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#1: Yep Im still alive Author: dhc4ever, Location: Ipswich, Queensland Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 11:53 pm
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Well, long time no see etc.
I ran into Pete (TikkaT3)yesterday up at the Mount Glorious cafe on a motorcycle ride. That reminded me I havent been on here is quite a while.
To all haveing life changing experiences my thoughts and prayers.
The life process can be an absolute bastard at times.
Havent been shooting since the wuhan flu, but I have been busy wearing out motorcycles over the last 6 years and travelling.
Funny how once you get rid of the wife you suddenly have disposible income you never had in over 21 years of marriage.
Gee I miss my shed though.
Ill try to make it a habit to drop in again, all well and good here.
Im 25 but the bloke in the mirror is looking a bit worn.
You blokes have got to make the "golden years " look a bit more appealing.
Best to all.
Pete

#2: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: DallanC, Location: Utah

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 2:32 pm
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Welcome Back. What kind of bike do you have?

-DallanC

#3: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:34 pm
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Great to hear (see) you again Pete…even better to hear you are living the life mate.

I’m lucky, my missus doesn’t stop me from doing things I enjoy, although I mindful to not “overdo” it. We are coming up for our 50th Anniversary in August, so I’m trying hard to be a good boy.

How often do you get up to the Cafe on Glorious mate…it’s a great spot for a morning coffee and chat with like minded individuals. Now that the mongrel Police SGT from Indooroopilly is gone it’s even better.

One of my daughters and her husband (a brilliant motorcycle mechanic) are into dual sport bikes (both have Suzuki DR 650+) and getting out onto fire trails etc, so I am looking at rebuilding one of my bikes - a Bultaco 350 Alpina - and also doing some improvements to it like adding a battery and maybe hydraulic disc brakes. After that I can start trying to talk SWMBO into letting me register it and go for rides.

#4: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: DallanC, Location: Utah

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 7:08 pm
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Wow... I haven't heard the name BulTaco in 20 years or more.

I also run a dual sport, Honda XR250L. I find the bigger bikes too top heavy in the really technical trails. This particular Honda is a hybrid and very nimble. It has the bottom 3 gears from a XR bike (off road torque) with the top 3 from a XL (higher street gears). I've also put a bigger rear sprocket on it to get even lower speed / torque. We run trails that look more like a rocky stream bed than an actual two track or single track trail, or steep sharp switchbacks going up steep mountain faces.

Man I really need to get out and ride some more... believe it or not its snowing outside right now /sigh

-DallanC

#5: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:32 pm
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DallanC wrote:

Wow... I haven't heard the name BulTaco in 20 years or more.

I also run a dual sport, Honda XR250L. I find the bigger bikes too top heavy in the really technical trails. This particular Honda is a hybrid and very nimble. It has the bottom 3 gears from a XR bike (off road torque) with the top 3 from a XL (higher street gears). I've also put a bigger rear sprocket on it to get even lower speed / torque. We run trails that look more like a rocky stream bed than an actual two track or single track trail, or steep sharp switchbacks going up steep mountain faces.

Man I really need to get out and ride some more... believe it or not its snowing outside right now /sigh

-DallanC

Your bike sounds awesome mate…a good mix of street and trail. My son-in-law is a brilliant mechanic (he started out as a bicycle mechanic) and holds the highest quals you can get from every marque except Triumph. He has competed in the Australian Yamaha Olympics twice now, coming in 4th each time. They take into account Customer Relations, and he calls a spade a spade and will tell a customer, bluntly, if he is a fool. The organisers said that he would have won both if not for his being so blunt. Had he won, he would have been sent to Japan to compete in a worldwide competition.

He researched and studied the Suzuki DR model totally and now, if the customer wants and can afford it, rebuilds the 650cc unit with a Big Bore kit (up to 790cc from memory), rebuilds the gearbox with gear ratios to suit the customers type of riding, rebuilds the suspension (forks and rear shock) to amazing levels and will fit a large capacity fuel tank and “reserve” fuel and water tanks. He will also fit and calibrate the bits and bobs Dakar Rallye riders have on their dash etc and bikes.

The current owner of Despres Cyril’s Dakar bike (pictured) would only allow TK (SIL) to service and work on this bike. Needless to say, my SIL is a big Dakar fan and also Australian Safari fan. He has made Adventure Bikes and Dual Sport Bikes his specialty.

I actually have two Bultacos…a 1968 125cc Sherpa S, a Scrambler (fore runner to motoX), although I put a 175cc barrel and head on it with a little porting and a reed valve…it’s quick and very “peeky”. My other Bultaco is a 1974 350cc Alpina. I had problems finding original bits (I bought it as a basket case), so it has a mishmash of parts from other bikes. Rear fender is a “ducktail” type off a Honda, headlight is from a Kawasaki with handmade mounts, rear taillight/stop light is from a Yamaha…seat, tank, all mechanicals, frame, forks etc are original Bultaco. I’m actually going to pull the engine/gearbox down shortly and renew things like bearings etc, maybe look at boring the cylinder depending on availability of piston sizes (might have to look at WISECO) and possibly replace the original old AMAL Concentric carby with a 30mm Mikuni or an aftermarket flat slide unit…depending on cost Scratch

As it is, the bike was running OK last time I rode it, although it’s been awhile now, so I’m assuming with condensation etc, the roller bearings won’t be real flash.

#6: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: tikkat3,

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:01 am
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Yes it was good to catch up Pete
I tend to go for a ride now rather then a shot, just a bit easier cleaning up and locking away

My first bike was a Bultaco Matador

#7: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: dhc4ever, Location: Ipswich, Queensland Australia

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 5:11 pm
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Dallan,
Currently my everyday ride is a 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 gt pro.
Also have a 1984 Moto Guzzi Lemans 3 which gets ridden maybe once a month, and I have a 1977 BMW R100RS IN about 9 box's. Marriage breakup, loss of my shed and a lack of interest have put that project on hold for the last 5 years.
Vince,
I get up to the Mount Glorious Cafe 2 to 3 times a week, it's an excellent ride in the middle of the week, weekends I avoid. Bultaco's eh? Then you'd have a passing acquaintance with the Newels and Don Newell's motorcycles.

#8: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:53 pm
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“dhc4ever” wrote:

…Bultaco's eh? Then you'd have a passing acquaintance with the Newels and Don Newell's motorcycles.

Yes mate, I knew Don and Marie quite well. I used to go down to Don’s shop when it was in Newstead and give Don a hand when I could. I also know their daughter and son Tommy who has the Moto Guzzi shop in Wooloongabba, although I haven’t dropped in there for a while. One of my daughters went to school with Don and Marie’s granddaughter.

Don is no longer with us now, but I’m not sure about Marie…last I heard she was in care with dementia. Their old house is still up on Queens Rd in Everton Hills, along with the two massive sheds chockablock full of classic and rare Bultacos and parts Don scrounged from dealers all around Australia when Bultaco closed their doors.

#9: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: DallanC, Location: Utah

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 5:26 pm
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Found a picture of my bike from a few years back. It has aggressive knobby tires in this picture, they're just packed with mud LOL. Its very light weight and nimble.

I take the mirrors off or fold them in when getting in the more gnarly trails.

-DallanC

#10: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: DallanC, Location: Utah

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 5:43 pm
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dhc4ever wrote:

Dallan,
Currently my everyday ride is a 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 gt pro.

Thats a great looking bike!

-DallanC

#11: Re: Yep Im still alive Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 9:17 pm
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This thread has really excited my desire to rebuild my Bultaco Alpina. Time to check for funds methinks.

What I’d really like is to purchase a Polaris or similar Side by Side ATV, but since the Australian Government changed the Australian Design Rules (ADR) to include rollover protection on all quad type bikes/machines, the big name manufacturers in Japan stopped selling quads etc in Australia. Of course, this drove the price of even ratty used quads through the roof…they are almost worth more than their original purchase price. A Side by Side would set me back anywhere between AUD$14,000 and AUD$30,000 new.

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