scot taco Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Another question to those who have ridden both.Were the SWM bikes of 1981-82 better than the last Sherpa T? Maybe just a matter of opinion,but if they were was it by a big margin? Did they handle better or have a better power delivery? I have only ever ridden one around the yard of a friends for about 5 minutes so I couldn,t really tell if it was loads better then my Sherpa T. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetupfun Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 They are similar enough in design that it depends on how well each bike is set up, as to which one is better to ride 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot taco Posted November 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Thanks for the reply feetup.Kind of makes me happy that the Bulto is a close comparison because I,m such a Bultaco fan. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bultacorock Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) Hi Scot i think we have the same bike 199A, in the late 70s i had a new 198 which i really liked. I passed my road bike test so i could ride any cc bike from then on so got my self a beamish suzuki 325 nice bike but missed my Bultaco sold the Beamish the same time a friend was selling a really well setup SWM and it went really well much better than any bike i had had before so much grip it held a line really well engine was really smooth it was not me it was the bike it would drag me any were i pointed it, But i think my Bultaco i have now with all the little jobs im getting done on it, its becoming more than a match for that SWM i use to have, I think the Bultaco 325 199A engine we have in our bikes is just magic. Anyway here is some photos from my last event. i think we have the best Bike ....... Edited November 24, 2015 by bultacorock 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot taco Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Hi bultacorock, Thanks for the input.I guess I should say that what prompted my question was an interview with Bernie Schreiber that I read.It made me wonder if he could have done as well in 1982 if he had been on a Comerfords developed Sherpa T, like Vesty was riding, as he did on the SWM. I have had two different Rotax powered enduro bikes over the years and know they can make very good,smooth power.I do agree that our 199A make great power.I also believe that the Bultaco is the easiest bike to work on and all of mine have been very reliable. Your bike is looking really good and best of all you are out trialing it! I wouldn,t mind finding that style airbox if for no other reason,they look the best.What type/brand of top yoke do you have? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I think as a day to day bike the Bulto is better.The swm had better power and suspension and brakes, but by 82 the modified bulto (comerford specials) were probably closer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bultacorock Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Hi Scot The air box came from a 1975 model i think this is one of the best looking bikes they made, they use this air box on quite a few models so there must be lots in the U.S.A . the inside volume is bigger so helps the 325 engine breath better most of the works rider put this air box on there bikes. i was lucky it came on my bike. The top yoke i had seen on the web so went to pick one up at the main show here but he had sold out big order from spain ! but had one to show are take orders they cost 150 pounds and its so well made that i would say it could possibly be the strongest part on the bike ! in the box with it came a top cup that fit on the top of the steer a tube CNC and a CNC top cup for the head bearing race, i will try and find a link and pm it to you. I think for me the biggest difference was fitting new style foot begs the big wide and flat alloy ones, they are lower in hight the way they are made i moved them back and a bit lower there is not much room they are still cover by the frame so much better to stand on nice and wide. All the best BR Edited November 25, 2015 by bultacorock 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pschrauber Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 (edited) They are both very competetive back then and still are today, it depends to your riding style. The 199b engine is stronger then to the 199a but feels less pig. The SWM Rotax engine is in original set up also not fast depending reving up. As I have both I have to adjust my riding style to the SWM and to the 199b. To sum it up in one sentence The Sherpa model 199b has to be ridden a tad more aggressive and with more body English then the SWM. Technical wise in many of the solutions of the SWM are newer and to be honest also better set up, to get the Bultaco in the same state you have to spend some effort in many departments, from brakes to rear suspension and engine. The clutch mounted to both bikes original state is not the very best and easiest depending pull. Edited November 27, 2015 by pschrauber 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 gearbox on bulto is good of course, and the swm always seems like it needs tuning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 gearbox on bulto is good of course, Apart from the tiny gap between 3rd & 4th ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishtwinspring Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 The gearbox on tis era of bike generally had bottom 3 section gears then 4th/5th for the roadwork in between secs. A big jump 3rd to 4th isn't suprising on a standard bike surely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bultacorock Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 (edited) I have had a little go on a really nicely setup 199B it was great to ride, the things that really stud out to me was how well it steered and how good new style wide foot pegs felt when set in the right place, my bike came with foot pegs which had been moved up and back not sure why. Anyway i got a set of Gerrys top yokes and dropped the fork legs all the way through the top yokes and that seem to have done the job for me. I made all the tight turns at the last event apart from a steep decent in sand with a tight turn just before the bottom which had me feet down trying to pull it round every time ....... May be a bit more work on the rider will help ! What i really like about my bike is Bultaco designed its engine to be smooth all the way and to really rev out cleanly more so than the other Sherpas, ( read this in a bike test ) never fails to make me smile as it start to howl i get some arm pump trying to hold on to it some times. Its been a long time since i had a SWM but i do have my eye on one again, it was really nice to ride and easy to ride, my friend had got him self a bran new white 349 Montesa after a while he asked would i like a go on his super new bike i liked the SWM much more and so did he ! he even said some thing like thats cheating to be fair his bike needed to be setup much better. The only thing is i always seemed to get into trouble on my SWM falling off crashing it would catch me out, it just felt a bit more nervous may be ..... than my Bultacos did, I have always like maximum stability first i need it i have trouble concentrating for more that a few minuets at a time and the extra stability seem to keeps me out of trouble. I love this forum BR Edited November 27, 2015 by bultacorock 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Gear ratios are fine on the 5 speed, you're never ever going to use 4th for a section but it pulls no problem on tracks, it's not a big enough jump to make the motor bog when going from 3rd to 4th up hills. If you want a real jump in gear ratios, try going from 4th to 5th uphill on an Ossa... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 I've always liked the Spanish bikes but as to which is better, the SWM from yellow/black model is the better bike. Only thing that lets it down is the clutch but it can be sorted. Once you get to the Jumbo framed bikes, both 240 and 350, they left the Bultaco behind, as you'd expect. The Jumbo frame 240 is probably right at the top of the twinshock tree, the 350 has fantastic torque but needs someone who can make use of it, a novice bike it isn't... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 . The Jumbo frame 240 is probably right at the top of the twinshock tree, Or Aprilia TX300, the ultimate SWM ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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