Potential BSA owner

[bikermike59]

Hi guys,
I have always wanted to own a BSA 500 or 650 twin but have been brought up on Japanese bikes since I passed my bike test in the 70's
My dad used to ride a BSA 350 in the 60's and he loved it.
I have joined this site for any help and advice before I take the plunge and buy one 🙂
Any advice on what to look for and best model to buy would be helpful
I would really like one from around the year I was born (1959) but I know these are getting expensive now.
Ideally I would like to find one I can restore
As I restored a 1982 BMW R80 a few years ago and really enjoyed it!
Thanks
Mike

[Black Sheep]

A 1959 500 or 650 would be a good choice (we have a 1959 A10 so slightly biased). Beware shiny ones! So often these are a cosmetic job but as internally horror stories.
They are not bad to work on, spares are plentiful and advice is easy to come by. It's easy to spend eye-watering amounts on the engine if you listen too much to the doomsters.
A well put together standard engine is pretty bullet proof.
Happy hunting!

[muskrat]

G'day Mike 
A really good way to look for a bike is asking a forum like this.
Basically you have the choice of the iron head Golden Flash or the sporty alloy head Super Rocket in the 650's or A7 iron head or Shooting Star in the 500's. 59 is a good year as most of the bugs had been sorted by then. As BS said "They are not bad to work on, spares are plentiful and advice is easy to come by.", plus there are many up grades available eg electronic ignition, belt primaries etc etc.
Basically depends on how much you want to spend or how much work you want to do.
Cheers

[Tomcat]

Welcome aboard Mike.
Any of the swing arm A10's are a good choice to own if you plan on riding after the resto. Parts are readily available and a wealth of knowledge is available right here on this forum.

[terryg]

Mike, whereabouts are you? There may be a forum member not too far away to whom you could speak face-to-face (Covid permitting, of course).

You’ve definitely found the right place, welcome!

[Greybeard]

 

[scotty]

Welcome Mike

If you’ve rebuilt an old airhead you’ll have no problems with a Beemer A7 or A10.

Lots of resources on this forum and as previously mentioned by others pretty good spares availability

S

[bikermike59]

Mike, whereabouts are you? There may be a forum member not too far away to whom you could speak face-to-face (Covid permitting, of course).

You’ve definitely found the right place, welcome!

Thanks Terry,
I live in the South in Portsmouth 

[Rex]

You lucky chap, so do I!