Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Old-Nail]

I have just sold my Standard Vanguard and a couple of other vehicles that were cluttering up the place much to the delight of Mrs. Nail, however I have now got an uncontrollable urge to buy a BSA A65.

The model I'm thinking of will be a 68-70 model and preferably in U.S. spec.

Has anyone owned one of these bikes? Is there anything I should specifically look out for when buying?

[Uncle Joe]

A65's have one big problem, the crankshaft. Or more correctly, a thrust washer on the crankshaft that wears, allows excessive end float and then....

Correctly rebuilt and pedantically maintained, nice reliable bikes! I know what my choice would be though if it was a british 650.....

UJ

[Old-Nail]

My first choice would be a 69/70 Triumph 650, however the money those things now command makes the BSA very attractive in comparison.

I have never really considered anything other than those two simply because although I like 'classic' bikes I wouldn't like to own anything older design wise, except perhaps a Dominator?

What's yours UJ, on a budget of £3000?

[Uncle Joe]

Thats a relatively easy one for me to answer, simply because its something that I have been giving thought to recently!

I would build a Tribsa, starting with a BSA B31 or similar rolling chassis, and fit a pre-unit Triumph 650 mag/alternator Saint spec. motor...not original, I know, but such a good combination....

We could do a deal on this......

UJ

[1.5ran]

just sold(swapped cash my way) for dodge/commer camper,my '66 bsa a65t. these are really underrated bikes ,one of the best brit twins out there. the 1970 on models are the best engines. the only real problem is the timing side bush which has the oil fed through it then to the big ends as the bush wears you loose oil pressure to the big ends .srm engineering do a end fed crank conversion which cures this ,then they are ultra reliable. very popular with sidecar racers because of the torque curve can take them up to 900cc as well. mine ran 13.4@98mph 1/4miles. http://flickr.com/photos/commerchrisgoldstar_a65/

[Old-Nail]

Hi Chris,

I've just (re) started buying issues of Classic Bike and you know how it is when you see those oldies looking good again!

I am trying to avoid my usual problem of Champagne taste and lemonade pockets, and BSA's do represent excellent value when measured against their Triumph counterparts of the same era.

I learned about SRM bearings only the other day, a well worthwhile mod!

[Uncle Joe]

Is it the bush, the thrust washer, or a combination? As I remember things, bush wear was caused by excessive crankshaft end float, so I assume a combination. Put me right if I am incorrect.

The reason that I suggested the Tribsa thing earlier was that though I prefer the Triumph engines, I prefer the BSA chassis, especially with Norton forks....

Old-Nail, did you see the Tribsa story of mine that Rick posted on the main site?

UJ

[Old-Nail]

No UJ I don't often visit the main site so I've missed it, I'll take a look though.

I have always preferred Triumphs to BSAs but recently due to the unwarranted asking price for old Triumphs (and lets face it they're not that good) compared to Beezas I've changed my position.

Anyway, when a bike can make me say Oooow when I look at it then it cant be all bad!



Ooooww!

[Rick]

ON, UJ's link (among others) are on here:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/motoringmemories.htm

RJ
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[welder]

Last summer a pal of mine lent me his BSA Spitfire to ride to the VMCC Founders Day meet at Stanford Hall. He and my brother accompanied me on their Brough Superiors, his an SS100 and our kid's an SS80. The combined noise was simply gorgeous and while the Broughs both have a turn of speed the BSA left them for dead in the twisty bits! Oh, and the brakes worked!
I really must drag my 1969 Triumph Trophy 650 from dusty retirement and give it a wizz round Warwickshire....I feel a surge of enthusiasm coming on................

Ian

[welder]

Last summer a pal of mine lent me his BSA Spitfire to ride to the VMCC Founders Day meet at Stanford Hall. He and my brother accompanied me on their Brough Superiors, his an SS100 and our kid's an SS80. The combined noise was simply gorgeous and while the Broughs both have a turn of speed the BSA left them for dead in the twisty bits! Oh, and the brakes worked!
I really must drag my 1969 Triumph Trophy 650 from dusty retirement and give it a wizz round Warwickshire....I feel a surge of enthusiasm coming on................

Ian

[welder]

Sorry about the double posting....rose tinted spectacles got in the way!

Ian

[Uncle Joe]

As a purely personal opinion, I've always thought this about the British 'big 3' bike manufacturers. Nortons had good frames, bad engines. Triumphs were the opposite. Good engines, bad frames. BSA a compromise. Both engines and frames somewhere in the middle....

I do agree in the fact that they are underrated bikes.

UJ

[welder]

The surge of enthusiasm got kind of diverted....to get to the Triumph I had to move a Honda ST70 Monkey Bike and most of a New Hudson Autocycle which had it's rear wheel out for some reason. I'd remembered seeing the wheel in a far corner of the unit so decided to reunite the two for convenience of movement. Got carried away and spent 3 hours messing with the thing. It's in better nick than I'd remembered, what there is of it. I just need all the tinware, a pedal. tyres and tubes and about a dozen lesser items. I've found some bits on ebay so that's the credit card wacked again.....wish I'd left it where it was!

Ian

[Old-Nail]

Do you have any pics of the TR6?