@@duanearcher7576 I'm torn. I don't think I could chose between a BSA Lightning, a Triumph Hurricane, an original Norton Commando and the original Kawasaki Mach IV H2 ........ Oh god! or, or, or or, ............And than there's a Vincent Black Shadow, a Brough Superior (any really) and I'd rather like something with girder forks and ......... *BUT* What a dilemma to have *that* bike and try and decide do you put it in the living room or ride it.
Don't forget the Norton n-15 c.s. " completion special " street version with lights for the street, and the Norton P-11 750 desert racer ( ruled the desert races with Mike Patrick and Steve Hurd riding them; and the P-11 street verson with down exhaust pipes called the Ranger, [ the n-15 cs, and the P 11 had the coolest gas tanks ever put on a big British twin, except for maybe the ROYAL ENDFIELD 750 INTERCEPTOR'S series 1 and series 2) oh by the way the Royal Endfield Interceptor " series 1 " was the quickest thru the 1/4 mile at the drag strip stock "13.66" in 1966. Later to be eclipsed by the Norton Commando " combat " 750 cc verson which had a reputation for blowing up, too much compression was the main culprit apparently. The Norton commando went on to be head and shoulders above all others in 1/4 mile drags taking a full second [in 69] quicker than the Royal Endfield's record in 66 cycle world road test. 13.66 !! The Triumph Bonneville was a beautiful bike also, " nice gas tank also" Hot Rod magazine use to have a few pages in it every month called " UP ON TWO WHEELS " Written by a guy named Bob Green; They tested a 64 or 65 B.S.A. LIGHTING, changed the Gearing around a little bit, " gearing it higher, bigger trans sprocket and smaller rear tire sprocket" and got it going over 130 mph at El Mirage dry lake in the Mojave Desert somewhere, in 65!!! I'm surprised this nice person in this video says the 650 B.S.A. LIGHTING was the quickest thru the 1/4 mile, that's not correct ! That title goes to the B.S.A. 650 " SPITFIRE " 🥳🤩👾🐙🤔🛸👽😱🎯
This is beautiful. The A65 is in my view the aesthetic peak point of the classic British Twin. I own and have partly restored a 1970 Thunderbolt myself. That was the last year of the old classic chrome styling. Obviously it isn't as immaculate as this one. But then I ride it on the road. To me, it is a very sad thing to think that this gorgeous Lightning will be preserved like a fly in amber and never ridden. If you started it up and heard the wonderful sound of the engine you would understand at once.
Yeah,there is a place for 'static display',and this is magnificent. They were made to be ridden,and enjoyed as such. One day we will all be a static display,so ride 'em while you can
What a fantastic bike, it’s a shame it’s going to a collector, if that was mine it would be new tires a tank full of gas, gear on and out for a run in the English countryside, classic motorcycles should be ridden not locked away as a investment, thanks Mike for Sharing that with us. Ride safe cheers Martin.🇬🇧👍
Absolutely stunning restoration! Imagine row upon row of these bikes,back in the day,with all the candy paint and chrome glistening in the dealer showroom. Simply magical times!
there is a film that came out in the late 60's called" IF " with Malcom mcdonald i think anyway there is a scene where they steal a BSA a65 from a dealers showroom full of new brit bikes if only ! to the best of my knowledge that is the only footage of a bike showroom around ; unless you know different
@PhilB ... Back in the day, I bought one of these new, with those bars, in London, think it was in Tooting. It was part of a cancelled US order. At the time not many seemed to be aware of what I had.., most just thought I had changed the bars. The side chromed tank was also a hint as to it's original destination. Bugger, wish I still had it !!!
Great story, I lived on a council estate as a kid one where everyone worked. No one would nick your pushbikes because we never had any !! I don't remember how old I was but a guy six doors down had a lightning, Sunday morning he would wash it I always walked past drooling over it especially the purple blue headers. Same colour as this beautiful example, I was smitten his mates had Norton commandos, Aireal arrows, Bonneville's ect. There began my obsession with the motorcycle, just like to say thank you to Paul carpenter a guy that had time to speak to a young dreamer, and Richard golker. RIP Trevor loft one of the lads that never made it taken way to young ❤🇬🇧
Many thanks Rod! It really is a beautiful bike. Dave is an incredibly talented Vintage Motorcycle restorer. He did an amazing job with this bike. Best wishes, Mike
Fastest BSA you could buy in 1969 and *without question, one of the prettiest* . Mate, you got that dead right. I shall now indulge in a spot of heresy ......... In 1967 one of the lads I knew had a 250 Ducati. Watching this reminded me of that. There are 'some styling similarities'.
Maybe in the first part of 1969, but not after Honda introduced the 750/4. They came out in 1969 and what a shock those were to the various motorcycle riders and companies alike.
@@chrisbaker2903 As we lay in the road after a tree stepped out in front of us on a damp Scottish road on our way to the Thistle Rally, my then fiance said 'Can we get a Honda Four next?'
Too find NOS parts for a bike this age, is so rare and that toolkit must of been like finding the holy grail! A credit to Dave and his enthusiasm, what a bike 😃 Have a good one Mike ☕️🫖
This was my 2nd bike. I learned to ride on a 350 flat twin Douglas, but took my test on an Orange/Creme BSA C25 250cc Barracuda thumper (single cylinder). Bet there are not many of either of them still alive 'n kickin' !! Oh, the good old days.
I was privileged to have a 1970 Thunderbolt back in 1972, bought from Ejay, a coworker at C&NW RR in Mankato, MN. Sold it several years later to buy an engagement ring for my wife of 46 years. Some days I really miss that motorcycle ! People would walk across the street just to get a closer look.
Absolutely stunning! Took my beath away. I remember, as a little boy, staring through a dealer's (I think Fowlers in Bristol, UK) showroom window at brand new BSAs and dreaming of things to come. Sadly they went broke before I was old enough.
I remember the ist CD 175 I saw, a school prefect rode it school regularly, I would have been 13 or 14 at the time. Was so quite like a sewing machine compaired to the British stuff, about three years later a Honda 350 turned up at our youth club with a yoshi system on it jezus it howled like a banshee the rest is history!!
Thanks for posting. I bought a 69 Lightning from a friend who purchased it new from Andy Pelc in Southgate , MI. Was the same color, but had a Firebird Scrambler tank as the original was damaged in transit. Ended up selling it after a few years. My 71 Lightning came from Cycle Hub when it was sold. It is a true Bitsa. Thunderbolt lower, Lightning head. This one I am keeping. I have the article from Cycle World.
I remember thinking this was just so desirable when I saw my first one in a friend's garage. I wanted one so much. He had two because he stated one often times required work and he always wanted one available to ride. This is such a gorgeous restoration. Well done pal.
Had one of these mainly BSA lightning but had parts that were god knows what ! purchased it basically as a frame, wheels, engine and a collection of bits an pieces my ex father in law and my self put it together and amazingly I was able to get it road worthied and registered. Was a great bike to ride despite all the different bits !
My word Mike, looking at that bike is like stepping out of a time machine onto the lot of the little shop at the corner of Lawrence and Bimbrock in Scarborough when I was 14. They had BSA and Triumph and I was always drawn a bit more to the Lightning than the Bonneville. Oh, and that was after we moved to Canada. Not the Scarborough you're probably thinking of LOL!
Whoever this beautiful bike belongs to, should Ride it and be Proud of himself to own this prestigious piece of history. Such a shame that there are so many people only seeing the $$$ signs when looking at these bikes. If you own one, and look after it properly, ride it sensibly, it will still keep it's worth.... just like my Mrs.... joking aside, these bikes are gods gift to man, the toys of todays priveledged. I only wish I had one, but i'm never in the right place at the right time.
He he, thanks a lot for your note. A lot of the guys in the club bought their bikes many years ago when they were relatively inexpensive and held onto them. New tires today cost more than what some of them paid for their bikes at the time 😉 Best wishes, Mike
Wow just look at that beauty. This was the last BSA model I owned, which I think I bought in Tooting, London. It was part of a cancelled order that was bound for the US. It had higher bars on it and the chrome sided tank which was the BSA way of distinguishing their bikes destined for the foreign market. Wish I still had it, it would be surely priced at well over twice the price I payed back then. Thanks for this post.
Thank you Mike for this wonderful reportage. It brings me back to the mid ´70s when I was 17 and that I owned a BSA Lightning 650. GREAT RESTAURATION !! 👍👌
Beautiful machine it looks better than it would have done when it left Small Heath in Birmingham. My dad had lots of tools from British bikes and cars of the past then after he passed away mom gave them all to a scrap man as she didn’t think anyone wanted them.
Never owned 1 of these but did own a '73 Norton. These had problems with spark plugs in those days. They were cammed fairly radical & ran rich for street use. I remember reading this in Cycle.
