The most BASIC of questions from a brit bike noob

[markymayhem]

Hello, I'm Mark from St. Louis, Missouri here in the US. I've been lurking here for a week or so because of a 1969 BSA starfire.   I've only just begun motorcycling, and the only bike I've ever ridden is the bike I learned on: a well used 30,000+ mile 1982 kawasaki LTD 440.  I have an opportunity to purchase an almost running 1969 BSA starfire with decent body, paint, and chrome for $500.  I have a few questions regarding parts avaliability and such, but my main question is this:  How do you ride it :-/ ?!!?  By that I mean, what are all the controls, where are they located and how do they work.  Because this is NOTHING like my 440!  Also, any opinions on this year and model?  How hard might parts be to get?  Are they reliable and relativley easy to work on for a decent home mechanic?  
Thanks in advance for all your help - hopefully I'll end up with the bike and a regular forum member!

-mark

[VintageBike]

Welcome Mark!

Will certainly be good to have you as a regular...

As for the Starfire, it's not so dissimilar to your previous bike...  Throttle, clutch and front brake will be as you are used to (although probbaly not quite as effective...).  Gear and rear brake may be the other way round, but you'll soon get used to that!  Four gears - one down and three up,  You'll probably have a choke lever too to aid starting from cold.  But that's it.    They are a very easy bike to work on, and in my opinion you couldn't do much better as an introduction.  Spares and easy to come by although parts like mudguards etc are harder to find.

It will make a lot of fantastic noise and draw a lot more attention than your 440 would ever do.  If ou do go for it, there is one book that you should not go without.  You can see it at http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Shopping/Books/Panther/Rupert%20Ratio/Rupert%20Ratio.htm

I've always owned C15's whcih are the predecessor to the  Starfire, and this book has been invaluable to me.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Cheers

Nigel.

[L.A.B.]

To add to what Nigel has said.

You should find that the bike has an 'Amal Concentric Mk1' carb?
So before starting you will need to flood the carb by pressing the tickler button on the side of the carb body until fuel starts to drip from it.
It may not be necessary to use any choke at all, even with a cold engine, but that is something you may have to discover by trial and error?

One thing to note about Amal Mk1 carbs is that the choke control works the opposite way around to what you are probably used to, so, tight wire = choke OFF, slack wire = choke ON, for Amal Mk1.

The Starfire engine could be a bit fragile, as these 250cc size bikes were generally owned (in the UK at least) by young riders that would thrash them with little or no servicing and maintenance done, but if used sensibly there is no reason why a Starfire shouldn't prove reasonably reliable I suppose.

I would also suggest you buy the relevant workshop manual and parts book for your model.

  

[markymayhem]

After talking with a brit bike enthusiast here in town, I believe the bike may have been modified and bobbed out a bit by the previous owner.  I'll have to get some pictures for everyone...  The bike was bought by it's current owner in Europe in the late 70s, brought to the states in 1981 and been in storage since 1994.  It can't be TO torn up.....  Thanks for ALL your help and suggestions, I will let you know about the bike when and if I decide to buy it

[Blue]

hell, for $500? if you dont buy it, give me a ring, haha

I love the little starfires from that year - still had the looks with the big side panels and tank, and it had the good front brake; the only one i had (and have regretted selling for years) nearly bent the forks with that brake.

even for a single you'll find theyre really easy to work on - the crank should be a one-piece forging with a split big-end con rod. too easy! no messing about with presses and flywheels and useless bloody roller bearings, haha

anyway, i hope you enjoy it if you get it

[markymayhem]

Well.....  Thanks for the info everyone!  I kinda doubt I'll get this bike after a thurough inspection..  It's got over 70,000 miles on it for starters.  Everything's  falling off.  And I just don't have the expirence, or access to parts to fix it up.  It's up in the air right now - I'll let you know if I scoop it up

[L.A.B.]

It's got over 70,000 miles on it for starters.

That bike must hold the world mileage record for a Starfire!

[markymayhem]

From the research I've done, that's the same conclusion I came to!  Don't laugh -  I ended up buying a cool little 1970 Yamaha CS3C 200cc Street Scrambler in green..