What should a newbie like me look for?

[gocy]

Hello everybody i am gocy and i live in Cyprus. I am planning to buy a A7 500 Swing arm in the next month. The bike is in perfect condition and the engine is fine. Are there any special points i should give some more attention on? I don't want to buy a bike and in a month discover that i need to buy parts worth the value of the bike.
So, are there some special parts i should see or some noise i shouldn't hear?
I am a newbie on bikes and especially BSA's and some help would be much appreciated.

[a10 gf]

Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will get lot's of answers here. And maybe Emilios can help, he's been trough quite a lot and may be close to were you live.

[gocy]

Thanks.
I will get in touch with emilios soon.

[LJ.]

Welcome along gocy...

It's a very good question to ask and a wise move to join our forum before buying the bike.

I guess that a certain amount of luck is involved here if you are buying the bike alone. I would think that if it feels and sounds right then It may well be. Try to have the engine running and spend a while with it on your own and not with the seller on your back if possible. Listen all around the bike at different places... Listen for any piston slap or bearing grumbling in the bottom end. Bounce the forks, feel the brakes, and check the clutch for their operation. Try to get a bit of back ground history if you can and even then treat the bike as a new build after purchase.

Good Luck and I/we hope you have much success with your machine!

[RichardL]

Gocy,

I like everything LJ said but, in particular, I think "treat the bike as a new build" is brilliant. The bike may be running and seemingly fine, but I think, with bikes of this age and in different states of repair, it is correct to believe that things are a bit worse than they appear on the surface. This doesn't mean you can't get some riding fun out of it before the work begins, but work there will be.

I wouldn't suggest that the forum can be your official consultant for purchasing or not purchasing, but if you had the chance to post a few photos here or, maybe, a video on YouTube, I am sure you would get some careful eyes and ears commenting on the condition.

As for being in Cyprus, I was scheduled to be there today, believe it or not, but the work got changed to via email and telephone. (Note to Emilios, my alternate trip to Londan was also cancelled). Nevertheless, the project I am involved with should get off (and out of) the ground someday, and now I will have two "A" ers to visit with.

Richard L.

[tombeau]

Hi there and welcome.
it sounds like you've already decided to buy it :)
A good runner is a good start.
Cheers,
Iain

[a10 gf]

Compare with photos from books, to see that all or most original parts are there. Best to have matching frame\engine nr's, but not important at all regarding daily use! Frame, tank and tinware original and in decent shape?

Best to be a runner with no obvious unwanted engine noises, but if the price is right and you are willing to spend time and money, anything can be bought really.

As Richard says, post a few pics if available.

[gocy]

Thank you all for the kind words. Already feels like family
Unfortunately, the only picture i have is a paper printed photo. I will try to scan it and post here.

- LJ I will treat her as brand new, be sure about it and work my way through if anything comes up.

- manosound i certainly do plan to have fun riding the twin

- tombeau Nothing, i say nothing will stop me 

- a10gf  The frame/engine nr's are matching and she's a runner and a first kick starter.

[gocy]

Well, as promised, here she is

[muskrat]

Very nice Gocy, Don't look like much to do there. What's she go like ?
Cheers

[a10 gf]

Judging by the picture and the information you gave: buy it !

[RichardL]

Gocy,

Wow! Much nicer looking  than I was expecting and I think that probaby goes for the rest of us. If the price is right, and if you were not looking for a big restoration project, "What should a newbie like me look for?" seems to be in that picture. That said, the beauty on the surface creates a even bigger gap in believability in imagining unseen issues, versus something a little rougher. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be at all negative about this bike. I'm just stating what I think is the inevitable truth that things are not always what they seem. In my opinion, they are always not what they seem. God, what a pessimist I am!

Richard L.

[LJ.]

That looks very very nice indeed! Go for it Gocy!

[gocy]

Thank you all for the support. i WILL go for it.

Richard, indeed, what a pessimist 
But let me tell you this. If i wanted a bike with no mechanical problems, no oil dripping all over the place and ride for thousands of miles and just need to have an oil change, then i would choose a new Japanese bike (not the big-old-ugly BEEZA) .
I believe i am ready to take this challenge.

[gocy]

I have the engine/frame numbers, model, capacity....
if i post some info here, will someone be able to identify and verify the info i was given? (maybe a little bit of history?)