1967 Bultaco Metralla 250 Mk2: Rolling Myth
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Gilles Escuyer is something of a Bultaco enthusiast. The name of the Barcelona-based motorcycle manufacturer was revived a few years ago with an eye toward electric power, but as Gilles and his friends prove, the old two-stroke models won’t soon be forgotten. The model featured in today’s film is one of Gilles’ favorites from his collection-a 1967 Metralla 250 Mk2-and it was among the fastest bikes of its time in addition to being the first Spanish machine to compete at the famed Isle of Man TT. In other words, it’s a historically significant motorcycle, and though it’s been carefully restored it still gets its bouts of exercise in the French countryside near the city of Reims.
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So, so nice a recounting and presentation. I had one of the first 200cc Metrallas in the U.S., Wichita, Ks, in 1962. I road raced it at a San Angelo, Tx meet with no modifications but removed the silencer end. Not quite up to the top end of the 250s I had to run against but it's braking and cornering kept it in the fray. I did manage to spill it twice and retired from the heat, discovered that I'd not let the rear tire pressure down after seating the bead from a flat repair, so riding on 50psi did me in. Later on, I helped the then Bultaco (Cemoto East) distributor representative (Bill Dutcher) adjust the slipping clutch on his 250cc demonstrator while in White Plains, N.Y.
We sold several Metralla 200s with one placing third in his class at Watkins Glen in August of 1965 ridden by a complete motorcycle novice who was a close friend at the time. I still have his trophy; he was so thrilled that he'd succeeded with some coaching I gave him about road racing, he have me the trophy. Saw Jody Nicholas ride a 250 TSS to a win at Vineland, N.J. in late '63 or early '64.
My first real MC was a '68 Metralla. What a great handlling bike! If I recall correctly, It weighed around 240 lbs. Super nimble. top speed around 108 mph ( according to the speedometer.}. i blew up the flywheel while racing another Metralla and i missed a shift. It was covered under the warranty.
I also raced several dirt bikes from Bultaco. My fave was a Sherpa S 200.
Great to see the Metralla on Petrolicious. I've owned 3 of them over the years since 1972 including a water cooled Bultaco TSS 250 racer. My first Metralla was purchased new when I was 17 years old for $640.00! I raced one of the Metrallas as well as the TSS back in the day. The race kit modified Metralla was much more reliable than the TSS. I'm glad I still have the standard Metralla road bike. I still love it, ride it and keep it perfect. Just looking at it in the workshop is enough to remind me of all those good times. Beautiful, quick, simple and light. What a great formula. Thank you for sharing you experiences and I understand your love of the marque.
I first had a Mercurio, then graduated to a Metralla. Wish I still had it, even if just to display it in my living room, being too old to ride anymore.
@@michaelbrooker1433 I'm getting on in years too. My bad knee hurts after I've been kick starting the Metralla !
@@olio_benzina I remember trying to start my Mercurio in the winter. Had to go to work in freezing weather, used to put a newspaper under my sweater to block the wind, hugged the cylinder at stoplights to warm my gloved hands. Ah, those were the days!
@@michaelbrooker1433 ahh metralla brought me to rd 350s and gamma 500. 2 stroke art
@@olio_benzina damm jump start it. Way easier
The Bultaco Metrella is a bike that many collectors (including myself) lust after. Don't see a whole lot of them on this side of the pond (I've seen 2 in my 30yrs of riding) so when you do see one, it's an event. Gorgeous motorbike with beautiful lines and that wonderful sound! Obviously these are the reasons this bike is so special to so many. And this bike with it's awesome owner and story fits perfectly at Petrolicious.
Many Thanks !!! 👍🏽😄
This is in my opinion the most beatifull bike in the world.
A true “spanish “ hero.
Bultaco is a Spanish motorcycle brand founded in Barcelona by Mr. Paco Bultó in 1958. It produced models with a single-cylinder and two-stroke engine, with displacements between 50 c.c and 350 c.c. Due to several crises and different economic reasons he had to close in 1983.(extract from Wikipedia)
Paco Bulto is the grand father of Sete Gibernau..
It's not that they were a special bike at all its just when the hit the market the cleaned upon the trials copatition ..but after a while the defective magneto were takein there toll we had dealers in my town but he packed it in as well he lirerly had 2 huge boxes of destroyed magneto the dealer couldn't keep up with the warranty it's to bad
I had 3 Bultacos when I was a student in Ohio. There was a dealer in Springfield, about 10 miles from school. I first had a 175 cc Mercurio, which was fun, but a bit tame. Then I traded it for a Matador, their dirt bike, which I played around with for a while but ultimately traded up for the Metralla Mk2, my favorite. I took it with me to grad school and drove it through a few Boston winters, and kept it until I settled down in Connecticut. I eventually sold it to the son of a friend who was interested in motorcycles more than I was in those days. I wish I still had it. a lovely bike with great handling and enough power to make life exciting.
Damn, the Spanish bikes were so successful they even arrived to united States, it's really impressive
Awesome to see. My brother and I just got our grandfather's 1966 Bultaco Mercurio 175 and are starting to rebuild it. It'll take lots of work since it was used as a dirt bike for my mom and her brothers, but I hope we can get it at least running and looking somewhat decent again.
Todos los que tenemos una Mercurio soñamos con tener una metralla. Felicidades por el vídeo, enhorabuena por tu garaje. Es un placer conocer gente que tiene pasión y conocimientos para poder poseer estás motocicletas tan especiales. Un saludo.
All of us who have a Mercurio dream of having a Metralla Congratulations on the video, congratulations on your garage. It is a pleasure to meet people who have passion and knowledge to be able to own these special motorcycles. A greeting.
Nous tous qui avons un Mercurio rêver d'avoir un Metralla. Félicitations pour la vidéo, félicitations pour votre garage. C’est un plaisir de rencontrer des personnes passionnées et ayant les connaissances nécessaires pour posséder ces motos spéciales. Une salutation
Merci beaucoup !
You can always tell when an enthusiast really knows his two strokes and tunes them to perfection when they DONT SMOKE when they are running.
Thank you ! 👍🏽😄
@@gillesescuyer3665 You are welcome Sir Bultaco Master..Thanks for this great video👌👌👍👍
Or they forgot to put oil in the mix :)
You're right . In the 50s and 60s the available oils were really bad so people had to put a lot in to stop them seizing. And often people still stick too much oil in so it looks like an Australian Bush fire . But the real enthusiasts know you can safely use modern oils in small amounts , the performance and durability difference is amazing .
@@gillesescuyer3665 Thank you for your passion my friend and for releasing the memories of sight, sound and feel of my most favourite motorcycles from my youth in Australia! The sound of 4 or more Metralla's together on the road is unforgettable and I smile to this day!
I was a passionate owner and made my own cafe racer seat. I also purchased the "Astro Race Kit" for the engine did you ever see this one? Not usable on road as it was a flat out only race kit.
Again thank you for your Passion!
I still laugh to remember slowly creeping closer to the fabled 100MPH, 95, 96, 97, (hope the wind just keeps going my way), 98........
J'ai eu la chance de posséder une Bultaco Metralla en 1972. Quel bel hommage à ma bultac
Excellent video. I owned a Metralla , as did many others. New they were around $825 USD.
.I bought my last one in the 80s for $300. Excellent bikes, wish I still had mine. The Bultacos, Ossas and the Montessas were remarkable bikes. I owned a few of each.
Beautiful bike and quite rare to see one here in the USA. Thanks for sharing.
Many Thanks !
It's been filmed in France...
@@bullshark9177 they're saying you don't see them often HERE
This bike looks like an absolute riot to ride! Great video!!
Many Thanks ! 👍🏽 Yes ! My bike is really very pleasant to ride !!
Never heard of it and learned something new today, awesome!!!
woa.... je pensais que Bultaco c'était uniquement du Trial !!! Merci pour la passion. Formidable.
YVAN PEDRON Merci beaucoup!! 👍🏽
Merci beaucoup ! Un plaisir de vous avoir fait connaître ces belles petites routières
Reminds me of my neighbor whose got a 199cc bultaco. Sadly he passed a couple years ago. Nostalgia.
Every Spanish motorcyclist dreams with having the Bultaco Metralla and the Montesa Impala
I wish Petrolicious did more videos on Motorcycles.
Check us out. We're smaller. But we've shot a lot of bikes.
@@BrightsideMedia Awesome! Subbed!
@@Sir_Gonzo Brilliant :-) Thanks.
Gilles your passion and skill in looking after those fabulous bikes is a credit to you. I had a Frontera for a few years but sadly no longer own it-I have been looking at Metrallas though-especially with the America modifications. A good friend of mine has recently rebuilt and restored 2 TSS’s-beautiful bikes.
Beautiful bikes and the most wonderful places to enjoy the road and trails of the countryside around where you find yourself living in 😁👍🍀
We got to see more motorcycles in here please 👍 too many older bikes that are forgotten and are very beautiful 😎
Thanks Petrolicious for that video about motorcycle made in Spain
How can there be so many people complaining about the language? In every video? Learn to click on the SUBTITLES -button, it isn't that hard.
Thank you Sir. I learnt something from the internet today
Didn’t know subtitles were available, thank you!
there is no language. there is only ehhhh
@@lofotenbajas really a stupid comment
Because Americans are helpless morons. Saying this as an American. It’s embarrassing at this point
Gilles Escuyer, thank you for sharing your story. I love this video, such a die-hard enthusiast. Great character, and such great bikes. Please make more! :)
And to those, whose education are failing them, press subtitles. It´s really not that hard, you get free content.
Many thanks Aslak Vind 👍🏽
When I was 15 years old I broke 100 MPH for the first time on San Timoteo Canyon Road in Redlands Calfornia riding a 1967 Bultaco Metralla. I can still remember the sensation 50 years later! Also at that time I owned a Bultaco 125 Sherpa "S" with a 250 Astro piston/cylinder, so I was familiar with the right-side shifter.
Merci Petrolicious pour ces belles vidéos...❤❤❤
My dad had one in the 60s.My favorite.
I used to own one, a 250 single road bike. A pig to start. But now of course I wish I'd kept it. Used to ride into Uni with my wife on the back, and she wasn't small.
Back in the day I had a 250 Desmo and a mate had a Matrella so naturally we swapped bikes form time to time and the Matrella certainly went well but it was a bit more skittish than my Duke and it was a bit more finnicy to live with but it was also delightfully simple and so damn pretty. Its definitely one of the great bikes of the era
Many Thanks ! 👍🏽 Yes !
Not a myth. An epic ride.
I've owned a couple of Bultacos. My first bike was a Bultaco Lobito 175,, ummmm in 1974. I bought a basket case Bultaco Metralla 1976 or 77. Rebuilt it, turned it into a cafe racer with clip ons and resets. Painted it red and yellow after the Spanish flag and found a 360 Pursang for it. It went like a scalded cat but I kept getting pulled over by police. I suppose it was just different. Sold it to a friend who later raced it.
Great story !
Growing up in the 70's during the meteoric rise of Motocross in the US, there was nothing that I wanted more than a Pursang 125. Jim Pomeroy was my hero!
I moved to Spain a few years ago and i wondered about these bikes i´ve never seen them in Scandinavia! Some of the old dual sport bikes are sick as hell i see them often for sale there is a big market for them
Another wonderful video, thank you!
Best video ! His passion shines !
Thank you ! A pleasure to make this video (y)
Felicidades campeon.👏
Siempre Bultaco.👍
Love the video, love the bike (nearly had one as my first bike in 1970, until parents intervened). However I am curious about the use of the word "myth" in the title. Myth implies it doesn't exist. This is beautifully real and a LEGEND.
Even if there was no subtitles available, you have to be heartless to not get the message the guy is broadcasting.
Thank you man ! 😊👍🏽
Your right ! Thank you ! we are restoring Bultacos with passion and pride !
That trials bike is gorgeous.
Thank you John ! It's a Bultaco 250 Sherpa T 1971 with a Sammy Miller light frame
Bultaco es una marca de motocicletas española fundada en Barcelona por el señor Paco Bultó en 1958. Producía modelos con motor monocilíndrico y motor de dos tiempos, con cilindradas comprendidas entre los 50 c.c y 350 c.c. Debido a varias crisis y diferentes motivos económicos tuvo que cerrar en 1983. (extracto de Wikipedia)
Incradible video, thanks
A pleasure ;)
What a beatiful motocycle.
Thank you!!!
Many thanks !
great story. mythic bike. bultaco is a catalan brand. motorcycling is strong in catalan culture; there are other manufacturers + many great current + past riders in moto gp, trials, enduro, parís-dakar, etc. are catalan. sete giberneu, one that kept rossi on his toes in the early 2000s, is the grandson of the bultaco founder, frances bultà i marquès. bultà company became bultaco.
correction of name spelling! bultó, gibernau
Wish my brother had kept his 65 200 metralla, but back then who knew? that bike was a rocket 🚀 straight from the dealership with no mods.
Pretty sure you mean "Rolling LEGEND," NOT "Rolling Myth." A myth is, well, ... MYTHICAL (duh!), as in NOT REAL. A legend, on the other hand, is exactly what this bike is.
Precioso video y magnificas motos. Disfrutalas y gracias por enseñarnos tu garaje.
Tu es le bienvenu !
We had a Bultaco dirt bike rotting in the backyard back in the early 80s. As kids, we used to poke holes in the sun baked seat vinyl with our fingers. Who knew...?
Great video, please do more motorcycles
Many Thanks!!!
Ces moteurs 2 temps a refroidissement par air sont parmi les plus beaux....Merci!
Merci à vous d'avoir apprécié cette vidéo ;)
@@gillesescuyer3665 Merci a vous d'avoir préservé de beaux modèles!Tout petit je les feuilletai dans l'encyclopedie de la moto et les LVM---je me disait :"c'est très joli!" et maintenant ca n'a pas changé...
That is beautiful.
Cette moto m'a toujours fait rêver. J'en voyais à Barcelone dans la rue, à une époque où y avait pas de scooters-plastique. Les Japonnaises étaient rares ,car plus chères ( protectionnisme).
J'adore cette machine simple ,légère et puissante.
bravo pour la moto e la video
The most beautiful bike ever made.
I totally agree !!
I would have really liked to have seen a 350 or 450cc version. Oh well ...
People who don't understand about motorcycles, have never heard of the world-renowned Bultaco brand.
Qué bonita moto muchas felicidades !!
Merci beaucoup !
Somehow my pops ended up with a Bultaco MK II 250 Pursang Boat Tail in the mid '70s. We'd trailer all over the gosh forsaken state of NJ to find places the Cops wouldn't hassle ya at but they ALWAYS showed up.
The Bultaco was crazy loud n powerful. We had no idea we possessed such a treasure.
Félicitations pour cette magnifique vidéo !
Welch WUNDERSCHÖNE Landschaft ist das!
Wo ist das?
DORT MÖCHTE ICH LEBEN !!!!
FRANKREICH????😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Thank you Sir.
Thank you to enjoy our video !
Another high quality presentation from Petrolicious. Question - were the first and last scenes filmed at the abandoned Reims-Gueux circuit?? An active track from 1926 to 1969 - hosted many F1 races.
yes these scenes were filmed at Gueux circuit not far from Reims !
Many Thanks ! 👍🏽 Yes ! A part of the movie take place near my home at the old circuit of Reims-Gueux ! 😊👍🏽
Shame that english subtitles arent complete 😭 awesome bike with Great history
Not sure if everyone knows and I'm calling the obvious, but Metralla means "Shrapnel" (That's the reason of all the "bomb" comparisons on the video).
Amazing, thank you.
Many Thanks ! 😊👍🏽
Cool bikes .
Thank you !
La plus extraordinaire bécane de cette époque !
Je ne savais même pas que c'était une marque de moto, je pensais que c'était une vieille marque d'huile moteur ou quelque chose dans cet esprit... ^^'
J'aime bien le "fumigène dans un nid de frelons", c'est pas loin de la vérité ! ;)
owned a metralla250 back in 67 should of kept it
Owned a metralla 250 in 72 . Have kicked myself since selling it. Did yours go backwards?
I have Bultacos, a whole garage full but there all Pursangs.
libertyn jeopardy Fantastic ! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
They where built in Barcelona like the Montesa brand too
C'est merveilleux.
Merci ! 😊👍🏽
Merci beaucoup !
I know I'm being ethnocentric here, but could you please have a spoken translation rather than subtitles? I want to see the enthusiasm in the narrators face, the artistry of the design and the majesty of the vehicle carving up a road, rather than reading a block of letters at the bottom of the screen.
hipcat13 It’s maybe time to star learning french then !😉
I did! I took 2 years of French in school. Not good enough to not need to look at the captions though.@@fleurescuyer6307
Stuck in time
Metralla means shrapnel, just saying. It's a beautiful bike.
I had a Metralla that died when I ran out of Petrol at high speed and tried to keep going so I would not have to walk so far to the Petrol station.
Big mistake! When you run out of petrol you also run out of oil. The piston broke and wrecked the crankshaft.
Had to rebuild the motor. So Yes it was like a hand grenade that went off under me. Lots of Shrapnel in the crankcase.
It was a hard lesson to learn. Next time I ran out of petrol on a premix bike I hit the kill switch.
I would like to have that trials bike. That is sweet.
It's my Bultaco 250 Sherpa T "Kit Campeon" 1971 ;)
Buena maquina 👍 y muy buen vídeo
Thank you !
Perfection 👍
Très belle, la Metralla, et le video aussi. Je suis collectioner de Bultaco, i je suis surpris de voire dans le garaje une Bultaco Matador MK1, a coté de la MK3. C’est pareil a la motociclette que j'ai vu a le museé de Basella, a Lleida (Espagne). Gilles, cette Matador MK1 est original, ou c'est une replique? Merci.
Merci 👍🏽 C'est une vraie Bultaco 200cc "Chaparral" d'usine fabriquée uniquement pour les pilotes officiels
C'est justement Estanislao Soler, le Directeur du Musée de Basella qui a identifié cette moto comme étant l'une des "Chaparral". Je serais enchanté de discuter avec vous à l'occasion entre passionnés de Bultaco !
@@gillesescuyer3665 C’est très jolie, cette Bultaco, et très rare de voire…. mes sincères felicitations, Gilles!
J’ai une petite collection de Bultaco Matador (MK2, Mk3 et Mk4 SD), vous savez, une evolution de cette “Chaparral” que vous avez dans le garage.
Je crois que tous cette modèles sont les plus belles que Bultaco construit à l’epoque, petites bijoux por les passionnés des TT classiques.
J'espère vous voir un jour, probablement si vous venez a une concentration de Bultaco a Barcelona!
Man I dont like many motos at all, but wait, what a great thumbnail! I really would like to have some of then on high resolution, maybe to print them to my kitchen! Seriously! LOL
very nice video..what camera and lens you use for video???????
Réalisateur Maxence Massaro 😊👍🏽
Bultaco 👌
I have a 200cc model 35 !
A great bike too !
So sad they have moved to electric bikes...a simple Bultaco 250 cc retro bike would do it great in the market.
I feel like I'm missing half of what he is saying with English subtitles. Just in case he doesn't say, Bultaco was a Spanish brand
Yes Jesus ! 😊👍🏽 You're welcome to see our collection if you come visiting France !
When is bikes first came out there was absolutely nothing that would beat them they were blowing off 650 triumphs no problem they were the bike fast Nimble and lightweight and most people soup them up with all kinds of gadgets and expansion chamber bigger carburetor and stuff like that and they were awesome fast and you can strip down a lot of weight off of them chop them down to where they had no extra weight they were awesome
Made in Barcelona.
Yes ! Made in Sant Adria de Besos 😉👍🏽
Gilles Escuyer Exactement! On est fiers de Bultaco et Montesa ici! Mes felicitations pour tes super belles motos! 🙂👍
Marc de la Cruz Merci Beaucoup! C'est un plaisir de partager avec de vrais passionnés 😊👍🏽
Someone knows where is this brand from? This is a challenge with one condition, don't use Wikipedia or internet, ask to pepole
(I already know where this brand is from)
Nice SPANISH bike!
Thank you !
👍🏼
Great video, really awful subtitles. He said way more than what was subtitled.
👌, ❤️ from 🇮🇳
The french Elton John with a spanish machine, multicultural amigos.
Great looking bike. Wish it was in English to learn more about it.
Jake Schaefer Switch subtitles on, top right of screen with 3 vertical dots, click that!
@@davonpointer2310 thank you!
Doesn't he look like Van Demie?
Who's she?
One of my dream bikes. Unfortunately can not understand a thing he is saying. Subtitles?
You can turn them on at the to of the screen
Great bike....terrible jacket.
Isn’t this an American channel??? Why is it in French???
Muy buena marca en sus años , una pena la desaparición de estas marcas , yo tube una metralla , ella , acabo MUY MAL , yo , mejor
Elton John??
Bastard from Hong Kong ?
eeeeeehhhhh duuuuuuuhhhhh uhhhhhhhhhhh