199A – The Blue Bultaco
The model 199A is better known as the ‘Blue Bultaco’. This has a host of modifications that have been inspired from the Aldo Bultaco (see Classic Trial Magazine issue 18) this model is a 325cc. The machine is the result of lots of little modifications made to adapt the machine to modern riding techniques.
On the frame they have as usual lowered and moved backward the footrest position, and the footrests themselves are modern ones. The rear shock absorbers are ‘Magicals’ and they have once again also used a fork yoke from a modern machine to help when riding the more modern hazards of today’s events. The front fork springs have been replaced with a pair of ‘Magical’ units which give a more rigid feel, helping to limit the compression of the front forks on downhill turns giving the rider more confidence. A tubeless rear wheel rim allows the correct mounting of a Michelin X11 tubeless tyre.
To make the feel from the back brake more efficient a steel rod is fitted instead of the original cable system, which makes the rear braking more effective. The front brake is not a Bultaco original unit because the chromed braking path lost part of the chrome, making the power of the brake very poor. This is a typical problem of the original model 199’s front brake. The solution for this problem, carried out by Riccardo, is to mount a Grimeca front wheel coming from an SWM; however the brake plate is located on the opposite side compared with the original Bultaco one. This makes a better route for the front brake cable, and the steel brake contact path between the brake show material and the contact path on the braking area are so much better than the original unit. Much work has been carried out on the clutch system, with modifications carried out on the push rod and the clutch rotors/plates. The parts are from a Fantic, with the objective being to have a light action on the lever and good performance in terms of effectiveness. Compared with the original components this is a real improvement. A Mikuni carburettor makes the characteristics of the power delivery softer compared with the original Bing carburettor fitted. It is also easier to source Mikuni parts in order to set up the carburetion to your own personal requirements.
On this machine we have a big air filter coming from a 190 model. We don’t know if this big air filter is better than the stock one but it certainly works well! The ignition is electronic, an Electrexworld unit to be exact, which runs well with no more problems like those we have experienced with the original FEMSA units. It may not perform as well as the original electronics but the eradication of any problems with the electrics has to be a bonus.
Justyn Norek Jnr: “With Bultaco dominating the World Championship from 1975 – Martin Lampkin (GBR); 1976/77/78: Yrjo Vesterinen (FIN) and 1979: Bernie Schreiber (USA), this was the machine to own in these years. It very much has a ‘World Champions’ feel to the machine and, despite the age, it encourages you to push the limits of your riding. The king of the ‘pivot turn’, Schreiber changed the technique of riding and many can argue he started the trend to towards the modern ‘trick’ riding of today.”