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Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: thefrenchfiend on October 03, 2006, 10:42:30 PM

Title: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: thefrenchfiend on October 03, 2006, 10:42:30 PM

Hi,

My husband has just bought a BSA Cafe Racer 1959 and some of the parts just don't seem to stack up.  According to the registration document the frame no. is FA7-12872 and the engine no. is CA10-10522.  Does this sound like a Cafe Racer or is it something else?

Any help would be gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: VintageBike on October 04, 2006, 12:50:31 AM

Hi there,

the frame no indicates it came from 1959 with a swinging arm, whereas the engine is from a 1957 A10.  Cafe Racers are often made from differing bits of bikes so this is nothing unusual.  I hope this helps.

regards

Nigel

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: L.A.B. on October 04, 2006, 01:31:22 AM

A 'Cafe Racer' isn't a particular model but refers to a certain style of modified bike popular during the 50s and 60s etc.

Your husband's bike according to the BSA records shows that it would most likely have been originally built as a 1959 A10 'Golden Flash' model similar to this one in the pictures section:
 http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/BSA%20Bikes/pages/BSA-A10.htm

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: thefrenchfiend on October 04, 2006, 02:26:00 AM

Thanks for the quick responses.  Apparently I got it slightly wrong the frame no. doesn't relate to anything in the Roy Bacon book on 650,s.  Also, the offside frame has a loop in the bottom which he thinks might possibly indicate a Gold Star frame. Could this be right?

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: L.A.B. on October 04, 2006, 03:03:28 AM

Quote

 Also, the offside frame has a loop in the bottom which he thinks might possibly indicate a Gold Star frame. Could this be right?

It could be?

Or it could be a standard B31 or B33 frame I think? There may be no lug for a steering lock pin at the top of the steering stem on a genuine Gold Star frame? Nigel (Vintagebike) could possibly give more info about Gold Stars.

  

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: Grizzly on October 04, 2006, 03:07:43 AM

Hi

The loop you refer to on the bottom right of the frame sounds like the loop to go around the oil pump on the  B group bikes, which includes as you say the Goldies.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Grizzly

Title: Re: Help needed to identify a 1959 BSA Cafe Racer
Post by: thefrenchfiend on October 06, 2006, 11:21:21 PM

Thank you all so much for your help.  I suspect that the most efficient way to do this is to upload a photo which I shall attempt at the weekend.  ::)