Welcome if you've ventured over from BAT

Thanks for looking at the blog.  It goes all the way back to the beginning, when I brought this home.

Have a look.  Let me know if you have any questions.

It's not Goodbye

I actually tried to sell it.  3 listings on E-bay.  A few scam artists and no-one wanted to give me what I felt the bike was worth.

So, I still have it, and I ride it around the neighborhood.  I've learned a lot about the little Bultaco after riding it around a bunch:

1. The mirror I had stuffed in the bar end of the throttle was causing the throttle to bind just enough.  Once removed, all the revving issues I was having riding around went away, and the throttle is just a joy
   
2. Plug gap is very important.  I have fouled 2 plugs so far, and I think it's because the gap is off so much.  When I replaced the plug this time, I checked the spec, and set the gap at 0.5 mm.   The previous gap was off by at least twice that much.  Correct gap has to help my fouling issues.
   
3. I need to fix the horn still.  I've just been lazy

Who knows - maybe I'll ride it to work this week.....

Goodbye

Bittersweet.

It's time to say good by to Benny the Bultaco.  It's for sale.

The backwards foot pedals are too much for me to manage.  I've almost crashed just driving around the neighborhood - so there is no way I'm getting on the bigger roads.

Someone asked me if I was unhappy about it. All the work and effort, and then it goes.  I don't see it that way.

So many things I learned doing this.  How to take a motorcycle wheel apart and then lace it back together.

So many parts of Houston explored - powder coating guys, chrome platers, and one excellent motorcycle mechanic.

I'll sell it for less than I have into it, but I'm still glad I did it.  I hope whoever buys it loves it.

Fin

Wow, 7 years goes by so fast.

In October 2011, I started with this:

And there was a lot of work in between.  Powder coating.  Swing arm bushings.  Forks by Frank.  Buchanan Wire Wheels.  Wheel truing.  Atlas chrome plating.  A few attempts at paint.  An aluminum seat by a guy that is no longer in business.  A rebuilt gauge by my guys at North Hollywood Speedometer.  A 3rd overbore piston (thank goodness).  And so much more.  To finally get here:

The rain has stopped, and the sun is out.  I think I'll go for a ride today.

Inching closer - it looks like it may breathe fire in 2018

Got a call from Andre (the mechanic) on Thursday.  He got all the parts back from paint - Tank that was chipped, seat that was scratched, fender with drippy drippy clear coat.

Apparently, the body shop that I took it to initially completely ignored the paint request I made, as the blue that was spec'd by Bultaco was way darker than everything else.  So - the paint guy matched it and sprayed it the same metallic blue I had before.  I like how it came out.

Also - the bike is almost back together.  Harness is mostly built.  Kill switch is installed. New chain.  Bike gets compression when you move the kick starter, and shifts though gears.  There is a leak on the transmission case, but Andre will sort that.

A few more weeks, and it may run!!

Very exciting.

April Update

Talked to Andre today.  He's gone through the engine, and he thinks it is sorted. He flushed the transmission and he thinks it is working correctly again.

The tin is off the bike and back at paint again.  He has a box of wire, and is going to start working on the wiring harness.

Maybe another month....

Spring Break Update

I called Andre last Friday for an update.  He hasn't started yet, but claims he will start soon.  I still have hope that he is done by my birthday.

We'll see.