Bultaco Special Sherpa 1983

Words: Trials Guru

Photos: Stefano Bianchi; René Mabily; Barry Robinson (with permission his estate.)

In an attempt to keep at the cutting edge of the sport but with a factory in serious financial trouble, Yorkshireman John Reynolds rode a special Comerfords Bultaco 340 in 1983 which had been built by Reg May on a freelance basis. Registered in September 1983 as A444RGH, the machine was eventually exported.

It had some innovative features. Reg had managed to move the swinging arm pivot very close to the final drive sprocket. This was achieved by mounting the swinging arm pivots on two independent mounting ‘bobbins’ mounted on the frame. The swinging arm spindle was effectively dispensed with as was the rear engine mount assembly.

John Reynolds (340 Comerford’s Bultaco) at the 1984 Cleveland Trial – Photo: Barry Robinson (with permission, his estate).

A special snakey exhaust system was used with the back box lowered to the footrest area on the off-side of the machine using modified Bultaco components. The swinging arm was a modified Bultaco Pursang item on the final version.

Enthusiast and journalist, Stefano Bianchi from Milan had the opportunity to buy this very special machine from former Comerfords employee, John Patman and has allowed Trials Guru to feature some photographs taken by Stefano. The machine was subsequently sold to French enthusiast, René Mabily.