BSA A65 'Lightning' 1967 650cc
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- Опубликовано: 19 апр 2017
- BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) 1967 'Lightning' restored, owned, and ridden by Craig Farrington. Filmed in action in Batesford, Victoria, Australia. Bike is mostly stock except for short pipes, ace bars and trispark ignition. It has been restored over a couple of years to club bike (not concourse) standard. It gets a ridden a lot.. A well loved machine.
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She looks exactly like a motorcycle should. She's a beauty.
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 !
Lovely bike great sound ,can't beat that bsa note 👍
Absolutely Perfect!
I just bought a 1969 BSA 650 Thunderbolt. Has been sitting in a guys garage since 2014 covered. Going through it now to clean the gas tank and check everything out before hitting the road. Cant wait. Bike is in great cosmetic shape and so far it looks to be in great mechanical shape. Another couple of weeks and I expected to have all the parts I need and can fire it up. Luv the sound of these British twin cylinder bikes.
nice bike that's what I want my lightning rocket to look like
My 1964 A65 was a Thunderbolt, acquired in Perth and brought back to Melbourne. Loved that bike and its sound. Thanks for sharing.
This has the best looking pipes and mufflers of all time. The bike is beautiful to begin with but those pipes and mufflers make it stunning.
My first bike was a much abused ‘64 Thunderbolt, purchased in Atlanta, USA in 1970. Wonderful when it ran, but unfortunately it lived up (down?) to the nickname ‘Bastard Stopped Again’ too many times. Ultimately traded it for a ‘72 Yamaha 650, which in turn was replaced by a ‘75 BMW R90S. Still have the Beemer but I wish the other two were in the fleet as well.
The chickens have laid an egg! Lovely bike, sounds and goes as good as it looks.
I rode one of those in the early 60s. I was only about 16 and I think the owner wanted to see if I had the pluck to ride it. I took it out, tightened up the steering, and rode it to 120 mph. It seemed like it would go faster but 'I' couldn't. That was enough! I think it was mostly stock, except it had loud pipes, and he'd messed with the jets. I only rode it once. Far too much bike for me.
This was done in Portland, Oregon, USA. I get the feeling that the Video is from Australia.
That sound! You've inspired me to work faster to get mine road worthy. That sound! The only thing that sounds better is two British twins running along together. Beautiful.
Glad to be of service!
It's quite a new one just out of the factory, very good restoration job.
I remember this. Back in the 70s I tried to change the front sprocket for the chain but I gave up. You have disassamble half the engine.
Thanks Craig. Very nice .
Superb hope to have mine on the road in the spring
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.
1950's and 1960's was the golden age for English motorcycles during 1978 I drove BSA 1967 I like it very much.
This BSA and the Thunderbolt which look alike are the most beatiful motorcycles of all times. I´ve seen on YT 2 or 3 more which are as beatifful as yours. I´ve always wanted one but could not afford it. Congratulations and I hope you never sell it.
Hi, I’ve got a royal star 500 from 1970. Had it since 1982. Had 105 mph in the 80’s on the A3, clocked by my mates on laverda & a moto guzzi le-mans 850. I’ve got a 2 into 1 with a alloy end cap reverse megaphone.
Don't tell anyone but the bike in the video is an ex Royal star converted to 650cc. Noone really appreciates just how fast these bikes are...my friends struggle to keep up on modern bikes!
105 is very very good.. I always struggled to get to 90...
What a Beautiful Bike,great restoration,Well Done.That Sound !
Doesn't just look good but its obviously a daily ride and runs beautifully. Never heard a brit twin idle so well!
Frank Kemble Thanks for the nice comment. Yes the bike gets used regularly but it also gets pampered too! I continually tune my carbs (on the fly) and keep the tickover within due bounds.
gotta love BSA
The bike is mostly stock except for short pipes and chickens.
After some research including my original shop manual I must say that the advertising pictures at the beginning of your video are of a 1967 model, your motorcycle in the video portion however is a 1966 model. Beautiful example. I have a 1967 model otherwise identical to yours.
Love the the chooks.
Great movie 🎥
The spitfire wit!h Amal gp,s and 190 m front brake is the one to own!
Oh yeah they fly too! But make sure you've got knurled knobs on those carbies so ya can keep 'em tuned up on the fly to be able to get the crisp performance you're looking for!
yes, I had a MK3 fitted with Amal GP's but there was no idle - unless I missed something.. ran very well except when stationary. Totally impractical so I went back to the concentrics.. oh and please, not the USA model with the peanut tank.. the good old UK big 5 gallon fiberglass tank please..
Hi Craig, would you happen to have this footage hanging around anywhere?
The sound of music
beauty
Great video Craig. Can you tell me what handlebars you have. Mine came with the ridiculous high rise American bars that gotta go. Yours look just right for the riding position.
I used the clubman bars which are slightly low but still comfortable with the standard footpegs, especially at speed.
Best looking motorcycle , even though I'm a Harley Davidson rider. I don't exactly know what it is about this design but it sure looks very nostalgic and ageless. Whatever for BSA in their wisdom decided to stop production , instead of fighting fire with fire .
Well said
The company was poorly run in the end and simply ran out of cash. They had their triples ready to go into production well before they got permission to start building them, by the time they got serious about it the Japanese had their big bikes on the market. A real shame.
@@jammaster7614 Yes poorly run and pig headed, so much so that they fell out of the market. It's great that BSA is making a come back .
Like a Yearlin' Bull amongst a courtyard of chickens...
Is it not the same amongst the modern chicken cycles of today?
2nd owner of a '68 TR6R Trophy Sports fully restored in 2012 by Big D Cycles.
Same year that it's sibling was the cover of the
2012 & 2017 Classic Triumph Calendar.
14,430 miles on it to date.
I have a 1970 TR6. Here is a short clip...ruclips.net/video/4JCXMdg4oaQ/видео.html
Hi Craig. Where exactly did you get those ace bars from as the shape looks good. I am in Melbourne and am trying to find a tasty pair. I have seen many that just won't work on my BSA
These came with the unrestored bike so I don't know. I have a commando with similar bars which I bought new from the Norton parts guy in Bendigo.
@@farric1 OK thanks for replying. I like your bike.
I had one very like this when I was 16, in 1970... it does not look like it has the original carburetors for the year ? I think they should be monoblocks - unless mine was what they had on the shelf at the time.. front brake was pretty useless... I had a MK3 Spitfire (Divimead 750 - excuse the spelling) and a MK1 Rocket 3.. but is less trouble to watch them on a video.. nice to see... now I just content myself with my older leak free very reliable BMW Boxer twin...
Hi Miles. Concentric carbs were standard for most BSA twins in the 1960s. Yes, the brakes are not really up to the job of stopping in a hurry! Thanks for watching.
I have a 1966 BSA Lightning...show quality and runs great. Will sell for $9500. Call Ron @ 402-670-1694.
@@ronpearson3789 hi Ron. I'd love to see your bike but I'm in Australia, not the US. Good luck with selling your bike, a good beezer will always find a new owner.
In the late 1970's you could pick one up for peanuts, so I did. I think I paid £75 for it and about the same to fix it up to road worthy condition. Cheap biking.
I paid the equivalent of 2000 quid 3 years ago and spent another 600 quid and a lot of my time getting it all right....that's cheap for nowadays! A65s weren't especially well thought of in the late 70s I suppose!
Old British bikes were two a penny then. Other British bikes I bought over the years: BSA A10 £110, BSA B25 Starfire £60, Triumph 500cc Speedtwin bought as a non-runner £50. The Speedtwin was an easy fix, it was just that the timing was way out. With just basic tools and a degree wheel, it would start on one kick. All great bikes, but fragile when ridden hard. Had loads of other bikes over my 45 years of motorcycling. Best of the bunch a BMW R100RT. I put 100K miles on that one with just a single failure of a cracked coil casing. I would of bought another one, but they are expensive collectors bike now. Currently riding a 20 year old Honda ST1100, which I paid £1300 for 3 years ago.
I bought a Royal Enfield Continental GT in 1979 for 150 quid in nice condition. I sold it for the same amount less than a year later. They are worth in excess of 4 thousand quid nowadays!
That goes with anything , move on a decade and I could buy Japanese shit for peanuts that is now on eBay for £6k , move on another decade and the cars I could pick up for nothing are now on eBay for stupid money . its all relative.
I don’t remember them coming with chickens.
Doux souvenirs de mon ami, peter décédé dans un accident de moto; à l'age de 25 ans. en 1975.
Je suis désolé d'entendre ça.
@@farric1: Merci pour votre commentaire; Il a roulé 3 ans avec cette 650 Lightning magnifique .Puis il a acheté une 750 Honda, et un matin se rendant à son travail ayant oublié de replier la béquille latérale, il a eu cet accident, regrettable..Laissant son épouse et son fils de 18 mois..c'était mon meilleur ami.
@@danieldurand9246 don't you speak english you stinking frog
See the GoPro version with high (For old britbikes, that is) speed action at: ruclips.net/video/oo0JB5t6Ft4/видео.html
Rule Britannia!
Needs a shorter throttle cale.
Makes me want to sell my r80rt and r1150rt and get one
Thanks for the comment. The old BSA's aren't that pricey....especially if you get a fixer upper! So maybe only sell one beemer!
Yes,do it!!!
I had a 1967 Lightning in mint condition. Beautiful to look at but the handling was not great and the drum brakes weren't the best at slowing you down. If you wanted to go fast on country roads, 1990s Japanese bikes were much safer. But I wish I still had the BSA for cruising around town.
Hi James. I have my BSA set up with just simple components and a steering damper. It is the second best handling bike in my small collection of 5 after a 71 Commando. I can ride through twisties like the Great Ocean road and keep up with most and leave a few behind. I love the handling on the BSA. I also own a Kawasaki W800 and a vintage triumph plus a 98 Honda VFR800. There ya go.
Craig's Classics Sounds sweet. My bike was bone stock and it was a bit wobbly at speed. I thought she could use some aftermarket shocks and a fork tuning, but I never thought about a steering damper. That would have helped a lot. I have always loved Lightning’s and Bonnevilles, but I am jealous of your Commando. Remember Norton’s 1970s advertisements with the hot chicks? Did they come with the bike?
@@jamesdarnell8568 no the chicks came when you got the bike. What did come with the BSA was a centrally mounted steering damper and not an aftermarket item. You know, the big knurled knob between the yokes of the bars.
You can take a ride on it here: Onboard video.. Be warned, I don't spare it too much.ruclips.net/video/oo0JB5t6Ft4/видео.html...
Craig's Classics I never knew. Never touched it. Who knows what setting it was on? I was just an uninformed 22-year old who jumped on the bike, rode it for a year, laid it down on a gravel-covered corner, and then sold it to a buddy. I’m 67 now and wish I’d done things differently in my youth.
Due to mister Mumford is dealing with “Parkinson” you should get other person to hold the camera
kawasaki w1 650の model
I hope Mr. Mumford full time job isn’t as cameraman or he must be starving by now!!
Cool bike btw.
Free range chickens
Lose those mirrors.