Hello all!
At last I have managed to post a picture! Many will probably wish I hadn't, I suppose! Well the bike as it is, has certainly got some history behind it. When this was built you still had about 5 years to change your mind and go to Small Heath and buy all new replacement parts from B.S.A.
Yes, it was 'chopped' in 1967/8, 44 years ago in Manchester, England from an 8 year old bike. The guy that built it did it for a living and this one along with an A65 he built won first and second prizes at custom car and bike shows that year. The next two owners both died and it spent a lot of years under a plastic sheet outdoors. A friend and I unearthed it by accident in 1979 and I rebuilt it from there. It was very much a show bike at first, but by strengthening the frame here and there and some frame braces I turned it into a rideable machine. Everything works as it should and the riding position is fine for about 70 mile stints by which time he needs fuel and I need a smoke! Not bad for a rigid.
Over the years it has often been my only means of transport, and is at the moment untill I get the van MOT'd. The engine was fully rebuilt from top to bottom by S.R.M. in the mid 80's and the bottom end has not been apart since. Within 18 months of getting it back from them it had done 14.000 miles. It was used every day for work and trips to the west coast of Ireland, Kent, up the North East and countless trips to Anglesey. Granted, it may not of set many land speed records in that time, but credit to B.S.A. for the basic design, and the lads at S.R.M for their engineering skill. Indeed that period was actually boring because there was nothing to do but polish, change the oil and a set of tyres. It runs like a dream almost always........... Anyway, let the abuse commence!
