Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Blue

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 9
1
British Bikes / Finished my '60 BSA A10
« on: February 13, 2011, 02:17:34 PM »
Finally finished this brute.  Now just an A7SS and a B33 to go. Looking forward to the B33 actually because the only frame I could get for it is a genuine Goldstar frame - going to put some noses out of joint, hahaha.  I reckon there's too many Goldies and not enough iron BSA singles on the road these days.  Anyway, politics aside, the A10 rides a treat and I'm just settling out the little 'running-in' type details.  Also attached a photo of how the project looked when I bought it.

All the best everyone,

Blue

2
British Bikes / Re: HI FROM DOWN UNDER
« on: February 13, 2011, 02:08:41 PM »
The Brough old Lorrie was killed on, none other.

The Bantam's looking top shelf mate but the pillion seat looks a bit raw - you'd need a nice cushioned backside to go any distance on that, hahaha.

3
British Bikes / Re: Hi there! New guy in town ;)
« on: February 13, 2011, 01:59:54 PM »
Very nice, love the look a of a fresh BSA, especially a pre-unit like the Spitfire you;ve got there.  I've just finished my 1960 A10 Gold Flash over in Perth, about to start a '56 A7 Shooting Star and a '55 B33 (will they ever end? ... Hope not, haha). 

What sort of spares do you guys deal?  I'm chasing the odd BSA bit or two and am always looking for suppliers if that's the sort of operation you're running?

Cheers and welcome,

Blue

4
British Bikes / Re: Roll pin removal
« on: February 13, 2011, 01:26:48 PM »
A possibility for the home-mechanic trying to drill harder materials such as broken drill bits and ee-zee-outs is to sharpen the drilling tip of a masonry-bit.

5
British Bikes / Re: WANTED.
« on: March 09, 2010, 02:18:57 PM »
Do you want the earlier plain type or the later type with clutch inspection cap?

6
British Bikes / Re: Value of mid-50's Triumph?
« on: March 04, 2010, 06:41:19 AM »
Given that most of it seems to be there including the guards which appear to be straight, I'd say around the $3,500 - $4,000AU mark

7
British Bikes / Re: 1965 cyclone history
« on: March 04, 2010, 06:35:56 AM »
It may be a bit extreme but BSA Twins and Triples and BSA Twins Restoration by Roy Bacon are worth a read.  Neither have much general information about the Cyclone, but either will give you some handy info such as paint colours/codes and frame/engine numbers.  The Restoration book is particularly handy as it gives carburettor settings, rim/tyre sizes, cam numbers, valve sizes and that more of that sort of info.

I haven't had much to do with unit BSAs unfortunately, but they're a fine bike and I hope you get plenty of enjoyment out of yours.

Regards,
Blue

8
British Bikes / Re: Info on BSA 1940's bikes for a novice!
« on: February 18, 2010, 01:18:22 PM »
If you have experience riding motorcycles in general then handchanging can be awkward, but like most things you'd get used to it.  I find it difficult changing between British/Italian/Japanese footchanges since the gear-change pedal alternates sides; the action changes (from one down, 3 or 4 or 5 up to one up, 3 down); the number of gears can be between 3 and 6; and in one case i have a heel-and-toe lever.  But after a few minutes on the selected bike it comes pretty naturally, and I'm confident you would find handchanging the same - just don't try to rush into gears, take it easy and let the gear lever fall into place, like a car really.

I'm not trying to persuade you one way or the other with this, but I am urging you not to be discouraged from buying an otherwise ideal bike because of one or two possible quirks.

Regards,
Blue

9
British Bikes / Re: Info on BSA 1940's bikes for a novice!
« on: February 17, 2010, 02:25:51 PM »
Burning out exhaust valves on sidevalve engines is a rare occurence that mainly happens to inexperienced or ignorant riders.  Even if it does happen to you there are few simpler operations than replacing a valve in a sidevalve motor.
As for stripping magneto gears, this occurs for the exact same reason - ignorance or inexperience - and occurs on any magneto-ignited engine whether sidevalve, over-headvalve or even over-head-cam in some exotic cases.  The gears are made from fibre (or alloy nowadays) and designed to strip if a motor siezes or backfires to try to prevent damage to the rest of the unit.  Sometimes the fibre gears break down over time and once one tooth is chipped off the rest will inevitably follow fairly rapidly; but the gear can be easily replaced with modern supplements.

I would personally advise you to stick to sidevalves, due to their inherent simplicity, reliability, quietness and general charm.  If you're dying for the higher performance available from OHVs then i wouldn't discourage you in the least - BSA 'B' models are very fine machines - but the old chuggers sound ideal for your described situation.  Plus they're usually cheaper to buy, cheaper to run and parts are more plentiful, particularly cycle-parts.

Good luck and regards

10
Autojumble / Re: BSA B31 & B33 spares for sale
« on: May 16, 2009, 04:04:07 PM »
Yes, me too please,

Cheers

11
Autojumble / WANTED: Moto Morini 3 1/2 Parts/info
« on: April 27, 2008, 02:41:03 PM »
G'day,

I have a 1974 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport and I was hoping anyone might be able to provide me with any suggestions and/or parts.

Most urgently I require the correct filter housing - the bike had K&N pod-type filters when I bought it and the only proper type of housing I've managed to obtain is too big (for a 500cc I expect).  I'm willing to offer this over-large housing as a swap if desired.

Also, has anyone here had experience with the Morini clutch?  I have a parts list and a service manual for the bike, and the parts list tells me the clutch should have a 'dished' steel plate - but the manual doesn't make any mention of this part at all.  So i wonder if it's even necessary?  The plates sold by North Leicester Motorcycles come with a convex plate apparently, but I can't for the life of me see what use it is.

Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Blue

12
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: People
« on: March 31, 2008, 07:54:41 PM »
people can indeed be rude!

i remember a few years ago i was selling a few bits and pieces at a swapmeet.  a gentleman approached my stall, and without so much as a second glance at a BTH magneto (a particularly rare item fitted to velocette venom/viper clubman models) told me "that's too much to charge for that, you cant ask that price!".  i asked him what he would pay for it and he said "oh no, i dont want it, its just too much for you to charge!" and walked off! i was dumbfounded; it was as though this horrible man was put on earth solely to track me down and criticise my pricing structure, hahaha!

it didnt matter, i sold the magneto ten minutes later at full price, but i think ill always remember that bizarre incident...

13
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: BSA 400cc single-cylinder 4 stroke bike
« on: January 30, 2008, 05:45:15 PM »
Like this one?

http://www.classicmotorcycles.org.uk/bikemuseum/images/bsa/bsa_1967_b40_350cc.jpg

BSA B40 circa 1967

14
Identify these bikes! / Re: 1955 Excelsior, but what model?
« on: November 08, 2009, 11:29:47 AM »
The prefix '5PC' indicates that this is an Excelsior C3 'Courier', powered by a 147cc two-stroke motor manufactured by Excelsior themselves, not Villiers.  The frame is the same as that used for the 197cc Villiers-powered Roadmaster, but I don't know if the mounting lugs are the same - i.e. it's possible the Villiers motor can't be fitted into your frame.

Good luck,
Blue

15
Identify these bikes! / Re: What is this bike?
« on: December 19, 2008, 02:05:52 PM »
I cant be sure but the forks suggest an american influence - Harley circa 1925 perhaps?

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 9