The Rickman brothers got to purchase a few motors at a good price and Bultaco got the best frame design in the motocross world. The result is the Bultaco Pursang Mk1. Unfortunately, the poorer quality Spanish steel and inferior welding meant that the Mk1 wouldn’t have the razor sharp handling the Metisse owners were used to.

The Bultacos did run hard as evidenced by their popularity in scrambles and TT racing where power and slower handling was desirable. In motocross, the Husqvarnas and CZs were becoming the weapon of choice with a combination of good handling and decent reliability.

Bultaco Pursang Metisses were available with a scrambles tuned engine, identifiable by a straight finned head, or a motocross tuned engine that used a spiral finned head. This scrambles tuned model was restored to showroom new condition by Vintage Iron. Check out VMX Magazine, issue #21, it’s on the cover.