The Pursang quickly improved, becoming less ‘Rickman’ and more ‘Bultaco’ along the way, so by the Mk2 it was properly a Bultaco and, by the end of 1971, when the Mk5 was introduced as a production bike, it was the market leader in style and performance. However, when Bultaco got the bike it became ‘pursang’, which means ‘thoroughbred’ and, naturally, as both words were used as names the first letter was capitalized. Looking at definitions of words, the French ‘metisse’ translates as ‘mixed heritage’ and relates to the number of parts that were used to create the Rickman machines and it sounds more classy than ‘bitza’. The Pursang range was developed from machines built by the Rickman brothers, who worked closely with Señor Bulto and from their efforts came the Bultaco Metisse, which became the Pursang Mk1. What Damon was bidding for and raced in 1973, was a Bultaco Model 89 Mk5 125cc Pursang, a genuine UK machine for the new thing of schoolboy MX, which had moved on apace from the Bantams that were the first bikes to be used. He continued: “I raced one just like this in 1973 and that sort of connection always stays with you and I started thinking ‘I wonder if there’s one out there…’ Next thing I knew I was bidding on it.”
“To be honest I doubted my sanity at buying it when the delivery wagon turned up and unloaded it,” he grinned while showing me a picture of what was dropped off. Looking at Damon’s superb little 125 Pursang it is hard to believe what it was like when it arrived at his house. Of course, when you make your purchase via an internet auction site, sometimes you are surprised by what turns up. Whatever the case, and for Damon Wood, it is the latter of these reasons, we seek out the object of our interest. To a greater or lesser degree all of us in the classic world tend to look back fondly on the bikes we liked a while ago, or the bikes we were impressed within a particular period – it could be because we wanted one and couldn't get one or perhaps it is because we had one and regretted selling it, or perhaps a particular model was part of our growing up. Click on the pics below for more information and more pictures.Bultaco Pursang Classic Dirt Bike | Winter 2019 Those rose-tinted glasses have a lot to answer for sometimes. It really is a beautiful motorbike and if you would like something will always put a huge smile on your face consider this Metralla. It’s a 1967 Mk2 that has been restored to pretty much stock condition, there are a few little tweaks here and there but the original parts that were changed out will come with the bike. So, today I found a really beautiful Metralla on ebay that is ready to ride right now. I offered up both my roadracers and ‘The Mighty 350’ in trade for the little Bultaco,and while Lynn did everything he could to keep from laughing, I could see that the Metralla was not going home with me.
Bultaco pursang pronuncation full#
Guru Lynn had just finished a full restoration of a ‘67 Metralla and let me ride it around his property for a bit, I had to have the Metralla. Would I want a Metralla today? Oh Yeah! This is the perfect example of Spanish art on two wheels.Ī few years back while on my way from a vintage roadrace at Willow Springs to another one at Sears Point in Northern California I stopped in Minden Nevada to get some Bultaco spiritual guidance (and a couple of parts for a Sherpa T I had inherited), from the Bultaco Guru of the West, Lynn Mobley. Would I want another Bultaco dirt bike now? Probably not. While I was helped out in my desert racing and enduro career by the local Bultaco dealer, they never let me take out the street bikes, probably a smart move on their part at the time. I started racing a Bultaco Matador back in 1968, moved up to Pursangs, rode an Astro in a couple of TT races but never owned a Metralla. This is the definition of a really fun Sunday morning. These are the guys you blew by in the corners. Ok, the reality is you’re not in Spain and you’re not going to have Paella, you’re going to have a chili and cheese omelet at the Rock Store on Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains and you’re going to have to answer a hundred questions from guys that have never even heard of Bultaco about your little Metralla. You my friend are riding a Bultaco Metralla and your destination is wonderful little Spanish restaurant and plate of the best Paella in Northern Spain. The skinny little tyres turn in with no effort yet keep you right on line. A very light push on the bars sends you through the corner apex at speeds that put larger bikes to shame. The bike almost knows what you’re going to do before you do. The bike is light, quick and amazingly agile. Picture this, you’re buzzing along a tight twisty mountain road on a classic roadracer that just happens to have lights and a horn.
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