A long trip on a BSA?

[atomSchneider]

Thanks for that Lannis, good to know that the weight won't be a big problem as it has been a major concern (was already planing on handing off heavy equipment to one of my buddies, who is riding an old MZ - though no need to tell him of this revelation!).

Where is the best place to start looking for the bikes? Classic Bike magazines? Owners club?

[tombeau]

Hi Adam,
Good to have you here.
I believe Birmingham has a very active branch of the BSA Owners Club;

Contact

Phil Bull
bsaocbirmingham@aol.com

Meets at:
The Blue Bell, Earlswood   
2nd Sunday 12pm

It would be a good starting place.
Often when people decide they're selling a bike, all they actually do is tell their mates and rely on word of mouth. Its good to get in that chain. Or by asking around someone might decide to sell. You'd also hopefully end up with a "known" bike.
Cheers,
Iain

[RichardL]

Though there seems to be an anti-eBay attitude amongst many members of the forum, I think it is unwarranted in terms of choosing a starting place for looking. At eBay.co.uk you will see a good number of A10s and A7s, versus what can be seen at the US eBay.com. Also, you see a variety on a national basis, not just according to local knowledge. From my own experience scanning eBay for BSAs, you can almost always arrange to see the bike in advance. An intelligent and careful buyer should not have trouble protecting himself when using eBay for this purpose. Nevertheless, a recommendation from a friend or a friend-of-a-friend may still be a preferred source, if you can get such a reference.

Richard L.

[A10Boy]

I totally agree, ebay is a great INSTANT ADVERTISING place, but no more than that.

I found my A10 on ebay, went to see it, liked it, did a deal with the seller, went back next day with the cash and rode it home. I think that's the way to use ebay.

[Lannis]

Hi Adam,
Good to have you here.
I believe Birmingham has a very active branch of the BSA Owners Club;

Contact

Phil Bull
bsaocbirmingham@aol.com

Meets at:
The Blue Bell, Earlswood   
2nd Sunday 12pm

It would be a good starting place.
Often when people decide they're selling a bike, all they actually do is tell their mates and rely on word of mouth. Its good to get in that chain. Or by asking around someone might decide to sell. You'd also hopefully end up with a "known" bike.
Cheers,
Iain

Excellent advice.  That's exactly how I've bought all of my bikes (they're all Guzzis and BSAs).  I let my friends in the club know what I am after, get the word around, and before long, bikes that might not have even been advertised anywhere start showing up.  Plus you know what you're getting, and someone who knows someone can usually vouch for the bike.

I don't use eBay for buying anymore.  It's like buying a camel in a Timbuktu souk; you'd better show up with a pistol tucked into the back of your belt, a complete knowledge of camels, watch your back, and be ready for anything.   They'll screw you to the wall in a second, and there's nothing you can do about it unless you're tougher and smarter than they are. 

Your friends in the club won't do you that way.

Lannis

[A10Boy]

The bloke I bought mine off was a member of the Classic Motorcycle club and obviously an enthusiast. Mine is a beauty, and without the advertising power of ebay I might have missed it.

I guess when you go to look at the bike, you need to look at the owner too, you can usually tell the genuine blokes. Any doubts walk away.

[RichardL]

I don't use eBay for buying anymore.  It's like buying a camel in a Timbuktu souk; you'd better show up with a pistol tucked into the back of your belt, a complete knowledge of camels, watch your back, and be ready for anything.   They'll screw you to the wall in a second, and there's nothing you can do about it unless you're tougher and smarter than they are. 

Your friends in the club won't do you that way.

Lannis

Correct me if I'm wrong, we're talking near-original classic BSA motorcycles, not rat-rod choppers that might be sold by more questionalble types. If there is concern about being robbed for cash, don't carry it to the first meeting. If you're not comfortable evaluating the motorcycle on your own, take one of those friends from the club along with you; buy the lunch and beer, including for the seller. Also, this would help to allay any concerns of robbery (I think no more likely than daily life). Finally, my assumption completely without substantiation, is that the likelihood of running into thieves or, even, persons of unscrupulous sales intentions may be less in the UK than the US.

No doubt this will bring a flurry of "oh, you naive lad"s from my friends on the forum, but I am taking the "think positive" side of this discussion.

Richard L.

[Lannis]

I don't use eBay for buying anymore.  It's like buying a camel in a Timbuktu souk; you'd better show up with a pistol tucked into the back of your belt, a complete knowledge of camels, watch your back, and be ready for anything.   They'll screw you to the wall in a second, and there's nothing you can do about it unless you're tougher and smarter than they are. 

Your friends in the club won't do you that way.

Lannis

Correct me if I'm wrong, we're talking near-original classic BSA motorcycles, not rat-rod choppers that might be sold by more questionalble types. If there is concern about being robbed for cash, don't carry it to the first meeting. If you're not comfortable evaluating the motorcycle on your own, take one of those friends from the club along with you; buy the lunch and beer, including for the seller. Also, this would help to allay any concerns of robbery (I think no more likely than daily life). Finally, my assumption completely without substantiation, is that the likelihood of running into thieves or, even, persons of unscrupulous sales intentions may be less in the UK than the US.

No doubt this will bring a flurry of "oh, you naive lad"s from my friends on the forum, but I am taking the "think positive" side of this discussion.

Richard L.

Richard -

I was not saying that you should go look at an eBay bike literally with a pistol in your belt.

I was comparing the VIRTUAL world of eBay with the physical world of a back-country bazaar.  On eBay, there are hundreds of scammers, who will shamelessly take you for everything you have if you drop your electronic guard, just as there are shadowy figures in a bazaar (not to mention the shills and shysters shouting at you from their awnings) that will physically take everything you have if you don't watch out.

At least for classic bikes and other expensive stuff, eBay is just more trouble for me than it's worth.  I'm sure lots of people continue to have mostly positive experiences, and more power to them!

Lannis

[RichardL]

Lannis,

I suppose, if I had thought more clearly of it, your intended figurative meaning would have been clear. Anyway, thanks for the further clarification. I can't say I've bought anything truly expensive off eBay, so I'm not qualified to speak, as such. Of the many low-to-moderate-cost things I have bought, I have only had one occurance wherein the item and deal was not exactly or better than expected, and then, it wasn't worth mentioning. I also think/hope that the people who have bought from me believe they have been well treated. For the record, I don't own any eBay stock and have not been hired to promote them. 

Richard L.

[LJ.]

There is no doubt that a good measure of luck is needed in doing deals on ebay. I had my measure last Autumn with my Star Twin, it was at a low price three hours before finishing, this was when I found it by causualy flicking through the pages at that time. I must admit I was nervous right up until I eventually got the thing started, a few days after getting it home. Before bidding I decided that it was a good buy even if I had to pull the engine out for a rebuild. I was prepared to turn and walk away if it was not what was expected when I knocked at the sellers door, somehow my courage dissapeard when he answered! As well as it all turned out, I dont think I'd want to go through it all again, no one gets that much luck!

Its been fun though and I made a web page telling all about it... http://www.ljswain.btinternet.co.uk/star-twin.htm

[Lannis]

There is no doubt that a good measure of luck is needed in doing deals on ebay. I had my measure last Autumn with my Star Twin, it was at a low price three hours before finishing, ...
Its been fun though and I made a web page telling all about it... http://www.ljswain.btinternet.co.uk/star-twin.htm

LJ, this is the reason why my A10 moved from England to the USA.  I can promise you that the $2,670 you paid for this bike would be doubled for an A7 in the same condition in the USA.  There just aren't that many!

Good deal!

Lannis