Bultaco ready to return to the road

THE Bultaco badge hasn’t been seen on a road bike since the 1980s – but that’s will change if this prototype makes it into production.

Power for the retro-styled machine comes from a single-cylinder engine which was bought in from Italian off-road firm VOR.

The 399cc motor features a gear-driven sohc design operating four valves through a system of rockers. This saves weight and complexity compared to the more modern twin-cam design. Lightweight magnesium engine cases help keep the weight of the engine down to just 28.5kg (62lb).

No power figures have been released, but the engine should be capable of producing as much as 50bhp – enough to give the bike decent performance, particularly given its total weight, which is expected to be around 110kg (242lb).

Though the Matador looks like an ordinary road bike, its suspension is lifted straight from VOR’s own enduro machine. That, combined with the deeply treaded Pirelli rubber, should allow it to take on the odd rutted track without too much difficulty – though it is designed for use on the Tarmac rather than any serious off-road ability.