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the secret unseen watercooled prototypes of
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Deep within the ancient hills of Catalonia far far away from the madding crowds and motorcycle shops lives a very serious collector , with his eye on a very small niche market. Captivated by the retro 80's trials and enduro bug decades before the writer, Josep Argerich very quietly started collecting the motorcycles of his childhood. A very good friend of the small Retrotrials.com team as well as a contributor Josep's collection grew and grew, specialising in the more unusual Catalan and Spanish independant marques. Josep would and still does scour the local and nationwide newspapers and internet for sale sites....but often he doesn't have to.
You see , Josep has developed quite a reputation as a bike collector in the area where he lives. Wanting their garden or shed cleared locals have telephoned Josep on many occasions and asked him if he would like their motorcycle "Free Gratis". Not wanting to see their childhood transport simply lie on a scrap metal barge heading towards China owners would grow misty eyed , dreaming of the day they might see the bike of their dating years fly bye , down the dusty tracks once again , evoking wonderful memories.
But often also Josep would have to pay , but a local's price , i'm sure you understand. Not an Englishman's price.
But often also Josep would have to pay , but a local's price , i'm sure you understand. Not an Englishman's price.
finally we discover the watercooled merlin motorcycles trials bike
3 decades later Josep's collection is spread over 3 barns and amounts to approximately 100 motorcycles. Now Josep is a busy guy. He has a wife and 2 children and cares for them well. Bikes must fit in the small gaps of time he can squeeze in. This makes Josep a guy who doesn't restore to much. Contrary to the happily crazed production line of others Josep's restoration projects take place over a few years , with a few years also between each one .
finally we discover the watercooled merlin motorcycles trials bike
There is a wonderful benefit to all of this. His bikes are original , which makes them special.
Josep has Bultaco, Ossa , Reiju , Puch, Mecatecno , Alfer , GasGas , Montesa , Ossa to name just a few.
Josep has Bultaco, Ossa , Reiju , Puch, Mecatecno , Alfer , GasGas , Montesa , Ossa to name just a few.
And Retrotrials had come to see one very special bike indeed. Just one.
Merlin fans ,and some others will have heard about the myth of the Water cooled Merlin Trials bike.
This is a story i first heard about in 2010 from somewhere.
Later in 2011 Retrotrials met Ignacio Bulto for a career long interview .Ignacio reignited the watercooled subject by saying in his Barcelona Penthouse
"Yes, it was a 250 cagiva motocross engine that we have tested. We make one and it was going very well but we didn’t develop the gear box ration and the thermo dynamics. We just build the frame and put the engine inside and with Juan. It was just any tank. We didn’t produce as do to this I talk to my investor and we needed to have a plan of investment to industrialise that bike. It had to be done properly.
Where is this prototype?
I don’t have any photos. We tested with one. It was mono shock. "
Contrary to this report Joan Freixas in 2012 said "Retrotrials - I hear that a water cooled Merlin was made . Is this true ?
Joan - No never."
So , you can imagine the World was a little uncertain about whether this bike had been developed , or whether it had even been started.
Then i recieved this letter from Mark Oldar , the American Cagiva importer. Cagiva were the brand name used in the USA to sell the Merlin bikes.
Here is the letter -
Merlin fans ,and some others will have heard about the myth of the Water cooled Merlin Trials bike.
This is a story i first heard about in 2010 from somewhere.
Later in 2011 Retrotrials met Ignacio Bulto for a career long interview .Ignacio reignited the watercooled subject by saying in his Barcelona Penthouse
"Yes, it was a 250 cagiva motocross engine that we have tested. We make one and it was going very well but we didn’t develop the gear box ration and the thermo dynamics. We just build the frame and put the engine inside and with Juan. It was just any tank. We didn’t produce as do to this I talk to my investor and we needed to have a plan of investment to industrialise that bike. It had to be done properly.
Where is this prototype?
I don’t have any photos. We tested with one. It was mono shock. "
Contrary to this report Joan Freixas in 2012 said "Retrotrials - I hear that a water cooled Merlin was made . Is this true ?
Joan - No never."
So , you can imagine the World was a little uncertain about whether this bike had been developed , or whether it had even been started.
Then i recieved this letter from Mark Oldar , the American Cagiva importer. Cagiva were the brand name used in the USA to sell the Merlin bikes.
Here is the letter -
finally we discover the watercooled merlin motorcycles trials bike
This is translated into english as follows
"Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter dated on 10th of last August, in which you requested
information about the motorcycle project 250cc water cooled and brochures of our models.
About the water 250cc bike. we inform you that for the beginning of next season will
not be ready, we think it may be ready at the end of the season.
Also, herewith this letter, we send you the motorcycle brochures that currently we
produce, as well as a color photo of our model DG-2.FIUS, for being in the printer the
definitive catalog.
Being all for now, sincerely yours "
This letter makes it clear that the watercooled Merlin was in development , but thats all . Perhaps the they were simply still in conversation with an engine manufacturers ?. Maybe the chassis hadn't been started ?. Maybe it was still on the drawing board ?.
There were no photos , no other manufacturer comments , so was this just wishful thinking ? After several years ,Retrotrials has simply resigned themselves to the fact that this bike never existed or it was in the dumpster.
"Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter dated on 10th of last August, in which you requested
information about the motorcycle project 250cc water cooled and brochures of our models.
About the water 250cc bike. we inform you that for the beginning of next season will
not be ready, we think it may be ready at the end of the season.
Also, herewith this letter, we send you the motorcycle brochures that currently we
produce, as well as a color photo of our model DG-2.FIUS, for being in the printer the
definitive catalog.
Being all for now, sincerely yours "
This letter makes it clear that the watercooled Merlin was in development , but thats all . Perhaps the they were simply still in conversation with an engine manufacturers ?. Maybe the chassis hadn't been started ?. Maybe it was still on the drawing board ?.
There were no photos , no other manufacturer comments , so was this just wishful thinking ? After several years ,Retrotrials has simply resigned themselves to the fact that this bike never existed or it was in the dumpster.
But then , there it was , right in front of me -