit a little lower than stock footrests anyway. This has already been done to the Ex-Dabster 340 frame to use also Hebo footrests. (Or again Control if the price is right (come on Chewy thats two sets I could use?) I'm not yet decided on fitting Magical or Rock Shocks, I have both, No.1 son likes the Rock Shocks, currently fitted on the 199A, very good, they are around

Well the ignition went sick at his first real event, the Highland Classic, so he was real brassed off. I couldn't be bothered figuring out what had actually gone off, we think it may have been the source coil, but as sparks had gone completely I thought the time was ripe for an electronic system to be fitted. I bought the kit from Bultaco UK as I haven't actually heard of anyone (yet) using the electrixworld kit. Our good friend "Chips" (of Pre65 Scottish fame!) fitted the ignition one evening and had it running as sweet as a Bultaco Nut the same evening. Mikuni was a straight bolt on and just set the tick-over, nothing altered jetting wise at all and it performs clean right through rev range. The Bing had been refurbished from what I could tell, but it just pee'd fuel all over the place, so again for ease I bought a new component, had a new airbox fitted too while we were at it! That's the 199A taken care of. The project 199, I am building that from a standing start, I have amassed quite a lot of Bultaco parts over the years, some brand new (nos) some second hand, but good condition. I ended up with a 198 frame in a deal involving a Talon disc conversion for a TY250R Yamaha, then I aquired a 199 motor complete, then because the 198 swingarm was bent, I came across a 199A swing arm on e-bay and at the same time bought the remaining parts of the 199 which amounted to: frame; swingarm; rear engine mount the cast alloy type and rear wheel, all of which were in reasonable order and very much restoreable. Airbox from the earlier 151 - 158 model is larger capacity than 199A, and as I had one on the shelf, thought I would use that too. Forks I had in stock mod. 199 plus others of course, so they have been re-chromed by Pitted Forks of Luton, plus brand new yokes I bought a while ago are all in the corner of the batcave for the eventual build. In all, I should be able to put together a nice rideable bike for not a fortune (for a change!). Tank I have more than one alloy Sherpa tank, but I will probably splash out and buy a poly red tank from Bultaco UK to finish it off. All I need now is the seat and hopefully solved the exhaust thanks to a very nice gentleman from Yorkshire called Graham T! How often I will get to ride the project 199 (a model I owned brand new back in 1977) depends on how many of my Spanish Bultaco buddies come over for Alvie next year and beyond! Big John

Now now children, don't get all bitter and twisted! Baldilocks go to your room, NOW! B40RT what time is Mum making your tea? Big John (calm down!)

Yeah bargain! You are joking aren't you Bo? Big John (has more sense!)

Yeah I agree... one of my old work colleagues once told me (boasting of course) he was worth a million. I asked by what did he measure his wealth, he was happy to illude to owning a house (that's a house not a home!) worth about

I reckon things are pretty tough, its not all newspaper hype, there will be many thousands laid off in the coming monmths. The company I used to work for are planning 650 redundancies, they will be out by the end of September. There are people out there that have all the trappings of a good lifstyle basically with coppers in their pockets trying to put a brave face on things. Big John (sorry it sounds a bit like doom and gloom there) edited for spelling mistakes!

I just happen to have a model 124 in original condition, so I know exactly what they had, from the description its a 124, they also had springs holding the exhaust to the srewed in collar. Dave at Bultaco has the springs in stock if they are missing. Rear hub is exact and had a chrome plated brake surface on the two part hub as Woody described. As for a Mikuni, I'm sure Bultaco Uk will sort you out with one, but the fixing at the manifold would need changing as the Amal 627 is an offset/angled flange (bolted) mount, the Mikuni needs the later type rubber mount fitted. Big John

Unfortunately I have to disagree on that one point Woody, the 124/125 was the first to have the one piece matt black painted front pipe welded to the centre box, with the separate banana rear box as supplied from the factory. Model 91 had the chrome pipe joined by the rubber connector which first appeared on the model 80 (Kit Campeon). Other than that all points made are correct. John Collins, actually the Haynes manual features the 1975 Sherpa actually a UK spec. model 151 (325cc) the 250cc was 150 model. And yes the 124 model is a hard starter! Big John

Model 124 Sherpa has the model/year 1974 two piece Pursang rear hub, oil in swinging arm for chain lubrication. Gear change was on the right hand side, rear brake by rod on the left hand side. Frame was the first with the reinforcing tubes from the footrests up to the top tube. UK models had blue and silver homerlite tank seat unit. European & USA models had the Kit Campeon fibreglass tank seat unit, which was scalloped to fit the new for 1974 frame. The engine mounts were still welded to the seat tube. 250 motor still had the rounded close fin configuration barrel (model 125 - 325cc version had the squarer wider finned barrel) Hope this helps. Big John

Looks like a pristine 1989 model to me, correct in detail as far as I can see from the photographs. Big John

Shocking! Big John

Certainly wasn't me either, but I have the Health & Safety guidelines specifically relating to such unusual activity. It's entitled: "Caught on a Hot Tin Roof - take care!" Ask Overthehill, he knows about HSE legislation... Big John

I read about in in the papers, all I can say is, if you are going to engage in such activities, always take precautions! - Take Duck Boards with you - Never engage in such activities unless you have instructed a structural engineer to make sure that the roof is safe - Never engage in such activities on an asbestos or other fragile/brittle roof covering BE WARNED! Big John

TLR is simply a different bike to the RTL which was far superior in many ways. However, the TLR is easier to ride and is more useful in that there are classes for twin-shocks (TLR) than air-cooled monoshocks (RTL) at many events nowadays. Parts for RTL compared to TLR are scarce and expensive (unless your name is Big John who has more than enough genuine HRC RTL parts to keep his bikes going for a life-time). Big John

Couldn't agree more, both these guys have put a considerable amount of time and effort into the sport of trials over a great many years. Big John

I'm making a point about a long established field sport (possibly viewed by country dwellers as part of the UK country scene) being banned by the state, not an oppressive regime! Ten years ago if the question were to be asked in a straw poll, "what would be banned first, fox hunting or an off road motorcycle sport"? I reckon most would know what answer to expect! Aren't we lucky to be still riding bikes off road - so far! Big John

Indeed Andy, same age old problem, plenty folk take time to criticise sporting controlling bodies (that applies to all sports not just motorcycle sport) but it's a different matter when they are asked to do something positive about it. Sniping from the sidelines is just poor effort and achieves nothing (in my opinion). Whatever way you approach it, the sport still needs some form of governance, especially when it comes to political representation, otherwise we will one day be faced with no-where to ride our bikes (if you don't believe that will ever happen just ask a fox hunt supporter - oh wait a moment... there are none because the government banned them as it was deemed anti-social, even though it had been going for hundreds of years) and then perhaps we will all have cause to moan. I personally don't want to see that happen! Big John

Well in that case people should stop criticising the ACU if they can't even be bothered to go to a forum. Rant over! Big John