Just registered - here's my A7

[Pete Gray]

Had a bit of trouble getting registered but made it.

This is my 1961 A7 which I've owned since 1972 when I paid £45 for what was essentially a pile of junk. The primary side con rod let go on day 2 after which I never even looked at the bike for well over 3 years.
Anyway after the many years, a few changes of engine, several different looks and loads of replacement parts this is the current condition with a full engine overhaul carried out a couple of years ago, she's never ran as well as at present.
I've never been 100% sure of the original model but assume it was simply BSA A7 500cc Star.

The red version was way back then, street scrambler or something vaguely akin !

[muskrat]

Nice one Pete. 38 years, most don't even keep their wives that long ! She's even looking better with age.
How many times did the handle bars break on the red version? It would have looked kool in the '70's.
Cheers

[Pete Gray]

Those Tee bars never broke and, yes, I thought I was cool - a touch of Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider !
Actually I've had the same wife for 35 years, obviously she's the second love of my life !

[LJ.]

Had a bit of trouble getting registered but made it.

Hi Pete... Nice to have you aboard! The registering difficulty must have been down to me and my over zealous deleting of spammers and hackers... sorry about that! Anyway your safely in with us now. I notice a mud flap on the front guard, is it a home made one or purchased? I have often thought about one for my A10. Nice looking bike... think I prefer the colour scheme you have now. Cheers!

[mikethebrush]

it looks like a shooting star in polychromatic green , with non original mudgaurds

the engine doesnt look ss as it it has the iron head

the ss has an ali head and high comp pistons

very nice bike , looks a treat

[Big Nick]

nice ! and there was me thinking mine was long term , I bought mine in 1975

[Pete Gray]

I notice a mud flap on the front guard, is it a home made one or purchased?

The mudflap was purchased from a local motorcycle dealers, it's just a general "fit all" item but really does help on the rainy days - not that I get the bike wet very often !
Red was the colour for the 70's then we went black and now green, based on an original factory option.
My recollection of the bike when I first got hold of it was a maroon finish.

[Pete Gray]

Here are links to 3 Youtube clips taken from my A7
This one was a quick local spin just after the engine overhaul a couple or 3 years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTMYzX6nuc
I've had criticism that the music spoils the sound of the bike - but for we Easy Rider fans it's an obvious choice !

These 2 were done last year on a lovely summers day through the dales of Derbyshire and beyond
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thL5pqiiN5o
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oeQH1UMI7I
They feature a really irritating rattle from the headlamp and great view of the front brake cable !

Hope you like them

[muskrat]

Beautiful mate, have to get me one of those moving picture things. The sound in the tunnel would have been great.
Cheers

[melvyn]

Nice bike & love the videos!

[a10 gf]

Welcome to the forum, nice bike. I really like the small roads on those videos. Thanks for posting.

[Pete Gray]

Found another picture of the A7 circa 1976, this time in black "tourer" guise. This was taken just before me and the missus took a ride from Sheffield to The Pyrenees and back, 2 weeks of moderate hell on what had to be the most uncomfortable saddle ever to grace this earth.
On my way out through London I happened to glance down to my right and luckily spotted that the Rocker oil feed had broken at the tank banjo and was spurting the hot black stuff out furiously, a bit of small bore plastic tube and some twisted copper wire held it together not only for the 1200 mile trip but for ages after. Also the dynamo packed up over the channel day one so we spent the holiday trying to persuade French cops that it was actually OK for a Brit to ride with no lights, their rules were tight even back then.
"Je ne parle Francais" seemed to work but there were tricky moments.

Other than that no problems and a great holiday.

[melvyn]

Love the T Bars & Great video's well done Pete.

[Stu55Flash]

Nice bike and great video. 

Stu

[Hubie]

Great looking bike mate, how do you find the higher american style bars compared to the flatter british ones?  I have been thinking of swapping over to some higher bars for my a10 one I've finished a rebuild.

Cheers,

Dave.