I have decided to kill Bultakenstein. Finding the old mockup image that prompted my most recent post also prompted a lengthy discussion with my wife. She said, “you don’t seem to be … Bultakenstein is dead.Read more
Φ Bultakenstein [Aborted]
A shadetree amateur’s low-budget, scratch-built attempt to create my idealized motorcycle. After 15 years and totally losing the plot, I scrapped the whole idea.
The original concept image
While cleaning out some old document folders on my computer, I stumbled onto my first conceptual visualization for a Bultaco 360 road bike. I created this around 1992 or 1993. Pretty bitchin’, … The original concept imageRead more
Homebrew expansion chamber
I’m starting to mock up my exhaust. I’m using the chamber belly section from an old RD 350 pipe. That’s on the small side (both diameter and volume) for a 360, but … Homebrew expansion chamberRead more
Floating torque link
The SR250 swingarm didn’t have a convenient attachment point for the rear brake torque link. Instead, I used M10 rod ends and alloy tube to make a fully floating link arm that … Floating torque linkRead more
Front number plate added
For more than three decades, the recipe for my “ultimate bike” was a rip-snorting, Bultaco 360cc street bike with cast wheels and a front disk brake. Now that I’m in my sixties, … Front number plate addedRead more
SR250 swingarm and engine plates mounted
I’m most of the way back to where I was on Bultakenstein, but now using the new swingarm. First, I got the rear wheel centered in the frame. Here you can see … SR250 swingarm and engine plates mountedRead more
Swingarm #4
The fourth time’s the charm? I am now on my fourth swingarm for Bultakenstein, and I think we finally have a winner. Looking for a path forward on the Bultaco, I considered: … Swingarm #4Read more
Chassis reassembly, and another roadblock
After almost a month of retirement, I was finally able to get back to my project bikes after about a four-month hiatus. I decided to get Bultakenstein’s new Shinko tires mounted. The … Chassis reassembly, and another roadblockRead more
Rear wheel spacers
I made up spacers to center the rear wheel in the new SRX-6 swingarm. I checked and re-checked my measurements, and it’s still off by perhaps 1–1.5 mm. That’s a functionally insignificant … Rear wheel spacersRead more
Refinishing wheels
The horrible corrosion on the newer 18″ GS450S rear wheel prompted me to get both wheels sandblasted. Technically, they were blasted with coal slag media, but in reality there’s little effective difference. … Refinishing wheelsRead more