Good to see someone caring for these wonderful old bikes and actually riding them. Great old bikes these BSAs. I had the pre-unit A10 back in the 60's.
I was 20 years old in the Air Force living in San Bernardino when I bought a 1967 BSA Lightening. My first Motorcycle. Rode it all over the Desert and Mountains. One thing I was taught was after starting it, remove the Oil Cap and make sure you see flow. Your's sure brings back memories..
Beautiful. I had one in the mid 60s. Rode it all over the midwest. Never failed, reliable. And comfortable putting on the miles at speed too. And the sound..distinctive,, isn't it! Loved my Bolt.
This was a big seller in my small California town in the 60s. Everyone wanted a Bonneville, but hey, the Thunderbolt was about $250 cheaper, probably the best buy in motorcycles over 500cc. Most jobs then paid around $2 per hour.
I had BSA in 69 my Brother bought for me to Ride that Summer while I was there in Las Vegas...It was a 441 Shooting Star..Not a Victor..It was a Street Bike with a low exhaust pipe..The Tank,Seat and Rear Fender we're all one Piece...I got it in 69 but I'm not sure if it was a 69,68 or Earlier...I've never seen another one like it since...Wish I still had it...In the 3 months I had it the speedometer Cable unraveled and broke the Speedometer..The Throttle cable broke and it Leaked oil from the Cases...Alot to happen in 3 Months..
Thank you very much for posting this video, I have so many happy memories of riding on the back of my Dad's 650 Thunderbolt around 1973. All of my friend knew when we were on our way home as they could hear the Bike from half a mile away.
Beautiful job - the new/old stock headers look great, BSA pipes are all flowing curves, many pattern ones have flats and awkward bends, it really spoils the look . .
lovely bike 🙂 I had the lighting which I rebuilt when I was 20 in 1980. had a devimead conversion on it which took it to 750cc. wish I had kept it now... Steve from the uk
I had a new 66 thunderbolt that was candy apple blue. My most favorite bike of all the bikes I owned. My thunderbolt was fast and I often out ran Lightening Rockets and Bonnies. I always felt one big single carb more sense than two carbs. No carb sync issues.
I had the same bike back in 1969 that I chopped. Sold it in early 70's. Have a '68 BSA 650 chopper now that I can ride but not road legal right now. Also ride an old Harley Low Rider but boy I love those old Limey twins.
At the time we couldn't figure out why you didn't spot the extra hundred for a Lightning Rocket (surely the best-ever motorcycle name) but in the real world one carburetor was a lot easier to mind than two.
I had a Gold Star for a while after I got out of the service in 71. Someone had changed it to a rigid and put scrambler pipes on. Check out the sig pic
-Best looking bike i have ever seen. And that includes the 650 cc Honda with the 5 speed gear box. The 4 speed was best just like the Harley's with there 4 speeds gear box. Plenty chrome on this bike & even the gas tank sides. Great sound but not from small computer speakers.Best to hear it in person.The biggest mistake BSA done was to go out of business.A great looking bike like this today would put all bikes in it's cc class to shame.Plus would have sold like hotcakes. A good buddy of mine had the 1969 BSA 650cc Lighting.It too was a great looking & powerhouse of a bike,But not as good looking as this one in this video. And The BSA had the edge on the Triumph 650. The Triumph was to high up but with the BSA you sat at a much better lower seat level so you're feet could touch the ground flat footed & not on ya tiptoes. If BSA was still in business today I would have one like in this video right now .It's just upsetting that no company today has a bike too match the looks of this super great looking bike.Dumb move on there part because they could do it if they wanted too.Just silly & dumb thinking on there part. All I can say it's there loss.---Great job with the BSA you are so lucky to have.
There's a great British film called IF where they ride one of these during a scene in the film well worth watching especially the cafe bit .. a cult bike in a cult film .. super cool
They're a lot easier to start if you are astride them and if you're short like me leave the side stand down but that's just in case. You hold it up and kick with your right leg, unless you have some disability that prevents it. Switching from the old British shift pattern of right foot and pull up for first and down for second, third, fourth to the Japanese left side shift and one down and the rest up was a trip. Went the wrong way more than once shifting to second instead of 4th on my first Honda.
Only the RH pet cock needs to be opened, the LH side is reserve fuel once you fill up that way you can keep the throttle going while you switch on the reserve tap. Also hold down the tickler on the carb until fuel comes out, stabbing it repeatably can puncture the float. You should also free the clutch before a cold start to save the gearbox
I went to a bsa dealer and looked at a new thunderbolt back in the day. Sat on the thing, pulled in the front break and nothing moved! The forks were locked solid! Brand new with forks that had to be completely reworked before you could even ride it! All this old British nostalgia is B/S! What people really miss is being young. My 2000 Kawasaki W650 is more of a good time than anything I had in my youth and will bring me home.
I have a 1960 BSA Super Rocket and a 2002 Kawasaki W650. Both great bikes but the BSA does have certain feel about it, a beautiful punchy engine. OK, the Kawasaki is the better ride it and forget it machine.
Lovely. What would you say the value is? There 's one just like it near me for sale, all rebuilt. Doesn't seem to be anyone interested in it. I think it would make a great flat tracker.
I would always with these twins suggest position the pistons first just into compression with the kick lever before giving spark. Choke or prime motor if temp is same as air. If the motor is still warm you may need neither.
Hi Mike, a couple of questions. Is the 1967 Thunderbolt for sale? Second, I have a 1951 AJS 500 single. It is a 25 year old restoration. I bought it at auction about 4 years ago. The bike really needs to be "refreshed". I live in Prescott Arizona, and you mentioned the man that restored the Thunderbolt is in Phoenix. Can you give me his name and number? Let me know regarding both of these questions. Thanks Everett Davidson
Originality of a Classic Car or Motorcycle is critical. This example is terrible. It has Painted Fenders, Polished Engine Side Covers, Incorrect Tach & Speedo, Chromed Upper Fork Tubes and the worst incorrect shade of Red Paint.
