Author Topic: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding  (Read 987 times)

Offline redmelons

  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Feb 2022
  • Posts: 25
  • Karma: 0
Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« on: 29.09. 2023 09:56 »
My 1960 Super Rocket has a non-folding kickstart lever. Which bikes left BSA with folding or non-folding levers?
1960 RGS rep

Online Topdad

  • bob hebdon
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 2655
  • Karma: 36
  • l
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #1 on: 29.09. 2023 12:17 »
I worked as a salesman in a BSA/tri dealership but it was a long time ago so bear with me ,
Bantams 175s had a folding kickstarter
Ci5s folding
b25s etc yes
pretty sure the a 50s and a65s did to
tri tiger cubs yes
t90s yes and all 500s and 650s possibly with an extracost (triumphs everything was extra )
can't say about 750s
 can't be 100% certain I was 16 -20 then now 73
" rules are made for the guidance of wise men and the blind obediance of fools"
United Kingdom

Offline trevinoz

  • Newcastle, N.S.W. Australia.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2006
  • Posts: 3234
  • Karma: 71
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #2 on: 29.09. 2023 23:46 »
I would say that a Super Rocket would have had a folding kick start lever.

Offline Black Sheep

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 1221
  • Karma: 8
    • Where black sheep live
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #3 on: 30.09. 2023 06:37 »
'59 A10 was non-folding.
2 twins, 2 singles, lots of sheep

Online Ted_Flash

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 117
  • Karma: 4
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #4 on: 30.09. 2023 13:14 »
Looking at the sales catalogues:
The Golden Flash was non-folding to the end
The Road Rocket was folding from 1955 then Super Rockets were folding
For the USA the Super Flash was folding from 1953, as were Super Rockets and sports variants to follow
The USA Golden Flash was folding from 1959
Ted Wilkinson, Ramsbottom, Lancashire
1950 Golden Flash

Offline jhg1958

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2019
  • Posts: 274
  • Karma: 6
  • The more I learn I realise how little I know
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #5 on: 30.09. 2023 21:34 »
I assume that the non folding kickstart lever was cheaper and that is why they used it.  I find mine more annoying than anything else.

I was a little concerned that the gearbox could be damaged if I dropped the BSA. Is this a valid reason to for a folding kickstart lever?

John

PS I don’t plan to drop it.
1961 Golden Flash S/Arm

Offline Colsbeeza

  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 734
  • Karma: 5
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #6 on: 30.09. 2023 23:59 »
My 1960 Flash has a non-folding kickstart. I must be odd because I like it that way.
PS, I have crash bars front and back, so gearbox damage has never occurred to me.
Col
1961 Golden Flash
Australia

Offline redmelons

  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Feb 2022
  • Posts: 25
  • Karma: 0
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #7 on: 01.10. 2023 21:10 »
I find mine more annoying than anything else.

Same here  *smiley4*. It always seems to be in the way so I was wondering when BSA changed to folding kickstarts.
1960 RGS rep

Offline Joolstacho

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 1193
  • Karma: 7
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #8 on: 02.10. 2023 08:01 »
My SR has the standard K/S quadrant (Not RGS) and I have rearset footrests, so I had to heat and bend the K/S so it cleared the zorst pipe and was ok with the folded up footrest. Yes it is folding.
Note: a non-standard arrangement.

Online limeyrob

  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2023
  • Posts: 952
  • Karma: 4
Re: Kickstart lever - folding or non-folding
« Reply #9 on: 12.01. 2024 14:00 »
I've always assumed that it was because of rear sets.  If you fit rear sets the kick start is right under your leg.
Slough 59 GF/SR