| Author | Message | ||
     Darthane |
I was tooling along the freeway on the Blast yesterday and pulled up behind, then alongside an old thumper. The badging on it said "BSA", it had a massive headlamp like something off a Road King, and the shifter was on the right. Just wondering if anyone has a clue what this bike was? | ||
| Phillyblast |
BSA - Birmingham Small Arms. I was looking for a BSA as a cafe racer project when I wound up buying the Blast a few years ago. here's a brief history of the co. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
BSA and triumph used to own everyones butt back in the day. The Brits really had the edge back then. Personally I am in love with the old british bikes.lots of hassels but great bikes for their time. engine,2 wheels, frame and a rider, what else do you need | ||
| Henrik |
I used to ride a BSA when I was in the MP. What a piece of (insert derogatory expletive of choice here). We each had 2 bikes assigned so that there would be at least a small chance of one of them actually running when we went out. One time I only made it out the gate of the barracks before my bike died on me - that with the whole MP company waiting in line behind me on our way to a 2 week NATO exercise. So while BSAs have lost their appeal, I do have a soft spot for Triumph and Norton. Henrik | ||
| Bomber |
Likley a Gold Star, or, even more likely, a Gold Star Wanna Be . . .lots of folks cafe'd the more pedestrian BSA 500 singles to make em resemble the Gold Star (award for lapping Brooklands course (in the UK) at over 100mph) . . . . . of course, it coulda been a Victor 441, but you're description of the headlamp sounds more Gold Star-ish great scoots, in their day . .. won road races, flat tracks, TTs, desert races, hare and hounds, you name it . . . . . all the troubles, however, that you'd expect of British Iron of that era -- dodge electrics, over cammed, over carbed, narrow power band, hard to start . . . . in otherwords, a glorious example of a design developed way past it's envelop ;-} of course, dealing with an HD, Indian, or any other scoot from that era would gift you with similar "joy" | ||
| Darthane |
Thanks, guys...the Gold SR on that site looks like the one. Since we couldn't stop and chat on the freeway I was interested in finding a little out about the bike. | ||
| Bomber |
Henrik you needed one of these! WOrld's fastest LawnBoy!  | ||
| Crusty |
My first motorcycle was a '68 BSA 650 Lightning. I was new to motorcycling, and I had been told that "BSAs weren't as fast as a Triumph, but they were more reliable". I bought the bike in October, 1969 and traded it for a '65 Ford Mustang the following May. In that time I managed to put 700 miles on it. One month after I bought it, the engine self destructed. After I got it back in March, it was in the shop three more times. One day in May, while sitting at a red light, one cylinder quit firing. I never even tried to figure out why. I took it to a junkyard and traded it for a Mustang that needed a valve job. It took owning one to learn that BSA didn't really stand for Birmingham Small Arms; it meant Bastard Stopped Again. | ||
| Bomber |
trumpets, nortons and beezas were damn near perfect when they were running well . . .. they demanded ownership by a committed and technically savvy individual, however who was interested in spending more time wrenching than riding . . . . . . not dissing you, Crusty | ||
| Spiderman |
they demanded ownership by a committed and technically savvy individual, however who was interested in spending more time wrenching than riding Sounds like a Buell Owner LMAO I haven't seen a nice BSA since the IMS they actually had a owners group set up there with all their bikes. | ||
| Crusty |
In the mid to late '60s, the BSA Factory was using worn out machinery to bore their cylinders. The cylinders were being bored crooked. That's what caused my engine to throw a rod at 3,000 RPM while cruising. I didn't learn that fact for many years. At the time, all I knew was that the damned piece of junk could be expected to break something every two weeks when it was running. During the seven months that I owned it, it received a new crankshaft, camshaft, pistons and rings, 2 connecting rods, oil pump, 3 valves and had the carbs dismantled and cleaned. When it ran, it was a dream; but it never ran for long. | ||
| Court |
I am a 441 Victor fanatic. | ||
| Bomber |
which is why you limp, right? signed, a former Victor Pilot | ||
| Featheredfiend |
Anyone remember the all white factory Victor dressed up in Rickman-style bodywork? Somewhere around '67-'68, I believe. Nice proportions and ahead of its' time. I believe all motorcycle memories to be fond ones. After all, we all lived. -feathered | ||
| Ray_maines |
further proof that Court is nuckin' futz | ||
| Ebear |
Not NUTS at all.Explains the bad KNEE though!Once it was started, an absolute hoot!!I agree with Court.Got basketcase lightweight hidden in the garage right now.Wish it was the Victor! | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
Went to the Ducati Austin Test Ride a couple of weeks ago and who should show up but Herb Harris ( http://www.harrisvincentgallery.com/about.asp ) on his pristine Gold Star:  What a beauty! He did threaten me with the possibility that he might need a push start when he left though...  fortunately not necessary. HellBuelly J http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hellbuellies/ "That is the most visceral and angriest damn motorcycle I've ever ridden." --Frightened Ducatisti (thanks Dueller) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Just a few things about old Brit bikes, 1. ALWAYS wear strong well laced up high boots when starting (it can save a broken ankle) 2. Always put a drain pan under the engine to catch the oil when parked at home, when out try to park over a convenient drain. 3. Always carry a cell-phone when going for a ride. 4. Try to plan rides that pass not too far from people you know who have a trailer. 5. Don't thrash it cos it won't take it, unless you've had a full high spec rebuild, and even then be careful. 6. Get used to being over-taken, it's going to happen... a lot. 7. Always have a wizz before you go out, cos every time you stop someone will want to talk to you about the bike and buy you a drink, this makes up for all of the above, I don't have one any more but I used to have "Thump" with a 350 Matchless lightweight, the 250 Suzuki stroker trailbike I had at the time would see it off in any category except grin-factor.  | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I used to carry an assortment of tools, including a few odd-ball whitworths, cause I used to ride with a few buds who owned british bikes. I was much slimmer and in shape then, due to the greater portions of our group rides being spent pushing those pieces of crap up and down the roads trying to get them to run. Beautiful looking bikes though - ya gotta love em! AL | ||
| Ray_maines |
Way back about a hundred years ago, when I was 17 years old, there was an older guy in the neighborhood (he was maybe 25) that had a 600cc single cylinder Matchless. I was the only kid that could start the thing and so I was the only kid that got to ride it. Realistically, it was one of the crappiest bikes ever built but I had a great time riding it. Eighty mph seemed like 200. It was even more fun than my Lambretta motor scooter, Ducati 250cc scrambler or even the 90cc Hodaka dirt bike that I loved more than life itself.  | ||
| Ray_maines |
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| Ray_maines |
These aren't my bikes, but you get the idea.   | ||
| Road_thing |
 2003  1973 At least I'm consistent... r-t | ||
| Bomber |
ROFLMAO, Thang . . . . . . we have suffered similarly to the effects of controlled substances, British engineering, and, er, gravity! no lie about the lace up boots . .. . lets one to adjust to allow for ankle swelling and the like |
