Classic Dirt Bike Summer 2025 issue **20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW**

03 In Balance

Breakagesare afactofnot justoff-road riders’ lives, and abroken gearboxpart caused major woes and much musing on material suitability

06 News andv iews

News is always alast-minute affair in a quarterlypublicationaswestrive to be topical, whichisnot easy,but we still fll four pages…

42 Subscr ibe

All youneed to knowaboutgetting aproper postie to drop CDBon your doormat.

50 Dirt Products

Sometasty bits andpieces which aredesigned for us off-roaders, but will theymake us faster,better,more stylishand awow at parties? Well, they’llhelp…

60 JD’s view

Reading the starter wasanessential skill in the scrambler’s technique,and predicting the start could gain arider a fewprecious feet… or not. JD discusses

71 Dirt Talk

We used to listen for the clackofa letterboxasmail wasdelivered. These days it will be the ding, whistle or amusing squawk of internet Messenger system alerts.

82 Moto Memories –ManxISDT

The Isle of Man is famedfor motorcycle activity,and it hosted theISDTthree times from 1965 to 1975… apparently there’saroad race there, too

Want to tell us aboutafor thcoming event, or have anyother dirt bike news to share? Email CDBEditor@mortons.co.ukortrack down theeditorata dirt bike show or event.

Sidecar Celebration

Nowinits 8th year is the annual Wasp Trophywhichbrings tog ether the best in sidecar MX racing will be hosted by Narberth Classic MCC during their two-day Classic Scramble on June 14/15, 2025. The venuewill be West Atherton Farm, near Narberth in Wales, there’sa postcodeof SA67 8BT to fnd the place though many scrambles fans will knowitalready. As well as the Wasp Trophythe event will also be the thirdand fourth rounds of the Welsh championship and include the Stuart Davies Memorial races. Camping will be availabletoo.For last minute details go to NarberthClassicMCC Facebook page

Is thereamoreiconicMXout ft than aNor tonWasp?

TwoTop Two-day Trials

KinlochlevenMCC are building on the success of their popular LevenValley TwoDay Trial –whichwill be on 27-28September for 2025 –bylaunching the Duncan Smith Memorial Trial -Alba TwoDay on 31 May/1 June 2025. The venueistobeat Achallader,BridgeofOrchy

in Argyllshireand sections will featurethe sort of terrain familiar to those who’ve ridden the SSDT andother suchScottish trials.

Forthe fnal information on the newtrial and tokeepup to speed on the LevenValley visit the club’swebsite www kinlochlevenmcc.co.uk

We lsh TwoD ay 2025

Triumph’srecordinthe WelshTwo Dayisillustrious, look slikeitwillcontinuewiththeir latest bike.

From 1951 when the frst Welsh was held to 2025’s event in afew weeks’ time on Thursday and Friday June 19/20 there’sbeen achangeor twoalong the way. In the earlydaysitwas athree-dayevent but by the Seventies it had become atwo-dayone.Now it is frmlyanenduroitinitiallywas described as atrial though 70 years agothe description ‘trial’ had wider connotations with even the ISDT being atrial. Even in its daythough the event hadbecome atraining ground for the ISDT and in fact AJS star rider and eventual comp manager Hugh Vineydescribed it as “rather like the ISDT –but without the tension.”

While thereisa classicelement in the enduro it is primarily amodern eventthough for 2025 therewill be tworiders who will celebrate theirGolden AnniversarywithitasDerrick Edmondson,ridingamodern Triumph in theover50s class and Steve Finchwho will be tackling the clubman class. Thanks to being aquarterlypublication CDB is too late to carryentry details but will be doing abit for the eventitself.

Theeditor, left,chats with Albert andFreddie Bergadaatthe LevenValleytrial

Barg ains at Bashley

On SundayMay 4, 2025 the SammyMiller Museum held their frst Auto Jumble of the year with over 80 stallholders; our felds and car park were full and our volunteers had abusy time parkingeveryone safelyand guiding traffc in and out of the complex.

The newcafé at Sammy’sPit Stop and the Catering Cabin in the Courtyardwerekept

Beamish Suz uki

Celebrat io nTri al

CDB caught up with the Beamish Suzuki Owners Club at Telfordand learnedthey were planning aGolden AnniversaryTrialat Golden ValleyClassic Club’sGerry Holdstock Trial. This is nowgoing to happen and all the club need areasmanyBeamish Suzuki trialsbikes as possible to come along on July 5/6. 2025. Entrydetails will be found on the Golden ValleyClassic MCC website, address as follows… www.gvcmcc.club/gerryholdstock-trial

The Beamish Suzuki Club areopento sponsorship offers from anyone witha Beamish Suzuki connection –perhapsa dealer,orhad some support in the past? So,ifyou’dlike to be involved and have fond memories of the Beamish Suzuki then contact NickHaskins on 07894 176831 and getinvolved.

busy serving all day. Visitors were invited by Sammytolookatthe newextension to theMuseum; this is aconversionofthe old tearooms. Sammyhopes this will be fully open for ourvisitors in the next couple of weeks. Next auto jumble will be on Sunday August 10, 2025 go to www.sammymiller.co.uk to book pitches.

OctoberWelshWhopper

Mid-Wales Classic Bike Showwill bringtogether the best in classic dirt bikes –betheytrials, MX, scrambles, grass trackorspeedway–add in amix of race and road bikes and arrangethe lotfor all tosee in theVillage Hall,Pant-y-Dwr, Rhayader, Powys, LD6

5LL on October 5, 2025. Therewill be an autojumble, abike park full of interesting ride-ins and, in case you’rehungry, simple,homecooked food with teaand coffee to wash it down. The eventalways supports local charities so go on,support them.

Lots to se eand buyatBashley

BeamishSuzuk is will be celebrated at Golden Valley ’s Gerr yHolds to ck Trial.

Thoroughbred champion

We like to featurewinners in thepages of CDB; sometimesittakes awhile af ter winningfor abiketobefeatured… here is theBestScrambler from theCDB show 2019

Words and pics: Tim Britton Media Ltd Archive pics Mor tons Archive

What with one thing and another, many events conspired to prevent us catching up with Bob Motleytofeaturehis ex-Malcolm Rathmell 1970 Bultaco Pursang. Photoshoots needmany things to fall into place to be successful.but agood start is agreat bike.Then we have to ftinwithanowner’s work schedule whichiseasier to do–wesimplygo whenthe owner is free and the weatherisnice… which isn’talwayssoeasy to arrange. Then, of course,wecan do without aglobal pandemic. Still, fnally we managed to catchupwithBob earlyin2025 when the magazine gods smiled,all wasright with the worldand abigger jacket keeps the cold out... It is no great revelation to point out that under founder Snr Francisco Bulto,the Bultaco factoryhas

Above: Forthe Mk4 versionoftheir Pursang, Bultacohad made a fewchanges to the modelwhich followed theirethos of continual development. There wouldbeother changes, too, before theMk5 arrived

always embraced racing andcompetition. It wasa difference of opinionoverthe value of being involved in sportwhichwas the catalyst to SnrBulto leaving Montesa and forming his owncompanyinthe late Fifties. To reduce the forming of Bultaco to acouple of paragraphs in abike featuremeans aconsiderable amount of background hastobeleft out, butsuchislife After the companywas launched in May1958 it was soon involved in the new–well, newtoSpain –sport of motocross with alightlymodifed version oftheir new roadster.This led to the development of the Sherpa S for1960 and Bultaco’scommitment to motocross. Work on the Sherpa Scontinued andtooka big boost when Donand Derek Rickman were invited to compete in an international MX nearBarcelona. This led to the

Toplef t: Asop to concours work ,the pad stopsdamagetothe paintoralloy.

Left: Amal’s Concentric carb wasfully rebuilt, butitwasn’tuntil the frst runningitwas realised there’dbeena tweaktothe jetting. The topcover wasthought to waterproof thecarb.

Below: Allinall anicelookingmotorcycle.

strip right backtothe bare cases before checking every component part thoroughlyfor damage.Noone reading this will denyacompetition bike has ahardlife and things done in the heatofthe moment when the ‘raceface’ is on can stress bits andpieces. Luckilythough,all internals were in good condition so could be reused, and the mating faces of the cases cleaned and checked for fatness. With all bits checked, the rebuild could begin. Firstly, everybearing andsealwas replaced, then the crankshaft wasspilt andanew con-rod kit waspressed into the fywheels. Unsurprisingly, the barrel wasin need of areboretotake out the wear andmade good for anew piston. All the checking, followedbycareful assembly,meant things progressed quicklyand the bulk of the engine wassoonbacktogether readyfor the ignitionand primarydrive

On the ignitionside,the Femsa dual electronic system wasreplacedwitha newversion ofthe same generator as earlyelectronics canbreak down. This sorts the sparks andisgenerallyunserviceablebythe owner.Bultaco hadlong used an all-steel plate clutch on the primary driveasthis givesverylittle troubleand along with the rest of the primary side,was thoroughly cleaned and reassembled.

While the engine wasbeing sorted Bob checked out the frame.Now,like the engine,anMXframe can have an interesting life with all sorts of things causing problems. In this case the chassis wasstraight and needed nothing moreserious thannew swinging arm bushes and steering headbearings, and acoating of Bultaco silver to makeitlikenew.A set ofnew dampers on the rear wasthe easiest option. Originallytheywould be Girlings butasHagon took on the Girling motorcycle

Just so the oppositionknewwho wasinfront

Above:

Left: St ylish, elegant… despitethe inconvenient telegraphpole… them

with when new. To be honest Iwouldn’thaveknown this and don’tpretend to be all knowingsorelyonthe owner to point suchthings out, which Bob did by saying: “Both wheels areastheywerewhen the bike came from Malcolm; he did mention it washis preference forstrongerspokes.”Apartfrommorecleaningand polishing, the wheels got newbearings, brake shoes and newtyres beforebeing refttedto the frame, which wasbythis time looking more like amotorcycle.Next up wasthe underslung exhaust which maybewell outofthe wayofthe rider’sleg but right inthe wayfor damage by stones and other stuff.Ittook alot of sorting out to getitright and readytogobackonthe bike.

At this stage of arebuild the bulk of the work is done and it is the time-consuming tiny bits and pieces whichtake up the time.For instance,asmanyofthe original ‘Bultaco’ fasteners have beenreusedas have the handlebars. Next the distinctive mudguardingwent back on; these were in good conditionbut were treated to afresh coat of paint, as wasthe tank. “There’sa sparetank availablefor the bike but it is brand-new and wasgiven to me as part of the deal.” Bobcarried on listing afew things which have beenchanged though; the control levers arenew but typically period, and thecables also arenew.“The Gunnar Gasser throttleis original though,”headds.

Wi th all this description of wo rk bei ng d one yo u might be thinking ,‘ Hold on, what ab ou tt he carb ?’

Below: Rickmanwere theBultaco importer andhad adealtomake 250ccMetisse models whileBultaco developed theirown bike

We ll, we ’vel eft it until last. Bob ha di treb uilt and averyg ood job it wa s, too,a nd we nt on the bike to fnish it off. Then came The Grea tD ay of the Grand Sta rt-up… whicht he bike did and re lative ly easily, too, and Bo bj umped on, eage rt orelive the ex perien ce of this ea rlyP ursa ng… “W hat ad isappo in tm en ti twas,” he says .“ Inst ead of the sha rp powe rIrem em bered it wa sa sf at as af …e rf at th in g. No go to it at all.” Bob bega nq uestioning his re collectio ns of the bike in its day. “Wechecked everything, and all wa swell or as it sho uld be at least. No ma tter wha twed id, it wa st he sa me.” The a nswe rc am ew hen lookin ga tt he orig ina lc arburettor jets and their holder… th em ain jet ho lder wa s1 /16” shorter wherei ts tucku pi nto th e carb passage.With no thing else to try, Bob swap ped the newo ne for the mo dded ol do ne… a nd wh at a difference.T he bike wa sl ike arocke ta nd morea sB ob re membered it… It turns out this mod is at ip from the ka rting wo rld and re lea ses quite ab it of powe r. “It’sp ro babl et ha tM alco lm’sd ad Er ic did th is for him as Malco lm wo uld often sayi ft he front wheel wa sn’t in the air in the fr st three ge ars then yo u’ren ot goin g harde no ugh,”s ay sB ob.I t’sp ossible al esser rider tha nR athmell might no tg et on so we ll with su ch powe rd elive ry

The next stage in the Pursang’stale brings us backto the start and Bob’sefforts bringing him Best Scrambler awardatTelford2019.