Bultaco Frontera

whitham_wannabe · 02-08-2010, 03:36 PM

One of these has become available locally recently, and I can't stop going to look at the advert. I should be looking for a KTM or nice sensible DRZ, but love the idea of an old school enduro / dirt bike. Anyone have experience of these and would like to tell me why it would be a thoroughly bad idea to pick this up, as I know nothing about them?

Scott of the Sahara · 02-08-2010, 03:46 PM

My best friend had one in the late 1970's. We went riding together in the trails a few times. This bike was awesome but a little bit tempermental.
My friend could do power wheelies in more than 2 gears.

s10rat · 02-08-2010, 04:09 PM

Hot bike...!!!
remember when I was a kid a guy with this big old red Bultaco running around
in the dirt ...we had only 50 cc's crossers beginning of the 80's...memories
It was old looking already and sounded really deep and low for a 2 stroke....
Didn't appreciate it back then as would now
..I'd buy one for sure ina heartbeat if the price was right

welder · 02-08-2010, 04:47 PM

Bultaco's are super easy to work on and all the parts are availiable. go for it. great motors

east high · 02-08-2010, 05:39 PM

Just found the ad. Titled, registered and running.

I'd do it if I were you. My friend has a Bultaco street bike and it's friggin' awesome.

MudWalker · 02-09-2010, 08:46 AM

Do it! I've been drooling over that exact model for over 30 years.

whitham_wannabe · 02-09-2010, 09:52 AM

No no no! You're supposed to be talking me out of it!!! Tell me about how they never run, the wheels are made of cheese, how it'll drink my beer and shag my girlfriend when I'm not looking, something like that ....

markk53 · 02-09-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitham_wannabe

No no no! You're supposed to be talking me out of it!!! Tell me about how they never run, the wheels are made of cheese, how it'll drink my beer and shag my girlfriend when I'm not looking, something like that ....

I almost bought a 250 about 30 years ago, sorry I didn't. I would love a Frontera because of the lighting equipment. But I was young and stupid. I'd strip it, put Pursang bodywork on it and make a 2 stroke supermoto/flat tracker for the street with it. The Frontera porting should be mild enough to make it live fairly comfortably on the street. Bul parts have become more readily available because of the vintage racing and that they used a lot of numbered common seals and bearings in them. There are rod kits and pistons readily available too.

Here's a shot of my old Sherpa S from 1974:

Now how sweet would it be to have something like that on the street!

or even just the stock Frontera would be cool.

RideDualSport.com · 02-09-2010, 07:42 PM

By all means get it!

east high · 02-09-2010, 07:48 PM

OMG! Dude, you totally need to get it. I want it now, and I have no business buying any more bikes for a long, long while.

nsu max · 04-25-2010, 03:18 AM

I've had my '75 370 Frontera model 143 since 1985 and its been great.

TrailRider · 04-25-2010, 03:58 AM

I miss my Matador

Speedo66 · 04-25-2010, 04:37 PM

Here's a nice 350cc Alpina for sale, but a little far from you in NY. Not mine.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/mcy/1708991731.html

darmst6829 · 04-25-2010, 06:02 PM

A Frontera is a gas guzzling bad ass motorcycle. My brother has a 1975 360cc Frontera and its very anti-socially loud for the street and not AHRMA legal according to Dick Mann. Be prepaired to run out of fuel often. A 250cc Frontera is a better all around bike in my opinion. A better option for the street is a pre 1974 (AHRMA legal) 250cc Matador.

Dave

Ducksbane · 04-25-2010, 06:11 PM

When I was a young man (about the time the Frontera was new) all the local Australian Dirt Bike Magazines were absolutley in love with it. I have never ridden one, but I get the impression it was the first "modern" enduro bike ... light, powerful, long travel suspension for its time. It was I suspect eventually suplanted by the early KTM's which were more of everything, and the japanese ... IT400, PE250.

Still I sometimes think that the Frontera is a sort of undiscovered classic. If you get it I might be able to find one of those early magazine tests!

02-08-2010, 03:36 PM	#1
whitham_wannabe ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Mukilteo, WA Oddometer: 805	Bultaco Frontera One of these has become available locally recently, and I can't stop going to look at the advert. I should be looking for a KTM or nice sensible DRZ, but love the idea of an old school enduro / dirt bike. Anyone have experience of these and would like to tell me why it would be a thoroughly bad idea to pick this up, as I know nothing about them? __________________ From a WW1 RAF Flight Manual ... "If a crash at the home airfield is inevitable, try to hit something soft and, preferably, inexpensive" Travels With Bruce : More Travels With Bruce

02-08-2010, 03:46 PM	#2
Scott of the Sahara Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 299	Bultaco My best friend had one in the late 1970's. We went riding together in the trails a few times. This bike was awesome but a little bit tempermental. My friend could do power wheelies in more than 2 gears.

02-08-2010, 04:47 PM	#4
welder Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Victoria B.C. Oddometer: 1,327	Bultaco's are super easy to work on and all the parts are availiable. go for it. great motors __________________ Anything is possible if you don't know what your talking about!

02-09-2010, 09:52 AM	#7
whitham_wannabe ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Mukilteo, WA Oddometer: 805	No no no! You're supposed to be talking me out of it!!! Tell me about how they never run, the wheels are made of cheese, how it'll drink my beer and shag my girlfriend when I'm not looking, something like that .... __________________ From a WW1 RAF Flight Manual ... "If a crash at the home airfield is inevitable, try to hit something soft and, preferably, inexpensive" Travels With Bruce : More Travels With Bruce

02-09-2010, 07:42 PM	#9
RideDualSport.com TPB all the way Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Oddometer: 1,013	By all means get it! __________________ "Nobody understands what you're know what I'm sayin" The RideDualSport Forum

02-08-2010, 04:09 PM	#3
s10rat Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: around the world soon Oddometer: 2,017	Hot bike...!!! remember when I was a kid a guy with this big old red Bultaco running around in the dirt ...we had only 50 cc's crossers beginning of the 80's...memories It was old looking already and sounded really deep and low for a 2 stroke.... Didn't appreciate it back then as would now ..I'd buy one for sure ina heartbeat if the price was right

02-08-2010, 05:39 PM	#5
east high Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Oddometer: 758	Just found the ad. Titled, registered and running. I'd do it if I were you. My friend has a Bultaco street bike and it's friggin' awesome.

02-09-2010, 08:46 AM	#6
MudWalker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Lake George Oddometer: 1,892	Do it! I've been drooling over that exact model for over 30 years.

02-09-2010, 07:48 PM	#10
east high Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Oddometer: 758	OMG! Dude, you totally need to get it. I want it now, and I have no business buying any more bikes for a long, long while.

04-25-2010, 03:18 AM	#11
nsu max Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Oddometer: 378	I've had my '75 370 Frontera model 143 since 1985 and its been great.

04-25-2010, 03:58 AM	#12
TrailRider Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: North Central Ma. Oddometer: 233	I miss my Matador

04-25-2010, 04:37 PM	#13
Speedo66 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: SW Fairfield Co, CT Oddometer: 4,663	Here's a nice 350cc Alpina for sale, but a little far from you in NY. Not mine. http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/mcy/1708991731.html __________________ '01 Kawasaki W650 '05 Yamaha XT225

04-25-2010, 06:02 PM	#14
darmst6829 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Redmond WA Oddometer: 295	A Frontera is a gas guzzling bad ass motorcycle. My brother has a 1975 360cc Frontera and its very anti-socially loud for the street and not AHRMA legal according to Dick Mann. Be prepaired to run out of fuel often. A 250cc Frontera is a better all around bike in my opinion. A better option for the street is a pre 1974 (AHRMA legal) 250cc Matador. Dave

04-25-2010, 06:11 PM	#15
Ducksbane Quaaack!!! Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Northern NSW Oddometer: 1,120	When I was a young man (about the time the Frontera was new) all the local Australian Dirt Bike Magazines were absolutley in love with it. I have never ridden one, but I get the impression it was the first "modern" enduro bike ... light, powerful, long travel suspension for its time. It was I suspect eventually suplanted by the early KTM's which were more of everything, and the japanese ... IT400, PE250. Still I sometimes think that the Frontera is a sort of undiscovered classic. If you get it I might be able to find one of those early magazine tests!

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