Jim Pomeroy, champion motocrosser, made the name Pursang famous with his wins in AMA Pro Motocross, but also in the Spanish Motocross GP in 1973. He not only became the first American to win a Gran Prix on a Spanish bike, but also the youngest rider to win a World Championship Motocross Grand Prix and the first rider to win this type of event in his debut race! Bultaco made the best of it and in 1975, the 360cc “Pomeroy Replica” was in the Bultaco line-up.
Noted for their unique style among collectors, Model 48 and Model 68 Pursangs, aka “Box-Tails,” also on display here at the Museum, made use of fiberglass for major body components. This proved to be very fragile stuff so was often replaced by Preston Petty’s aftermarket parts. By the mid-1970’s the traditional “unbreakable plastic” fenders became factory stock.
From the beginning, piston-port timed engines, by 1979 the Pursang Mk XII had adopted reed valves like most of its competition.
Most Pursangs were 250cc machines but 125, 250, 360 and 370cc displacements were available over the span of the model’s production, plus a works 400. Though the Bultaco brand is still out there, actual factory production for Bultaco and Montesa ceased around 1983.
When you visit the National Motorcycle Museum you can take in a good selection of motocross, trials and enduro motorcycles. A good number of these bikes, including this Bultaco, were donated by Tina and Kevin McGill and include CZs, Maicos, KTMs, Montesas, Hondas and Huskys.
Specifications:
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- Engine: 244cc Two-Stroke
- Bore & Stroke: 72mm x 60mm
- Compression Ratio: 12:1
- Induction: Square Body Amal / Reed Valve
- Ignition: Femsa Magneto
- Horsepower: 34 HP Rated
- Clutch: Multi-Plate Oil Bath
- Transmission: 5-Speed, Left Shift
- Primary: Duplex Chain
- Frame: Welded Steel, Single Down Tube
- Wheelbase: 56 Inches
- Ground Clearance: 10 Inches
- Wheels: 3.00 x 21″ Front, 4.00 x 18″ Rear
- Telescopic Fork: 9 Inch Travel
- Swingarm/Shocks: 5-Way Adjustable, 5 Inch Travel
- Brakes: Internal Expanding / Drum
- Seat Height: 31 Inches
- Weight: 220 Pounds Dry
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I noticed a few easily fixable items. Why would they not display this as complete as possible?
Missing drive chain
Front brake cable loose
Missing fuel line
Kick starter looks strange
I know it is not going to be used and sometimes parts are hard to find but these are really simple fixes.
John,
Good points. This Bul and about 25 other MX, trials and enduro bikes, mostly pre-1980 and European, came to us from one gracious donor about three years ago. The bikes ranged in condition, cherry to needing a complete restoration, but staff time and a funds for parts and labor to bring them all back is just not in the Museum’s budget. Maybe we need an adopt a bike program so passionate supporters can help us with parts, at least to put the machines needing a few parts back in shape. We apologize for less than perfect examples, but they still serve as machines to help with our memories, and in this case, our memories of the great Jim Pomeroy.
I bought one of these Brand new from a Bultaco dealer in the upper peninsula in Michigan in June 1976, still in the crate! The dealer literally met me at the Mackinaw bridge to deliver it to me: $1,400 back then for a bike that was truly race ready out of the crate. Being a mid level motocrosser, I raced it a local track in lower Michigan, and out of 40 bikes at the starting line, this powerful bike would get me to the first corner in 2nd or 3rd place. However, more skilled racers would pass me to put me in 8th or 10th place, where is about where I finished. If there was any doubt about this bike being professional race ready, my good buddy had just lunched the gearbox on his new Montessa, and asked if he could take my Pursang to a race: he proceeded to win the first and second 250 motos, and the turn around after after each 250 race to come in 4th in the 400 class as well, Holy cow! So it certainly wasn’t the Bike when I came in 8th or 10th! Sadly, my bike was stolen out of my garage,when I moved to Indiana about a year or two later, so not sure whatever became of it. loved that bike.