works bikes - where are they these days ?
Manufacturers produce prototypes then works and productions bikes.
Prototypes would generally be the first attempt by the manufacturer at production. They would sometimes feature engines , frames , gearboxes and styling that was wildly optimistic . Time and small improvements on a hourly / daily basis would all eventually add up to a bike that was possible suitable to be ridden and sold.
More often than not these prototypes would be the only thing that the factories would ever make !. Now that will be a surprise to you. By the time the Retro era of 1980's trials motorcycle had arrived companies had already realised that it was impossible to build a motorcycle for a price , if they made everything themselves. Very simple and small things were made if the company was absolutely pushed into a corner, but generally nothing was made by these companies , OTHER THAN THE PROTOTYPES.
This lack of manufacturing was not because of a lack of skill , it was simply down to survival. If they made petrol tanks and frames and engine casings they would need a factory 10 times the size , with hundreds of highly paid skilled staff . Contrary to this , back in the day most manufacturers would employ skilled engineers and fabricators to be involved in the design of the prototypes. Once the prototype had been built (often from materials far substandard to the production bike) the only really skilled men that were required
Back in their days works bikes had attention lavished on them. These machines would usually feature the "special parts" that may find their way onto the production bikes the following year. Sometimes they tried ideas that didnt work
Prototypes would generally be the first attempt by the manufacturer at production. They would sometimes feature engines , frames , gearboxes and styling that was wildly optimistic . Time and small improvements on a hourly / daily basis would all eventually add up to a bike that was possible suitable to be ridden and sold.
More often than not these prototypes would be the only thing that the factories would ever make !. Now that will be a surprise to you. By the time the Retro era of 1980's trials motorcycle had arrived companies had already realised that it was impossible to build a motorcycle for a price , if they made everything themselves. Very simple and small things were made if the company was absolutely pushed into a corner, but generally nothing was made by these companies , OTHER THAN THE PROTOTYPES.
This lack of manufacturing was not because of a lack of skill , it was simply down to survival. If they made petrol tanks and frames and engine casings they would need a factory 10 times the size , with hundreds of highly paid skilled staff . Contrary to this , back in the day most manufacturers would employ skilled engineers and fabricators to be involved in the design of the prototypes. Once the prototype had been built (often from materials far substandard to the production bike) the only really skilled men that were required
Back in their days works bikes had attention lavished on them. These machines would usually feature the "special parts" that may find their way onto the production bikes the following year. Sometimes they tried ideas that didnt work
The actual factory 1994 Fantic roo of Thierry Michaud
The NATC / AMA winning Montesa of marlon Whaley
the secret unseen watercooled prototypes of Merlin and Mecatecno
The 1992 factory aprilia of tommi ahvala
Rediscovered - The factory Alfer of Lluis Gallach
View the impressive motorcycle collection of Yrjo Vesterinen
The 1988 factory Merlin 350 Fius of Eddy Lejeune
Discovered - Sammy Miller's first Bultaco - The bike that changed the sport forever
Testing Sammy Miller's Ariel 786 GON
The factory 1989 aprilia of diego bosis
The prototype watercooled Merlin motorcycle Trials bike
The factory beta's of jordi tarres
the 1987 factory mecatecno dragonfly of Joan ruiz
1980 works one off mecatecno 180 cc
current location - with the father of marceloni corch in spain
1982 prototype mecatecno 325cc
current location - not known
Here is a rare picture of the Mecatecno MR326. This bike was ridden by Salvador Garcia who was the long term minder for Jordi Tarres.He rode for Mecatecno for a short time. Salvador was a good rider back in his day. This prototype was a one off and featured a fibre glass petrol tank and side panels made at the Xops factory.The mudguards were also made at the factory using a vacuum bag process they perfected . Their equipment as only suitable for very small runs. This prototype sucked air into the engine via vents at the front of the tank which you can see. . The air was channeled down the frame to the carberattor. This was not successful as there was insufficient air capacity to run the engine well. The gear lever arrangement was also very strange , as the gear lever operation was opposite to normal.
You might also be interested to know that the first Mecatecno prototype engines featured a high and low range gearbox with an external lever to activate. This grew to be far to complex and a more traditional operation was employed.
The engine casing you look at was also changed a number of times prior to production. Many many of the engine parts and the chassis / swinging arm were hand made at the factory. This truly was a hand made bike where most of the components were hand made for this one off. Once the factory were satisfied with everything about the bike production could start. This is where the components would be contracted out to individual specialist companies to fabricate.
I have been to many different bike manufacturers and these days this the process of building a prototype at the factory or contracted workshop is the norm. After this , when production is started the factory becomes simply an assembly plant.
GasGas and Sherco are examples of this. Josep Paxau fully develops the bike. Once it is ready the factory simply style the bike and contract out the parts build.
You might also be interested to know that the first Mecatecno prototype engines featured a high and low range gearbox with an external lever to activate. This grew to be far to complex and a more traditional operation was employed.
The engine casing you look at was also changed a number of times prior to production. Many many of the engine parts and the chassis / swinging arm were hand made at the factory. This truly was a hand made bike where most of the components were hand made for this one off. Once the factory were satisfied with everything about the bike production could start. This is where the components would be contracted out to individual specialist companies to fabricate.
I have been to many different bike manufacturers and these days this the process of building a prototype at the factory or contracted workshop is the norm. After this , when production is started the factory becomes simply an assembly plant.
GasGas and Sherco are examples of this. Josep Paxau fully develops the bike. Once it is ready the factory simply style the bike and contract out the parts build.
the 1983 works mecatecno 325cc of albert juvanty current location - near bilbao , spain
1985 works merlin dg350 of lluis gallach current location - unknown
This bike featured in the later years special spoked wheels where as the production model had six spoked wheels. The tank unit is a slightly different shape. The top yoke featured centrally mounted handlebars. The standard production bike had handlebars that could be mounted far forwards and reversed to be far back . They could not however be fitted directly above the forks as this picture shows.
1987 works mecatecno 326cc dragonfly of lluis gallach - current location - unknown ,
This was a prototype that developed into the works bike for Gallach.The tank is a special fiberglass unit where as the production model is platic. The fuel filler hole is off set. The rear mudguard is special . There is no rear silencer whereas all production models were fitted with them.There were many engine changes and modifications. Initial gearboxes were fitted with bronze gear selector forks. These were later changed to alloy.
DESIGN ONLY - WATERCOOLED MECATECNO SKYWALKER VISION 1989 - NEVER PRODUCED
EDDY LEJEUNE ran 2 factory merlin bikes in 1988
the first one is now in the uk , whilst the 2nd is owned by ignacio bulto , the manager of merlin
the bike that tempted jordi to leave beta
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The bike in the inset small photo below is the actual bike that Tarres tested with GasGas. It features works lower fork yokes that have never featured on any production GasGas. It also features a modified engine over standard. This GasGas is currently for sale at Jan 2013 for 2500 euro.
jordi tarres' 1993 world championship winning trials bike
currently on display at the barcelona motorcycle museum
Jordi tarres' 1990 world championship winning prototype
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AND TODAY ? Jordi's bikes are in his own COLLECTION |
This was Beta motorcycles first watercooled Trials bike. This is the exact moment the first watercooled prototype Beta (and Jordi's favourite bike) was unveiled to the public as the 1990 Scottish six days trial. Thank you to Jason Finn for this excellent photo.