classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: jono on October 03, 2005, 01:57:47 PM

Title: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: jono on October 03, 2005, 01:57:47 PM

hi can any one identify this 500 bsa for me

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: L.A.B. on October 03, 2005, 04:36:56 PM

It is a BSA 'A7'  if it is 500cc (650cc model was A10) and seems to be fitted with a lot of non-standard  parts.

If you gan give the engine and frame numbers then it would be possible to identify the year?

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: jono on October 03, 2005, 04:54:34 PM

hey thanks for that im thinkin of buyin it .you no what year it could be .the owner seems a bit quiet

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: L.A.B. on October 03, 2005, 05:18:10 PM

Quote

hey thanks for that im thinkin of buyin it .you no what year it could be .the owner seems a bit quiet

Somewhere around 1949-57, the engine number will give the year, but the bike has been modified quite a bit!  

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: Sparks on August 25, 2006, 12:24:39 PM

It looks like a Shooting Star,designated A7SS. Tha A7 came out in 1946 and I think ended in 1952.The A7 and A10 were similar in design the A10 was built using light weight material,and consequently a better bike.The bike you are showing has been chopped and changed.Good luck.    Sparks

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: geoffus on August 25, 2006, 06:54:17 PM

A7   A7st A7 ss they made a lot of A7s but could be  not sure it is in a duplex frame but with spring heal suspension suspect 49 to 52 but front break wrong and a lot of other things suggest A10 engine number would conferm cc and year

Title: Re: bsa 500 but what year /model?
Post by: Blue on September 23, 2006, 07:26:56 PM

the front end doesnt suit the frame ... i think its almost certainly a royal enfield front end and wheel
the silencer is a goldstar silencer
strange carbs - not original

i think the engine looks like the later a7; the engine that was a scaled-down a10.  Looks like a twin-carb head; The SS had a twin-carb alloy head, so i dont think its an SS ... the Star Twin had a twin-carb iron head, so probably a ST head.  
The basic engine nos are:
1950 - ZA7 (Star Twin - ZA7S)
1951-52 - AA7 (ST - AA7S)
1953-54 -  BA7 (ST - BA7S)
1955-61 - CA7 (Shooting Star - CA7SS)
In 1961 there was an alternator version - CA7A

If you want a full number list try Draganfly Motorcycles http://www.draganfly.co.uk/bsa_tech.html

just noticed the date this was originally posted; oh well