Thank you for the comments guys! It feels real good to be amongst A10 & A7 owners such as your selves.
Now to answer some of your questions...
The Lady on the bike is none other than my 13-year-old Iron Butt Emma. Affectionately called this because of her many miles on the rigid frame M21, with no comfort other than a simple sponge pillion seat. No BSAOC calendars I?m afraid although the M21 is featured in the BB.com 2008 calendar, a forum competitor of whom I will try not promote here!
The white lettering on the tyres doe's look neat and was an idea of the previous owner, I think I?ll keep it up!
It's a funny thing, my red A10 was originally blue, some previous owner had sprayed it red to make it look like a Super Rocket and many people had asked me if it was indeed such. I kept the red A10 red because that particular shade of red is so nice. You may recall that on the front cover of the Haynes Manual there is a blue A10 this never impressed me, nor seeing a BSA A65 in this blue colour.
My friend came across this blue A10 that was on eBay and we both went up north to see it and negotiate a buy it now price. It had been standing in the blokes shed four years and never started. We drained all the 'sumped' oil and gave many kicks and it burbled to life... eventually. He paid £1,950 and we brought it home to his garage. Now my mate is the kind of guy who looks after his bikes well and polishes them, he doesn?t ride far on them and his wife is not very enthusiastic riding the pillion. Soon money was needed for a modern machine and a local dealer offered a price. I was sad to learn that my good friend was not going to have a BSA any more; my idea was to purchase the bike in hope that he might come round to his senses later and buy it back, also he was happier that I should have the bike at the dealers offer. The engine is so smooth and firm that makes my red A10 feel very clunky and rattelly. He did suggest swapping the engines and good parts for bad. But I'm not really into cannibalising of bikes, especially between my own machines. My red A10 is special to me as it is my very first bike!
As mentioned in another thread somewhere the only difference between the two are the mudguard stays and one having six spring clutch and the other a four. But they both ride so differently. The red A10 with it's fairing, leg shields etc will be my sidecar puller while I will still enjoy riding a solo, the bare blue A10. I'm lucky enough to be able to have both worlds and I know that I will find it incredibly difficult if I had to choose which one would go if such a desperate situation occurs.
So Jaran... as much as I'd like a Super Rocket or Rocket Gold Star... I find that I'm very much in love with what I have... Now then on that note, I think I?ll go and see if I can make some more space in my shed!
