Bultaco M11

[firko]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bultaco-Bultaco-Rickman-Metisse-Vintage-Racing-Steve-McQueen-/220850979949?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item336bbe846d#v4-40


 Here's an interesting little bike that'd scrub up as a pretty nice little pre 65 contender but the current $3689.99 bid that's still under reserve tells me the seller thinks he can asK Metisse prices for the bike.

Make no mistake, this bike is not a Metisse even though it looks just like one. Wheras the original Rickman Bultaco Petite Metisse was pukka craftsman made from Reynold 531 tubing and quality Avon fibreglass and using Ceriani forks, the Bultaco rip-off was made from heavy, crack prone European Common Market low grade mild steel, probably imported from Russia, had decent but much heavier fibreglass bodywork made in house at Bultaco and Betor suspension. Just because the M11 is an inferior copy of the Petite Metisse doesn't make them less cool, it's just that they're not worth the money this guy wants for what is in reality a rough, unrestored little bike in need of at least 2k worth of restoration. IMHO it's a 2k bike as is.

[albrid-3]

This model Bully is not eligible for pre 65, pre 70 Yes, its shame though.

[firko]

This model Bully is not eligible for pre 65, pre 70 Yes, its shame

With respect 74, you're incorrect. The Petite Metisse was indeed released in 1965 and the M11 a year later but they've been accepted in the pre 65 class since the inception of VMX in this wide brown land. Most other countries accept the Metisse and M11 in pre 65 as well. There's too much of a precedent of allowing them in to upset the applecart now.

This is one of those bikes that fit the criteria in everything except their birthday. The frame is an almost replica of the '63 era Mk3, and the 4 speed engine was available in 1964. The M11 gets in for being a replica of the Rickman. The book is full of anomolies that should or shouldn't be in specific eras but at a time when we're trying to attract as many racers to the older classes as we can, it'd be silly to reduce the eligible bike selection.
Below: a real Petite Metisse

[albrid-3]

with respect Mark,The 2011 GCR state pre 65 bultaco only, that means before 1965 which means 64 models, the only pre65 bultaco metisse was a single front down tube 200cc engine.
In 1965, rickman brothers built the frame while bultaco built the centre port 250 engine, all to late, date 1965 and over, In Australia there was only a small amount of bultaco metisse being race here, and the year was 1966.  I do agree that it was a positive move to make the bultaco metisse eligible for pre 65, it adds more riders to the  pre65 class,where in recent years it has been lacking, its a shame it wasn`t encouraged 18 or more years ago when the vintage rules was adopted when curtain vintage riders own them.

[Marc.com]

Hell I wouldn't pay 4 grand for that shop of horrors, I paid less than that for genuine Mk3 roller and pre unit motor and box. The 2 stroke Rickys are good source of hubs and forks but that is about it.

[firko]

its a shame it wasn`t encouraged 18 or more years ago when the vintage rules was adopted when curtain vintage riders own them.

They were allowed in pre 65 right from the git-go. John Matthews in Sydney raced a genuine Rickman framed Bully in pre 65 in the very early days until the bike was sold back to England. Since then a number of racers have ridden M11 Bullies in pre 65 without a hint of protest. I had a bit to do with the running of things back then and I can't recall any objection to the Petite or M11. I even built a T100 Triumph powered M11 that I sold before I finished it to a bloke who retrofitted the original Bully running gear and raced it in pre 65 dirt track. Mark Austin on this forum regularly races his M11 in pre 65.

The 2 stroke Rickys are good source of hubs and forks but that is about it.

Not even that on the M11 they're primitive early Bully fodder. The real 2 stroke Rickmans are sweet things framewise. The hubs were also early Bul.

[mx250]

Gee, a harsh room .

That's a $2000 bike with $2000 worth of patina  .