oldtimetrials Posted October 13, 2022 Report Share Posted October 13, 2022 Hello everyone out there in trials world. My name is Robby and I used to do trials back in the late 60s early 70s at my local meetings at Buxton, Matlock and Leak etc. I was never brilliant but loved every Sunday when trialing, I used to ride a mclaren suzuki, I wish I still had it now, I found it very light and easy to ride. I am in the process of restoring a Bultaco 250, it's a bit of a miss match but all there, I would like to thank Pete at in motion trials for all his excellent help and advise on my project, his service and aftersales is second to none. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted October 13, 2022 Report Share Posted October 13, 2022 Welcome to the forum, I hope you find useful info here! Do you have any photos of your Bultaco project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted October 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2022 Hi, thankyou for replying. I will see if I can get some photo's done and put them on for you all to see. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted October 14, 2022 Report Share Posted October 14, 2022 Thank you, I do love a good Bultaco - especially in a state of being resurrected! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted October 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2022 Hi all, here are a few photo's of what's gone on so far. What i like to do is to etch prime before primer and then top coat and lacquer. the frame as is needs another top coat and then lacquering. The tank and seat are in primer. The forks are not quite finished yet, I am waiting for the new seals to come and then finish of cleaning. As you can see, I have cleaned some of the parts in the box but not all, I do my cleaning between other jobs. The wheels have not been touched yet but I do have new tyres for them. The motor has had the top end off to check, I didn't know that dykes rings were fitted to these, piston, barrels head all in really good condition, I have had the clutch out to check and all is good. All in all, the bike is in good condition, it had just been left for some years and the old rust had attacked it but now it's gone. This is the first trials bike that I have took on, in my retirement my hobby is rescuing old bikes from the scrap heap or breakers and normally I do old air cooled Yamaha's plus anything that takes my eye, I'm really enjoying this one as it takes me back to my trialing days and it wont be the last. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted October 18, 2022 Report Share Posted October 18, 2022 Good stuff, looks like it'll end up looking great when you're finished! What made you go for paint on the frame over powder coating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted October 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Hi, thanks for your reply turbofurball, It is just personal preference, my opinion is that it looks that little bit better, more like original, and also with a 2K lacquer it is quite hard wearing. I will post a photo of the frame painted and lacquered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 It does look more "period correct", but there's often quite a split on what people choose! I got my TY and my other half's Pampera frames powder coated simply because it was quick, but I like the painted from on my Cota (which has rubbed off in places, but it suits the bike since it's a survivor rather than restored) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted October 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 Hi, here is a photo of the frame now it has had the paint and lacquer, my opinion is that it looks quite good. I do understand that the opinion of others vary, the same as Yamaha followers, but at the end of the day, I made the choice and am more than happy with the end result. As I said before, the bike is a miss match, the frame is model 85 250 Alpina and the motor is a model 49 250 Sherpa so this bike will never be original but it will be a nice looking bike that will give loads of fun. This one I am doing as a favour to a good friend of mine, he purchased the bike back in 1975, he was told it was all original and not many were made, it came with a log book and was registered for the road, he never checked the numbers on the log book, when I got the bike I checked on the DVLA registrations as the reg number was still on and it couldn't be found. When I ordered some parts from Pete at in motion, he asked for the frame and engine numbers to get the correct parts, it was Pete that informed me it wasn't what it should be. I got the log book from my friend and checked the numbers, the engine was correct but the frame number was different, my friend was gutted, he said that back then he just got the bike and was more interested in riding it rather than reading, he thought he had a gem when in reality he was stitched up. I will do all I can to put a smile back on his face when he sees his bike looking nice clean and fresh and one that he can bring back his youth. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted October 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Hi all, I've got the forks rebuilt with new seals etc and also the front wheel and got them fitted. One thing that has pleased me is that all of the bolts for fitting the mudguard, after cleaning all the crud and rust from them, are original bultaco stamped bolts. My opinion is that it is looking quite good. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 Hi all, even though it's so cold in my workshop I have managed to do a little more on the bike, here is an update. The rear mudguard was a real state, it was bent and cracked and I thought it was scrap but I decided to give it a go at rebuilding the rear section and fit a brake light, as it is going to be re registered I covered the end in leather ready for the new reg, not brilliant but I'm happy with the end result. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 That looks presentable enough, are you planning to paint the letters onto the mudguard, fit a curved plate, or a flat plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 Hi turbofurball thanks for following the restoration. I am undecided weather to get some self adhesive plastic numbers or to paint them on, I think painting on would be more in keeping, as long as there tidy but what do you others think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbofurball Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 Sticky vinyl only seals well on smooth surfaces, if it was me I'd go with paint. Be sure to have a friendly MOT station lined up for the test though, strictly speaking you should have a flat plate (my Cota passed with a hand-painted curved plate just fine, because the MOT station owner rode twinshocks) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimetrials Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 Hi, thanks for your reply. MOT is no problem as it is a friend of mine that owns the shop/garage that is local. In saying that, with the Bultaco being over 40yrs it is exempt, I will make sure everything is right on the bike but I don't think my mate who owns the bike will bother with an MOT but I will make sure it is road legal. More to come soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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