One of my favorite motorcycles from this weekends Bonneville Vintage GP was a Metralla Mk2 racer – so here’s a street version for you to enjoy.
Said racebike from Miller Motorsports Park
In the 60s, Bultaco was known primarily for its off-roaders, especially in the US. Their streetbikes were normally relegated to stay in Bultaco Cemoto’s home country of Spain, which imposed regulations allowing Bultaco to only use one engine in a small variety of sizes. You would think this put the Spanish company at a serious disadvantage when it came to international competition – but the Bultaco Metralla utilized the usual two-stroke engine that pumped out an impressive 32 horsepower in a world where plenty of cars didn’t make 32 hp. For a short period of time, this was the fastest two-stroke motorcycle you could buy.
“Riding it is like throwing a smoke bomb into a hornets’ nest, then climbing on. Every time I ride the bike, I think to myself, ‘Really? Guys rode these skinny-tired, drum-braked, springy-suspensioned things in anger?’ Major respect for those brave souls who had no idea what sport bikes would be like a scant 25 years later.”
– Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, April 2010.
This Metralla apparently enjoyed a complete restoration. Find it for sale in Laguna Beach, California for $13,500 here on EuroPapi USA (3rd bike down)