BSA S27 Handlebar Rubbers

[pulhamdown]

Hi.  I`m trying to find some replacement handlebar rubber grips for my 1927 BSA S27.  Anyone know what the bike would have had fitted originally?  I`ve been told that they had John Bull type barrel shape grips. But the very badly damaged ones that came with the bike have a nice piece moulded into the end, to stop your finger slipping into the hinge of the inverted lever.  I`d really like to find something like them, but haven`t seen anything like them.  Any ideas?  Thanks
Colin

[Rex]

Can't help with your problem (I have the barrel-shaped John Bulls on my bike, and the barrel shape stops my hand ending up at the pivot) but if there's any rubber specialists  reading, I'd like to know where to get the plain foot-rest rubbers as used on many pre-war bikes.
I'm thinking of the rubbers which aren't moulded, just a length of rubber tubing cut to length, open both ends, and held on by a washer and nut.
Thanks.

[Martin_UK]

Many years ago my Father had an S27 and it had the straight John Bull type handlebar rubbers together with the inverted levers.

For the vintage grips try Dial Patterns (Vintage Grips) http://www.dialpatterns.co.uk/grips.html.

For plain foot rest rubbers try either Jim Hunter Engineering http://www.barnstormers.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Jeff-Hunter-PDF.pdf (details on a NZ website but JJim's son Jeff is based in the UK. Alternatively try Vintage Replica in the Czech Republic http://www.vintage-replica.cz/katalog1E.htm

Regards,

Martin

[pulhamdown]

Thanks for that.  It`s looking like the John Bull rubbers were the original, so I think I`ll go for those.  Having looked really closely at the ones on my bike, they are both slightly different, so almost certainly not original.

Colin

[robbsa]

Hi Colin,

Sorry this is not about the handlebars, but i'm looking to find info about valve caps on a similar bike to yours. I'm guessing that your bike runs with a 350 SV engine, but please tell me if this is not the case. do you know where i would be able to get some valve caps made for this  bike? Also, I'm trying to find out the correct carb setup, but cant find any information for this. If you can help in any way i would greatly appreciate it.

My bike is a L29 (or could be S29 - not sure how to make the distinction, i'm new to this period of bikes) - two years later, but still runs with the 350 SV.

thanks,

Rob

[pulhamdown]

Hi Rob.  My bike is a 500cc side valve.  The S denotes 500, and the 27 the model year, ie 1927.  The L in your case denotes 350.  Hence yours should be a 1929 350.  As far as the valve caps go, I have the opposite problem to you.  They kept coming loose.  However, I`ve now found out that there should be a copper crush washer under the cap, so that`s next on my shopping list.  As far as getting valve caps made, I`m sorry I can`t help.  But a good motorcycle machine shop should be able to make them.  I`m no expert on these bikes, so I`m sorry I can`t help with the carburettor.
Colin