My father in law, a Spaniard, had a sixties-model Bultaco street bike that he was still riding well into the 1990's. Most people in America never knew that Bultaco made street bikes for the market in Spain and the rest of Europe. They had a good reputation -- simple, low-maintenance, and sturdy. Just like their trials bikes, they were single-cylinder two-strokes.
In the '90s I was competing in AHRMA Observed Trials on Montesa 247 and 348 Cotas. I found and devoured Bernie's book, "Observed Trials," co-written with Len Weed, and practiced every day. His insight and ability to explain technique made a much better rider of me, to the point of a 2nd place in a National. Tremendous fun.
I remember he used to stand on his bike and balance it for ever in his garage in La Crescenta Ca.went to school at same time but didn’t really know him but everyone new of him. It was a wonderful place to grow up we had it all desert,ocean,mountains and lakes.
Dad had a Bultaco Sherpa.....he crashed it in the NEIGHBORS front yard because he bought it while drinkn beer and they were in a car when he bought it across the street from the tavern. Dad's still kickn....that was 1977......good old days
At that time the distance between a world champion and an amateur was small, which contributed to the enormous popularity of the sport (in Spain at least). Nowadays the distance between a champion and an amateur is astronomical which explains why trials has lost much of its appeal and the public attendance at the championships is almost non-existent.
