Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126033
vic t ories an d more impressive string o f fa ilu re-p roof pe rformances. Ra ther than jump on someone els e's wagon , Bultaco too k a little bi t from everyone. T he rea r of the Sang is suspende d by a 17.3 in ch long Betor Gas shock m o un te d at a thirty d egree angle. The shoc k strokes almost a full six inches alone and in co nj unction wit h t he t raili n g swing ar m geometry this al lows t he rear axle to move a fu ll eight and one-half in ches. Privateer experience with can tileve ring the rear of the Bultaco has resulted in a severe fr ont end wash out because of the force loadings on the front end. To handle this aberation a completely redesigned set of triple clamps , fork tubes, dampers, and sliders have been fit. The forks are built by Betor under Bultaco control and follow the now ah wo st un iversal Maico mode. The triple clamps are straight acrovs with the steering stem, and fork tubes in the same plane, The front axle is mounted on the leadi n g edge of the long black sliders. This configuration reaps benefits in several areas; the rotating mass of the fron t forks is lessen ed considerably by the new triple clamps, al lowing the front end to be flicked back and forth wi th ease. There is no wagging of the front forks; The la rge 38mm fork tubes do not flex even tho ug h fork travel is an ho nest ni ne and o ne -hal f inc hes; T he long leadi n g axle slid ers embrace t he fo rk leg over such a great depth t hat t he re is no binding caused of the slide r t orq u ing to t he fork leg un der impact. Handli ng The 25 0 an d 37 0 are exactly th e sa m e motorcycles. Even the all-u p weight of both m achines is wi t hi n tw o pound s of each o t he r. Vet the handling charac teristics differ grea tly. Bo th m otorcy cles wo r k, an d work well . Gone fo re ver is t he in famous fron t wh eel wash-out and tail e nd hang-out. T he ne w Bul s are sharp and p recise. T he front suspension takes a back seat to ze ro produ ction forks and few, if any , after -market specials. When the new gene ration Bu lt a co ca me out several years ago it was an im mediate success. On it an Interme d ia te beca me an Ex pert and an E xpert beca me a wi n ne r. It w as easy to ride with its b road to rq uey mi d-ran ge punch . As muc h as any pure bred racer can be a bike fo r begin ne rs t he 1974-75 Pursangs we re for mative style m o t ocros sers. If yo u gr ad uated t hro ug h those years o n th e o ld Sangs you're ready to step up to a h i-revver , drive-it -har d type o f machine . Yo u are in lu ck bec aus e Bultaco has grad uated from th e bike fo r every m an t o a bike for talen t ed men . To ride Grand Prix equipment you have to learn to ride Gr and Prix speed. Where t he Suzuki RM fo rc es you to go fast t o make it work, t he ne w Bul allows yo u to go slo wer, but works increasingly better the faster you go. You don 't buy a $1,600 race machine t o putt around on. The bi kes are definitely fast . The 3 70 requires the short shift method of letting the next higher gear pull you through. The 250 wants to sing. In a series of drag ra ce first turn starts the 250 Bul took a 250 RM Suzuki to task every time. The 3 70 because of it s big ch urnin g torque feels heavier, lon ger and more stable than its smaller companion pie ce. The weight isn 't there, it just feels like a more substantial piece of equipment. The lighter feeling 250 is a zinger, working more like a 125 , and covers ground beautifully. Identical suspension is shared by both bikes and it is faultless. Earlier models of Betor gas shock (fo u n d on Montesa V-75s) had a weak eyelet and shaft, but the Bultaco versions are sturdy and rugged. The new Bu llikes to go fast , the rear end sticks like glue in the co rners while soaking shock waves like a sponge. Is it the bes t motocross bike on the market? No, the best motocross bike on the market is the one t he buyer believes is right for him. Al l conclusion will have to be reached b y you. We will re mi nd you that this is a pie ce of Grand Prix machinery t hat the privateer gets to ride firs t. Bultaco's offering a factory ride on this year's works bike to every buyer. Sounds like an offer y o u can't re fuse. Specifications ENGINE Bore & st ro ke single cy linder. 2 stroke 72x6Omm 12501/85x64mm 1370' Displacement 244 .29ccI363.17cc Compression ratio BHP @ RPM . . • . . .. . . . • •. . . CARBURETOR TRANSMISSION IGNITION FRONT SUSPENSION Stanchion Travel Oil . . . . •.. . . . .. . . . . . . . ... REAR SUSPENSION Dampening travel Rear axle tralllli GENERAL W'-Ibase Seat height Empty weight 12:1/10:1 . . • . . . .. 34 .32/4018 36mm Bing 5 _d Motoplat (eleetronic) Telescopic/hydraulic 38mm 240mm 19.46'" • . .. . . ... . . • . 3OOcc SWing arm 146mm (5.75'" 205mm (8 .06") .55 %" 35.8" 217 Ibs. 25