@@alanmorgan9353 thanks Alan for your kind remarks. Maybe you might like to revisit that experience - they are not that expensive to pickup - probably less than the price of a new enfield bullet?
@@farric1 Sorry. It's nice see someone who actually rides instead of ooogles their machine. In the last 20 years or so there has been this trend in the states where they restore to the maximum and let them sit.
@@MyWillypillysorry! I'm a Brit who lives in Australia myself. In Australia, until quite recently, we did not favour 'trailer queens' over good running bikes and Sunday morning used to consist of about 15 - 20 classics out for a run. We rode them hard like in the video above! What I've noticed is that post the Covid lockdown era, most of the guys are turning up on modern bikes, myself included. I'm going to take the Norton down on Sunday now I think about it. Nice to talk😢.
@@jammaster7614 yea I'm so looking forward to that I would like to get a garage situation I can work out first and I'd probably track progress on my channel. Thanks for the encouragement!
I use hand signals out of habit from riding my British bikes which do not have turn signals I had a sheriff's officer pull me over because he did not know what I was doing. It's true I swear
Your bike is gorgeous and looks brand new. Wouldn't it be great if you could buy one of those brand new? And I don't mean a Royal Enfield interceptor while it may be a perfectly good motorcycle it doesn't have the soul of a real British motorcycle.
I have a 1960 something BSA Thunderbolt that the previous owners took the whole engine apart and I thought maybe there was something wrong with it I took the crankshaft to my Ducati buddy who races and has a race shop and he said Frank there is no where on the crankshaft at all. The 6000 original miles on the speedometer was correct. How could somebody take apart a perfectly running motorcycle and then let it sit in a box for 20 years. I ended up buying another Thunderbolt BSA motor to put in it. I like the single carburetor versions like the Thunderbolt and the tiger because it is much easier to deal with the one carburetor. I got the whole bike rolling chassis with the motor and a couple of milk crates plus the cost of the complete motor so I got the whole bike for $1,000 in nice shape for the Body Works those days are long gone.
Now I know where you live. I had a 69 lightning with spitfire internals was the best bike I’ve ever had out of all British and American bikes I’ve owned and have to say was thee dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life to sell it I’m falling into depression as I watch this. Am now sell our house to buy another yay I feel better now
This looks like somewhere near where I live in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, based on the bins you are passing. But the signage tells me you are in the western district somewhere.
Just LOVE the sound of the Beeza twins! The lovely deep burble on tick over, The snarl when accelerating hard, The smooth drone when cruising, Like a 650cc Concert orchestra!!!
I’ve just inherited one of these from my grandfather after he passed away just before Christmas. Was immaculate condition when he parked it up after his last ride out on it in 2010. It’s been in the garage ever since untouched so I will get round to pulling it out soon and recommissioning it in the summer I hope!
I guess you know what needs to be done.Good luck. It's a privilege to own such a legacy bike. They feel quite agricultural compared to modern bikes but give it a while and you'll learn to love the sound and feel of it. Thanks for sharing your story.
I can’t wait. Watching your ride out on yours really gets me excited to get out on mine! I’ve just checked it out today and it’s still in good condition. New tyres brakes and a good service and I think it will be up and running and ready for the sun!
Sweet sounding engine, a good example. I have rebuilt a couple of Lightning’s in the day. Both had the sump plugs housing boss smashed by their owners I guess they were made for scrambling. But loverly machines and this is a great example.
I restored one of these machines for a guy that had one he had moved from over seas in storage . They are such Beautiful bikes , the feel of a real motorcycle and the power they have. Funny thing I rode his up to a gas station and when I left their was some GL touring people standing watching me with their hand over their ears when I warmed it up a little , I will never forget that look they had..priceless !
Used to ride them on a daily basis at Armoury rd ,later ones especially good ,sorted MOST of the bogies out by then. Would love to have a ride on one now .T.M.
@@farric1 No worries l like it andThank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.I have a new video out now.Hope you like and share..
Thank you for that. Got one just like it. Last time I rode it my boy was newly born. He´s coming home on leave from the navy soon. It really inspired me to get my Lightning back on the road again.
I had a 1967 Lightning. I started on a Honda 90 that topped out at 55 mph then moved on to the Lightning, which was one of the fastest bikes on the road in 1967. I bought mine in 1978 and by then the big Japanese bikes had eclipsed it. But it was still plenty fast. Too much of a jump for me, I should have fit a Honda CB360 in between the 90 and the Lightning. I came over a crest to a blind corner with gravel all over the pavement. I grabbed the brakes hard but that drum up front was no disk and I was still going 30 when I hit the gravel. Glad I was wearing a helmet, gloves and a leather jacket. Still spent the night in a hospital to fix my right thumb. I sold the scratched up Lightning to a buddy for $500 and he restored her.
