Bultaco Rapitan Sport - Specifications & Review

Company History

Bultaco sprang from the passion of Paco Bultó in 1958 and quickly became a Spanish powerhouse in off-road sport. The company’s trials and motocross machines—most famously the Sherpa T and the Pursang—were light, responsive two-strokes that rewarded finesse over brute force. With riders like Sammy Miller shaping development, the Sherpa T revolutionized trials by proving that low-weight, tractable power, and tight chassis geometry could dance over obstacles rather than bludgeon through them. Pursang motocrossers, meanwhile, brought Iberian speed to muddy European circuits and American tracks alike, their crisp delivery and simple serviceability beloved by privateers. Bultaco also built racy roadsters such as the Metralla, keeping the brand visible beyond dirt. The oil crisis, labor issues, and intensifying Japanese competition strained finances in the 1970s, leading to factory stoppages and eventual closure, though there were later revival attempts tapping into the badge’s deep reservoir of affection. Historically, Bultaco’s influence is immense: it set handling and weight targets that reshaped trials, inspired generations of backyard tuners, and expanded the notion that small-displacement bikes could deliver outsized thrills. Enthusiasts still celebrate the marque with classic trials events and period-correct restorations, chasing that unmistakable ring-ding soundtrack and featherlight clutch feel. More than a brand, Bultaco is a riding philosophy—skillful, playful, and forever convinced that the most satisfying line is the cleanest, not necessarily the fastest.